Kristoffersson extends championship lead despite Battle of Technologies tie in hot Nyirád.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Hungary turns up the heat, as the FIA World Rallycross Championship serves up a thrilling double-header at the 'Red Cauldron', with Niclas Grönholm and Johan Kristoffersson winning Rounds 3 and 4 respectively in the ‘Battle of Technologies’ at the World RX of Hungary. 

Six-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson kickstarted his 2024 campaign in commanding fashion winning both rounds in Holjes, Sweden earlier this month in the teams' newly-developed Volkswagen 601 KMS RX sustainably-fuelled combustion-engined Supercar, while his rivals expect the 'Battle of Technologies' to sway between ICE and EV cars, as the season progresses. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Nyirád's famous 'Red Cauldron' played host to rounds 3 and 4 of the World RX Championship, and boy did it deliver, as Johan Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen were quite literally locked in a sprint to the tight turn one, with neither of them willing to concedes as the field barrelled into the first corner, and both had heavy impacts into the outside barrier, with Hansen's damaged Peugeot 208 RX1e going no further, whilst Niclas Grönholm, cool as a cucumber navigated his way through to the lead, and eventually, his first victory of the season ahead of new father, and second-placed finisher Ole Christian Veiby by 5.364s with Hungarian Jankó Wieszt reaching the rostrum on his World RX debut. Behind them were champions, Timmy Hansen in fourth and Kristoffersson in fifth, who lost heaps of time due to suspension damage from the turn-one incident.

“I am proud of everyone in the team, they have been working hard and now when we get the results it is amazing. We are here to win and do good, so it is a good reward to everyone and a testament to our core philosophy of equal and sustainable motorsport,” Grönholm said.

Following the final, the FIA Stewards investigated the first corner incident between Johan Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen, and deemed the reigning World Champion "predominately to blame for the first incident", whilst Hansen was disqualified for "failure to provide footage from the Judicial Camera".

Round 4 Podium - Johan Kristoffersson winner [center], OC Veiby second [left], and Klara Andersson third [right]
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

With temperatures on the rise in Hungary and between rivals, Sunday was another day to find some improvements for all in the field, and that seemed to be the target for Johan Kristoffersson who was fairly mighty, despite damage in the second heat, he posted the fastest lap, and led from lights-to-flag in the semi-final and final, winning Round 4 by 10.809s to further extend his lead in the World RX championship. 

“Yesterday wasn’t a great day, but today was much better!” Kristoffersson said. “It’s been a great first experience here in Hungary and it’s been nice to see so many fans. I got a good start in the final and could then control the race from there – I wasn’t pushing hard. I just tried to drive smoothly and avoid making any mistakes. If I’d needed a real ‘killer’ lap, I’m pretty sure I could have gone quicker...”

Like a 24-hours earlier, OC Veiby finished second once again to jump from fourth to second in the drivers’ standings, while Klara Andersson came home third.

"Twice P2 is absolutely acceptable. Up to second place in the championship as well and many team points. It can't get any better," Veiby said.

Klara Andersson has been on fantastic form – but when margins are so tight a brush with a barrier on the joker lap in Saturday’s semi-final denied her a place in the Round 3 final, while bent steering after contact with the barriers at the first comer hampered her efforts of winning Sunday’s Round 4.

“It was a tough weekend, but I’m really happy to finish on the podium today. The car felt great, and winning two heats was a big highlight. A big decision today was switching to rain tires for the final, and it paid off as we secured third place. Standing on the podium and earning good points felt amazing. Sharing third place in the championship with Niclas is a great comeback from yesterday, but I know there’s more potential to unlock,” said Klara Andersson.

PHOTO CREDIT: RED BULL CONTENT POOL

Coming into the Hungarian weekend, the Hansen World RX team drivers expected EV cars to get one over their sustainably-fuelled internal-combustion-engined rivals, but it was yet another difficult weekend. 

Timmy Hansen finished fourth in both Saturday and Sunday’s finals, which was a scant reward for the driver’s efforts.

"A big thank you to our team. They worked until the early hours of the morning preparing for today and fixing the damage from yesterday. They did an amazing job and the cars were like new. The 'Battle of Technologies' is still in favour of the ICE cars, we are 160kg heavier than them and even with our extra power we can't seem to get the advantage," Timmy said. "We are fighting with the CE Dealer Team for best of the electric, and that fight is looking very close. We've got testing tomorrow so we'll be looking into everything and improving where we can ahead of Belgium."

The Hansen World RX team may still be searching for its first podium result of 2024, but nevertheless, Kevin and Timmy remain a close fourth and fifth in the points table respectively.

