Following his third victory in the third race, the Rallycross World Champion has a clear aim: his next win. The Swede would be making history that way because no driver has ever mounted the top of the podium in the World RX four times in a row. “Looking at the results to date, we have absolutely no reason to complain,” says Ekström. “We haven’t always been the fastest but the hard work of my team has consistently paid off so far. At Hockenheim, we partied a little on Sunday but on Monday we immediately went back into racing mode. At Mettet, we’re going to race with full batteries.”
From a sporting perspective, the Circuit Jules Tacheny is the favorite track of the EKS campaigners. In 2016, Ekström secured the winner’s trophy in the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. His teammate Toomas Heikkinen won there in a Volkswagen Polo in 2014 and 2015. “I really like the track,” says Heikkinen. “The layout differs from the other circuits – technically, it’s rather challenging, with fast zigzag turns, slow hairpin turns and a jump into the valley.” Plus, there is the narrow first turn in which a number of drivers have had to bury their hopes for front positions in the tire wall before. Ekström can tell a thing or two about it. “In 2015, I was bumped by another car after the start and took the tire wall with me, which caused the hood to open. I had zero vision and was forced to retire.”
In addition to Ekström and Heikkinen, who with EKS are trailing PSRX Volkswagen Sweden in second place of the teams standings, Reinis Nitišs will be on the grid in the third Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. In his 560-HP supercar, the Latvian is aiming to make it into his second final with EKS. “Confidence in my car keeps growing with every race and the track at Mettet not only suits Mattias and Topi,” emphasizes the EKS newcomer. “In 2015, I finished third in Belgium and my goal is to take home a trophy again this year.”