Johan Kristoffersson secured yet another victory at the World Rallycross event in Belgium to extend his championship lead
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00:00 The penultimate round of the European Rallycross Series.
00:05 It looks like the title will go right to the wire in the last race of the season in Estoril.
00:11 But the semis and the final will be so important for these drivers.
00:16 Five laps, Ida must joker twice.
00:20 Second time of Asking, they're all away cleanly.
00:23 Sivitz-Vardel gets a good start, but Anton Marklund, look at Patrik O'Donovan, squeezing for that inside line.
00:29 Oh, Marklund has it completely sideways, holds on. O'Donovan cuts right through.
00:36 O'Donovan hasn't had a great weekend. Marklund's going to joker here.
00:39 You can see the attitude of the car, carrying all the momentum.
00:42 Ida's going with him as well. Ida, of course, has to take two jokers in this race.
00:46 The fifth and final lap. O'Donovan and Marklund surely will go ahead of the Norwegian Sivitz-Vardel.
00:53 There goes Patrik O'Donovan. Marklund is tucked in behind him in the Ford Fiesta.
00:57 Svardel knuckles into third position for a qualification in the final.
01:02 And it's green for go in semifinal number two, and they're already bumping and barging here.
01:08 Oh, really aggressive start. Yuri Balevsky's done.
01:12 Wow, what happened there? Lineman had an absolute rocket start, ricocheted off the entire field,
01:17 but Manning nails the kerb on the inside, going on to the loose. Lineman leads.
01:21 Front left suspension is definitely broken on Lineman.
01:24 The wheels moving backwards and forwards in the arch.
01:27 It'd be amazing if he can hold on to the lead with that happening.
01:29 And he's pulling the margin on Baumanis.
01:31 Look at the front wheel there, smashing backwards and forwards.
01:35 I think this could be one of the drives of the year if Lineman gets this to the finish.
01:40 No panic at all. Baumanis is not going to challenge the Danish leader.
01:45 Fresh off the back of a podium in round four and qualifies for the final in round five.
01:51 Ulrik Lineman, the Danish driver, takes top spot.
01:55 Green light for go in round five of the European Rallycross Championship,
02:01 and Anton Marklund gets a great start.
02:04 The aggressive Thomas Kariy comes hurtling round the outside,
02:08 but to no avail. It is Anton Marklund now looking to score a maximum point score
02:14 and go comfortably ahead in the championship standings.
02:18 Lineman is second, but Marklund cannot get more than a second ahead of the Danish driver.
02:23 Lots of shouting going on in the spotters tower saying "Push, push, push!"
02:27 Lineman's going to Joker a lap early.
02:29 This is all about Anton Marklund just keeping the gap big enough.
02:32 It's four seconds at the moment to get in and out of the Joker on this final lap.
02:37 Marklund now climbing in. He's got to Joker on this one.
02:40 Going into the extra rear. Look how dry it is on the track now.
02:43 Just needs to keep it neat and tidy into these final few corners.
02:47 He's got it. Marklund wins the fifth round of six of the European Rallycross Championship for 2023.
02:55 Last time I was here back in 2018, we had the worst start of the year.
03:03 We had a lot of troubles with the car and really struggling,
03:06 but we managed to come here and with some luck win the event.
03:09 And then I was sitting in the car crying and to be honest, the relief I feel at the moment
03:14 to have the first win of the year is, it's hard to keep the tears back.
03:19 Now let's get those championship standings.
03:23 There are 20 points separating Yanis Boumanis from Anton Marklund.
03:29 And there are 23 points up for grabs at the final race of the season.
03:35 Marklund is in a brilliant position to retain his title for 2023.
03:40 [Music]
03:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]