Rallycross 2022

» Rallycross januari - maj

23-05-25 Past, Present and Future align with stunning new Hansen World RX Team livery
The past, present and future of the Hansen World RX Team’s presence at the forefront of rallycross is being celebrated in 2023 with a stunning new livery adorning the squad’s Peugeot 208 RX1es in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The Swedish outfit – recently confirmed as the first World RX team to reach carbon neutral status – is widely acknowledged as the most successful rallycross team on the planet, with multiple titles at national and international level.

Prior to the formation of the World Championship, in which the Hansen team has claimed four World RX crowns since its inception in 2014, a large proportion of the outfit’s success came through the 1990s and into the new millennium.

It was during that period, specifically from 1993 to 2011, that the team was synonymous for running a predominantly red livery on its rallycross machinery, driven to success by a range of drivers, with Kenneth and Susann Hansen securing the major honours behind the wheel.

For 2023, in an effort to stand out from the crowd within the exhilarating new era of all-electric rallycross machinery in World RX, Hansen Motorsport is acknowledging its rich history with the stunning new design.

Red features on the front, rear and sides of both 2019 Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen and Multiple World RX event-winner Kevin Hansen’s 208 RX1es, giving the machines a fresh new look, standing out over their recent predecessors. Alongside the new colour scheme, all of the team’s valuable partners have been worked seamlessly into the design.

To distinguish between the two cars, white highlights on the front and rear signify the #21 208 RX1e of Timmy Hansen, while the #71 car of Kevin Hansen maintains the base red colour throughout.

Find the full video of the car's transformation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cko_L5UabVc

The squad has already shaken down the 2023 specification machines in Sweden, and now heads for the official pre-season test in Portugal, before the opening round of the championship takes place at the same Montalegre Circuit on June 3-4.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
Photo: Jörg Mitter / Red Bull Content pool

It’s really nice to be back with some red in the livery.

It brings back the history and memories of some very good days for us in Hansen Motorsport, and is a good change for both the team and the championship. It will make a change on the grid colour wise, and I really think the cars look great.

We had a lot of success with similar colours in the past, and everyone in the team has done huge work over the winter ahead of the new season to give us the best chance of standing on the top step of the podium once again.

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
The new livery looks stunning.

To come back to the red, which is such an important colour in our history as the winning colours of Kenneth and Susann [Hansen], is just fantastic. I’m really happy to be racing with this colour for the first time in my career, and to premiere it in Portugal at a classic track where we have such great support is the perfect first location.

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
The car looks great this year, and on top of looking good the car is also feeling really good.

We’re excited to get going and I think this is the year we can really challenge for the title. I’m hungry for more after second place last year, so hopefully we’ve closed the gap and will be up there fighting for the win in every round.

23-05-05 #Yellowsquad signs Swesish talent Sjökvist for RX2E champion
Swedish driver Isak Sjökvist has signed with #YellowSquad to race in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s FIA RX2e series this year, as team and driver target the coveted title.

Having begun his career in karting, Sjökvist switched to rallycross in the Supercar Lites division of RallyX Nordic in 2021, and made his RX2e debut at Holjes, Sweden the same year, claiming a podium finish in his first-ever start in the all-electric single-specification category.

Since, the 21-year-old has become one of the series front-runners, and in his maiden full campaign last year, finished on the podium in four of the five rounds, claimed a first win at Barcelona in Spain and secured the runner-up position in the series standings.
Now, using experience already gained in the mixed-surface discipline and coupling that with the expertise of title-winning outfit #YellowSquad, Sjökvist will focus on fighting for the FIA RX2e title this season.
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The commitment to RX2e also falls in line with the #YellowSquad’s parent company Hansen Motorsport’s vision for a more sustainable future, the Hansen outfit now entering its second term running all-electric RX1e machines in World RX.