"This weekend has been a tough one for all of us. It was a very hot couple of days so it has been a real challenge to keep pushing forward, but the team were amazing and we kept improving the car step by step. We were much more in the fight today and that was a good feeling. Unfortunately, we couldn't get all the way to the podium on either day this weekend, but we'll keep pushing until we get that win," the younger Hansen brother said.

Jankó Wieszt reaches the podium on debut.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Having celebrated a third-place finish on Saturday, the former Hungarian rallycross champion Jankó Wieszt was involved in an incident on the run up to turn one in Sunday's semi-final, and after wheel-to-wheel contact, his Renault Megane rotated sharp left and hit the tyre wall bringing out a Red Flag.

It wasn't smooth sailing for Rene Munnich either, as he was denied a place in the final after a turn-one incident as well, but just a day later, he made it through the semi-final, on course to a sixth-place finish on Sunday. 

World RX returns on 17 to 18 August at Mettet, Belgium for rounds 5 and 6. Can anyone stop Kristoffersson? 

‘It is possible’ for women to reach top flight motorsport because 'If I can, so can you!'– Klara Andersson.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

As the only female driver in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, Klara Andersson aims to use her platform to inspire the next generation - ‘If I can be here, so can you!'

The 23-year-old has made waves since she transitioned to rallycross - achieving her biggest success – the 2019 Swedish Rallycross Championship, in SM (Senior) 2150, which propelled her to the forefront, and just a year later she claimed a fourth-place finish in the FIA RX2e championship on debut. 

"Dreams don’t have to just be dreams. You can make it a reality; if you just keep pushing and keep trying, then eventually you'll reach your goal. And if that takes a few years, then that's great, but if it takes 10 or 20, then that's part of the process." — Naomi Osaka

Dreams do come true, as Klara Andersson proved after joining the Extreme E championship in 2022, and to this day competes for the ABT Cupra squad, in addition, she also competes in the all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship with Construction Equipment (CE) Dealer Team where she immediately impressed on debut, and has since became the first-ever female to step onto the international rallycross podium. 

Slipstream SA sat down with Klara at the World RX of South Africa earlier this year and asked - what could be done to make motorsport more inclusive for females, to which, she said: “I think we really need to look into the founder series. So, we need to look at go-karts and cross-karts. We then need to look at more women and girls entering series’ at young ages, because they can then climb the ranks and reach the very high levels.”

“So I think, for me, I always try to show that it is possible,” she adds. “It's possible to be a girl in the top series. And I want to be a role model and see that if I can be here, so can you. And I want to make it more normal that it's possible.”

Klara Andersson with her SM (Senior) 2150 – Swedish Rallycross Championship winning BMW 120.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA RXe

A career that started at the young age of seven karting. It wasn’t until 2018 that the Swede made the switch to rallycross after building a rear-wheel-drive BMW 120 with her father before competing in the 2021 SM (Senior) 2150 – Swedish Rallycross Championship, which she won.  

Coming from a racing background, with sister Magda [Andersson] who competed in European Rallycross – Klara’s career shone from the get-go. 

She lets us in on how much work went into building her championship-winning BMW.

“It was so much work. Just me and my dad [built it]. We started building it in 2017, and then I started driving it in 2018 in the junior series. So we put all the time, the money, and the effort into that car;” she said. “And, I haven't touched it since I won the championship [in 2021], it's still in the garage, because I can't sell it, you know, because it's too big a part of my career.”  

Andersson told Slipstream SA last year that "winning the Swedish Rallycross Championship was big for me. The level of Rallycross in Sweden is really high, and to win with my BMW that my dad and I built and have been working on for the last 3 years was amazing."

Beating a 50-strong entry list to the Swedish Rallycross Championship is a tall feat, but the Swede was more than capable of this. And, having now made the step up to Extreme E, and the FIA World Rallycross Championship results and performances are all that matters when going up against the best in the industry, the likes of Johan Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen, calls for consistency, but on a personal level, what is required to make the additional step to compete against them? 

“It's a very good question. Johan is extremely good, and so are all the drivers in the World RX. It takes a lot of will, you need every piece of the puzzle to fit – a lot of power, you need to have the team for it, the car for it, and the teamwork. Otherwise, you can't win, you win the championship as a team. If you have the drivers but not the team, or if you have the team and not the drivers, and if you don’t have the car for it, then it's very, very hard,” Andersson said.

