Mattias Ekström – World Champion in World Rallycross!

Mattias Ekström is the 2016 FIA World Rallycross champion! At the penultimate round of the season at the Estering, the leader of the drivers’ standings finished fifth. Ekström extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 30 points. With only 30 points still up for grabs at the season finale in Argentina, the Swede became an FIA World champion for the first time in his racing career.

“I’m completely overwhelmed, it’s really hard to find words. This is for sure the best day in my entire racing career,” says Ekström. “We started this project from scratch three years ago and there were a lot of ups and downs. But my amazing team, our friends and partners always stayed closely together with me. From the very first day, we were focusing on our big aim: to become World champions! It’s so good to know that all of the hard work pays off now. And it’s even greater to know that I have the best guys in the world around me.”

With securing the drivers’ championship, the mission is not completed yet. Ekström and his teammate Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen want to take it all this year, by winning the teams’ championship as well. EKS is now leading by 17 points over Team Peugeot Hansen, with a maximum of 56 points still available. The final round of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship will take place in Rosario, from 26–27 November.

Video 857 days in World RX

2016 World RX Drivers’ standings (after 11 of 12 rounds)

01 Mattias Ekström (S) 251 Pts.
02 Petter Solberg (N) 221 Pts.
03 Johan Kristoffersson (S) 217 Pts.
04 Andreas Bakkerud (N) 210 Pts.
05 Sébastien Loeb (F) 194 Pts.
06 Timmy Hansen (S) 174 Pts.
07 Toomas Heikkinen (FIN) 134 Pts.
08 Timur Timerzyanov (RUS) 104 Pts.