As its own entity, #YellowSquad has been a front-runner in various different rallycross series since its inception in 2019. It notably claimed the RX2 International Series crown in 2020 and wins in the NRX NEXT category both in Europe and the USA, highlighting the importance of maximising performance in the highly-competitive single-specification categories. The team has also achieved success in the European Rallycross Championship and RallyX Nordic in Supercar.

For 2023, the FIA RX2e series will support the World Rallycross Championship for five rounds, in Norway, Sweden, UK, Belgium, and Germany, the opening round taking place in Hell (Norway) on June 17-18.

Isak Sjökvist
#YellowSquad Driver
“I’m so excited for this extremely rare and extraordinary opportunity that I have got in my hands for this year. I’ve been in motor sport for almost 10 years, and I’ve always had eyes on climbing to the highest level. When I started rallycross two years ago it felt like a natural habitat to me. That’s the same with joining #YellowSquad and the Hansen Motorsport family, it feels so natural and yet so special at the same time to get this kind of opportunity.

Getting to work with some of the greatest rallycross drivers ever is almost indescribable – this is a childhood dream becoming a reality. I’ve always tried to push myself to the limit and aim higher and higher. To join #YellowSquad is a really big step in the right direction for me, as they have all the tools I need to develop in my career. There will be a lot of very good drivers in the series this year, but everyone starts from zero and we will work as hard as we can to get the best results possible. There is always room for development.

As one of the greatest Swedish sportsman, Ingemar Stenmark, once said ‘the more you try the more luck you get’. I think that really suits what I’m doing, I need to train harder, work harder and I’m sure that with #YellowSquad we can make the opportunities even bigger.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“I have been watching Isak since he started his rallycross career and I’ve always been impressed by both his attitude and his performances, especially against far more experienced drivers. We’re very excited to bring him into #YellowSquad for 2023 and to work with him on fighting for the title, because that has to be our goal.

I think Isak and #YellowSquad is a very good match, so hopefully we can give him the extra support he needs to take the next step and come away with some big results this year. And for us in #YellowSquad it’s also exciting to be doing something new in RX2e, where we will push ourselves to continue achieving what we know we are capable of.”

22-12-13 Succésäsong efter viktigt vägval
Säsongen kan summeras med ett ord: succé. Men vägen till dubbla VM-guld i rallycross var långt ifrån spikrak för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS.
- Det fanns ingen självklar väg. Vi frågade oss: vad gör vi nu? Men om vi inte hade hittat på något så hade det varit game over för KMS, säger stallchefen Tommy Kristoffersson med blicken i backspegeln på 2022.
Efter ett 2021 med fokus på RallyX Nordic och några rallytävlingar stod teamet inför ett av flera avgörande beslut man har tvingats ta under 30 år i motorsportsbranschen.
- Vi började med rallycross en gång i tiden, men valde att gå över till banracing i slutet på 90-talet, helt utan erfarenhet. Vi visste inte ens åt vilket håll banorna gick.

Under pågående STCC-era var det sedan dags för “mission impossible”. De fyrhjulsdrivna bilarnas tid var ute och Kristoffersson lyckades övertyga Audi-ledningen att man skulle få bygga för framhjulsdrift. Det blev både tillverkning och titel.
- Nästa stora beslut var när vi tog över Biogas-projektet.

Då gick KMS i mål med Johan Kristoffersson som mästare 2012. Nästa kliv handlade om att välja bort något. Teamet var så gott som färdiga med sin planering för första säsongen i TTA, men klev av i sista stund.
- Jag hade en magkänsla att det inte skulle komma att bli rätt. Konceptet passade inte heller in i min märkeskärlek. Rallycross var lite på dekis då, men det fanns en potential, så vi gjorde en U-sväng dit inför 2013.

Det ledde så småningom till två VM-guld för Johan Kristoffersson i PSRX, ytterligare ett i egen KMS-regi, ännu ett med EKS/JC och så är vi framme vid sagan om det femte VM-guldet, 2022.

