Ahead of the
forthcoming double-header finale, Johan Kristoffersson stands on the brink an
extraordinary seventh title. This year, however, the Swede has had to face a
new challenge, with the ‘Battle of Technologies’ pitting sustainably-fuelled,
internal combustion-engined cars such as Kristoffersson’s directly against
electric machinery – each boasting their own advantages and disadvantages.
Having triumphed in
five of the opening eight rounds in 2024, Kristoffersson travels to Türkiye
with his ICE Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX holding a commanding 46-point margin at
the summit of the standings. It would take a fair degree of drama to deny the KMS
- HORSE Powertrain star the coveted crown, but in rallycross, nothing can ever
be taken for granted.
The Swede’s main
rival – countryman Kevin Hansen – is the leader of the EV brigade and a gritty
competitor who never lies down without a fight. After getting the better of
Kristoffersson to tally his first win of the campaign at Montalegre, Portugal
in in September, the 2023 runner-up hopes the 1.35km Istanbul Park Circuit will
enable him to stretch the legs of his Hansen World RX Team Peugeot 208 RX1e
once again.
It is almost a decade
since the dual-surface discipline’s top-flight last visited the circuit just beyond
the Bosphorus Strait, but memories of epic duels remain fresh in the mind –
with Kevin Hansen’s elder brother Timmy a key player in one of the most
spectacular scraps in World RX history in Türkiye nine years ago.
“That was a great
event – one of the all-time best in rallycross, I would say,” reflects the 2019
world champion. “I’m looking forward to returning this week. I think with the
differences in performance between the cars this year, around a circuit where
passing is definitely possible, the ‘Battle of Technologies’ in Istanbul will
be very exciting...”
Hansen went on to win
that day – the Swede’s fourth career victory in the series – and like his
younger sibling, he has reached the top step of the podium already this season
and will be bidding to reproduce Peugeot’s 2015 success in Türkiye.
Elsewhere in the
high-calibre field, Kristoffersson’s team-mate Ole Christian Veiby has been a
regular front-runner in 2024, and CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction
Equipment duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson have similarly shown fine
form on occasion – the Finn prevailing in Hungary and the Swede coming within a
whisker of doing the same on home soil in the curtain-raising contest at
Höljes.
To add a layer of
intrigue, finally, there are three talented ‘jokers’ in the pack. Reigning
European and British champion Patrick O’Donovan is fired-up to replicate the podium
result he achieved on his world championship debut in Hong Kong 12 months ago,
while Juha Rytkönen – who finished second to Kristoffersson at Kouvola in 2020
– and recently-crowned French title-winner Steven Bossard line up for PGRX, as
the latter joins rallycross’ elite for the first time.
All of the non-stop
thrills will be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.
For more information
about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry list, click here. Fans can purchase tickets here.
Japan
Poland
Turkey