“I truly think that we [CE Dealer Team] have all the components that we need.  And, you know, now with this championship, it's only the second year that we have run our cars, so there's still a lot of development that needs to be made. And I think they will just become faster and faster for years to come, which I'm really excited for. I think I go back to the word, but I think it's passion. It's all about passion.”

Niclas Gronholm and Klara Andersson sharing a laugh during a signing session 
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool 

Passion is both a motivator and a driving force, speaking of a force, Andersson’s team-mate Niclas Grönholm has been competing in the World RX since 2015, and in 2019 came so close to achieving championship glory, but it all came undone after he, unfortunately, suffered with appendicitis, which ruled him out of two rounds. Surely, working with an experienced driver of his caliber has its perks, and there are no doubts Klara can pick up a trick or two from her teammate despite his quiet nature, a typical Finnish characteristic.

“He is great! He's a great teammate. Not only a good friend, but also we chat a lot about the car and the tracks, and we look at the video and the analysis together,” the CE Dealer Team driver said. “[Laughs] Yes! But he is very quiet. He's actually quite shy, but he also truly helps me a lot as a driver.”

Competing in rallycross is quite accessible, but reaching the top, the likes of the World Rallycross Championship is rather challenging without the necessary funding due to the costs of hiring cars, and the equipment needed to run these cars, in addition, the championship fields is pretty compact field since the series' move to electric cars, with 10 entries usually fielded across the course of a season. 

At the 2023 World RX of South Africa 1000, Nils Andersson, reigning RX2e Champion, worked alongside Kristoffersson Motorsport, as the team’s manager rather than competing with the best, a similar thing can be said about Frenchman Viktor Vranckx, who competed in RX2e for a few years, but he recently made the move to Nitrocross [in USA]. Drivers’ of this caliber should make the step up the ranks, but rather they are getting lost along the way due to budgetary constraints. 

Andersson says a challenge that all drivers face is “more or less, struggles with the budget and the funding. If we all had the budget, then we would see more cars, more drivers, everything. But it comes down to the budget. You can do a lot of things, but I think, for example, bringing in manufacturers would help quite a bit to really grow the championship and make more seats available. But it's hard.”

 “When I got my contract after just winning the Swedish Championship, we initially planned to do one international race in Spa, in RX2e, just to get some experience. I didn't think so much about it. But if I didn't do that race, I would never be here today,” she added. “So you really need to, at least do what I've been trying to do, and that is to take all the opportunities that you have, really grow your network, and be everywhere. Try everything. And then maybe the right people see you at the right time. But it's not easy.”

Achieving one's dreams of competing amongst the best in the world is all that drivers can ask for, but grabbing all the opportunities along the way is something that can boost a driver’s career. So, if there were opportunities to try out any other championship, what would Klara like to discover? Formula One, Dakar Rally, World Endurance, or even Formula E? 

“Formula One might be a bit too difficult now. But, I think Formula E is actually very exciting. I've been watching them with the ABT Cupra.  And I was at the race in Berlin. It would be amazing to try the Formula E cars sometime in the future. That would be really fun,” she said. “I'm also a big fan of the Dakar Rally. I always watch it. So, I mean, I'm only 23 right now. My main focus is for sure on World RX and Extreme E. But who knows what's going to happen in a few years.”

With her focus primarily on World RX and Extreme E at this moment in time - what would her ideal World Rallycross Championship track look like? 

TRACK DESIGNED BY KLARA ANDERSSON

The CE Dealer Team driver talks us through her ideal World track layout - “Oh, wow! This is difficult. [She begins to draw and says] We want a wide gravel first corner. That would be the biggest wish on the Christmas list. Then we have a jump. Flat jumps, that's all I want. No breaking before jumps, in my opinion. Then we're in the wrong series. 

This [turn 3] was supposed to be a bit tighter. You could call it a banked corner. After the banked corner, you will have a proper hairpin gravel, just a full handbrake. And then you need a good flow over the jump. The jump also needs to be gravel, actually. And then when you land, you have quite a long tarmac corner. Then the last section is quite fast, but then it splits to the joker on the outside. So it splits just before the finish line. This one is quite fast! The cars will all line up on the grid. 

Ah, that was actually quite fun." 

It's 'truly something special' racing against childhood heroes - O'Donovan

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Rising star Patrick O'Donovan has many reasons to smile after securing a podium on his debut in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

O'Donovan's rallycross career began in 2018, and in only his second second in the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross championship, he went on to finish runner-up in the standings. Moving over to the RX150 Rallycross Championship for buggies in 2020, he clinched the title a year later and was recognized as the 2021 Motorsport UK’s Young Driver of the Year. That same year, he competed in the FIA RX2e championship, finishing fourth overall and reaching the podium in Höljes [Sweden]. 