Viktiga medförfattare till den sagan blev i ett tidigt skede Erik Veiby och Ronnie Bergström.
- De har båda ett stort hjärta för KMS. Jag la fram min enda tänkbara plan, att bygga elbilar för rallycross. Med tanke på projektets storlek kom det ett extremt snabbt beslut. Jag gick iväg i en halvtimme och när jag kom tillbaka sa de: vi kör!

Tillsammans med övrig finansiering från teamets trogna samarbetspartner - Volkswagen, Bauhaus och Red Bull - var planen satt för att bygga tre eldrivna Volkswagen RX1e utifrån ett helt nytt koncept, under stor tidspress dessutom.
- Utan tvekan det absolut största projekt vi någonsin har genomfört. Det naggar i kanten på vad ett fabriksstall skulle kunna tänkas göra, menar Tommy.

Dylika äventyr kräver kompetens och passion. Förutom hos den egna lojala personalen fann Kristoffersson den inom Volkswagen Motorsport-sfären.
- När de la ner sin verksamhet frilades många ingenjörer med enorm kompetens och eftersom vi har bra kontakter sedan tidigare kunde vi bygga ett starkt team.

Resultatet blev anmärkningsvärt bra, något som imponerat till och med på en stallchef med normalt sett högt ställda krav.
- Det blev ett lag utan någon svag länk, extremt duktiga människor som byggde tre bilar utan egentliga brister. Både spetskompetens och social kompetens i samarbete.

Världsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson instämmer i omdömet.
- Troligen det bästa teamet vi någonsin har haft. Alla samarbeten har fungerat som ett rinnande vatten, inga brister i kommunikationen, trots elva inblandade nationaliteter, påpekar Johan.

Men solen har inte strålat alla dagar under 2022. Tvärtom har orosmolnen hopat sig från olika håll.
- Det var egentligen alldeles för kort tid för att genomföra projektet. Första testet gick i Höljes och där ramlade bakaxeln ner för oss. Därifrån skulle vi åka direkt till första tävlingen i Hell. Så gör man inte, det är självmordstaktik, menar Tommy.

Andra problem kretsade i ett större sammanhang.
- Världsläget blev drastiskt annorlunda. Efterverkningar till pandemin levde kvar. Sedan blev det krig i Ukraina och ovanpå det inflation och lågkonjunktur. Allt blev våldsamt mycket dyrare, stålet upp 40-60 procent, frakt och flyg tre gånger dyrare.

På ett annat plan fick Tommy ta en strid mot motorsportens egna fans. Införandet av elbilar sågs inte med blida ögon av entusiasterna.
- Det var massiv kritik från fansen. Vi möttes av rent hat i kommentarsfälten på sociala medier, utan att de ens hade sett en enda tävling. Jag gick matchen med en del av dem och fick många personliga meddelanden med ursäkter.

Tommys budskap var enkelt. Göra det här eller inte tävla alls.
- Det finns inte en enda ettöring att få till stöd för tävlande med fossilt bränsle.

Kristoffersson medger också att de första tävlingarna, av naturliga orsaker, var lite avvaktande och beskedliga.
- Vi var tvungna att få allt att rulla igång till att börja med, hade inte råd att köra på varandra och sedan stå i depån resten av helgen. Vi visade inte vår bästa sida i Hell, men det tog sig. Mot slutet av säsongen var det bra fajter.

För teamets egen del satt konceptet redan från början. Inledningsvis fyra raka segrar för Johan Kristoffersson, starka insatser från Ole Christian Veiby och en överraskande stark rookie i form av Gustav Bergström.
- Johan var vi trygga med och visste var vi hade. Ole Christians försäsong var inte bra, men jag kände mig ändå trygg med att det skulle fungera när vi fick honom i rätt kostym hos oss. Hos Gustav såg jag något under hans första körning på Westombanan. Visst, det var valpigt då, men det fanns något där. Och det han har visat upp under året har varit supersuperbra.

