Ekstrom warns WRX points lead "could disappear fast"

Heading to the second-oldest circuit on the World RX schedule, the Estering in Germany, Ekstrom leads the Drivers’ standings by 27 points over Swedish compatriot Johan Kristoffersson.

With a maximum of 60 points on offer from the final two rounds of the season, if Ekstrom can out-score Kristoffersson by three points this weekend, and also remain ahead of Norwegians Petter Solberg and Andreas Bakkerud by a similar margin, he will win the title before the season finale in Argentina next month. 

Ekstrom’s margin at the top of the order was significantly extended by a dismal weekend for season-long title rival Solberg in Latvia 10 days ago, when the double World RX champion was first disqualified from Q2 for contact with Ekstrom’s Audi, and then crashed into a wall in Q3 in wet conditions with a steamed up windscreen, meaning he didn’t make the semi-finals.

Despite his advantage, experienced racer Ekstrom, who is missing the DTM finale at Hockenheim to race in World RX this weekend, knows that the title is not yet secure.

“For sure it’s nice to lead the championship by 27 points instead of being behind, but there are still 60 points to fight for,” he said.

“If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s that it ain't over until the fat lady sings. Things can change so fast.

"I think in Q2 in Latvia everybody could see that one little mistake can be very costly, and that goes for all of us in this championship.

"I have learned over the past years that you might think you have it and that you are close, but you do one mistake at the wrong moment and you pay the price.”

Ekstrom’s EKS team also leads the Teams' championship standings, but by a much smaller margin than in the Drivers’ table.

Just eight points separate Ekstrom and teammate Toomas Heikkinen from reigning title holders Team Peugeot-Hansen.

“I will try to keep myself and my team with our feet on the ground and keep focused on doing what we are doing,” said Ekstrom. “I believe this is the trick in being competitive to the very end.”

Ekstrom had a torrid event at the Estering last season, hampered by technical troubles with his Audi S1 he didn’t make the semi-finals.

The Estering circuit is also home to one of the most challenging first corners of the year, which bottle-necks from the start-finish straight into the tight right-hander.

“We’ve been testing at Estering before the season so I am confident that we will be fast around the track, but still the first corner and first lap will be a challenge. The advantage I have could disappear fast. We will stay focused and enjoy Germany.”

The last World title for a single Audi driver was 32 years ago in 1984 when Stig Blomqvist won the World Rally Championship in an Audi Quattro.