4-2 in Battle of Technologies - Hansen ends winless streak, as Kristoffersson dominates final day in Mettet.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Deflation, mechanical troubles, and snapping the gear lever were just a few of the issues that drivers had faced at Rounds 5 and 6 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Belgium, but one thing was evident, and that was the sustainably fueled internal combustion-engined and electric cars were closely matched throughout the weekend.

ROUND 5 (DAY 1) – TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.

Arriving at Mettet, there was one target on everyone’s mind, taking the fight to KMS - Horse Powertrain, who have amassed three victories, in their newly-developed Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX Supercar, along with gaining points in the championship standings.

With the scene set, it seemed that Johan Kristoffersson was the dominant force from the get-go, however, the Hansen brothers’ were hot on his heels, so much so that in the final rankings after two heats, the KMS driver had a quick Timmy Hansen in second after a dominant display of team-work. 

In the first semi-final, Kristoffersson lined up in pole with Andersson alongside in second with Kevin Hansen and OC Veiby on the second row. But, poor starts for both KMS drivers meant they were left on the line, as Hansen led Klara from Kristoffersson and Veiby into the opening corners. Fighting back, Johan and OC immediately took the joker lap, and began the push to close up to Andersson and leader Hansen. The six-time Champions pace was strong, but not strong enough for Kevin’s almighty defensive drive, while OC gained third after Andersson picked up a puncture ending her hopes of progression to the final.

Having booked a slot on the front row of the grid for the final, it was Timmy Hansen's chance to rubber stamp a front row start with a win in semi-final 2, the Swede started from pole position, but Anthony Pelfrene had other ideas, and got the jump at turn one, but unfortunately encountered mechanical issues allowing Hansen through and ultimately the heat win, whilst Rene Munnich with a smart joker strategy jumped Gronholm, and with it a place in the final, with Pelfrene going no further. 

The scene was set, the Hansen World RX Team locked out the front row for the final with Kristoffersson, Munnich, Veiby, and, Gronholm, but unfortunately, due to a mechanical issue Niclas could not participate and therefore team-mate Andersson took the final spot on the grid.

The Hansen brothers exploited their electric acceleration in the final covering any attempt from Kristoffersson at the start, and then produced a masterclass in teamwork to keep their countryman behind. As Kevin Hansen deployed the ultimate defensive to fend off the six-time champion, Timmy was able to establish an advantage, going on to end his endless run by more than two seconds from the nearest pursuer.

“It has been a tricky start to the year for the team but they have been working so hard to turn it around and it feels great to be able to pay them back with a race win,” Hansen said. “Kevin did a fantastic job backing up the field in the Final to help me build enough of a lead, and I'm happy he ended the race on the podium as well. It was a huge team effort all round but now we need to focus on doing the same tomorrow.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Behind the 2019 champion, it was rather a dramatic battle for who would finish on the podium, as a second lap joker paid off for Ole Christian Veiby claiming second place, behind him, 0.029 seconds was separating Kevin Hansen and Kristoffersson for the last spot on the podium, but a puncture derailed the KMS drivers’ hopes of a podium finish. 

"It was important for us as a team to not take any risks in this Final. We have been unlucky not to get on the podium sooner this year, but that makes today's result even sweeter," Kevin Hansen said after the final. "It felt like I had a couple of overtaking opportunities on that last lap but in the end it went right down to the wire and I managed to pip Johan [Kristoffersson] on the line. This is an amazing result for the team and well-deserved after so much hard work. There is still an imbalance between us and the KMS ICE cars but we'll keep pushing. Let's see if we can get a couple more podiums tomorrow!"

CE Dealer Team’s Klara Andersson ended the final in a distant fifth and Rene Munnich in sixth.

ROUND 6 (DAY 2) – THE FIGHT BACK!

After a day of punctures, and mechanical trouble, it was time to take a look at the data, replace any damaged parts, and or power unit components, and refine set-ups for another day of action, Round 6.

The Circuit Jules Tacheny should favour the internal combustion-engined Supercars, but after the first day of action, it was clear that the electric powertrains held their own, especially at starts and drag off the slow-speed corners. 

With another exciting battle on the cards, Johan Kristoffersson was ready to make amends after a late puncture in the final denied him of an almost certain podium, he also admitted to breaking his gear level in two pieces (in the final). 

Lining up for heat one, both KMS Polo's had slow launches yet again, which allowed Kevin Hansen to lead, but as the race progressed, it was Kristoffersson who shone in the Belgium sunshine beating Timmy, Kevin, and Veiby to the checkered flag. 

After one of the most challenging days just 24 hours earlier, Niclas Gronholm was on another level with his launches, rocketing off the line where he would remain to the checkered flag, with Rene Munnich in second ahead of Munnich and Anthony Pelfrene in the first heat of race two. 

One final shot to make a move up the rankings, the second heat of race one, saw ice-cool Finn Gronholm once again launching off the line to lead into turn one, but as the race progressed it was evident that Klara was closing on her team-mate to the extend that she backed off across the line to let Niclas take the heat race win, which she later said: 'we are in this together'. A great display of teamwork, with a 1-2 followed by Munnich and Pelfrene. 

