Ekstrom: WRX pecking order to remain unclear until after Round 3

Ekstrom has attracted factory support from Audi for his EKS concern, which won in both 2015 and 2016, over the winter.

It is now one of four manufacturer-backed teams in World RX this year, alongside Team Peugeot-Hansen, Ken Block’s Ford-supported Hoonigan Racing Division and Petter Solberg’s new PSRX team that is in partnership with Volkswagen. 

“I wouldn’t even expect to give an answer (about the level of performance in the field) on Sunday, I will wait until after Hockenheim because everything has to settle in,” said Ekstrom.

“As in any sport you will see some small hiccups, some details that have been forgotten or not done by some teams. Some will be running like a Swiss watch.

"I don’t expect to give a favourite to anyone unless they have dominated the first two weekends, but I doubt there will be domination here this year.” 

Each of the six permanent teams in the series has arrived in Barcelona with either new or heavily revised machinery, following a significant amount of pre-season testing for most. 

Peugeot-Hansen’s 208 WRX has the biggest visual architectural changes, with aerodynamic influences to the front wings, and rear quarter panels leading into the rear bumper.

Volkswagen Motorsport’s new Polo GTI – based on the 2014 World Rally chassis – is unique in the field by running a front-mounted cooling package, the only car to do so for its debut weekend in Spain.

Ekstrom’s own development began straight after the season finale last year, with a three-day test at Mettet in Belgium. 

“I’ve learnt over the last three years that you can come here cocky, you can come here humble, it doesn’t really matter because the timesheets tell their own language,” said the double DTM champion, who will compete in both series again this year.

“I also learned that rallycross is a sport where there are a lot of details. In the past you looked and said this guy, this guy, this guys, this guy [will be fast], it was very easy to say the top five. Now you look at the grid and the top 10 is difficult. If you have a bad day, you will be fast out of the top 10.”