Rallycross: Audi and EKS without Ekström in Höljes

“In Höljes, I won in 2014 and 2015. It goes without saying that I’d have liked to clinch my third big trophy there,” says the reigning Rallycross World Champion. “But the DTM has priority and, regrettably, I can’t split myself in half. Fortunately, my boss, Dieter Gass, made the decision for me.”

His Swedish compatriot P-G Andersson will take Ekström’s place in Höljes. The 2004 and 2007 Junior Rally World Champion is no stranger to the World RX. In 2014, he debuted in the 560-hp Audi S1 EKS RX quattro at the World RX round in Turkey. In the 2015 season, the now 37-year-old Andersson contested ten rounds in a VW Polo for Marklund Motorsport, scoring a fourth place in Belgium as his best result. “When Mattias called me I didn’t think twice. The opportunity to sit in his car again and to compete against the world’s best rallycross campaigners is an honor for me, especially in Höljes of all places. I can hardly wait doing my first laps in Friday’s free practice.”

Competing in Sweden alongside Andersson will be EKS’ regular drivers Toomas Heikkinen and Reinis Nitišs. “Höljes is no doubt the craziest World RX round of the year,” says Heikkinen. “Every year, the fans party big time there in the Swedish hinterland with music, BBQ and rallycross. Our focus, of course, is on racing. Even without Mattias we’d like to recapture second place in the teams’ standings.” His teammate Nitišs has high expectations of the seventh in a total twelve rounds too: “In 2014 and 2015, I just barely missed a podium in fourth and fifth at Höljes. I’d like to do better this time. The ‘Magic Weekend’ would indeed be magic if I could celebrate my first trophy win with EKS on Sunday.”