Finland’s Niclas Gronholm used a lap one joker lap strategy to take the quickest time in Q4 at the Team Verksted World RX of Norway, round five of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and secure his first ever career TQ (top qualifier).

Sweden’s Timmy Hansen led Q4 Race 4 from turn 1 but Gronholm closed the gap and took the lead when Team Hansen MJP’s Hansen took the joker on lap four. Gronholm’s third quickest time of the weekend ensured he will start on pole position in semi-final one this afternoon, with GRX Taneco teammate Timur Timerzyanov alongside after the Russian followed Gronholm into the joker in Q4.

Hansen was P2 in Q4 and will start on pole position in semi-final two, with home hero Andreas Bakkerud also on the front row. Monster Energy RX Cartel’s Bakkerud laid down a solid time in Q4 Race 3 with a win and third quickest time that lifted him into the qualifying top 4.

Sweden’s Kevin Hansen was P4 in Q4 and will start on row two of semi-final one next to ESmotorsports Labas-GAS’ Kevin Abbring, with ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s Timo Scheider and GC Kompetition’s Anton Marklund on row two in semi-final two, even though Marklund was slowed with broken suspension in Q4. GCK Academy’s Rokas Baciuska and Cyril Raymond will take row three in semi-final one, and Team STARD’s Janis Baumanis and GCK’s Guerlain Chicherit will take up the final row in semi-final two, Chicherit climbing into the semis with a strong Q4 performance.

Oliver Eriksson is TQ in the RX2 International Series and Robin Larsson is TQ in the FIA European Rallycross Championship for Supercar.