In the second race of heat two, Kevin Hansen took the lead into turn one, with older brother Timmy trying to hold the outside line to protect his brother, but ran wide. OC Veiby also hit Kristoffersson sending him sideways, but the Swede was able to correct the car before turn two and began to hunt Kevin catching and closing in every braking zone. With an alternative joker strategy, Kristoffersson made the bid for clean air, and it paid off, he beat Kevin quite convincingly with Timmy in third and OC Veiby in fourth, who told the World RX reporter that he had issues with the ALS system or a throttle body in the race. 

The battle lines were drawn, EV and ICE both have their strengths, but Gronholm and Kristoffersson were both quick, but talk is cheap, results count, and in the semi-final one, Johan finally had a good start, whilst his team-mate Veiby pulled to the inside to try and cover off Timmy, the two made heavy contact, but with an inside line. Hansen won the initial battle until an earlier joker lap strategy saw Ole Christian jump the Peugeot driver, and finish second behind his teammate, Hansen third, and Munnich in a distant fourth - he would go no further. 

With very strong launches throughout the day, CE Dealer Team's Gronholm was ready for action and led from lights out to the checkered flag in the second semi-final with Kevin in second, Klara in third, and Pelfrene in fourth, unfortunately, he would also miss out on a spot for the final.

Kevin Hansen smoking his way to P2 with rubbing bodywork.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

The grid set for the final saw Johan Kristoffersson line up alongside Gronholm, the latter with the best starts all today. To beat him, the KMS driver needed a good start, and he achieved leading into turn one with Kevin Hansen squeezing behind Kristoffersson for the ideal inside line, whilst Gronholm filtered to third with an outside line. Ole Christian Veiby made contact with Klara Andersson sending him up on two wheels and into the rear of Kevin, which he was later reprimanded for. 

In fifth after the first few corners was Klara Andersson, she took an early first lap joker trying to use clean air to her advantage, but it was not to be. 

As the laps ticked by, the action behind ramped up, but Kristoffersson sailed off into the distance in a dominant display. 

The joker strategies played out, and Kevin opted for a lap 4 joker, which saw him come incredibly close to Veiby but fended him off. 

Kristoffersson crossed the checkered flag quite comfortably ahead of the rest, which meant victory in Mettet has enabled him to extend his championship advantage to 39 points with four rounds remaining. 

“I must say a big ‘thank you’ to the team,” Kristoffersson said after the final. “They gave us a great car and we were consistently quick, and today, we managed to pull everything together. I’m very happy, and it was nice to have OC [Veiby – team-mate] on the podium as well as collecting more important points towards the championship. That said, our competitors are doing a good job too and the times got increasingly tight, so we have to keep pushing.”

Kevin Hansen crossed the line in second with a smoking rear right tyre after his bumper was folded on it after Veiby's turn-one contact. And, Veiby rounded out the podium finishing barely half a second behind. 

Gronholm also carried damage on course to fourth ahead of Timmy Hansen, and Klara Andersson rounding out the top six.

"We got both cars to the final, which is a positive. Unfortunately, I took a big hit, and that ruined the final for me today. But even though it wasn't our best weekend, I'm really happy and grateful for the support from all our partners and fans who were here, supporting us through the good and the bad. I'm looking forward to Portugal and returning to a track where we have great memories," Klara Andersson said. 

World RX returns next month to Montalegre in Portugal, a venue, that should suit the electric-powered cars over their internal combustion counterparts, with the high elevation nature. 

"It will be tough, we will not give up but will do our best to hold off," Kristoffersson says looking ahead to Portugal next month. 

As it stands, in the 'Battle of Technologies', ICE leads with four victories to two for EV!

2024 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 6]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 153 POINTS

2) Ole Christian Veiby (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 114

3) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 110

4) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 109

5) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 99

6) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 95

7) Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - 53

8) Anthony Pelfrene (JDM Raptor Racing) - 51

9) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 33

10) Jankó Wieszt (Impossible RX Team) - 28

11) Sondre Evjen (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 15

PREVIEW: Rivals target points and podiums, whilst championship leader Kristoffersson targets a trouble-free Belgian weekend.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

After a dramatic double-header in Nyirád, Hungary, for Rounds 3 and 4, the FIA World Rallycross Championship travels 1,290.6 kilometers to Mettet, Belgium for another action-packed double-header. 

Since the championship's inception in 2014, Mettet formed part of the inaugural World RX calendar, and ten years on, it will play host to rounds 5 and 6 in 2024.

Mettet is a happy stomping ground for six-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson, who has six wins to his record and returns to Belgium with a healthy 25-point lead in the championship. 

The Swede has won three out of the four rounds this season and will look to add more glory to his ever-growing record. 

His team-mate Ole Christian Veiby, who recently became a father before the Hungarian double-header, finds himself second in the overall classification, but hot on his heels, are the CE Dealer Team duo of Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson, who are tied on points, but just nine points behind the Norweigan. 

Grönholm, in his electric-powered PWR RX1e, profited from an incident involving Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen on Saturday afternoon in Hungary claiming his first win for an electric car in the 'Battle of Technologies' era.

After a challenging start to the campaign, the Hansen World RX team is aiming to bounce back in Belgium. Reflecting on the team’s last outing, Kevin Hansen showed good pace throughout the weekend but was unlucky to not come away with a better result in Hungary, following a dramatic clash with Kristoffersson in Saturday’s final that denied him a shot at victory.

Bringing up the rear of the field is Anthony Pelfrene, who has reached the semi-final stages and is currently eighth in the standings ahead of ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport's René Münnich both are piloting sustainably fuelled combustion-powered cars. 

