EKSTROM EDGES SCHUMACHER FOR RACE OF CHAMPIONS GLORY
World Rallycross champion Mattias Ekstrom secured an emotional record-equalling fourth Race of Champions title in Sweden, despite the Supercar Lites machine he was driving in the finale catching fire.
For the second year in succession, the annual RoC event was held on a frozen Baltic Sea course at Pite Havsbad in Sweden, and it was Ekstrom who came out on top, beating Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher for victory in a best-of-three Grand Finale.
It took the double DTM title-winner just two of the three encounters to see off Schumacher, having already disposed of fellow rallycross drivers Travis Pastrana and Johan Kristoffersson earlier in the day, to equal the all-time winners’record held by French rally legends Didier Auriol and Sebastien Loeb.
However, a fire during the finale almost brought and end of the 2016 World RX champion’s challenge.
“In the final on the startline I said to myself: ‘full focus until the chequered flag’,” said Ekstrom. “I had an OK start but after half a lap something caught fire and there was starting to be a bit of bad smoke. My [VIP] co-driver wanted to stop but I was not so interested. I looked down but I kept my right foot down. I thought it must be the windscreen heater.
“On the next straight I switched it off but the fire didn’t stop. I tried to grab the fire with my fireproof gloves on and luckily it stopped. In that process I didn’t lose much time because I didn’t take my foot off the throttle. I certainly didn’t want to press the fire extinguisher because then I knew it would all be over.”
Ekstrom had previously claimed a pair of ROC crowns by beating Michael Schumacher, making his battle with the seven-time F1 champion’s son an emotional experience for the Swede.
“To see Mick in the final today was very emotional for me,” he said. “This is even more special than winning; Michael’s always been one of the guys I admire most in the sport, for his dedication, hard work and talent. I only got to know Michael at the Race of Champions. He was always humble with me and I can see Mick is also very humble. Mick is such a huge talent and his time is ahead of him, so I look forward to more battles in the future.”
The previous day, Team Norway, comprising of Petter and Oliver Solberg, defended their ROC Nations Cup crown, fending off the All Stars team of Thierry Neuville and Mick Schumacher in the final for victory. In the individual event on Sunday, Oliver beat Petter to progress from the early rounds, but later crashed out while driving a Nitro Rallycross FC1-X machine.