Det är inte bara på banan som förarna har imponerat. Samarbetet dem emellan har också varit enastående.
- Kommunikationen mellan förarna och mellan chaufförer och ingenjörer har fungerat klockrent. Vi har dragit stor nytta av att ha tre bilar i teamet. Överhuvudtaget är kommunikationen i hela teamet en av nyckelfaktorerna till framgången. Den har varit öppen och ärlig, otroligt bra.

Målet inför säsongen var att ta hem förarmästerskapet, teammästerskapet och titeln som bästa rookie.
- Det blev check på alla tre, konstaterar den stolte teamchefen som fick äran att kliva upp på scenen vid FIA:s officiella prisceremoni i Bologna.

Med den framgången i bagaget borde grunden vara lagd för en fortsättning under 2023, men så enkelt är det sällan i motorbranschen.
- Jag hoppas på tre bilar även nästa år, men känner en stor oro. Det är tuffare än någonsin ute på marknaden, med tanke på tidigare nämnda skäl.

Samtidigt är Kristoffersson helt övertygad om potentialen för rallycross-sporten.
- Det är ett oslagbart koncept, med högt tempo i en arenaidrott.

Men VM behöver utvecklas i rätt riktning med fler förare och team samt justeringar i tävlingskonceptet.
- Formatet kommer att ändras till nästa år. Många kommer att känna igen sig när det blir mer som det var förr. Jag tror också på fler bilar på banan och mediemässigt blir det större tillgänglighet i form av tv-sändningar, avrundar Tommy.

22-12-07 World RX unveils global calendar for 2023
Asia and South Africa added to new-look line-up, as iconic European venues return

The FIA World Rallycross Championship will celebrate its tenth season by travelling to Africa and Asia in 2023, with the series’ freshly-unveiled calendar featuring iconic venues, an intriguing new addition and the return of some old favourites including the fabled birthplace of the sport.

The ten-round schedule was ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today, and is set to please rallycross purists while appealing to new audiences, as World RX prepares to race full speed ahead into the second campaign of its exciting electric era.

As in 2022, the action will get underway at Hell in Norway in mid-June, before moving to arguably the discipline’s most famous circuit – Höljes in Sweden – for the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ at the beginning of July, which will mark World RX’s 100th round.

Three weeks later, the championship will return to Britain for the first time since 2019, with a summer sojourn to Lydden Hill, where rallycross was born more than half-a-century ago. Classic Belgian track Mettet – a staple of the series’ early years – is next up, followed by ever-popular Portuguese circuit Montalegre, whose revised layout in 2022 generated some of the most spectacular racing of the season.

The final European stop on the schedule will be Germany’s Estering in September. The characterful track near Buxtehude just outside of Hamburg has – like Mettet – been absent from the calendar since 2018, and was the scene of one of the most memorable moments in World RX history, when Kevin Eriksson famously ‘sent it’ all the way around the outside and into the lead at the first corner on his way to victory in 2016.

Following the European leg of the season, the cars will be transported to Cape Town to do battle at Killarney International Raceway, in the shadow of Table Mountain. The last time the series set foot in South Africa, Timmy Hansen and Andreas Bakkerud thrilled fans with a sensational duel for the Drivers’ crown, which ended in contact and a dramatic dead-heat.

The campaign will conclude just over a month later at a yet-to-be-announced new venue in Asia, with details to follow.

Building upon its successful comeback last year, Nyirád in Hungary will again host the FIA European Rallycross Championship curtain-raiser with a standalone event in May. The full European schedule will be communicated in due course.

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We are pleased to present the 2023 World RX calendar, which we believe represents the very best of rallycross and which has been the subject of a huge effort behind the scenes in recent months. It clearly looks slightly different to recent seasons, and we are delighted to finally be ‘spreading our wings’ and venturing outside of Europe again.

“Ever since taking over as promoter of this great championship, we have been committed to returning to Cape Town to showcase World RX in front of the enthusiastic South African fans, and we are hugely excited to be adding a new event in Asia to the line-up, which truly underscores the series’ World Championship credentials.

