Kristoffersson parts the waters to win soaking Swedish World RX final

Johan Kristoffersson has secured victory in the second round of the 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship in the most challenging of conditions on home soil in Höljes. With the drivers having battled through constantly changing grip levels as rain came and went throughout the day, a huge deluge hit the remote Swedish circuit just as the cars lined up on the grid. Despite this, Johan kept his cool and rounded out a perfect weekend, having finished every session he competed in at the head of the field.

It is the seven-time champion’s 6^th World RX win at the legendary circuit, and certainly one that will long be remembered for the incredible action throughout. While Kristoffersson managed to stay out of trouble up front, the battling behind was absolutely intense.

After winning the opening round in Portugal, CE Dealer Team’s Niclas Grönholm has put in another strong performance this weekend. Despite not having the ultimate pace of the #1 KMS machine, the Finn has been quick all weekend, never once dropping outside of the top three positions throughout his qualifying heats and semi-finals. In the final, he made a strong start to slot into second place, and despite several huge moments where it looked as though he would slide off the circuit, he managed to keep the chasing pack behind to come home second.

It was much more of a rollercoaster for the Hansen Motorsport brothers Timmy and Kevin, who had not been on front-running pace earlier in the weekend, but come the final were right in the thick of it. They both bolted for the joker lap right out of the blocks, along with Juha Rytkönen, who had been very impressive in these mixed conditions since the start of the event. The three clashed as the deluge of water turned the gravel sections of the 1.2km track into a mudbath, but it was the Hansen pair who emerged ahead of Rytkönen on that opening lap.

The sustainably-fuelled PGRX car would eventually recover to fourth place ahead of Patrick O’Donovan, who despite having struggled throughout the earlier running was right in the mix in the opening laps. The reigning European Rallycross Champion would suffer a puncture late on that put paid to his hopes of a flying finish.

The battle ahead between the Hansens raged on as the rain continued to fall, with both of them fighting to keep their EV machines pointing in the right direction. Kevin temporarily lost that battle on the fast back section of the circuit on lap four and spun a spectacular full 360 degrees, somehow ending up pointing in the right direction in what will go down as one of the most impressive saves in recent memory. While it was a save for the ages, his heroics were sadly short lived, as he was forced to pull off the track with what looked like a loss of power just a few corners later.

It was a final race that lived up to the expectations set by a sensational weekend of rallycross action in what is the heartland of the championship. Despite the rain that came and went throughout, over 20,000 fans were determined to stay to the end and watch their hometown heroes fight for victory.

There is just one weekend off now before the FIA World Rallycross Championship resumes in Nyirád, Hungary for Round 3. Grönholm maintains his position at the top of the points standings, with Kristoffersson having jumped to second ahead of Timmy Hansen. With hot, dry and dusty conditions expected in Hungary – it will be quite a different challenge to this Magic Weekend in Höljes.

Timmy Hansen, Hansen Motorsport, said: “It was carnage! Once I saw there was a big gap in front and I was holding third, I was just praying in every water splash where I was fully aquaplaning that I could keep it on the apex. Third place today with having a bad start and no pace all weekend, I’m pretty happy with the podium!

Niclas Grönholm, CE Dealer Team, said: “It was crazy, I’ve never driven in these kinds of conditions. It was aquaplaning everywhere, but I managed to get quite a big gap after a few laps so could actually take it easy and avoid the mistakes. I’m really happy with the P2, it was all we could hope for this weekend. We started off very poorly in practice and we didn’t have the pace over the weekend, so it’s a great amount of pace considering that, and I’m happy.”

Johan Kristoffersson, Kristoffersson Motorsport, said: “These are definitely very important points, but everything in my mind right now is that crazy final! I’ve been in Höljes when there was a lot of water and heavy rain, but this was so far the most crazy final I’ve ever driven here. The first two laps were really difficult trying to read the conditions, but at the same time I struggled to find the rhythm and I knew that it was going to be super hard for the guys behind with their windscreens covered in mud. I think that was the most difficult rallycross final I’ve ever driven!”