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| PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross/Red Bull Content Pool |
In 2024, the FIA World Rallycross Championship has undergone a significant change, instead of a single-powered series, drivers' will now go head-to-head in the 'Battle of Technologies', in which internal combustion-engined cars will take on their electric counterparts.
Fans and teams alike had their first taste of what's to come this season, two weeks ago in Holjes Sweden, where Kristoffersson Motorsport, under the banner KMS - HORSE Powertrain, fielded two newly-developed Volkswagen Polo Supercars, with internal combustion engines, instead of using the retro-fitted Kriesel electric powertrain kit.
Much like KMS, All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport, and Anthony Pelfrene also opted for internal combustion engines, with Rene Munnich driving the team's latest Seat Ibiza Supercar.
Also returning in 2024, the CE Dealer Team and Hansen World RX both entered their electric RX1e cars, with KMS also fielding, Sondre Evjen and Gustav Bergstrom, in their championship-winning electric Volkswagen Polo RX1e's.
But, much like a year ago, Johan Kristoffersson led the charge topping both practice sessions on Saturday and Sunday, on course to winning both rounds, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing, as he picked up a two-position grid penalty for contact with Niclas Gronhom on Saturday, but, despite he still powered through to win the final by 2 seconds from a quick Klara Andersson, who achieved her best result in the world championship to date.
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| Klara Andersson achieved second place in Round 1 of the World RX Championship in Holjes. PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool |
Speaking to Hal Ridge on the Sunday Paddock Walk, Timmy Hansen explained: “The performance wasn't really there, but I think the conditions really suited the combustion cars, because with the electric car, we have this extra power, and we're also carrying a lot more weight. Were actually never on full throttle on this lap.”
“And, also the way the transmission is built makes it much easier to brake with the combustion cars compared to the electric. Yeah, like in the finals, it was pure aquaplaning on the gravel,” he added.
Hansen went on further to explain that “I lost a massive amount of time, I don't really know what happened [in the wet conditions]. Yeah, of course, like disappointing, but still also I feel like we couldn't have gotten more points from this weekend. So, I think we grabbed everything that we could for my side, but of course we want to be better. I think also the season will sometimes be an advantage for the electric cars, hopefully. But yeah, for Höljes, I think KMS made the right choice to go combustion."
The six-time World Champion Kristoffersson admits that the Holjes double-header was “almost as perfect as it gets. 28 points in the first, 30 today, two points from full pot.”
He admits, "I think what I'm most proud of this weekend, to be honest [was the launches]. Perhaps the best start I have ever made with a petrol car on a wet surface. I tried to copy it in the final, but it didn't quite work out. There are extremely small margins and many parameters that come into consideration.”
His start in the final on Sunday in treacherous conditions was “good enough” to stay ahead of Niclas Gronholm “thanks to a superb car”.
“A huge thank you to the team who have done a fantastic job all weekend,” the Swede said.
With two rounds complete, the World RX championship rolls on to the ‘Red Cauldron’ in Nyirád, Hungary, later this month. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool
Timmy Hansen admits that he is looking forward to the world championships return to Hungary, and said: “I got my first-ever Supercar win there, so it's fantastic memories! The track is so raw, so extreme, so rallycross. So, it will be great to be back there with the world championship and this generation of cars, which are incredibly fast.So, it will be a challenging weekend, it's a very punishing circuit where the walls are like super close and you need to send it.”