“At the same time, the re-introduction of three charismatic European venues in Lydden Hill, Mettet and Estering reflects our desire to celebrate rallycross’ rich heritage and traditions while embracing the sport’s electric future. Similarly, the large crowds seen at Hell, Höljes, Montalegre and Nyirád this year are testament to those circuits’ enduring appeal. We can’t wait to go racing!”

2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship Calendar
May 20-21 Euro RX1/RX3 Euro RX of Hungary, Nyirád
June 17-18 Round 1 World RX of Norway, Hell
July 1-2 Round 2 World RX of Sweden, Höljes
July 22-23 Round 3 World RX of United Kingdom, Lydden Hill * **
August 5-6 Round 4 World RX of Benelux, Mettet * **
August 26-27 Round 5 World RX of Portugal, Montalegre
September 9-10 Round 6 World RX of Germany, Estering * **
October 21-22 Rounds 7/8 World RX of South Africa, Cape Town **
November 25-26 Rounds 9/10 TBA, Asia **

* Subject to promoter agreement
** Subject to track homologation

For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-12-01 RallyX continue to invest in European Motorsport and present the 2023 calendar
We are very excited to present the RallyX schedule for 2023 and the new regulations with new ideas how to deliver the best races possible.

Also to announce Denmark and Norway´s return to the RallyX schedule is great news and something we feel builds more interest and a stronger build for the future. The ambition for the RallyX series is as always high and includes world class thrill entertainment and continued long term investment into a fossil free motorsport future, says Andreas Eriksson RallyX.

Denmark Round 1 – 22/4 Round 2 – 23/4
TBA, Sweden Round 3 – 6/5 Round 4 – 7/5
Kouvola, Finland Round 5 – 27/5 Round 6 – 28/5
TBA, Norway Round 7 – August
Höljes, Sweden Round 8 – 2/9 – 3/9

22-11-15 Megennis extends Nitro RX Championship lead with Phonix win
A victory and double-podium were the order of the weekend for rising American rallycross star George Megennis at the Wild Horse Pass Circuit in Phoenix, Arizona as the #YellowSquad driver extended his lead at the head of the NRX NEXT America series standings.

On the back of a double-podium performance in the opening round of the NRX NEXT America series at Glen Helen, Megennis hit the ground running in the second double-header of the Nitro Rallycross Championship support class.

Fastest in the opening heat race of the weekend on Saturday, Megennis later won the LCQ to secure a front-row start for the all-important final, having sustained damage from contact in the earlier semi-final, but drove a strong final race of the day to finish second and score solid points in the title-race.

On the second day, round four of the series, Megennis was third in the opening heat due to a time penalty, but won his semi-final thanks to an amazing start from the lower down the grid, and progressed directly to the final.

In the main event, Megennis led from the front with a performance beyond his years to secure victory and extend his lead at the head of the standings to 26 points with two rounds of the series remaining.

The team will now rest before the final instalment of NRX NEXT America, that will take place in the new year, with ice racing at Trois-Rivieres in Canada on January 21-22 2023.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“WOW! What a fantastic weekend. On Saturday we had some great results managing to get second in the final, and on Sunday we got the W!

The win marked our seventh podium in a row, which is a truly fantastic way to cap off the year.

Thank you so much to the team for such a fantastic time all year and Snowplow Analytics for making this all possible! See y’all in the New Year!”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“We had another great weekend here. The car was good and George performed well from the start. On Saturday the pace was definitely good enough and consistent enough for a win, but after some contact and damage in the semi-final we had to fight back and managed P2 in the end. George did a great job and kept improving every time out.

Sunday’s win was quite amazing. A five-second penalty in the heat made us start from the back of the semi-final, but George managed to take the start from the second row and drive to the perfect win.

Then to follow that up with the win in the final was just great. It feels very good with another consistent weekend, and to keep the podium streak going. Big thanks to everyone in the team who put all the effort in every time.”