Having established himself, as one to watch, the Brit lifted the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy Championship on debut, and a year later successfully defended his crown, whilst simultaneously competing in the FIA European Rallycross Championship with the support of the Hansen's #YellowSquad junior development programme.

Hansen Motorsport along with the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS announced that they'd field a third car in the series finale double-header in Hong Kong, and with his experience, talent, and involvement in the #YellowSquad, it was a no-brainer to put Patrick in the third Zeriod X1 machine. 

The Brit made his intentions known by qualifying third on the opening day in Hong Kong, whilst the two heats did not go according to plan, he sealed a place in the semi-finals and added experience to his belt. 

Returning just a day later, he was right up there again with a fourth-place finish in SuperPole, and a heat race win, picking up the pace to challenge the best of the best in the dual surface discipline, and even beating 2019 world champion and team-mate Timmy Hansen to the podium on his debut.

"I'm over the moon, it was a weekend full of highs and lows, but it was amazing to finish on the podium on my World RX debut, especially in Hong Kong," O'Donovan said. "I had better pace today [Sunday] than on Saturday – my race win in the Heats was one of my highlights, but to move up from the back of the grid in the final to go up the inside to P3 and hold on to the finish was just amazing. After the first corners, the suspension wasn’t in the best condition, and the handling wasn’t perfect, but I just pushed as hard as I could to keep a World Champion in Timmy behind me, to cross the finish line in third."

The 19-year-old Brit admits that racing against his childhood heroes is something truly special.

"To be up here with some of my childhood heroes is just amazing," he said. "I think I worked it out with Timmy [Hansen], and it's probably similar to Johan - that I've been watching them since I was seven or eight years old when they were either competing in World or European Rallycross. To be up here and to be racing against them is truly something special."

Having had his first taste of the World Championship, the highly-rated teenager, acknowledges that his outing in Hong Kong was the highlight of his career, despite competing in other national championships. 

"The European, French, and British Championships are amazing, but up in the World Championship, it's the best of the best. And, I am racing against some world champions - there were two world champions in that race [the final]. To come out and beat one of them, and be only a few seconds behind Johan [Kristoffersson] is amazing. This is definitely my career highlight." he said.

Would you like to see Patrick O'Donovan in a full-time FIA World Rallycross Championship seat in 2024? Have your say in the comment section below! 

"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.”

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

“We will learn from this” after devastating fire destroys Lancia Delta's and equipment.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Lydden Hill - ‘the birthplace of rallycross’ saw the FIA World Rallycross Championship return after six long years. With excitement at a fever pitch, disaster unfortunately, struck at 8:43am on Friday morning, as a fire engulfed the Special ONE Racing service area. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, the team’s two cars, workshop trucks, and awnings were completely destroyed. 

Guerlain Chicherit going wheel-to-wheel on the Lancia's debut. 
PHOTO CREDIT: GCK Motorsport

WHERE IT BEGAN: On 23 November 2021, four-time World Freeriding Champion-turned-rally, rallycross, and stunt driver Guerlain Chicherit had the vision of reviving an iconic sports car, the Lancia Delta Integrale, which became a reality when he rolled out the first fully electric version at the final round of the 2022 World RX championship in Germany.

In its maiden outing, the Frenchman got off to a good start but was nudged into a concrete barrier. The damage meant his running on Day One was rather limited, and needed some overnight repairs. Whilst he couldn't compete for a podium in Germany. The team and car won the hearts of millions!

With unfinished business and clear goals for victories, Chicherit formed a new team – Special ONE Racing, and brought nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb on board to race the team’s second car. 

The French squad immediately showed promise making the finals with Loeb in round 1, but in order to go a step further Chicherit admitted that they needed to unlock a bit more speed. 

Having appeared in the final on three occasions this season, Special ONE Racing had their eyes firmly set on a podium finish at the British round of the championship, but sadly, it was not to be. 

“A fire broke out on Sébastien Loeb’s car. The fire quickly spread to Guerlain Chicherit's car and then to one of the team's two workshop trucks. None of the three vehicles could be saved from the flames despite the intervention of the fire brigade,” the Special ONE Racing statement said.

PHOTO CREDIT: _rallycross_ [Instagram]

“Watching our cars go up in smoke was a particularly painful moment for me and for the whole team, who had been investing so much love and energy in this programme for months,” Guerlain Chicherit said. “Aside from the material losses, I would like to point out that there were no injuries among the staff, who were very professional.”

