Ide claims career-best result as Kristoffersson suffers deflating exit.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Enzo Ide offered KYB EKS JC some consolation with a fourth-place finish at the second round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Höljes in Sweden on Sunday, as Kristoffersson suffered a deflating exit. 

In only the second event of his first full World RX campaign, Ide claimed a third-place finish in the semi-final (with a puncture). Having saved a set of new tyres for the final. The Belgian driver had a decent start from the back row but opted for a first lap joker, which as the race progressed provided key as he secured a fourth-place finish. 

"It’s been fun to drive in Höljes again and I’m really, really happy with the result. The weekend has been a bit up and down for me, but EKS JC has done a good job of getting the car where I want it. I am very grateful to compete with this team, which constantly helps me to be comfortable in the car, develop myself, and push forward," Ide said.

"After the semi-finals, I had some mixed feelings, as I had a puncture but was able to make it to the final. I chose to take the joker straight away in the final and that allowed me to set good pace and pick up places. I lost some focus for a while, but my spotter pushed me to focus and I managed to keep it together. I set some good lap times and coming fourth, in front of two very fast drivers, feels really good."

Whilst team-mate and reigning World RX Champion Johan Kristoffersson had a weekend to forget despite topping Q1 and Q4 with the fastest times and qualifying second overall in the Intermediate Classification to start on pole position for semi-final two. 

The Swede aced the start in the semi-final to lead the race through the first corner. He led from the front and looked set for a place in the final. But, on lap 3, a double puncture caused by landing over the jump meant he would go no further. 

"The weekend started really well with the fastest time in Q1. Then in Q2 and Q3 we did not really have the speed we wanted, but we changed the setup a bit and got into Q4 with good speed," Kristoffersson said. "It felt really good before the semi-finals, and I felt more comfortable in the car again. In the semis, I made a good start and took the lead but on lap three I got a little too sideways, in turn two, and landed on the kerb after the jump. I got a double puncture and it was over."

Having failed to make the final, Johan now lies joint fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.

"It’s still early in the championship. At the same time, the margins are getting smaller, and our situation is a little more difficult now," he said. "But it is what it is, and I won’t think about it. We all know how fast things can happen in motorsport, these first two races I have raced the new car to me and I am still learning. We have to take the lessons from here with us, and simply try to do better next time." 

KYB EKS JC not entirely satisfied despite podium finish in Catalunya.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Three-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson was the man to beat in the Catalan heat having set the pace throughout the weekend and claimed a podium in his first start with the KYB EKS JC team, despite disqualification from the first qualifier.

The 32-year-old set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the season and then won both Q1 and Q2 on Friday evening. However, a problem with a cable connecting the FIA data logger led to disqualification from the Q1 race, leaving him down in 15th overnight.

Could Kristoffersson fight back on Saturday? He sure did. The Swede set another pair of fastest times, climbing to sixth overall to secure a second-row spot on the grid for the semi-finals. 

The second place in the semis was followed by a battle for race victory in the final, where Kristoffersson finished third. 

"I had a big fight back after the penalty, but we were the fastest in all qualifying rounds and set the fastest lap time in the final," Kristoffersson said. "The team has worked really hard and the car has been a dream to drive. Unfortunately, we could not finish on top this time, but we had great pace and I really enjoyed driving the Audi."

After round one, Kristoffersson lies third in the drivers’ standings, nine points off the lead.

"Now we just have to keep pushing. Even if you are fast on the track, there is a lot that can happen in rallycross, as we have seen," he adds. "This was the first round and even though we were very fast here, it’s important to continue working on every detail and always develops."

"Things change quickly and I need more time in the car to work with the team to find exactly the right setup for all conditions. But, I already know that the car's performance is very, very good and we look forward to Höljes."

Johan's teammate Enzo Ide, racing in his first full World RX season had a decent pace, winning a qualifying heat race. However, a crash in Q4 meant that even though he made it onto the semi-final grid, he retired from the race.

"It hasn’t been an easy event for me," Ide admits. "I had some technical problems in Q1 and Q2, which the team fixed for Q3. Then in Q4, I crashed out, hard. I drove a little too aggressively, charged too hard over the jump and something in the car broke. The guys did an incredible job to fix big damage at the front of the car to enable me to start the semi-finals, but after a few laps the car lost power and I had to stop."

"Overall I'm happy with the speed, but I'm still struggling to put all the pieces together."

The 30-year-old Belgian driver admits that having Johan Kristoffersson as a teammate is a dream come true. 

"It’s difficult to compare with Johan, he is, in my opinion, the best rallycross driver we have ever seen and puts all the details together, always," he said. "Having him as a teammate is a dream come true. Even though it was his first race in the car, he is incredibly fast, and he helps me develop and feel more comfortable in the car."

The Swedish squad leaves round one of the FIA World Rallycross Championship third in the teams' standings. 

Joel Christoffersson (team principal) admits that a third-place for Kristoffersson was "not what we wanted considering the speed" but admits after the disqualification from Q1, his team can be "very happy" with the result. 

"Johan was unstoppable on track in qualifying and it feels very sad not to fight for the victory in the way we wanted. Even if what happened wasn’t our fault, we are of course responsible and must take the consequences," Christoffersson said.

As for Enzo Ide, Christoffersson was happy with his performance over the course of the weekend despite a crash in Q4. 

"The semi-final was his goal this weekend, so we have to be happy with that. Both Johan and Enzo have shown that they are fast, and the whole team really can’t wait for the next race in Höljes," he said.

