PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool |
The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver currently holds a 13-point advantage over closest rival Niclas Grönholm in the drivers’ classification.
"I am looking forward to Höljes, a track I think everybody would like to win on. It is going to be tough competition, like always. It is probably one of the most challenging tracks to set up everything one hundred percent right. Hopefully, continue to score good results in front of our fans and partners," Grönholm said.
Kristoffersson will face stiff opposition, however, not least from countryman Hansen (Hansen World RX Team), as he strives to kick-start his season following accidents that have uncharacteristically kept him out of the final in both rounds so far.
“The season clearly hasn’t started too well for us and we’re not in the position we had hoped to be, but we definitely took a step forward in terms of pace last time out and I’m excited to see if we can carry that forward,” Hansen said. “I’m not in the mood to hold anything back – I’m just going to send it!”
With the event universally known as the ‘Magic Weekend’, Hansen knows the entertainment won’t be limited to just the track, with fans already setting up camp in ‘Happy Street’, ready to party the night away once the racing ends each day.
“There’s a huge festival atmosphere,” he reveals, “and competing in front of so many people on home soil is just an incredible feeling that we don’t get anywhere else.”
Kevin Hansen followed his older brother across the line for a one-two finish in 2021, and the Swedish squad will be eager to repeat that result two years on. Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) sits an impressive fourth in the standings as she prepares to make her maiden appearance at Höljes in World RX, while WRC record man Sébastien Loeb – returning to the circuit for the first time since 2018 – is set to thrill fans behind the wheel of Special ONE Racing’s Lancia Delta Evo-e RX.
THE TRACK: Höljes Motorstadion
THE TRACK INFORMATION:
Along with the previous round at Höljes, Lohéac is widely considered one of the two ‘crown jewel’ events of World Rallycross. Unlike Höljes though, it’s less technical and less undulating.
That doesn’t mean the 1.07-kilometer track lacks a punch – rather the track is not forgiving for those who stray even slightly off-line or brake a little too late. And if it rains, all bets are off – the second half of the lap will become highly unpredictable.
2023 FIA WORLD RX OF SWEDEN: ENTRY LIST
Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - VW Polo RX1e
Sebastien Loeb (Special ONE Racing) - Lancia Delta Evo-e RX
Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e
Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e
Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e
Guerlain Chicherit (Special ONE Racing) - Lancia Delta Evo-e RX
Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - VW Polo RX1e
Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - VW Polo RX1e
Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e
Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) SEAT Ibiza RX1e