22-11-14 Timmy Hansen claims Nurburgring podium in positive weekend for Hansen World RX Team
The first year in a brand-new era of the FIA World Rallycross Championship for all-electric cars concluded at the legendary Nurburgring circuit in Germany, where not only did the Hansen World RX Team secure another podium, but it’s focus on challenging for the 2023 world titles began in earnest.

Racing a brace of Peugeot 208 RX1es in the final instalment of the 10-round World RX season – as part of Hansen Motorsport’s biggest ever investment in the discipline – brothers Timmy and Kevin Hansen worked hard throughout the single-header weekend to secure the best possible results ahead of the winter, with a number of new ideas implemented to the two cars.

By qualifying for the final, thanks to victory in the progression session and semi-finals, Timmy Hansen secured second in the Drivers’ championship, then claimed a podium finish in third when the final results were published.

Kevin Hansen meanwhile had twice been forced wide in the tight first corner of the Nurburgring track, so in the final, elected to brake early, tuck in on the inside and follow leader Johan Kristoffersson. The younger Hansen brother dropped to third after turn two, but took his joker at the first opportunity, then got the hammer down, setting pace good enough to climb to second by the finish.

However, unfortunately for the team a lower wishbone on the No.71 car in technical scrutineering was found to be overweight, and Kevin Hansen was excluded from the final.

Former European RX Champion Kevin Hansen therefore finished fifth in the Drivers’ standings, while the Hansen World RX Team finished second in the Teams’ Championship.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
We are pleased to be on the podium again, but what happened after the final in scrutineering, I was really surprised because I am the one who checks the parts and weights – we had one front wishbone that was 90 grams too heavy.

“We found things this weekend, with some different thinking and some different people. We learned a lot for next year. Of course we wanted a good result and we had a good weekend too with good speed.

We are pleased to be on the podium again, but what happened after the final in scrutineering, I was really surprised because I am the one who checks the parts and weights – we had one front wishbone that was 90 grams too heavy. The wishbone had been repaired, it shouldn’t have been on the car and it was only on one side, but still it was too heavy.

There was no performance gain but it should conform and we took the penalty. It’s a hard punishment, but we just have to take it. It’s my responsibility and it was purely a mistake. Overall, our 2023 season already starting this weekend and it’s a very positive feeling.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"We’ve never had these kind of smiles and positivity in the team before with some brilliant partners and we are very motivated to continue this journey.”

“Obviously we wanted to win this weekend, but sometimes you just need to maximise your performance and we have really done that.

I’m pleased that the car felt great this weekend finally and we still have more performance to find, but we are working on that. We have good signs and better understanding now.

Generally the first season of electric World RX has been really fun and a huge milestone for Hansen Motorsport, but we want to win the championship and we will work very hard to find some more answers for 2023.

We’ve never had these kind of smiles and positivity in the team before, with some brilliant partners and we are very motivated to continue this journey.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
“To finish second in the Drivers’ championship is fantastic and also second for the team in the Teams’ championship is a great result."

“To finish second in the Drivers’ championship is fantastic and also second for the team in the Teams’ championship is a great result.

Of course we want to win and I know we are all still very hungry to create a better package, but we will absolutely take this result and look to the future.

I’m proud of our guys who kept the car in one piece all season long – we’re going to celebrate tonight then immediately get our heads down and get to work to make some proper improvements to this car for 2023.”

22-11-14 Larsson takes second Nitro RX win of 2022 as DRR JC extends points advantage
The Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik (DRR JC) amalgamated team secured a double-podium finish in the fifth and sixth rounds of the Nitro Rallycross Championship at the Wild Horse Pass Circuit in Phoenix, including victory on Sunday afternoon at the Arizona venue to head into the winter break holding the top three positions in the Drivers’ standings for all-electric FC1-X machines in the Group E category, along with the lead in the Teams’ championship table.