The World RX of Benelux will also mark the halfway point of the 2024 Championship, so get strapped in and ready for some exhilarating action! 

THE TRACK: CIRCUIT JULES TACHENY [METTET]

THE TRACK INFORMATION:

Track Length: 1079 meters in length

Joker Lap: 1231 meters 

Tarmac/Dirt: 60%/40%

World RX Debut: 2014

The Jules Tacheny circuit has hosted the FIA World Rallycross Championship in the past, between 2014 and 2018 and 2023. With its demanding, winding course, the circuit has always offered an exceptional spectacle to its public, who are ideally situated to see all the action on track. Like its British counterparts at Lydden Hill and German counterpart at Estering, the Circuit Jules Tacheny shaped the beginnings of the intense and unique sport of rallycross. The succession of bends on gravel and asphalt offers ideal conditions for hellish sprints punctuated by contact and cascading skids.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

TALK THE TALK:

KMS-HORSE Powertrain

DRIVER: Johan Kristoffersson: 

"There were some things I wasn't happy with there [in Hungary]. I put myself into situations where I became vulnerable and exposed. It won't do. I have to act smarter and be sharp. I think it's okay for us, not as good as the one in Hungary, but better than Portugal, which awaits next time. Here there are two long accelerations, but also technical parts. It's important that the whole team does a good job and that we don't get any technical issues."

DRIVER: Ole Christian Veiby

"Three out of four on the podium so far. It's not so bad, but now it's time to recharge for a new weekend and pick up more points. It is important to stay away from the worst fights in the start. The first turn looks a bit the same this time. We have to think about the championship as well". 

HANSEN WORLD RX TEAM

DRIVER: Timmy Hansen

“We looked strong in Hungary but never ended up on the podium which we were hoping for. We stayed there testing after the race and made some good progress and I think we can bring that into Belgium. We are starting to understand how the tyres are working and how we need to approach setting up the car which we’re excited to put into practice this weekend. Despite no podiums, we have still reached every final which highlights our consistency and aids our championship fight. Kevin and I will give it everything we’ve got for the rest of the season and hopefully we can get both cars on the podium this weekend.”

DRIVER: Kevin Hansen

“We are looking forward to Belgium and it’s nice to be back with full power as last year we had to race with our RX2e cars. Unfortunately, the race doesn’t start with a longer straight, which would favour our electric car, however there are some later on in the circuit which will allow us to stretch our legs and maximise our car’s full potential. The test after Hungary really helped us understand the car better so hopefully this will make us a little more comfortable and quicker so we can challenge in Belgium.”

CE DEALER TEAM 

DRIVER: Niclas Gronholm

“It is great to return to Mettet after a long time and showcase electric and sustainable motorsport to our Belgian fans and partners. I believe our car is well-suited to this track. Now it is all about having a strong weekend overall. We need solid results on both days to stay in the fight for the championship"

DRIVER: Klara Andersson

"Sharing third place in the standings with Niclas is fantastic. We are determined to fight for the title as a team. This year, we have been able to leverage each other's strengths to develop both the cars and ourselves. I believe we are the strongest team in the championship, with the most potential of all." 

“I am incredibly excited to head to Belgium. It is my first time on this track. It will be challenging, but I am looking forward to it. This weekend is all about delivering and gathering points, but it is going to be tough as always."

2024 FIA WORLD RX OF BENELUX: 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

Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - Seat Ibiza

Anthony Pelfrene (JDM Raptor Racing) - Peugeot 208 WRX

Round 5 & 6 - World RX of Benelux (CAT Times)

SATURDAY:

HEAT 1: 11:56

HEAT 2: 14:00

SEMI-FINAL: 16:00

FINAL: 16:38

PODIUM: 16:50

SUNDAY:

HEAT 1: 11:15

HEAT 2: 12:35

SEMI-FINAL: 15:00

FINAL: 15:40

PODIUM: 15:50

2024 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 4]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 101 POINTS

2) Ole Christian Veiby (KMS-HORSE Powertrain) - 76

3) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 67

4) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 67

5) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 66

6) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 65

7) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 33

8) Anthony Pelfrene (JDM Raptor Racing) - 32

9) Jankó Wieszt (Impossible RX Team) - 28

10) Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - 27

11) Sondre Evjen (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 15

Mettet win the "perfect outcome" for Kristoffersson after rear wheel damage.

PHOTO CREDIT: Qnigan/Kristoffersson Motorsport.

With all the drama that plagued the FIA RX2e Championship final at Mettet, Belgium on Sunday, it was five-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson who claimed top honors, winning by 5 seconds despite rear-rear wheel damage, as team-mate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky starred.

With the FIA World Rallycross Championship unable to race at Mettet as investigations continue into the cause of the destructive fire at Lydden Hill two weeks ago, Johan Kristoffersson and fellow World RX drivers Timmy Hansen, Kevin Hansen and Ole Christian Veiby took the opportunity to join the RX2e grid.

It was the younger of the Hansen brothers, Kevin, who initially set the pace on Saturday, but in characteristic fashion, it did not take Kristoffersson long to unlock the pace, with three consecutive heat wins he was propelled to the summit of the overall standings.

A slow start in semi-final one dropped the Swede to third, but he was handed a lifeline when the race was red-flagged following a huge roll for team-mate Veiby.

