In a top ten list that
also includes rising rallying star Oliver Solberg, IndyCar race-winners Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson as well as a number of single-seater
drivers on Formula 1 junior programmes, Kristoffersson comes out on top.
‘One of Sweden’s
most successful sportsmen is on his way to his seventh world championship title,’
writes Aftonbladet journalist, Anna Andersson. ‘Regardless of the
drivetrain and regardless of whether he drives for a factory team or privately,
he is the best. No-one can compete with the former cross-country skier. Given
he is only 35-years-old, he could within a couple of years be motorsport’s most
[prolific] world champion.’
“Of course it’s
nice to be number one on the list,” acknowledged the KMS - HORSE Powertrain
ace. “Sweden is a small country, but both currently and historically, we’ve
been pretty successful in motorsport – if you look further down the list, there
are some really strong names there, and a lot of strong drivers that didn’t
make the cut as well.
“It’s always
difficult to compare different disciplines, because everyone who is on top of
their own category is doing an exceptionally good job, but I’ll try to stay there
for a bit longer!”
An achievement that
would unquestionably bolster that bid would be the successful acquisition of a
seventh FIA World Rallycross Championship trophy this year, to add to those he
secured in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Such a feat would also carry
Kristoffersson even closer to Sébastien Loeb’s record of nine FIA world
championship titles.
In his sole
previous appearance at Istanbul Park Circuit – back in 2015 – the Swede reached
the rostrum in third place, a result that he matched in the overall
classification that season.
Given his current
advantage at the summit of the standings – holding a 46-point margin over
nearest pursuer Kevin Hansen with only 60 remaining in play – it is conceivable
that Kristoffersson could seal the deal during the Saturday heat races. Not
that he is willing to take anything for granted.
“I have some good
memories of Türkiye,” reflected the Arvika native. “It’s quite a technical,
difficult track with a long asphalt section after the start changing to a very
slippery unsealed surface towards the end of the lap. As I remember, it can be
quite eventful in terms of overtakes and incidents!
“It’s always nice
to go into the last weekend having the possibility to secure the championship –
that’s my goal every season, and it looks promising – but motorsport is
motorsport and we all know anything can happen. We have just tried to prepare
ourselves as well as we can and make sure we leave no stone unturned, and I’ll
do my own homework before I go there, too. It’s been quite a long break [since
Montalegre], and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel.”
Japan
Poland
Turkey