PREVIEW: Kristoffersson hunts seventh crown at season finale in Türkiye.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

It all comes down to this... For one final time in 2024, the FIA World Rallycross Championship's 'Battle of Technologies' reaches its climax with the championship-deciding double-header in Türkiye.  

With a handy 46-point lead heading into the title decider, Johan Kristoffersson stands on the brink of an extraordinary seventh title. 

This year, the Super Swede has not had it all his own way with the challenging 'Battle of Technologies' concept, where sustainably fuelled, internal combustion-engined cars would go up against electric machinery but with his wealth of experience and skill, he overcame any obstacle, to quite comfortably lead the championship. And, following on from a two-month break, the championship returns in Turkey, but nothing can be taken for granted.

Kristoffersson's main championship rival is none other than Kevin Hansen who leads the EV charge, and last time out in Montalegre, he quite confidently showed that he is no walkover, finishing third, and returning just a day later to register his first win of the season after an intense battle with Johan Kristoffersson. 

Ole Christian Veiby, currently third in the drivers' championship has been a regular front-runner this season but has the 2015 World RX of Turkey event winner Timmy Hansen hot on his heels, just two points a drift. 

Behind the top four, are CE Dealer Team's duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson who have had blistering launches and shown fine form on occasion – with the Finn winning in Hungary, and Andersson coming within a whisker of doing the same on home soil at Höljes. 

With the surprise omission of Rene Munnich and Anthony Pelfrene on the final entry list, there are intriguing and exciting additions, the likes of reigning Euro RX1 and British RX Champion Patrick O'Donovan, ice-cool but fast Juha Rytkönen, who finished second to Kristoffersson on home soil in Kouvala in 2020, and newly-crowned French champion Steven Bossard, who will line up for PGRX (Hyundai i20s).

Who will come out on top at the 1.35km Istanbul Park Circuit? LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE!

THE TRACK: ISTANBUL PARK

THE TRACK INFORMATION:

Track Length: 1,351.8 meters in length

Number of Corners: 14 

Tarmac/Dirt: 58%/42%

Previous Winner [2015]: Timmy Hansen

World RX Debut: 2014

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

TALK THE TALK:

KMS-HORSE Powertrain

DRIVER: Johan Kristoffersson: 

"Nothing is settled yet. As I remember it, it was tight at the start and very slippery on the gravel. I will keep my cool, be patient and try to stay out of trouble, but in addition to my own result, we will also try to get Ole Christian up on the podium."

DRIVER: Ole Christian Veiby

"The goal is to maintain the medal position, but with a little luck, it is quite possible to finish second as well. It would of course be fun to finish at the highest level and to win a race for a change. I think this track can suit us quite well. The slippery surface can be an advantage for us. Competitive drivers, and all fighting for the points. That can be positive."

HANSEN WORLD RX TEAM

DRIVER: Timmy Hansen

“It is the final race of the season, and it feels like we’re on good form. At the last two events this year both Kevin and I have won a race each, and the car is feeling great. I’ve always enjoyed the track in Istanbul. I took pole position in both Finals the two times we have been there and went on to take the win in 2015. I’m very excited to go back. Hopefully, we can dial everything in and secure two podium finishes in the championship.”

DRIVER: Kevin Hansen

“I’m very excited for Türkiye and I enjoyed the track when I drove it in RX2. Türkiye is a big motorsport-loving country, so it’s great to have the World Championship there and open to the public. A great run last time out in Portugal in September means we’re extremely positive, but we may struggle with the extra weight of the electric car at this track. With three good drivers joining I also think it will be great entertainment. Hopefully, we can leave with a double win and at least second place in the championship standings.”

CE DEALER TEAM 

DRIVER: Niclas Grönholm

“Our goal in Türkiye is to get back to the strong performance we showed at the start of the season. A third-place finish in the drivers' championship is still within reach, so I'll be pushing hard for that and of course the teams’ championship. The track is new to me, so there will probably be a learning curve throughout the weekend, but we're determined to end the season on a high note"

DRIVER: Klara Andersson

"I am excited to be back racing again. It's my first time in Türkiye, and a new track for me, which is a thrilling new challenge. Our goals and ambitions are high, we want to finish the season on top and score as many points as possible. Of course, it’s tough with a larger field and many fast drivers. Hopefully, we’ve learned from the past two weekends and can show the true potential of this groundbreaking team."

2024 FIA WORLD RX OF TURKIYE: ENTRY LIST

Johan Kristoffersson (KMS-Horse Powertrain) - VW Polo KMS 601 RX

Ole Christian Veiby (KMS-Horse Powertrain) - VW Polo KMS 601 RX

Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e

Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e

Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e

Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e

Patrick O'Donovan (Team RX Racing) - Peugeot 208 WRX

Juha Rytkonen (PGRX) - Hyundai i20

Steven Bossard (PGRX) - Hyundai i20

Round 9 & 10 - World RX of Turkiye (CAT Times)

SATURDAY:

HEAT 1: 11:00

HEAT 2: 13:00

SEMI-FINAL: 15:00

FINAL: 15:42

PODIUM + CLOSER: 15:50

SUNDAY:

HEAT 1: 10:30

HEAT 2: 12:00

SEMI-FINAL: 12:00

FINAL: 15:42

PODIUM + CLOSER: 15:50

2024 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 8]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 206 POINTS

2) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 160

3) Ole Christian Veiby (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 149

4) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 147

5) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 139

6) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 122

7) Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - 76

8) Anthony Pelfrene (JDM Raptor Racing) - 71

9) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 33

10) Jankó Wieszt (Impossible RX Team) - 28

11) Sondre Evjen (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 15

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport confirms two-car assault for World RX’s new electric era in 2022

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport has formally confirmed a two-car entry in the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship, with team manager Dominik Greiner hailing the forthcoming electric switch as an ‘exciting new dawn’.