"I couldn't see a thing. When I turned on the wipers, it got worse," Veiby said. "But things happen when conditions are as tricky as we had here."

Kristoffersson leading the pack with a bent right rear. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

The five-time world champion grabbed the opportunity, and from that point on was never beaten. He managed rear suspension damage from first-corner contact in the final to fend off his closest pursuers to the chequered flag.

"What a weekend!" Kristoffersson said. "In terms of pace, it was maybe our best so far this year. I’d tested the RX2e car before, but it’s very different in a competitive race situation and the final wasn’t easy at all."

"After the hit into Turn One, I could feel something was broken at the rear. The car was all over the place, and I was just trying to hold onto it and not spin in a straight line! I managed to figure out how I needed to drive and could keep up a reasonable pace, and I was obviously very happy to walk away with the win. That was the perfect outcome."

"I have learnt a lot so it was absolutely the right decision to come here. I always want to race and this time the big thing was to compete against the Hansen brothers in equal cars. It was tricky starting from the inside with the water running down there. I was lucky in the final that Timmy had some wheel spin," he concluded. 

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky on the other hand has set up a grandstand season finale with a superb drive to second place – which sees her close to just two points shy of team-mate Nils Andersson in the chase for the RX2e title.

"[I'm] extremely happy with this race weekend, the pace, and the work with the team. The goal was to find a good rhythm and enjoy driving, which I definitely did this weekend," Åhlin-Kottulinsky said.  

And, whilst it's joy and elation for some, there is disappointment for others, Ole Henry Steinsholt finished ahead of Mikaela on-the-road, but was later handed a 12-second penalty for "repeated side to side contact". 

Timmy Hansen was running second until the front suspension collapsed sending him into the tyre barrier on the last lap, whilst younger brother Kevin's bid ended in the semi-final stages.

The FIA World Rallycross Championship is scheduled to return to action at Estering, Germany for the sixth round later this month [August 19-20] if and when the green light is given following the ongoing investigations.  

PREVIEW: 'The show must go on', as RX1e elite stars join RX2e field in Belgium.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Five-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson along with the Hansen brothers' headline the penultimate round of the RX2e field in Mettet, Belgium this weekend.

The Organizers of World RX of Benelux, confirmed earlier this weekend that the RX1e round has been canceled as investigations into the cause of a fire at Lydden Hill, United Kingdom on 21 July continue, whilst RX2e and Euro RX will go ahead as scheduled. 

This means there will be added competition in Mettet for RX2e championship frontrunners with Johan Kristofferson, Ole-Christian Veiby, and Kevin and Timmy Hansen all confirming their RX2e entries for Benelux on Sunday. 

"I'm really looking forward to this, but It's not going to be easy to adjust to RX2e," Kristoffersson said. "Mainly there is a lot less effect. I have tried this car twice, but of course, there is a lot to learn about it."

Five-time World RX champion Kristoffersson currently tops the overall standings while his Kristoffersson Motorsport team-mate Veiby lies in fourth overall, squeezed between the Hansen brothers with Kevin in third and Timmy in fifth.

Hansen World RX Team boss Kenneth Hansen stressed the importance to race in Mettet, saying: “We are a race team and we like to race and give the fans the best possible show they can get. That is why we want to be there and to compete in RX2e. That is a big challenge. They are fast guys and girls there. It will be interesting, hopefully, we can put on a good show together.”

His words were echoed by those of Volkswagen Dealerteam Bauhaus boss Tommy Kristoffersson: "The show must go on! We are responsible towards our sponsors, media, and not least our fans. We started to look for alternatives right away. This will bring a new dimension, a great challenge for the team. We are very positive about this and want to put on a great show in a competitive championship."

Waving the home flag among the expanded field is current joint RX2e leader Viktor Vranckx. He shares the top spot with Sweden’s Nils Andersson while another Swede, Isak Sjökvist, is one point behind.

A new addition to the field is none-other than 2016 Australian Rally and Extreme E champion Molly Taylor who has made the transition to rallycross, and she will line up for Hansen Motorsport’s #YellowSquad at this weekend's World RX Benelux, and the World RX of Germany, Estering later this month. 

"RX2e is the ideal place to begin learning Rallycross with electric cars, combined with the opportunity to be part of the #YellowSquad team and learn from some of the best in the business," Taylor said.

The CE Dealer Team will not travel to Mettet, instead, they will focus on an even bigger presence at Estering in Germany.

"We are of course sad to see the Mettet event being canceled [for RX1e], meaning that we cannot meet the wonderful Belgian fans and partners to the team. We do however understand and support the decision behind it, as it's important for the investigation of the incident at Lydden Hill to be thoroughly investigated so that the necessary actions can be taken for safe and exciting World RX racing," Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team, said.

THE TRACK: METTET [BELGIUM]

THE TRACK INFORMATION:

The short and twisty Circuit Jules Tacheny at Mettet is the modern expression of a racing history that stretches right back to the beginning days of the sport in Belgium. Like its contemporaries at Spa and Chimay, the Mettet circuit began with racing organized on public roads and soon became a popular venue for motorcycle racing. 

Right through to the 2000s racing continued on roads to the south of the town before safety concerns finally led to the construction of a permanent circuit.

Today, the permanent track hosts of range of different categories on both two and four-wheels, with facilities for Super Moto and Rallycross alongside circuit racing.