"It feels really good to have shown the speed like this in the season-opener and Johan is feeling more and more at home in the car. Now we have some stuff to perfect and will be ready to fight on in Höljes."

Ide 'not completely happy with' RallyX Nordic outing.

PHOTO CREDIT: EKS JC.

Belgian racing driver Enzo Ide is not particularly happy with his RallyX Nordic outing in Denmark over the weekend. 

Ide displayed front-running pace, including setting a fastest time but unfortunately didn't start in either final. He finished fourth in the semi-finals on Saturday and was then disqualified from the semi-final on Sunday. 

"I’ve just started with rallycross, but the speed is already there and as I’ve already said, I drive in RallyX Nordic to gather experience before the World Championship," Ide said. "Even though I haven’t done so many races yet, I’ve tested a lot. We knew we would have a good pace even though it’s a completely different experience to drive against other drivers. I'm not completely happy with the weekend and there were some incidents and tough driving on the track, but I will take the positives going forward."

"My pace was good, but I also made some big mistakes. The team is very happy with my lap times and I adapted quickly, even though it was my first time at this track. EKS JC did a fantastic job all weekend, the car worked perfectly and I’m very happy with it. Unfortunately, there was no final and I know that the team is a little disappointed with my black flag in the semi-finals today, but at the same time, it was my fault and not theirs. Now I look forward to Holjes, it’s my favourite track.”

The 29-year-old currently lies sixth in the points after two rounds.

Enzo Ide commits to full World RX campaign.

PHOTO CREDIT: JC Raceteknik

Enzo Ide will contest the full 2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship at the wheel of an Audi S1 EKS RX Quattro for EKS JC. 

The Belgian driver has had a successful circuit racing career having won the Blancpain Sprint Series and finishing third in FIA GTE. He then switched to rallycross in 2018 and has since contested selected rounds of World RX, RallyX Nordic, and British RX. 

Ide made his return to World RX in 2020 for the season finale Barcelona double-header in where he claimed a 13th and 12th place finish respectively, but this time around he will return for the full season. 

He will also compete in the full RallyX Nordic series this year with EKS JC. 

"I’m very happy to announce my second championship campaign for 2021. Already last year I dreamed of racing in two full championships, but due to different circumstances, it wasn’t possible," Enzo Ide said. "I’m very happy to be able to drive a full season in both the World Championship and RallyX Nordic together with EKS JC this year in my Audi S1 ​​EKS RX. I know it will be tough because only the top drivers compete in World RX, but for me, it's just about gaining experience and learning by competing against these professional drivers."

Enzo has confirmed that his testing programme started with EKS JC last week. 

"We have started testing and it’s very exciting to be back in a rallycross car. I want to take this opportunity to thank both Joel (Christoffersson) and Mattias (Ekström) for believing in me. Without them, this would never have been possible. This is a dream come true and I will enjoy it one hundred percent. I hope I can have many years with this strong team, and continue to create memories with all the fantastic people that are part of it," he adds.

In 2021, Joel Christoffersson collaborated with Mattias Ekström’s EKS team to create a new team "EKS JC", and will race in World RX this year with Ide – who was announced last week as also racing in the RallyX Nordic season.

"It's fantastic that we can enter a full World Championship season with Enzo, and to be part of him making that step. He will race in two championships this year and I feel that we will be well prepared for both," Joel Christoffersson, EKS JC Team Principal, said. 

"RallyX Nordic will be good practice for him to help improve his pace as much as possible for World RX. Enzo showed a strong development curve last year and finished the season with two really good results. He definitely has the speed to be in the semi-finals and that will be the goal throughout the season."

The 2021 World RX season is set to take place over eight rounds at seven circuits, starting at Hell, Norway on June 12-13.

EKS JC to field Enzo Ide in RallyX Nordic

PHOTO CREDIT: Jan-Kåre Rafoss

Belgian racing driver Enzo Ide will continue his rallycross venture with the newly formed EKS JC team in the full RallyX Nordic season. 

Ide has a successful circuit racing background with a Champion’s title in Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup and several podium finishes in various GT endurance races. In 2018, he made a switch to rallycross and since has competed in selected World RX, RallyX Nordic, and British Rallycross Championship rounds. He finished the 2020 season with a double 2nd place in British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill and also qualified for Semi-finals at two FIA World RX races.

The 29-year-old Belgian has committed to the full RallyX Nordic championship season in 2021 with EKS JC, in the EKS built and prepared Audi S1 EKS RX Quattro Supercar. 

"I am really happy to commit to a full RallyX Nordic season this year. Last year at Höljes I had good fun, but it was also quite tough. At the time I had very little time in the car and I was not fully ready. It will be different this year, as I have had a chance to adapt to the car and it suits me very well. I feel really excited to get back in the rallycross car, and enjoy RallyX Nordic, which features very nice race tracks and has good competition," Enzo Ide said. 

"I am pleased that I can continue to drive the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro with the EKS JC team. It is important for me to have a good atmosphere in the team, like we always have. It makes me feel comfortable and it helps to improve my result on track, while we still have a good fun in the paddock."

EKS JC Team Manager Joel Christoffersson says the team will begin their preparations with a pre-season test session, in order to be fully ready for the race in Denmark. 

Christoffersson adds that the main goal for Enzo in the RallyX Nordic championship is "to show a consistent and growing pace." 

"If he [Enzo] can continue from where we left last year in Lydden, he will have no problems fighting for the Final and podiums in every race," he concludes.

The championship will consist of four races, starting in May at Nysum (Denmark), that will be followed by rounds at Höljes (Sweden), OuluZone (Finland), and Arvika (Sweden).