The German squad first entered World RX with René Münnich at the Estering midway through the inaugural season in 2014, with the German already a regular on the FIA European Rallycross Championship since 2007.

Over the next few years, the team became a stalwart in the rallycross scene at both World and European level, fielding cars for Münnich, 2015 Euro RX Supercar Champion Tommy Rustad, double DTM Champion Timo Scheider, and World RX event-winner Reinis Nitišs.

In 2017, Münnich achieved the team’s first European podium finish at Höljes, before reaching the podium again in Germany en route to a career-best fifth in the overall standings in 2019.

Team-mate Timo Scheider added to the silverware collection with a third-place finish in Sweden in 2020, paving the way to a strong season for the squad this year in which the squad has been a consistent front-runner and podium-challenger on the World Championship stage, despite being dealt more than their fair share of ill-fortune (electrical issues, battery issues, and prop-shaft failures).

René progressed through to the World RX final for the first time with a fifth-place finish in the Catalunya curtain-raiser, but the best was yet to come. At Lohéac last month, the team principal/driver made history as the first German ever to win a round in the top class of the European Championship in the series’ near 40-year history, going on to secure the sixth place spot in the points table at season’s end.

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport has Kristoffersson Motorsport in confirming its 2022 World Championship plans. 

"We are delighted to be entering two cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2022. René has been a great supporter of the series for many years now, and he strongly believes in the new promoter’s vision for a more sustainable future," Dominik Greiner, Team Manager, ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport, said.

"As a team, we are very open and enthusiastic about embracing new technologies, and rallycross is the ideal discipline for electrification with its short, sharp format. For us, it makes complete sense to sign up right from the start of World RX’s exciting new dawn, alongside our continuing commitment to the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s combustion-powered Euro RX1 category. Everybody at ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport is extremely motivated to be engaging in these two complementary programmes in 2022."

A total of 14 electric kits have already been reserved from Kreisel Electric, the company behind the cutting-edge RX1e car for next year, with faster acceleration and greater all-round performance than ever before courtesy of 500kW delivered to the twin motors – equivalent to 680bhp – and 880Nm of instant torque.

"It’s great to be able to reveal ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport as our second team for the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign," Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said. "Since setting the team up 15 years ago, René’s tremendous passion for the sport has driven both his and his ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s performance to new levels, and we were all delighted to see him deservedly claim his first European Championship victory earlier this season."

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport to field three SEATs in Barcelona.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media.

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport is set to field a three-car strong entry for next month's curtain-raiser in Catalunya, with two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider returning for a third full season with the German squad. 

Scheider is one of the most versatile drivers in the World RX field, having won the Spa 24 Hours and Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance classics and placed third in class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The 42-year-old made his World RX debut with ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport in Barcelona in 2015. His maiden podium came in the same event two years later with the MJP Racing Team Austria.

His first full season in the championship in 2019 saw him progress through to the final on three occasions en route to ninth in the drivers' standings. A year later, he improved to eighth overall, adding another podium finish to his tally in the opening round at Höljes.

The German returns to happy hunting ground, as he kicks-starts a third full-season with ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport. 

"It’s so nice to start the season in Barcelona because this event has been a special one for me since 2017 when I achieved my first World RX podium there," Scheider said. "The wait has already been too long – more than half-a-year away from World RX is far too much – but now it’s almost time to go racing again!"

Scheider will be partnered in Münnich’s three-strong stable of SEAT Ibizas for the Catalunya curtain-raiser by team owner Rene Münnich and Mandie August.

Mandie August is the most active female racer in the discipline. Twice a top-three championship finisher at Super1600 level in domestic competition, the German participated in the same class in Euro RX from 2008 to 2015. Behind the wheel of first a Volkswagen Polo and subsequently a Škoda Fabia, she reached the semi-final stage on several occasions and scored points in more than half of the events she entered in her final season.

After clinching the Rallycross Challenge Europe crown in 2016 in an Audi S3, she returned to Euro RX but in the headlining Supercar category under the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport banner. A full season in 2019 saw her secure a brace of semi-final berths and 12th spot in the points.

The 47-year-old improved upon that to claim 11th in the classification in 2020, progressing through to the semi-final in both rounds of the truncated campaign. She then made her World Championship bow in the double-header season finale in Barcelona, in so doing becoming only the second woman ever to start a World RX event – and she is now set to do battle again at the same circuit next month.