2023 FIA WORLD RX OF BENELUX: RX2e ENTRY LIST

Round 5 - World RX of Benelux (CAT Times)

SUNDAY:

STUDIO SHOW: 10:30

RX2e HEAT 3: 10:40

EURO RX1 HEAT 3: 11:04

RX2e HEAT 4: 13:25

EURO RX1 HEAT 4: 13:49

RX2e SEMI-FINAL: 14:50

SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL [EURO RX SEMI-FINALS & RX2e FINAL]: (from) 16:00

GRID WRAP-UP SHOW: 17:00 [RX+ only]

2023 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 5]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 69 POINTS

2) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 42

3) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 38

4) Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 35

5) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 33

6) Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - 31

7) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 30

8) Sebastien Loeb (Special ONE Racing) - 29

9) Guerlain Chicherit (Special ONE Racing) - 27

10) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 20

Kristoffersson on verge of fifth title after victory at Spa-Francorchamps.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Calm and calculated Kristoffersson has clinched a sixth victory of the season at the Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps yesterday, and has taken a significant step towards a fifth championship.  

After maintaining his unblemished SuperPole record by a tenth-of-a-second from nearest challenger Timmy Hansen, Kristoffersson picked up a puncture in the first heat race. With smoke pouring off his right-rear tyre, the damage got progressively worse as the Swede wrestled his Polo RX1e around the circuit, with the tyre letting go completely on the last lap and ripping the right-rear car door off in the process. And after a stellar repair job by the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS crew, Johan came out on top after a battle with Niclas Grönholm in heat two – which included a thrilling pass in the banked gravel corner – before winning his progression race.

The four-time World Champion subsequently fended off countryman Kevin Hansen in the second semi-final to secure pole position for the all-important final – and following a textbook launch, he was thereafter never headed, racing clear of his pursuers to take the chequered flag by 3.995 seconds. The result has extended his advantage at the top of the title standings to 41 points with only two race weekends remaining – a fact not lost on the four-time world champion.

"You need to be in the right place at the right time, and thankfully, we were," he said. "The team is delivering a perfect car every time we go out and we worked hard on our starts today, because they weren’t the best yesterday. That paid off in the final, and thankfully there was no squeeze into Turn One because the wall there is pretty unforgiving.

"From there, I saw there was some fighting going on behind and once I had established a gap, I could just cruise to the finish while taking care not to get any more punctures. It was a very good race."

"Big thanks to the team for making this possible. It's been hard work. Sometimes we have returned to the paddock almost with only the steering wheel in our hands," he added.

The Construction Equipment Dealer Team has continued to show progress, as Niclas Grönholm claimed second place behind Kristoffersson, but it was noticeable the PWR RX1e machines had stellar starts throughout the weekend.

”It was a tough day, but everything went well from the semi-final and onwards," Grönholm said. "I had good launch, and some great fights in the final. Yesterday we had the pace to challenge for the win, and it was a bummer that I made a mistake in turn one. From there on, it was hard to do anything. Today I played it smart in the first corner and was able to come out in second. Pace-wise, this was the best weekend so far. This is good to build on for the future."

Buoyed by his breakthrough podium finish  on Saturday, Gustav Bergström rebounded from a broken driveshaft in heat one to pull off a gutsy overtaking move on Grönholm in the final, and while he ultimately didn’t have quite enough pace to keep the Finn behind, he nonetheless impressed with another third-place finish.

"Of course I was keen on second spot as well, but I must be satisified with another podium finish," the Kristoffersson Motorsport driver said.

Kevin Hansen wound up fourth after sliding wide in the last corner – finding himself inadvertently clipped by Grönholm in the process – with Ole Christian Veiby classified fifth, he  failed to reach the checkered flag due to coming off worst in a first corner crunch with Bergström and Hansen in turn one that broke his Volkswagen’s steering.

Once more, 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen looked set to take the fight to Kristoffersson, but yet again luck was not on he's side, as he's Peugeot 208 took a knock on the rear in the semi-final which caused the Swede to miss out on a place in the final. 

CE Dealer Team's Klara Andersson was impressive yet again - pulling off some incredible starts, but unfortunately, she too failed to reach the final, whilst All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport's Rene Munnich couldn't quite keep the pace of the cars ahead and finished at the tail end of the field in the Ardennes.

The next stop on the 2022 calendar will be World RX of Catalunya, a weekend that could ultimately decide the drivers' championship should Kristoffersson reign supreme again. Can anyone stop the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver? Time will tell!

ROUND 7 - FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX OF BELGIUM:

1. Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS)

2. Niclas Grönholm (Construction Equipment Dealer Team) + 3.995s

3. Gustav Bergström (Kristoffersson Motorsport) + 4.932s

4. Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) + 9.305s

5. Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) + 5 laps

PREVIEW: Will Kristoffersson take the championship lead or will the Hansen's fight back in Portugal?

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

After a 2-year absence, the picturesque Montalegre track returns... and is set to host round 7 of the 2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship this weekend (16 to 17 October).

The 2021 championship has taken a swing in the direction of three-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson who trails Timmy Hansen by 12-points at the head of the drivers' standings after a difficult start to the season. 

Having clinched a second victory of the season last time out in Spa-Francorchamps, Kristoffersson will look to surpass his Swedish rival this weekend. But, the Hansen brothers' will certainly aim to extend their advantage at the top.

"I'm looking forward to Portugal where the circuit should suit our car a bit better. And I don't have to wait long either which is great!" Timmy Hansen said. 