A stewards document released on Saturday evening explained that the fire broke out at 8.43am on Friday morning, with “video evidence showing that the fire was initiated at the battery of the car while it was in the team area charging, but it is not clear why this happened. It was evident that only extremely quick thinking by the team members saved them from injury.”

The FIA immediately launched an “urgent investigation into the root cause of the incident with the cooperation of the Kent Fire service, the Lydden Hill track staff, and the championship promoter”, while battery supplier Kreisel will provide technical assistance. 

The World Rallycross Championship organizers then announced that “the investigation has not progressed far enough to determine a root cause for the fire”, and therefore “permanently stop round four of the RX1e championship for safety reasons.”

All the teams were kept informed about the progress of the investigation and fully supported the cancellation of the United Kingdom race [round 4]. 

CE Dealer Team’s Jussi Pinomäki said: “Safety is, and has always been, the number one priority and we fully support the decision of the FIA to halt the World RX race weekend in the UK for a thorough investigation to be completed.”

Whilst 14-time European Rallycross Champion Kenneth Hansen adding that: “We need to learn from what has happened and benefit from it.”

“We are sad not to have been racing this weekend, but we don’t want to risk anything. I think we can come stronger from this – not just us but the whole championship,” he said.

Having lost a large portion of its equipment and cars, Special ONE Racing made the heartbreaking announcement that “without its two cars and a large part of its equipment they will not be able to enter in the last four rounds of the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship season.”

“Our thoughts go out to the team who have lost their two racing cars and all other equipment. We know each other well and have good cooperation between the teams. Everyone knows how much time, money, and work has gone into producing the cars,” Tommy Kristoffersson, team principal of the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, said. 

“It is clear that it will be discussed, but it must be remembered that it is the first time an accident of this kind has occurred. Accidents and incidents have occurred in all types of series. Motorsport always involves a measure of risk,” he added. “Motorsport has always been a driving force in the development of the automotive industry. We compete under extreme conditions with extreme types of materials and all mistakes and errors are carefully analyzed. Let's hope that something good comes out of this in the end as well.”

The next event in the FIA World Rallycross Championship is set to take place in Mettet, Belgium in two weeks. At the point of publishing this article, there have been no updates regarding the investigation. The current intention of all teams and the organizers is for the event to go ahead as planned unless otherwise communicated. 

Kristoffersson conquers 'Magic Weekend' with third consecutive win.

Kristoffersson leads the field in wet/muddy conditions.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Defending FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson showcased his exceptional skills once again as he claimed an emphatic victory at the World RX of Sweden in Höljes last weekend, marking his third consecutive win. 

The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver's dominant performance, saw him set the fastest lap, win all four heats, his semi-final, and the all-important final to extend his lead in the championship by 27 points, making him a strong contender for a sixth-world title. 

"It's never easy and this weekend there were super difficult conditions, but it turned out to be the almost perfect weekend for me," he said. "I think this track might be the trickiest one to drive in the wet, but it’s also very rewarding when you get it right and we had great pace and good starts throughout, which was key. It’s always nice to win, of course, but to do so in Sweden in front of such a big crowd and with my family here is extra special."

The reigning champion credits his team for providing him with a fantastic car: "A big thanks to the team for a fantastic car that is easy to adapt to various conditions."

Kristoffersson took the chequered flag more than four seconds clear of closest pursuer Timmy Hansen. The 2019 world champion bounced back after a string of disappointing results in the opening two rounds at Montalegre and Hell to secure his first trophy of the season, getting the better of Ole Christian Veiby in the final to seal the runner-up spoils for Hansen World RX Team.

"So we’re doing everything we can to be winning again too. Johan [Kristoffersson] had another incredible weekend - when it started to rain today he just checked out. The battle for second though was super tight and Ole Christian [Veiby] just made a tiny error and I went on the inside. It just shows how small the margins are," Timmy Hansen said. "For the team, it’s fantastic to be back on the podium, especially considering they had to rebuild the car after the first two races. This reward is for them, and it feels like now I have started my championship."

Veiby completed the podium in third, pleased with his performance but ruing a couple of late mistakes. 

"I think we have deserved more from the first two races so it's super nice to be back on the podium. I had a great launch in the final and came out as second, but made a little mistake to let Timmy pass," Ole Christian said. "I was 0,1 seconds behind Johan in superpole last time, and 0,07 here in Höljes. Next time maybe..."

Following a difficult start to the weekend with an error in the SuperPole session and an off-track excursion in heat one, Kevin Hansen wound up fourth, winning the second semi-final but losing time behind Timo Scheider in the final after running wide on the exit of the joker.

