It was a weekend of Turkish delight for Kristoffersson Motorsport (KMS) at the Istanbul round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, as Norway’s Ole Christian Veiby powered to his third career World RX victory and Johan Kristoffersson secured a record-equalling eighth FIA world title.
The Swedish powerhouse left Istanbul with a clean 1-2 finish, the Drivers’ Championship, and the Teams’ Championship – cementing their iron grip on the sport. Kristoffersson now joins Sébastien Ogier as an eight-time FIA World Champion, one shy of the all-time benchmark held by Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.
Veiby’s Flawless Weekend
From the outset, Veiby looked unstoppable. He dominated qualifying, topped nearly every heat, and carried that momentum into the semi-finals, where he led comfortably to book a front-row start for the final. Once the lights went out, the Norwegian launched his Volkswagen Polo RX1e into the lead, holding off Kristoffersson’s relentless pressure with a composed and commanding drive.
“It’s an amazing feeling. The car worked brilliantly, and it feels really good to beat Johan on pace in the final. Huge thanks to the team for all the support this season.”
Veiby said
Kristoffersson Secures His Place in History
For Kristoffersson, finishing runner-up was enough to lock in his eighth FIA world crown, further extending his status as the most dominant driver in rallycross history. Playing the ultimate team role, he shadowed Veiby throughout the final, covering off Niclas Grönholm’s challenge while helping secure maximum points for KMS.
“I feel exceptionally proud – of myself, the team, and our partners. Ole Christian drove really well today, and it was a great way to end the season with another 1-2.”
Kristoffersson reflected
Young Talent Steals the Spotlight
While the KMS duo dominated, the story of the day also belonged to 16-year-old Joni Turpeinen, the youngest World RX driver in history. On his debut, the Finnish wildcard impressed with a composed drive that saw him hold third for much of the final before being edged out by Grönholm on the last lap. Turpeinen still claimed a remarkable fourth place, marking himself as a star of the future.
Grönholm secured third for the CE Dealer Team, capping off a strong season that included multiple podiums. His teammate Klara Andersson finished fifth after a challenging weekend, while Germany’s Nils Volland rounded out the top six.
A Season of KMS Dominance
For Kristoffersson Motorsport, Istanbul marked their second 1-2 finish of the 2025 season and the clinching of both Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships. Their dominance reaffirms their place at the pinnacle of World RX, with Kristoffersson equalling Ogier’s tally of eight FIA world titles and Veiby cementing his reputation as a serious contender for the future.
With Kristoffersson eyeing Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena’s all-time record of nine FIA world titles, the stage is set for an even more historic 2026 season.