Just three points behind Johan, the younger Hansen brother, Kevin will aim to reclaim second in the championship, whilst the GRX-SET duo who have shown an impressive turn of performance in recent rounds will aim for the top step of the podium in Portugal. 

Krisztián Szabó finally broke his podium duck last time out in Belgium, whilst Niclas Grönholm had a weekend to forget after being muscled out in a few races. The Flying Finn is hungry for a second victory?

UNKORRUPTED's Kevin Abbring was on course to win the World RX of Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, but after being turned around by Timmy Hansen at the Raidillon hairpin. His chances were over... Can the Dutchman fight for victory? He certainly can! 

KYB EKS JC's second driver Enzo Ide achieved his goal on home soil last weekend reaching the final, and will look to do the same this time out. 

The battle is on... Can Kristoffersson take the championship lead? Or will the Hansen brothers' extend their lead at the top of the drivers' standings? Find out this weekend!   

THE TRACK:

Portugal’s picturesque and historic Montalegre track formed part of the original FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar back in 2014, and its undulating layout and unpredictable weather has produced many breathtaking battles over the years.

The 945m track is located 1,000m above sea level, requiring engines to be finely tuned to deal with the altitude. From a long start/finish straight, drivers brake hard for the first corner – a tight right-hand hairpin – before taking a little bit of kerb as they flick through the left-right chicane that follows.

A fast left-hander then leads downhill into a right as the surface turns from asphalt into the loose and sandy gravel that characterises Montalegre before a steep uphill climb precedes another left followed by a long, fast right-hander. The final section of the lap is marked by a tricky surface change and a series of chicanes – inviting drivers to brush the barriers on both sides, but without getting too close...

Track Length: 945m

2018 Winner: ROUND 2: Johan Kristoffersson (PSRX Volkswagen Sweden)

Fastest lap: Johan Kristoffersson 38.064s (in semi-finals)

Asphalt/Dirt: 60%/40%

Joker Lap Loss: 3.9s seconds (approximately)

2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship standings (drivers):

Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) 151 pts

Johan Kristoffersson (KYB EKS JC) 139 pts

Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) 136 points

Niclas Gronholm (GRX-SET) 123 pts

Krizstian Szabo (GRX-SET) 108 pts

Kevin Abbring (UNKORRUPTED) 97 pts

Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 75 pts

Enzo Ide (KYB EKS JC) 72 pts

Juha Rytkonen 52 pts

Mattias Ekstrom 37 pts

Hervé Knapick 18 pts

Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 16 pts

Oliver O'Donovan 16 pts

Anton Marklund 14 pts

Attila Mozer 13 pts

Peter Hedstrom 11 pts

Tamas Karai 9 pts

Oliver Bennett (Xite Racing Team) 8 pts

Dan Oberg 7 pts

Mandie August (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 4 pts

Patrick Guillerme 2 pts

Round 7 - Cooper Tires World RX of Montalegre (CET Times)

SATURDAY:

PRACTICE: 10:30

Q1: 13:06

Q2: 16:06

SUNDAY:

WARM-UP: 11:00

Q3: 12:06

Q4: 15:36

Semi-Finals and Final: (from) 18:00

Grid Podiums and Wrap Up Show: 19:00 [RX+ only]

FREE LIVESTREAM

Red Bull TV (FINALS) ROUND 7 [Sunday] - at 17:45 UTC+2 - https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/fia-world-rallycross-championship-portugal

Kristoffersson's title resurgence continues with Spa victory.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Three-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson continued his championship fightback at Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps, celebrating a second consecutive victory.

The Swede had never competed around the challenging Spa-Francorchamps track prior to this weekend, but the KYB EKS JC driver did not let that hold him back. Second in the intermediate classification after the qualifying stages, he proceeded to win the semi-final before sprinting into the distance in the all-important final to cap off a close to perfect score that has carried him to just 12 points behind the championship leader (Timmy Hansen).

"This was a successful weekend and victory feels great. I think it suited us very well that they have turned the gravel at Spa into a harder surface because even if I hadn’t driven here before, I felt comfortable from the first practice. We had a very good Saturday but I didn’t get the best start in Q3, which meant we were not able to be top in qualifying," Kristoffersson said. 

"In the semi-final and final we had incredible speed, the car really came to life and it felt really good. In the semis, I got off to a good start and was able to lead all the way, and in the final, we got an incredibly good start too. From there it was just a matter of taking the car to the finish. We are only 12 points behind Timmy [Hansen] now, that is good."

Kevin Hansen kept his own title aspirations on track with a solid run to second.

"The first couple of laps in our semi-final were hectic and it's really unfortunate that it turned out the way it did for a couple of guys. But this is rallycross – the luck can be both for and against you. We got through and were able to convert our front-row grid slot into a podium finish," Hansen said. 

A delighted Krisztián Szabó claimed a maiden podium finish (a third place). The Hungarian has reached the final in every round to date this season and produced a defensive masterclass behind the wheel of his Hyundai i20 to keep Timmy Hansen, Enzo Ide, and Anton Marklund at bay right to the chequered flag.

"FINALLY! This feels good," Szabó said. "This weekend I was maybe not the fastest out there, but I was in the right place at the right time and you have to always be there in rallycross."

