"1-2 finish" in Hong Kong satisfying after turbulent season - Veiby

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

One year after an impressive full-time return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship having stepped onto the podium on five occasions, Norweigan Ole Christian Veiby had one target in mind "a top 3 position in the championship" at the end of the 2023 season. 

Returning to the championship with Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS alongside six-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson, the 27-year-old had all the right tools to challenge for podiums, if not wins, however, as they say, 'fortune favors the brave'. Well, OC is in fact brave, but his fortunes this season have been few and far between. 

Rewind to just a year earlier, the Norweigan claimed five podium finishes upon his return to the championship, this year, unfortunately, he was only ever able to claim a single podium, this past weekend in Hong Kong. 

Throughout the year, he encountered a number of issues, from technical failures, punctures, and crashes, the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver admits that it has been a tough season.

"We set a goal to be within the top three of the championship this season, but it's been a tough [season], as we had some races with bad luck - some things were not in our control, for example, technical issues stopping the car on the track," Veiby said. 

The season seemed quite promising for Ole Christian having stepped onto the podium in Sweden earlier this year, but any momentum that he might have carried with him ended after the championship was placed on hold, following the destructive Lydden Hill fire. 

A few months later, the FIA World Motor Sport Council together with the World RX championship decided to conclude the championship with equal machinery [Zeriod X1 cars], and even with the new machinery, he struggled with the car and even had yet more bad luck, but on the final day of action in Hong Kong, things turned around, as he claimed a second-place finish behind Kristoffersson.  

"It's really satisfying [to end the season on the podium]. It's been a long season with a lot of downs, and some ups. This event in Hong Kong was an up. It's really great to end this season with a 1-2 finish, and also secure the teams' championship," he said. "The biggest amount of respect goes to the team, as they have done a good job throughout the season. I just love being part of this team."

Whilst, he might love being part of a very dominant team in the new electric era of World Rallycross, Veiby acknowledges that it's not easy being a team-mate to Johan Kristoffersson, however, he is able to learn and further develop within this Arvika-based team. 

"It's not always so easy to be honest, for sure, he is the goat [greatest of all time]. He is the one to beat - and that is not the easiest guy to be a team-mate with, but in the last couple of races, everyone has been in the same car," OC Veiby said. "So, in a way, it's the perfect opportunity to learn from him [Johan], and I have had a few years in rallycross, so it's the perfect place to be to learn as much as possible."

With equal cars ‘it’s all about the fastest and smartest driver’ - Veiby.

OC Veiby leading team-mate Johan Kristoffersson in Mettet. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool. 

Ole Christian Veiby is excited for his first trip to Cape Town for the World RX of South Africa (on 7-8 October) and predicts that with equal machinery ‘the fastest and smartest driver’ will prevail. 

The FIA World Rallycross Championship is returning to South Africa next month after a four-year hiatus - but is also returning to action following a mid-season pause as a result of an ongoing investigation due to a destructive fire that destroyed Special One Racing’s cars, equipment, and truck in Lydden Hill back in July. 

With a lengthy pause on the championship, OC Veiby returned to the cockpit alongside team-mate Johan Kristoffersson, and the Hansen brothers, Timmy and Kevin, who all participated in the FIA RX2e championship round at Mettet in Belgium – enabling them to gain some initial experience in the ZERIOD X1 that he and his rivals will be driving in Cape Town, South Africa. 

“We raced in Belgium, and we have some experience with the cars [ZERIOD X1], and it is a bit different from what we are used to. We need to adapt to that, but the cars are completely similar,” he said. 

The 27-year-old Norwegian admits that the RX1e cars they started the electric era with are relatively similar, because all teams use the Kriesel-developed battery packs and electric motors, with the only real difference coming from the suspension, dampers, etc., but in Cape Town and Hong Kong [season finale], all teams and drivers will race with equal cars, with the only difference coming from “small set-up” changes. 

“The cars that we are used to racing this year were also quite similar – we have the same battery pack, we have the same motor and everything. So, they were also quite equal. The only difference was the suspension, and what you could do in that area,” the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver said. 

“Now they are completely similar [with RX2e cars]. We raced with them in Belgium, and we have some experience with the cars. It is a bit different from what we are used to. So, we need to adapt to that, but the cars are completely similar.”

 “There are small things that we can do with the set-up, to make it faster. So, it’s all about the fastest and smartest driver.”