World RX – Niclas Grönholm wins as Klara Andersson claims first podium finish
Niclas Grönholm scored his first win of the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship, after an exciting World RX of Portugal final saw him take the Round 5 spoils – while his Construction Equipment Dealer team-mate Klara Andersson make history with a breakthrough podium finish.
Johan Kristoffersson had taken the chequered flag in first position at Montalegre, but his fifth straight World RX victory celebrations were short lived when the Volkswagen RX1e driver was given a 10 second penalty for a lap two clash with Timmy Hansen, which had sent the Peugeot 208 RX1e driver skating into the gravel.
“This obviously isn’t the way I like to win and it’s always slightly bittersweet in situations like this,” said a sporting Grönholm.
“We struggled in the first four rounds, but today was a bit better and we finally came away with a result.
“From the progression race onwards, I had a good feeling in the car, and I was confident of challenging for the podium in the final if we got the tactics right. I made a few mistakes towards the end, without which I think I could have got Johan anyway. I know how it feels to be in his shoes, but it’s great for CE Dealer Team and all our partners to get both cars inside the top three.
“We’ve had a tough season so far, but we seem to be on a good path at last – so hopefully we can keep this going.”
Ole Christian Veiby finished second in his VW RX1e – his fourth top three finish from five starts in 2022 – with Andersson hassling him all the way to the finish in third.
Not only did the 22-year-old complete a double podium for CE Dealer Team, but she also became the first female to reach the rostrum in top flight international rallycross history.
Timmy Hansen ultimately wound up a disappointed fourth on a day that had at one stage promised so much more for Hansen World RX Team, with younger brother Kevin enduring a real rollercoaster ride, from the high of brilliantly overtaking Kristoffersson twice in the first progression race to the crushing low of exiting proceedings at the semi-final stage, just as he had seemed poised to truly take the fight to the championship leader.
In the Muennich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza, René Münnich displayed much improved form compared to day one as he significantly narrowed the deficit to his World RX rivals, while KMS rookie Gustav Bergström’s day ended when he was ruled out of the progression race due to a late arrival at pre-grid.
FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team….5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport….+ 2.853s
3. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) Construction Equipment Dealer Team….+4.412s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team….+ 4.821s
5. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport….+9.241s