Johan Kristoffersson claims Romjulsrally victory by over a minute.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kristoffersson Motorsport

Double FIA World Rallycross and STCC Champion Johan Kristoffersson has claimed victory at the Romjulsrally in Norway. 

The Swede and co-driver Stig Rune Skjaermoen claimed victory by 1 minute and 11 seconds from the second place driver Frank Tore Larsen in a Ford Fiesta R5.

"Really good, considering the expectations I had on myself," Kristoffersson said while describing his first rally outing in the new Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

Kristoffersson Motorsport recently announced their intention to compete in the WRC2 series in 2019, under the banner: Volkswagen Dealer Team BAUHAUS. Johan tested his new Polo GTI R5 recently, but the Romjulsrally is the first official race entry for the new rallycar.

"I am very happy with the car, considering how little time we have had to test our set-up, but of course Volkswagen Motorsport has done a good job in the basics, so we do not have to invent the wheel," said Kristoffersson.

It was almost a year since Johan competed in the Romjulsrally, but there are challenges competing in a brand new car. Despite these challenges Johan and Skjaermoen claimed the fastest times in all six stages of the rally.

"Actually, it was just the first stretch that didn't fit that well. Then it somethings went well or pretty okay. I am most satisfied with the third section, only three kilometers log, but still we were six seconds ahead,” says Johan.

The Swede is confident with the performance of his Polo GTI R5 and the team.

"We have laid a good foundation for the continuation. That we won was a nice bonus," he said.

Johan Kristoffersson comes from a circuit racing background, but he feels that there is still room for improvement.

"I am way too untrained to say if I went with or without margin, but completely on the border it did not go," said Kristoffersson.

The Swede has given a positive assessment of his new co-driver Stig Rune Skjaermoen, but he has outlined a few challenges that he needs to work on to improve.

"Very good. There is more about me to learn how to hear what he says and understand how it should be done in practice," said Kristoffersson.

"I have prepared myself as well as I can, but everything cannot be done in advance. You have to drive more car simply," he concludes

The next challenge for the Swede will be Finnskogsvalsen in northern Värmland on the 12th of January 2019.

The Official Results from the 2018 Romjulsrally