The 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign has raced into life
in breathtaking fashion as the ‘Battle of Technologies’ got underway at
Ferratum World RX of Sweden today (6 July), delivering outstanding on-track
action and so very nearly a fairytale finish for home hero Klara Andersson.
Andersson has made rapid progress since stepping up to World
Championship level from the national scene two years ago, demonstrating her
potential by ascending the podium in Portugal in 2022 and then topping a heat
session in the 2023 season finale in Hong Kong.
After winning both of her heat races at Höljes behind the wheel of her
electric PWR RX1e, the CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment star defeated
2019 world champion Timmy Hansen in the pair’s semi-final to earn pole position
for the first time for the all-important final.
The only cloud on her horizon was the fact that pulling up alongside her
on the grid in his sustainably-fuelled, combustion-powered VW Polo KMS 601 RX was
Johan Kristoffersson – the most successful driver in World RX history with no
fewer than 55 victories and six titles to his name. Make that 56 wins now, as
the Swede out-dragged Andersson away from the start-line and thereafter edged
away to triumph by a shade over two seconds.
Kristoffersson’s run to the final had not been entirely without drama.
He benefitted from a late technical issue for Niclas Grönholm to score maximum
points in heat one, and took the chequered flag first again in heat two only to
subsequently be demoted to third due to contact with Grönholm that sent the
Finn into a spectacular 360-degree spin.
From there on, however, the KMS - Horse Powertrain ace was flawless, and
after snatching the advantage away from Andersson when the lights went out in
the final, he punched in five perfect laps to get his quest for a seventh
career crown off to a superb start.
“I’m very happy,” acknowledged Kristoffersson. “When it came down to the
wire, I got a very good launch and in clear air, the VW is really fast. I felt
very comfortable, had a good rhythm and made no mistakes. Big thanks to the
team – everybody has put in a huge effort to get this car to the grid.”
Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a dream result,
Andersson was justifiably delighted with the runner-up spoils – her finest
result in World RX to-date, leaving her tied at the summit of the championship
standings with Kristoffersson.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved,” the 24-year-old enthused. “The
team worked incredibly hard over the winter to put together an amazing package and
I felt confident from free practice. I tried to stay with Johan in the final,
but he’s champion for a reason. I didn’t quite have it all today, but I’m super
happy anyway.”
Gustav Bergström rounded out the rostrum in third for Kristoffersson
Motorsport, with Hansen World RX Team’s Timmy Hansen fending off Ole Christian
Veiby (KMS - Horse Powertrain) and younger brother Kevin Hansen for fourth, as heats
pace-setter Grönholm narrowly failed to progress to the final.
Nils Andersson holds the overnight lead in RX2e, with Patrick O’Donovan
and João Ribeiro topping the table in Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 respectively.
The ‘Magic Weekend’ continues on Sunday with round two of the World RX
campaign and the conclusion of the support series battles. The racing will be
broadcast live on Rally.TV from 10:15 CEST.
FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan
KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE)
5 laps
2. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE
Dealer Team (EV) + 2.159s
3. Gustav
BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport (EV) + 3.428s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen
World RX Team (EV) + 4.170s
5. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE)
+ 5.032s
6. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen
World RX Team (EV) + 4.815s*
* +1 place penalty
Full results for all categories can be found here.
Europe
Poland
Turkey