Belgian Brilliance: Cooper Tires’ ‘Racers of the Weekend’ from Mettet

There was no shortage of excitement at World RX of Benelux (5-6 August), with stellar performances and surprise showings throughout the field. But who shone brightest in Belgium to earn the coveted Cooper Tires ‘Racer of the Weekend’ awards from Mettet..?

RX2e: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinksy

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky catapulted herself firmly into title contention in the FIA RX2e Championship in Belgium, belying her complete lack of prior experience of Mettet’s Circuit Jules Tacheny.

After finding her feet during practice, the Swede displayed strong pace in heat one, with a superb launch from the outside of the grid in heat two vaulting her into a lead that she would not subsequently relinquish. She ultimately stopped the clocks with a time beaten only by multiple FIA World Rallycross Champion, Johan Kristoffersson.

Åhlin-Kottulinsky took the fight to her countryman directly in heat three, going on to hassle 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen all the way to the chequered flag, and then dominated her race in heat four to set the second-quickest time behind Kristoffersson again.

The Team E ace led the second semi-final prior to the red flag for Ole Christian Veiby’s roll, and at the re-start, secured safe passage through to the final with a third-place finish. She replicated that outcome in the all-important final, before being promoted to the runner-up spot following Ole Henry Steinsholt’s penalty. With race-winner Kristoffersson ineligible to score, the result has propelled Åhlin-Kottulinsky to just two points shy of the summit of the standings...

Euro RX1: Zoltán Koncseg

After dipping his toe into the FIA European Rallycross Championship water on home soil at Nyirád in 2022, Zoltán Koncseg committed to a full-season assault this year. Having reached the semi-final stage in both Portugal and Norway, he took another step forward in Belgium, as he advanced to the Euro RX1 final for the first time.

Tenth-quickest in each of the opening two heats at Mettet – enjoying a spell in the lead of the second of those races – Koncseg survived a grassy moment in heat three to post the seventh-fastest time of the session, with another solid run in heat four seeing him line up fifth on the grid for the second semi-final.

A Turn One clash elevated the Hungarian to third position, which he would retain to the chequered flag to book his spot in the final. Koncseg then engaged in a tight battle with fellow first-time finalist Hans-Jøran Østreng for fourth, with the Audi driver prevailing by just over a second to climb into the top ten in the championship standings.


Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Koncseg will each be rewarded with a free set of Cooper Tires for their performances in Belgium.