"In the dry we were improving a lot now that we have found something that’s more comfortable to drive. In the wet we made big steps also. It’s the first time we’ve used the latest software and car setup in the wet but I did a bad launch in the final, then the wipers and washers didn’t work correctly so I couldn’t properly see, and I made a mistake in the joker. The speed after that was great and I closed on P3 but needed another lap to be able to get on the podium," Kevin Hansen said.

Both Scheider and Guerlain Chicherit saw their efforts plagued by punctures. The German managed to reach the finish line in fifth for ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, but in his first final appearance of the year,  Chicherit was forced to park his Special ONE Racing Lancia Delta Evo-E RX on the second lap.

"When I started 5th in my semi-final, I had to take all the risks. At the red light, I counted to three and then dropped everything... And miraculously, it worked!" the Frenchman said. "The euphoria of being in the final only lasted 500 metres. It's a shame because I had a good rhythm on this muddy track. We still need to work on gaining confidence in our car, which is fast but very sensitive."

Neither Niclas Grönholm nor Klara Andersson progressed to the final on a frustrating weekend for CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment.

"We struggled from start to finish this weekend, not much to say really," the Finn said. "It is a weekend to quickly forget. I am looking forward to a few weeks off, to recharge and come back stronger next time."

Whilst, it might have been a frustrating result for the team, Andersson admits the potential is there: "A tough weekend with a lot of ups and downs. It was fantastic to win the first heat, and it felt like a really good start to the weekend. Today it was raining all day, which was new for me with this type of car. So, there was a lot of learning. In the semi, it felt like we got the setup right, but unfortunately, I got a puncture. The potential is there, and we take a lot of lessons and important points with us from this weekend."

Nine-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb was another driver to exit proceedings at the semi-final stage. The Frenchman admits that it's quite challenging driving the Lancia Delta Evo-E RX, as small mistakes will be punished. 

"I won a heat, which proves that we can be on the pace. Starting 3rd in my semi-final, I had a good chance of qualifying, but I made two small mistakes that cost me a place," he said. The car doesn't forgive mistakes and we need to find more confidence behind the wheel. We've learnt a few things this weekend."

KMS driver Gustav Bergström had a tough weekend, arriving on Sunday, having raced in Carrera Cup on Saturday, and with some technical issues in his first heat. 

"Of course, it was difficult with the power steering issues, but my pace was good and I had the best lap time in one of my heats," Bergström said. "I was absolutely blind into the first corner of the semifinal. I tried my best all the way to get past Sébastien Loeb but it wasn't to be." 

After three championship rounds, the FIA World Rallycross heads to the United Kingdom at the iconic Lydden Hill circuit for round four later this month (July 21-23).

A formidable performance in Hell sees Kristoffersson claim a 37th career victory.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Reigning World Champion Johan Kristoffersson produced a formidable performance in Hell to win World RX of Norway, whilst team-mate Ole Christian Veiby was disqualified for a technical infraction. 

Kristoffersson was untouchable around the Lånkebanen circuit, maintaining his flawless SuperPole record before dominating all four heats, his semi-final, and the final to tally his 37th career victory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s milestone 100th round.

That secured the five-time world champion a second consecutive maximum score behind the wheel, extending his advantage at the top of the championship standings to 13 points.

"The track was changing so it was difficult and easy to make mistakes," Kristoffersson said. "But I feel comfortable. We have the tools and the knowledge to make the changes we need to make things work, and I played it smart and tried not to get involved in too many incidents. Now, we look ahead to Höljes. Driving there with these new electric cars will be super-fun!”

Behind the Swede, a battle played out for ‘best-of-the-rest’. Ultimately, it was CE Dealer Team's Niclas Grönholm who prevailed in that particular fight as the Finn secured the runner-up spot.

"It has not been an easy weekend; we have been really working hard. It feels good to head home with a second place and a solid points haul after all. We need to keep working hard, stayed focused, and try again in the next race at Höljes," Grönholm said.

In only his second outing in World RX’s electric era, Timo Scheider reached the podium [with a third-place finish] for the first time in almost three years behind the wheel of the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport’s SEAT Ibiza RX1e.

Replicating the result achieved on her impressive World RX debut in Hell last year, Klara Andersson took the chequered flag fourth. The Swede had some of the most impressive/quickest launches this weekend.

"We had some issues in the semi-final, so I was really lucky to be able to make the final. There I got a very good launch but got hit twice," Andersson said. "After that, the wheels were pointing in every possible direction, so it was not easy to drive that’s for sure. We did not have so much luck this weekend."

