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Flashback: Hockenheim RX 2015

It's just a few days until the action gets underway at Hockenheim in Germany, where the second round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place alongside the DTM. We take a look back at the first ever running of a rallycross event at the Formula 1 venue, last season.

It was reigning champion Petter Solberg who started on pole position for the final, in an event of mixed weather conditions, and the Norwegian led into the first corner. Latvia's Reinis Nitiss also started on the front row of the final and slotted into second position at turn one, while a fast-starting Timmy Hansen jumped up to third from the back of the grid.

Hansen had only just made it into the semi-finals, but finished third in his semi to progress to the final, and made another great start in the final to run behind Nitiss on lap one. Solberg extended his lead at the front of the field, so much so that when he took his joker lap later in the race, he was able to return into the lead before those behind had taken theirs. Solberg scored his first victory of the year and with it took the championship lead, which he had shared with Johan Kristoffersson heading into the event.

Nitiss and Hansen took their jokers on the final lap, Hansen coming back onto the main circuit alongside Sweden's Robin Larsson, the pair making contact. Hansen recovered to finish third, while behind Topi Heikkinen was forced into the gravel trap to avoid Larsson, but was able to finish fourth. Norway's Andreas Bakkerud made it two Olsbergs MSE Fiestas in the final this time last year, but spun on the first lap with drivetrain issues and retired on lap two.

The first ever World RX event at Hockenheim is well remembered for Russia's Timur Timerzyanov rolling his Ford Fiesta after hitting a tyre barrier, but continuing to finish the race. Liam Doran will be hoping for better luck his season, he retired in the semi-finals last year with alternator failure while in a position to make the final, this year he is driving for the JRM Racing team, which made its debut at the same event last year.

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com