Championship leader Timmy Hansen won the first semi-final but was handed a 5 second time penalty for "pushing and overtaking"  at the hairpin which resulted in Top Qualifier Kevin Abbring hitting the barrier and finishing the semi-final dead last. 

The Dutchman was in outstanding form and deserved better results, but he proved that both he and the UNKORRUPTED squad will be a force to be reckoned with over the remaining three rounds.

Kristoffersson's team-mate Enzo Ide claimed a fifth-place finish on home soil.

"I’m very happy with the weekend and the result. To make it to the final was always the goal for me, so to do it at home and to hear all of the Belgian fans in the stands was a wonderful feeling. My best rallycross memory was fourth place in Holjes, but now this is top of the list. It wouldn’t be possible without KYB EKS JC," Ide said. 

Swede Anton Marklund made his rallycross return in the Hedströms Motorsport's run Hyundai i20, and clinched sixth place in Spa. 

There was disappointment, however, for GRX-SET's Niclas Grönholm - who was forced wide at the start of the second semi-final.

"There was a lot of crashing and banging this weekend which is unfortunate but we just need to move forward. Now we go to Montalegre next week," Grönholm said. "That is a nice track, a proper old rallycross track which will be much nicer to go to, so I’m looking forward to that."

FINAL RESULT - Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps: 

1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) 6 laps

2. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) + 2.601s

3. Krisztián SZABÓ (HUN) + 5.338s

4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) + 5.663s

5. Enzo IDE (BEL) + 6.119s

6. Anton MARKLUND (SWE) + 6.648s

PREVIEW: The title fight intensifies at Spa-Francorchamps.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

The battle for glory in the 2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship is heating up as all roads lead to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend after the title fight was blown wide open in Latvia last time out.

The first three rounds of the championship all went the way of the Hansen brothers', but victories for Niclas Grönholm and Johan Kristoffersson in Riga mean just 23 points cover the four leading protagonists for the Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps.

The Hansen World RX Team siblings are also the only two of the title-chasing quartet to have previously raced at Spa; Kristoffersson was absent in 2019, while Niclas was ruled out due appendicitis, whilst his team-mate Timur Timerzyanov clinched his first victory. 

KYB EKS JC's Kristoffersson is a three-time champion at the pinnacle of the discipline, and but for persistent ill-fortune, his current points total would be significantly greater. GRX-SET World RX Team’s Grönholm, meanwhile, was the highest scorer in Riga – form he is bidding to carry with him into the second half of the campaign.

There are a number of dark horses in the field, too. Grönholm’s team-mate Krisztián Szabó has been a model of consistency as one of just three drivers to progress through to the final in every round to date in 2021, and Kevin Abbring has shown flashes of speed in the UNKORRUPTED Renault Mégane. 

Enzo Ide in the second KYB EKS JC Audi S1 Quattro will carry Belgium’s hopes, while Timo Scheider is overdue a change of fortunes after proving to be on the pace but out of luck. Whilst All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport is hoping to have solved their driveshaft "supply part" issues that led to DNF's in Latvia. 

Anton Marklund is an intriguing addition to the entrylist. The 2017 FIA European Rallycross Champion rejoined the fray in Euro RX1 at Höljes and set the pace until his shocking roll in Q4. The Swede returns this weekend in a Hedströms Motorsport run Hyundai i20 and is sure to put up a fight.

THE TRACK:

The challenging, purpose-built 913m track located at the heart of the famous Ardennes venue is characterised by significant elevation changes and incorporates one of the most iconic corners in world motorsport, not to mention the ultimate test of bravery – the daunting Eau Rouge.

The spectacular ascent of the Raidillon and its 15% gradient is followed by a tight hairpin bend, before cars hurtle back down towards Eau Rouge. There is also a stadium section that features an extra-wide, banked corner designed to allow drivers to adopt various racing lines. There are parallel jumps in the standard and Joker Laps.

The amphitheatre atmosphere around the circuit offers fans a full view of the action from wherever they are watching.

Track Length: 913m

2019 Winners: ROUND 5: Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS)

Fastest lap: Johan Kristoffersson 48.099s (in semi-finals)

Asphalt/Dirt: 60%/40%

Joker Lap Loss: 1.4s seconds (approximately)

2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship standings (drivers):

Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) 130 pts

Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) 113 points

Johan Kristoffersson (KYB EKS JC) 110 pts

Niclas Gronholm (GRX-SET) 107 pts

Krizstian Szabo (GRX-SET) 88 pts

Kevin Abbring (UNKORRUPTED) 79 pts

Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 64 pts

Enzo Ide (KYB EKS JC) 57 pts

Juha Rytkonen 43 pts

Mattias Ekstrom 37 pts

Rene Munnich (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 16 pts

Attila Mozer 13 pts

Peter Hedstrom 11 pts

Oliver O'Donovan 10 pts

Herve Knapick 9 pts

Tamas Karai 9 pts

Oliver Bennett (Xite Racing Team) 8 pts

Mandie August (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) 4 pts

Patrick Guillerme 2 pts

Dan Oberg 1 pt

Round 6 World RX of Benelux Schedule (CET Times)

SATURDAY:

PRACTICE: 09:30

Q1: 14:06

Q2: 16:36

Grid Wrap Up Show: 17:39 [RX+ only]

SUNDAY:

WARM-UP: 09:45

Q3: 12:06

Q4: 14:36

Semi-Finals and Final: (from) 17:00

Grid Wrap Up Show: 18:00 [RX+ only]

FREE LIVESTREAM

Red Bull TV (FINALS) ROUND 6 [Sunday] - at 16:45 UTC+2 - https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/fia-world-rallycross-championship-belgium

The Hansen brothers and Kristoffersson headlines 11-car World RX of Spa field.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool. 

