World RX – More magic from Kristoffersson, as he disappears from his rivals in Höljes

Johan Kristoffersson produced another one of his masterful vanishing acts at the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s famous ‘Magic Weekend’ in Höljes – as he disappeared from his rivals by setting the fastest SuperPole time and winning all four of his heats, his semi-final and final to extend his lead to 27 points at the top of the World RX leaderboard.

His rivals had hoped that rain and an exceptionally slippery track might level the World RX of Sweden playing field, but Kristoffersson was even more dominant in the wet as he scored an emphatic 38th career victory in front of 25,000 home fans.

“That was almost the perfect weekend,” said the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver.

“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.”

Kristoffersson took the chequered flag more than four seconds clear of closest pursuer Timmy Hansen. The 2019 world champion bounced back from 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.

Veiby similarly ascended the rostrum for the first time in 2023 in third, pleased with his performance but ruing a couple of late mistakes.

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.

Both Scheider and Guerlain Chicherit saw their efforts plagued by punctures. The German managed to reach the finish line in fifth in his Münnich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza RX1e, while the Frenchman was forced to park his Special ONE Racing Lancia Delta Evo-E RX on the second lap in what was his first final appearance of the year.

Neither Niclas Grönholm nor Klara Andersson progressed to the final on a frustrating weekend for CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment – although it had started well for Andersson as she won the first World RX heat of the race meeting.

Sébastien Loeb was also a heat winner, but was eliminated in the semi-finals after finishing fourth in his Lancia Delta Evo-E RX.

Gustav Bergström drove overnight to get to Höljes for race day, having been given special dispensation to miss the opening day of heats. His efforts were poorly rewarded with power steering issues in his Volkswagen RX1e

In the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, Ole Henry Steinsholt banished the memory of a nightmarish Hell curtain-raiser to claim his breakthrough victory in what the young Norwegian driver described as ‘the wildest final’ that he’d ever driven in.

Nils Andersson (Kristoffersson Motorsport) retained his lead exiting a last lap joker only to spin a few corners later, allowing Steinsholt to take a dramatic win, ahead of Viktor Vranckx (VMV Racing) and Isak Sjökvist (#YellowSquad). Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (Kristoffersson Motorsport) finished fourth, ahead of Andersson and heat winner Filip Thorèn (Zeroid Motorsport).

Patrick O’Donovan had a dreadful opening day in his Peugeot 208 and was in danger of getting knocked out in the heat stages before coming from the back of the grid to win the Euro RX1 final – becoming the first British driver in 10 years to do so.

Former European champion Robin Larsson (JC Raceteknik) looked the driver to beat on his return to the series but put his Audi S1 off onto the grass on the final lap and could only finish second, ahead of Ulrik Linnemann in his Volkswagen Polo. Anton Marklund (Set Promotion) finished fourth in his Ford Fiesta to take the lead of the Euro RX1 series after four rounds.

Enzo Ide (Audi S1), who led the Euro RX1 standings coming into Höljes, and Andreas Bakkerud, who was one of the favourites in his JC Raceteknik Audi S1, both failed to reach the final.

Espen Isaksætre scored his first FIA European Rallycross Championship victory by winning a thrilling Euro RX3 final. He is just five points behind Damian Litwinowicz, who came from the back of the grid to finish second in his Volland Racing Audi A1. Jens Hvaal had been sensational all weekend and finished third in his Škoda Fabia, while João Ribeiro came home fourth after spinning his Volland Racing Audi A1.

The 2023 World RX campaign continues at Lydden Hill in the UK on 22-23 July.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS 5 laps
2. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 4.268s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS + 7.773s
4. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 9.637s
5. Timo SCHEIDER (DEU)  Münnich Motorsport + 44.001s
6. Guerlain CHICHERIT (FRA) Special ONE Racing + 4 laps