For the first time in five years, Niclas Grönholm did not win a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2023, but that masks a campaign when the habitually luckless Finn performed as well as he has ever done.
A pair of podium finishes from the opening two outings in Portugal and Norway established the CE Dealerteam by Volvo Construction Equipment star as Johan Kristoffersson’s closest competitor in the chase for the Drivers’ crown.
Höljes would be a tougher event for the team all-round, but Grönholm adapted quickly to the ZEROID X1 following the mid-season switch of machinery and was on stellar form in the double-header finale in Hong Kong, lining up on the front row of the grid for the final on both days around the downtown Central Harbourfront circuit.
Problems at the start scuppered his chances of vying for victory, but the pace was there for all to see, and his results enabled the 27-year-old to pip Timo Scheider to third in the standings – matching his championship finish from 2021 and 2022. Notably, only Kristoffersson advanced to the final more often than Grönholm did. With just a little bit of luck, he can be a title contender next year.
2023
Stats
World
RX Starts:
7
Wins:
0
Podiums:
3
Finals
Reached:
6
Best
Result: 2nd
Points:
94
Championship
Position:
3rd
Finland
Italy
Hungary