Sébastien Loeb finished fifth in the World RX final in his Lancia Delta Evo-E RX, whilst hometown hero Ole Christian Veiby finished fifth on the road, but following first corner contact that removed the boot and rear wing of his car, his Volkswagen RX1e was subsequently found to be +-3.3kg under the minimum weight.

Speaking before receiving the penalty, Veiby said, "In the final, I got hit in the first corner and thus the car was very difficult to handle, so I just couldn't keep up with the others. I feel that I get too little reward for some good driving."

If it was a bad weekend for Veiby, the Hansen Motorsport stable had a weekend to forget, as Kevin Hansen exited proceedings at the semi-final stage after picking up a puncture in a Turn One clash with Kristoffersson, whilst older brother Timmy was withdrawn after his car battery sustained a high g-force load after hitting a big bump whilst attempting an overtake on Veiby. The latter was disqualified from Heat 4. 

Hansen was later fined 1,000 euros for walking onto an active circuit, and hitting Veiby's car whilst gesticulating. Due to the FIA Safety Regulations related to the battery g-force load the battery will have to undergo testing in Austria before it could be used again. 

FINAL RESULT - WORLD RX OF NORWAY

1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON - Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS

2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM - CE Dealer Team + 1.755s

3. Timo SCHEIDER - ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport + 3.675s

4. Klara ANDERSSON - CE Dealer Team + 5.438s

5. Sébastien LOEB (FRA) Special ONE Racing + 6.798s

6. Ole Christian VEIBY - Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS DSQ

WORLD RX PREVIEW: Kristoffersson leads the charge to Hell, but can anyone stop the speedy Swede?

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Five-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson leads the charge to Hell this weekend, as the World RX of Norway plays host to the 100th round of the captivating, action-packed, and electrifying championship. 

Kristoffersson got off to a flying start in Montalegre, Portugal earlier this month, winning all of his races, including four qualifying heats, a semifinal, and the final - picking up 23 points putting him clearly at the top of the championship standings. 

The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver's superb form will be hard to beat this weekend, but we are sure to see a fightback from Hansen Motorsport, CE Dealerteam, and Special ONE Racing.

However, he feels that the competition will be a lot tighter this weekend. "I am pretty sure it will be more even and tighter this time," Kristoffersson said. "I think Timmy Hansen will be a strong challenger. He is usually very fast on the track in Hell. Always small margins. You have to do your job every time. No room for mistakes." 

As Johan points out, Hansen Motorsport will look to unsettle the unstoppable Swede. Kevin Hansen, who claimed a second-place finish, sees an opportunity to make further improvements having gathered vital data. His older brother Timmy will also look to gain much-needed championship momentum after exiting Portugal in the semi-final. 

Niclas Gronholm, the ice-cool Finn from the CE Dealer Team is eager to hit the ground running in Norway this weekend, as "we will try to go for an even stronger and more consistent weekend."

"The first race in Portugal was really encouraging, and I think we have something good to build on for the rest of the season. Everybody in the team along with our partners are eager to score good results. I have a nice feeling going to Norway, where I had great results in the past," Gronholm said.

Whilst nine-time WRC legend Loeb admits that "Johan Kristoffersson is clearly untouchable at the moment, but the podium is not so far." The Frenchman will aim to find a bit more pace this weekend. 

Klara Andersson has continued to improve after becoming the first permanent female entrant since the series’ inception. Not only that, but she advanced to the final on her debut in Hell last year, beating team-mate Niclas Grönholm, a multiple event-winner.

"I am extremely excited to come back to Norway where we made our World RX debut last year. I have great memories from there and I look forward to build on the momentum from Portugal. It’s always a great atmosphere around the track in Hell, and I can’t wait to get going and fight for the podium," Andersson said.

Her reward was a long-term contract with the team, and on the basis of her impressive performance in the Montalegre season-opener earlier this month, a second podium to add to her historic top-three finish in Portugal last year can certainly not be ruled out.

Andersson is far from the only rapid female racer in the field in Norway. In the supporting, all-electric FIA RX2e Championship – which gets its five-round 2023 campaign underway this weekend – women make up 40% of the grid, with Extreme E front-runners Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Cristina Gutiérrez, Catie Munnings, and Laia Sanz all set to do battle for glory (watch all the action on RX+)

THE CIRCUIT - LÅNKEBANEN, HELL.

