The 2018 FIA World Rallycross season is upon us and that can only mean one thing: Fantasy World RX!

Each week, we’ll do our best to provide sharp, reliable insight into the best picks of the week—beginning with this weekend’s opener in Barcelona.

Pool A: Bakkerud, Kristoffersson, Ekstrom, and Solberg

The pick: Mattias Ekstrom

Ekstrom was dominant at Barcelona RX in 2017, winning for the second consecutive year. He loves the track and calls it his favorite stop on the calendar, thanks, in large part, to course characteristics that are particularly well suited to him. 

You can go a different direction with this pick if you’d like, but we’ll take the guy who just keeps on winning here.

Q1 Draw | The grids are out for the first qualifying session of 2018! Here's how they line up...#WorldRX #CatalunyaRX pic.twitter.com/XHKVfOJP5a

— FIA World Rallycross (@FIAWorldRX) April 13, 2018

Pool B: Eriksson, K. Hansen, Loeb, and T. Hansen

The pick: Timmy Hansen

Last year, Hansen worked his way into the final—only to have some trouble at the start line that left him a half-second off the lead from the jump. Still, Hansen recovered and raced admirably. 

Joker lap strategy left him bumper-to-bumper with a group of four that included Andreas Bakkerud, Petter Solberg, and Johan Kristoffersson for practically the duration of the race—resulting in a well-earned fifth-place finish that could’ve easily been a couple of spots better.

Watch the World RX of Catalunya-Barcelona LIVE on FloRacing

Date: Sunday, April 15 | Time: 7 AM CDT

Pool C: Chicherit, Baumanis, Grosset-Janin, Grönholm, Larsson and Timerzyanov

The pick: Janis Baumanis

Baumanis is an intriguing dark horse in Barcelona, thanks, at least in some part, to a consistent second half of 2017 that saw him in six consecutive semifinals—and two finals—after failing to escape the heats in four of the first six events of the season.

What’s more, Baumanis has had substantial success at this track, placing fourth in 2016, which remains his career-best finish.

Pool D: Demoustier, Knapick, Qing Hua, and Bennett

The pick: Oliver Bennett

Of the options in Pool D, it would seem that Bennett is the clear standout. A 25-year-old former motocross rider, Bennett finished third in the British Rallycross Championship in 2017, finding the podium in all but two events.

He will run part-time on the World RX calendar in 2018, behind the wheel of a new Mini Cooper S Supercar. And, while he’s the deepest of sleepers in Barcelona, Bennett has the chops to stick around well into Sunday.

Bonus Question 1: Which team will score the most points?

The pick: EKS Audi Sport

It’ll come down to EKS and PSRX, to be sure. 

.@EKSRX have really helped us out... You can now tell the difference between Mattias Ekstrom and @AndreasBakkerud easy peasy... Mattias has the WORDING "RED BULL" and a WHITE ROOF. Andreas "Red Bull logo" and BLUE MATTE ROOF #WorldRX pic.twitter.com/zwjTTFparq

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) April 10, 2018

A year ago, it was joker lap strategy that separated Mattias Ekstrom and Andreas Bakkerud—and, ultimately, helped Ekstrom cruise to victory. But it was Bakkerud who led the congested group that included both PSRX drivers, Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson, ultimately finishing third.

In World RX, PSRX reigns but EKS is coming—beginning in Barcelona, where a 1-2 finish is well within the realm of possibility.

Bonus Question 2: Which driver will finish the highest in free practice?

The pick: Timur Timerzyanov

It’s a hunch as much as anything, but Timerzyanov was the eighth-quickest during free practice last year, notching a 45.4—less than a second off of Kristoffersson's top time of 44.424.

Bonus Question 3: How many French drivers will make the final?

The pick: 0

Ultimately, it should come down to whether or not Sébastien Loeb makes the final—and he very well could. But the pool of drivers is as deep as it's ever been. And, with respect to Guerlain Chicherit and Jerome Grosset-Janin, the simplified version of this question is, essentially: “Loeb or the field?”

Fantasy RX 2018 is officially open!

Make sure to get your predictions in before midnight on Friday and let us know who you've chosen if you're feeling confident! ?

Get your predictions in: https://t.co/95FKu1vwbF#WorldRX #FantasyRX pic.twitter.com/emWQ88uqmJ

— FIA World Rallycross (@FIAWorldRX) April 11, 2018

Bonus Question 4: How many drivers will take the joker lap on lap one?

The pick: 2

It didn’t do PSRX any favors a year ago, but it stands to reason that a driver or two will take the plunge right away. 

It’s tough to glean any insight from past races, with the joker being relocated on the course. But drivers who are shuffled to the back may well decide that the guarantee of clean air coming out of the extra route on lap one is worth a shot.

Bonus Question 5: How many of the drivers in the final will be former WRX event winners?

The pick: 5

Give us some combination of Kristoffersson, Solberg, the Hansen brothers, Ekstrom, and/or Bakkerud, with an out-of-nowhere Timo Schneider type sliding in there. 

Don't forget to make your own picks over at Fantasy RX. Then, tune into the World RX of Catalunya-Barcelona LIVE on FloRacing on Sunday to watch your drivers in action.