Intro:

In only the third event for his EKS RX team, two-time German Touring Car champion and home favourite Mattias Ekström won the fifth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Holjes Motorstadion, Sweden, on Sunday.

Script:

35,000 fans flocked to Sweden's Holjes Motorstadion to witness the final of the World Rallycross Championship fifth round on Sunday.

A thrilling encounter saw home favourite Sebastian Eriksson take the early advantage -- with Petter Solberg in close attendance.

Solberg made a massive error, though, by exiting the joker lap in fourth behind Eriksson.

Another Swede, Mattias Ekström, now assumed the lead.

Eriksson then lost second place after spinning at the start of the final lap.

That should have handed the runner-up spot to Solberg after contact between the two.

But he picked up a puncture and was passed by Andreas Bakkerud just before the chequered flag.

Championship leader Reinis Nitiss just missed out on stealing third from Solberg. Eriksson limped home in sixth.

Ekström recorded a winning time of 4 minutes, 29.881 seconds; more than 10 seconds ahead of Bakkerud.