OLSBERGS MSE FORD CONTINUES PODIUM STREAK IN SWEDEN

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Andreas Bakkerud battled to a second-place finish for the Olsbergs MSE Ford team this weekend at the “Magic Weekend” in Höljes, Sweden, home to the fifth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014“It’s a good weekend when it ends with a taste of champagne,” said a happy Bakkerud, who has driven his Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST to three second-place results and one win so far this year.

Bakkerud ran more than half of the six-lap Final on a flat tire while fighting door-to-door with World Rally Champion Petter Solberg. In a nail-biter of a finish, he crossed the line in second place — ahead of Solberg and behind DTM star Mattias Ekström.

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014Bakkerud’s teammate Reinis Nitiss narrowly missed out on the third podium position. After a stall on the start line in the Final, he made an incredible comeback to push through the pack and into podium contention. It was a virtual photo finish at the checkered flag as Nitiss captured fourth in his Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST, less than a tenth of a second behind third-place Solberg.

Among the estimated 35,000 fans in attendance this weekend in Höljes was an enthusiastic all-blue cheering section some 300 strong. These fans traveled from Bakkerud’s hometown of Bergen, Norway, to lend their support to the driver.

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014“It’s really good to have fans come out to support the team. I can see the smiles on their faces when they’re cheering for me and they give me the energy that I need to go forward,” said Bakkerud.

As the championship season moves toward its mid-point, Bakkerud and Nitiss are both in a strong position for the overall title. Nitiss remains in the championship lead, while Bakkerud is in third place, behind Solberg. In the chase for the team championship title, the Olsbergs MSE Ford squad has a commanding lead of 59 points.

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014Sebastian Eriksson, who moved into the Supercars category as a guest driver with Olsbergs MSE this weekend, put in a fantastic effort in his Ford Fiesta ST. Lined up on the front row for the Final, he got a great start to claim the Monster Energy Supercharge Award. He looked set to earn a podium position until he clipped a curb and damaged his suspension. Although he held on for two more laps, he finally spun out of contention. He scored sixth-place points for the team.

Daniel Holten, who also made a guest Supercars appearance for the team this weekend, was showing strong pace until a mechanical issue sidelined him in the Semifinal round.

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014A highlight in the rallycross calendar, the Swedish round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship attracted a record 40 Supercars — the biggest ever Supercar entry at Höljes — as well as a strong entry in the Super 1600, Touring Car, and RX Lites divisions. Olsbergs MSE driver Kevin Eriksson took the win in RX Lites to extend his points lead in the RX Lites Cup.

“With five rounds down, the championship battle is really heating up,” said team owner Andreas Eriksson. “We’re looking forward to bringing our leading team to new venues and new fans as the season continues.”

Rallycross photos © QNIGAN.COM 2014Höljes, located 120 miles north of the Swedish city of Karlstad, is traditionally the biggest rallycross weekend on the championship calendar. Teams put everything on the line and typically bring more power and more speed to the competition, known as the “magic weekend.” Nitiss said the high stakes were evident on the track. “You need to be really fast here, driving at very high speeds of over 120 km/h and at the same time sideways,” said Nitiss. “It is crazy.”

Next, World RX moves to a new venue, the Circuit Jules Tacheny, for the Belgian round of the championship July 12 and 13.