World RX: Hansen takes dominant win in France

He was pressured by DTM star Mattias Ekstrom in the semi, backing off in the latter stages to protect his rubber for the final, which allowed Ekstrom to try a pass for the lead more than once on the final lap.

Petter Solberg, who started the semis on worn rubber, also won and joined Hansen on the front row for the final as Johan Kristoffersson, Jean-Baptiste Dubourg and Robin Larsson made the cut into the main event.

At the start of the final, Hansen made the best launch while Larsson tried a move around the outside of Turn 1. Hansen took the lead, Solberg slotted into second and Larsson took third.

Ekstrom went to the inside into the first corner but he made contact with Kristoffersson and spun out of contention. Kristoffersson made a move past Larsson in the second corner, with Larsson then immediately taking his joker lap.

Next to take their compulsory extra route was Solberg and Kristoffersson on the second tour, Solberg returning to the main circuit ahead of local ace Debourg, who had climbed to third with Kristoffersson slotting in behind.

As Larsson retired with technical problems mid-race, Dubourg pressured Solberg and took his joker on lap four. He returned third ahead of Kristoffersson was soon back behind Solberg, who was struggling on all but destroyed rubber.

Dubourg clung on to Solberg to the end, while Hansen took his joker on the fifth lap and cruised to his second victory in a row.

Ekstrom made it to the finish in fifth place but he was slowed with technical troubles.

World Touring Car Championship star Yvan Muller showed well on his first rallycross outing in an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 but he was spun out of heat two after contact, which ultimately ruled him out of a place in the semi-finals.

Source: Autosport

FINAL RESULT