Gurklys Dominates in Euro RX3 as Røsrud’s Höljes Heartbreak Shocks Swedish Crowd

Markus Røsrud had looked untouchable through qualifying, topping every session to secure pole. The young Norwegian was the clear favourite heading into the semis, until disaster struck. A blistering launch turned into heartbreak when contact with Portugal’s André Sousa left Røsrud with damage and a penalty that knocked him out of contention.

With Røsrud gone, the door was wide open, and Rytis Gurklys didn’t hesitate. Launching perfectly from the front row, the Lithuanian pulled clear in the rain soaked track, making the most of the visibility up front to open a commanding 10-second gap. Even after taking his joker lap, Gurklys remained untouchable, cruising to a statement win at the sport’s most legendary venue.

Behind him, chaos reigned. The treacherous track delivered the kind of wheel-to-wheel drama Höljes is known for, with Nicolas Geleyns, Dominik Senegacnik, and Libor Teješ locked in a furious scrap for the podium. Geleyns impressed early, using wide, drier lines to gain ground, and despite a wild last-lap slide nearly costing him, he defended brilliantly to take second.

Tiago Ferreira’s final started in misery, gripless off the line and compounding his woes with a barrier tap on an early joker. Yet as others battled, Ferreira quietly carved through the pack, finishing in fourth position, retaking third in the dying moments after Senegacnik was handed a two-second post-race penalty.

Despite the downpour, the World RX of Sweden delivered another classic. Gurklys’ dominant drive, combined with a dramatic midfield battle, thrilled the soaked crowd and showed once again why Höljes remains the crown jewel of the rallycross calendar.

Race winner Rytis Gurklys said: "I’m absolutely thrilled with today’s result. Standing on the top step here at Höljes for the first time is an incredible feeling, this place is legendary. I think this might be my favourite weekend of the year. The fans have been unbelievable; you really feel their energy out on track. It’s true what they say, Höljes is something special."

Runner-up Nicolas Geleyns commented: "Finishing P2 at Höljes is amazing, I’m so happy! Just a year ago I was racing in Europe for the first time, so to be on the podium here already feels surreal. It was a tough weekend with the weather and track conditions, which makes this result even sweeter. Massive thanks to the team, to everyone who made this possible, and to all the fans around the world, especially those cheering me on from Antigua!"

Third-place finisher Tiago Ferreira said: "Höljes is such a beautiful, challenging race, but it’s been a tough road to get here. The track is technical even in the dry, and the rain just made everything harder. After a heavy crash yesterday, the team worked incredibly hard to rebuild the car overnight. To come back and finish on the podium after all that, it’s a really special way to end the weekend."