THE TRACK: 

Opened in 1988 as the first asphalt track in Norway, the Lånkebanen is one of the world’s most popular rallycross tracks. Since it's opening, the track was used mostly for the national rallycross competitions. In 2011, the Lånkebanen hosted a round of the European Rallycross Championship for the first time. A few years later, it became the venue of the 2014 World Rallycross Championship. 

The Lankebanen features different options, from the main asphalt course and combined 1100-meters long rallycross circuit (63% asphalt, 37% gravel) to hill climb track and motocross track, located on the hillside below the main circuit.

2023 FIA WORLD RX OF NORWAY: 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

Round 2 - World RX of Norway (CAT Times) - CET is one hour earlier. 

SATURDAY:

PRACTICE: 09:10

SUPERPOLE: 11:05

HEAT 1: 14:05

HEAT 2: 16:05

SUNDAY:

WARM-UP: 10:05

HEAT 3: 11:10

HEAT 4: 13:35

SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL: (from) 16:00

GRID WRAP UP SHOW: 17:00 [RX+ only]

2023 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 1]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 23 POINTS

2) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 16

3) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 15

4) Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 12

5) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 11

6) Sebastien Loeb (Special ONE Racing) - 10

7) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 10

8) Guerlain Chicherit (Special ONE Racing) - 8

9) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 7

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

Grönholm claims unexpected win as Kristoffersson is penalized in Portugal.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Four-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristofferson crossed the finish line first in a thrilling finale to the fifth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Montalegre today, but it was not to be as a post-race penalty handed victory to Niclas Grönholm.

On the second day of action in Portugal, the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS drivers' were untouchable in Super Pole, with Kristoffersson leading team-mate Ole Christian Veiby by 0.244 seconds, whilst the pursuing pack were over half a second a drift.

Kristoffersson was peerless throughout the heats topping the intermediate rankings once again, and had a thrilling duel with Kevin Hansen in the progression race. He came out second best to the young Swede. Whilst he's fellow stablemate Gustav Bergstrom failed to make the progression round after arriving too late to the pre-grid area.

In the first semi-final, Niclas Grönholm had a great start from the fifth grid slot, and challenged Kevin Hansen into turn one. Having emerged fractionally ahead of the Finn, who was on the outside. The two made contact, which resulted in damaged rear suspension for Hansen - DNF. 

Semi-final two was not any easier for Timmy Hansen who spun in the joker and finished behind Kristofferson and Veiby. Hansen's pace was enough to secure a place in the finals.

The tension was high in the final, but as we've seen throughout the weekend, the driver starting from the fifth grid spot is always able to carry more speed into turn one, a scene we saw repeated in the final with Timmy Hansen. He fully sent it into turn one and managed to stay ahead of Kristoffersson who slotted in behind (in second). Having shown decent pace on Sunday afternoon, Grönholm opted for an early joker strategy to try and capitalize on the fight ahead.

Timmy Hansen recovering after contact with Kristoffersson into turn one.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

On the second lap, Johan tried an ambitious overtaking maneuver diving on the inside of Timmy Hansen heading into turn one, the pair collided forcing Hansen to run very deep and nearly into the gravel at turn one. From there, the four-time champion keep he's foot down and crossed the finish line first ahead of Niclas. 

However, after the race had finished, the FIA Stewards deemed that Kristoffersson was guilty of pushing, and thus was handed a 10-second time penalty, as a result Grönholm was promoted to victor ahead of Ole Christian Veiby and Klara Andersson in third, who today has became the first female to reach the podium in top flight international rallycross.

"This obviously isn’t the way I like to win and it’s always slightly bittersweet in situations like this," he said. "We struggled in the first four rounds, but today was a bit better and we finally came away with a result."

"I felt good in the car since the progression round. I had a feeling that we could fight for the podium in the final. Our plan from the start was to go as a wild card unless we became the leader. Unfortunately, I didn't get a clean lap the lap before Johan Kristoffersson made his joker. I could have beaten him on the track as well, but I would have been happy with the second place as well."

The FIA Stewards released there reasoning for penalizing Kristoffersson, saying: "Having reviewed the MVRC evidence, the stewards find that Car #1 pushed in the braking zone prior to T1 to the right side near front wheel of Car #21." 

Despite extending the championship lead, Johan made it clear that he disagrees with the FIA's decision: "I don't agree with this decision. If you misjudge a situation and get penalised, that's ok. But I can't understand how they can find me guilty in a situation where he turns in on me."

Lusorecursos World RX of Portugal: FINAL RESULT.

1. Niclas Grönholm (CE Dealer Team) 

2. Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) +2.853s

3. Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) +4.412s

4. Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) +4.821s 

5. Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) +9.241s (due to time penalty)