On a weekend when tempers flared both on and off-track, Johan Kristoffersson produced an ice-cool performance in Hell to win World RX of Norway on 18 June, with female drivers notably reaching the final in three of the four categories.
Kristoffersson was untouchable around the undulating Lånkebanen circuit, maintaining his flawless SuperPole record before dominating all four heats, his semi-final and the final to tally his 37th career victory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s milestone 100th round.
That secured the five-time world champion a second consecutive maximum score behind the wheel of his Volkswagen RX1e, extending his advantage at the top of the title standings to 13 points.
“The field is getting tighter and tighter, but we went to Montalegre and were quick and now we’ve come here, to a very different type of track, and we’ve been quick again,”. “It’s been a challenge with the track conditions constantly changing, and I played it smart and tried not to get involved in too many incidents. Now, we look ahead to Höljes. Driving there with these new electric cars will be super-fun!”
Kristoffersson reflected
Behind the Swede, a brutal battle played out for the honour of finishing ‘best-of-the-rest’. Ultimately, it was Niclas Grönholm who prevailed in that particular fight as the Finn secured the runner-up spoils for CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment.
In only his second outing in World RX’s electric era, double DTM champion Timo Scheider ascended the podium for the first time in almost three years with a stellar performance behind the wheel of ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport’s SEAT Ibiza RX1e.
Klara Andersson took the chequered flag fourth, replicating the result that she achieved on her impressive World RX debut in Hell last summer. On an historic day for the sport, compatriot Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky placed a superb third on her debut in the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, with Cristina Gutiérrez fifth in the same race and Mandie August a career-best fourth in Euro RX1.
Home hero Ole Christian Veiby finished fifth in the World RX final for Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS. The Norwegian collided with Timmy Hansen in heat four, ruling the 2019 world champion out of the remainder of the event and leading to an angry confrontation.
Nine-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb completed the World RX finalists in his Lancia Delta Evo-e RX, while Kevin Hansen exited proceedings at the semi-final stage after picking up a puncture in a Turn One clash with Kristoffersson.
In RX2e, Isak Sjökvist got his title challenge off to the perfect start with a win first time out for Hansen Motorsport junior outfit #YellowSquad. Sivert Svardal described his breakthrough Euro RX1 victory as ‘the best day of his life’ after holding off defending champion Anton Marklund by the tiniest of margins. Nils Volland was similarly a first-time winner in Euro RX3, leading home a Volland Racing one-two-three.
The season continues on 1-2 July with another full bill of racing at Höljes in Sweden – rallycross’ legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ – featuring World RX, RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3.
FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team + 1.755s
3. Timo SCHEIDER (DEU) ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport + 3.675s
4. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team + 5.438s
5. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS + 6.372s
6. Sébastien LOEB (FRA) Special ONE Racing + 6.798s
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