The FIA World Rallycross Championship will return to action at one of the most iconic tracks next month - the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 8-10 October 2021. 

Nestled in the Ardennes forest, Spa-Francorchamps joined the World Championship calendar two years ago and was an instant hit amongst drivers and fans alike. After a year away due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it returns in two weeks' time, with the World RX of Spa-Francorchamps marking the sixth of nine rounds this season. 

The World RX title fight will click into high gear, with the Hansen brothers Timmy and Kevin currently leading the way from KYB EKS JC's Johan Kristoffersson who clinched his first win of the season in Latvia.

GRX-SET’s Niclas Grönholm has also climbed up the standings after victory at the World RX of Riga (Round 4), as his teammate Krisztian Szabo looks to turn his fortunes around after a string of fourth and fifth-place finishes. 

Kevin Abbring (UNKORRUPTED), who hails from Son en Breugel, is barely 150km away across the Dutch border. 

Having shown a strong turn of form in Latvia earlier this month, ALL-INKL Munnich Motorsport's Timo Scheider has set his sights on the trophy next time out. 

Juha Rytkönen will try to replicate his final appearance from Sweden last month, while Ollie O’Donovan and Hervé Knapick make their second appearance this season, and Anton Marklund will make his season debut this year after setting the pace on the European stage at Höljes.

Spa World RX of Benelux CANCELLED due to the resurgence of the coronavirus.

PHOTO CREDIT: GC Kompetition

The next round of the World Rallycross Championship, the Spa World RX of Benelux in Belgium has been cancelled due to the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced.

The cancellation comes after news broke that the penultimate round of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship was cancelled due to the resurgence of the coronavirus. 

Spa's World RX of Benelux was originally set to take place in May, before it was moved to October and then to November with an aim to allow a bigger audience to attend the penultimate round of the championship. 

However, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Belgium and Europe, the organizers announced last week that the event will be held behind closed doors, but it has now changed following the cancellation of the championship round at Spa-Francorchamps. 

"The current health situation in Belgium and throughout Europe has forced the organisers into taking this joint decision," the statement issued by the circuit said. "The Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, IMG, and the FIA are in fact very mindful of the progression or development of the pandemic and the extremely tense situation in the hospitals."

"Furthermore, the various restrictive measures taken recently by several governments, such as those relating to travel, make the situation extremely complicated for holding the Spa World Rallycross of Benelux."

Spa-Francorchamps joined the World Rallycross Championship in 2019 and quickly became a fan favorite with its wide banked dirt hairpin and use of the legendary Eau Rouge/Raidillon. 

Whilst Timur Timerzyanov claimed his first-ever win in the world championship, ahead of Andreas Bakkerud and Joni Wiman.  

"This decision is related to an exceptional situation and even if this saddens all the teams who have worked so hard to hold this second edition, announced last week moreover to be held behind closed doors following the deterioration in the public health situation, our priority is and will remain the health of safety of everyone," Nathalie Maillet, the Circuit CEO, said.

In addition to the cancellation announcement, the circuit has also announced that it expects to host the second edition of the Spa World RX of Benelux on May 22-23, 2021. 

The cancellation of the penultimate round of the season means that the final round of the 2020 World RX season is expected to take place at the Nürburgring in December (later this year). 

This in turn means that with a maximum of 30 points available for the final round of the championship, that should Johan Kristoffersson outscore Mattias Ekstrom by four points, he will be crowned a three-time World Champion. 

Whilst KYB Team JC (with a 16 point lead) would seal the teams' championship in Germany should they finish ahead of the Team Hansen. 

Written By - Junaid Samodien

The World RX of Benelux to be held behind closed doors.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX.

The World RX of Benelux set to be held at Spa-Francorchamps will be held behind closed doors, the event organizers have announced.  

World RX first visited Spa-Francorchamps in 2019 and quickly became a fan favorite with its wide banked dirt corner and Eau Rouge hairpin. 

The circuit was originally set to host the third round of the 2020 calendar, but the date was later moved to October due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

In September, the event organizers and IMG announced that the Belgian round would be moved in hopes that delaying the round until November would allow more spectators to attend the event. 

Organizers say that following decisions made by Belgian Authorities, the event will be held behind closed doors due to current circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic, despite hopes of welcoming the largest possible audience to the event next month. 

"Following the decisions of the Belgian Authorities, we will unfortunately not be able to welcome you during the 2020 edition of the Spa World Rallycross of Benelux which will be held behind closed doors," the event organizers statement said.

"This is a huge disappointment for the Spa World Rallycross of Benelux team, whose primary motivation has always been to welcome the largest possible audience and to offer them the best possible experience."

"Our number one priority remains everyone’s health! But given the current circumstances, the organisation of this event under regular conditions is impossible."

"Holding the race behind closed doors was therefore the only solution authorized by the Belgian authorities to preserve the sporting aspect of our event."

Spa-Francorchamps will now host the penultimate round of the 2020 World Rallycross Championship season, with the Nürburgring hosting the finale in December.

For more information on ticket refunds, etc. CLICK HERE

Written By - Junaid Samodien