The 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship roared into life in front of a capacity crowd at the iconic Lousada International Circuit in Portugal, with Niclas Grönholm delivering a clinical performance to secure the opening round victory. Over 10,000 passionate fans packed the stands to witness the world’s best RX drivers go head-to-head in a high-stakes battle that set the tone for an electrifying new season.
Qualifying: Early Moves and Momentum
Sunday’s action began with the final two qualifying heats, where reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson made a strong recovery to claw back points after Saturday’s shaky start. A flawless launch in his semi-final saw Kristoffersson’s ICE-powered KMS machine beat out the electric contenders, earning him a front-row seat in the final grid.
Meanwhile, Niclas Grönholm of the CE Dealer Team continued his consistent form, clinching pole position with a decisive semi-final win. Timmy and Kevin Hansen followed closely behind, each securing second in their respective semi-finals to line up on the second row. Rounding out the final grid were Ole Christian Veiby (KMS) and Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team), setting the stage for a fierce six-car showdown.
The Final: Strategy, Contact & Pure Speed
With slightly cooler conditions on race day, the on-track action was anything but cold. As the lights went green, Grönholm surged ahead into turn one, squeezing Kristoffersson’s line and opening the door for the Hansen brothers to move into podium contention.
Kevin Hansen and Kristoffersson immediately took the Joker Lap after turn six, while Veiby and Andersson moved up in the order. However, the gap to the leaders was already significant. At half-distance, Timmy Hansen began closing in on Grönholm, applying pressure and setting up a tense final phase.
Drama struck as Kevin Hansen made an aggressive move on Andersson, followed by Kristoffersson making contact with her in the final turn—eliminating her from contention.
With all three frontrunners taking their Joker Laps on the last lap, a chaotic five-car drag race into the final hairpin ensued. The Hansen brothers clashed at the apex, allowing Veiby to snatch third place in a photo finish. Timmy Hansen held onto second, while Grönholm’s smart race management delivered him a well-earned victory—his ninth World RX career win.
Final Results – Lousada, Portugal (Round 1)
🥇 1st – Niclas Grönholm (CE Dealer Team)
🥈 2nd – Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team)
🥉 3rd – Ole Christian Veiby (Kristoffersson Motorsport)
4th – Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team)
5th – Johan Kristoffersson (Kristoffersson Motorsport)
6th – Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team)
Driver Reactions
Niclas Grönholm:
“It was a perfect rallycross execution – maybe not the best pace throughout, but the launches and positioning were key. I’m super happy, and now it’s time for a vacation with my son!”
Timmy Hansen:
“I played with my lines to find a move on Niclas, but just couldn’t quite make it stick. We’ll break it all down in our Hansen Brothers Podcast dropping Thursday!”
Ole Christian Veiby:
“That third place was a surprise! I came out of the Joker and saw a dust cloud—suddenly, I was on the podium. We’ll aim higher next round.”
A Perfect Start to the 2025 Season
“The return to Lousada was fantastic. Huge thanks to the local organisers, volunteers, and fans. The atmosphere was electric and it’s clear this community loves rallycross.”
FIA Road Sport Director Emilia Abel praised the weekend’s success:
With the bar now set sky-high, the World RX heads into the rest of the 2025 calendar with renewed energy, fierce competition, and a fanbase that’s as passionate as ever.
