News
‘Full-lock, full-throttle’ in France: Kristoffersson’s magic moment at Lohéac
)
With legendary French venue Lohéac returning to the FIA European Rallycross Championship schedule following a five-year absence in 2026, we spied the perfect opportunity for a little ‘Flashback Friday’ fun by rewinding the clock to one of Johan Kristoffersson’s most extraordinary feats.
Of course, as an eight-time FIA World Rallycross Champion, Kristoffersson is no stranger to extraordinary on-track feats – but even by his lofty standards, this one was rather special.
Behind the wheel of his Audi S1, the Swede travelled to Brittany still in search of his first win of the season in 2021 – having been boxed out by the Hansen brothers in the Catalunya curtain-raiser and fallen foul of a double puncture at the semi-final stage on home soil at Höljes.
In France, Kristoffersson found himself drawn in the unfavourable middle grid slot for Q1 – arguably the trickiest place to start at Lohéac – but he executed a lightning-fast launch that he was in no mood to squander. Keeping his foot firmly planted into the tight right-hand Turn One, a tag from behind sent him fully sideways, causing him to exit the corner almost completely at right angles to the chasing pack before swiftly gathering it all back up again.
Indeed, so swiftly did he gather it all back up – calling upon every ounce of his renowned car control – that the KYB EKS JC ace resumed the race without relinquishing the lead and went on to set the second-best time of the session, barely half-a-second adrift of Hyundai rival Niclas Grönholm. Just Johan doing Johan things...
)
“The start is pretty crucial, and I got a decent one but when I tried to turn in, I wasn’t 100 per cent ahead and there was contact,” he mused. “From there on, it was full-lock, full-throttle and I was very happy to survive and still come out in first...”
At the end of Q4, Kristoffersson claimed his customary position at the summit of the intermediate standings, but for the second consecutive event, he missed out on the final – this time, due to driveshaft failure while leading the semi-final that ultimately resulted in irreparable gearbox damage.
That meant the Arvika native’s uncharacteristically long wait for a 25th victory of his illustrious career continued, but in the grand scheme of things, it mattered little, as he still clinched the coveted Drivers’ crown on countback at the end of the campaign following a tense and snowy Nürburgring finale.
And as for his super Lohéac save? It took third place in the prestigious ‘Action of the Year’ fan vote at the end-of-season FIA Prizegiving Ceremony.
)
)
){kind=logo}
)
)