{"id":167884,"date":"2016-04-18T01:09:42","date_gmt":"2016-04-17T23:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtspirit.com\/?p=167884"},"modified":"2016-04-18T01:09:42","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T23:09:42","slug":"rallycross-petter-solberg-triumphs-in-portugal-double-podium-for-audi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtspirit.com\/2016\/04\/18\/rallycross-petter-solberg-triumphs-in-portugal-double-podium-for-audi\/","title":{"rendered":"Rallycross: Petter Solberg Triumphs in Portugal, Double Podium for Audi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Norway\u2019s Petter Solberg kicked off the 2016 FIA World Rallycross championship by triumphing at the season opener, Rallycross of Portugal in his Citroen DS3 Supercar. The two-time World RX champion and defending champion overcame a number of glitches in his car to scoop this win, confirming him as the unbeatable force in Rallycross.<\/p>\n

Audi thrived by taking a double podium, with Robin Larsson claiming second in his privately entered Audi A1 Supercar, leading the Audi S1 EKS quattro of Topi Heikkinen. It was a joy for Audi as a manufacturer as they also triumphed at season opener of the FIA WEC, 6 Hours of Silverstone. <\/p>\n

The new Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus RS Supercar missed the podium narrowly with Andreas Bakkerud finishing fourth overall. His teammate Ken Block suffered a number of software glitches and was unable to show his full potential, Block will race in the full 2016 World RX calendar. <\/p>\n

Moving on, fifth place went to WRC record holder Sebastien Loeb who also makes his return to Rallycross this year, teaming up with Team Peugeot Hansen. A transmission issue denied Loeb a chance to fight for the podium. <\/p>\n\r\n