Double European Rallycross Champion Robin Larsson lost out in first lap carnage during the final on Friday evening under floodlights – the first instalment on the double-header weekend, but a fantastic drive on Sunday in round six of the series meant the Swede overtook the leader during the most important race of the day to seize the advantage and drive to a second win of the campaign, extending his margin at the head of the championship standings.

Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC team mate Andreas Bakkerud meanwhile battled back from a difficult start to the opening day of competition on Friday, but thanks to strong race craft from the multiple World Rallycross-race winner and European Rallycross Champion, the Norwegian ended up on the podium in third. Bakkerud was again in the hunt for a top position on Sunday, thanks to a second-place finish in his semi-final, but a big roll on the opening lap of the final put him out of contention.

Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“I was waiting after the first heat for about three hours before the final on Sunday and I was so nervous, so this one felt pretty good. I had a tough race on Friday, we came back showing the pace on Sunday but I knew this was going to be hard, starting on the outside, and then I saw my team mate Andreas have a big roll. It’s really nice to be on the top spot again especially after a difficult Friday - it feels so good. My team boss Joel Christoffersson is at home watching out for his new daughter, so this result is for her and him.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“We had a fantastic and busy weekend – it has been a long four days for the crew.
Robin was flying today and I’m happy for him to show the Americans that he can win in the USA as well as Europe. Andreas had a tough first day, but showed his skill and race craft to end up on the podium. Sunday was also good, but starting from row three can be dramatic and he rolled out, although it wasn’t as bad as the one he had at ERX. Fraser was also fast all weekend but couldn’t quite get it done. I’m proud of the team for what we have achieved in the first part of the season and we go into the winter break with a strong hand in the standings.”

Jamaican driver Fraser McConnell entered the double-header weekend on the back of a maiden Nitro RX win during the previous round at Glen Helen and again showed strong pace. The DRR JC driver eventually wound up sixth in both rounds, including a semi-final win on Sunday afternoon to continue holding third in the Drivers’ standings.

22-11-13 Niclas Grönholm claims FIA World RX bronze in CE Dealer Team’s inaugural season
Construction Equipment Dealer Team finished its groundbreaking inaugural season in the all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship on the podium, as Niclas Grönholm claimed third in the drivers’ championship during the season finale at Nürburgring in Germany.

Niclas Grönholm crossed the line as third in the final, but later got promoted to second as a competitor was disqualified. This meant that the Finish driver secured enough points for third in the FIA World Rallycross Championship for drivers in the first-ever season of CE Dealer Team.

”First, I want to thank my team-mate for letting me take her place in the final to fight for a podium in the championship. To claim third in the championship with this team feels amazing, and I am happy for everyone in the team as well as our partners who have worked so hard for this,” said Niclas Grönholm.

”It has been a promising, but also challenging season with the new all-electric cars. Now we have a lot of data and experience to work with and to improve both the driving and the cars to fight even higher up in the championship next season.”

Klara Andersson put in one of her most competitive performances of the year at the season finale in Germany, securing her first-ever heat win after a strong move in Saturday's last heat.

The 22-year-old went on to claim a spot in the final, before withdrawing to hand over the place to her team-mate for the top three championship fight. Andersson ended her encouraging first season in the World RX as seventh in the championship, the best-ever placed female driver in world rallycross.

”I am really happy for my team-mate Niclas on securing third in the championship, he has been strong all season and deserve this. It was of course heart breaking, but understandable, for the team to withdraw me from the final to give my team-mate the chance to fight for third in the championship. For me, this was my strongest weekend of the season. Our pace developed quickly, and I got my first-ever World RX heat win and almost won the progression race as well. Overall, I am really satisfied with my performance this weekend,” said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team ends its inaugural season in the new sustainable all-electric FIA World RX as third in the team championship, securing one win and another four podiums.

”To finish our first historic season with a medal in the championship for Niclas feels rewarding. And this is thanks to a solid effort from everyone in the team, who along with our partners have worked hard all season. It was a tough call to withdraw Klara from the final after her strong performances this weekend, but she showed great team spirit to let Niclas fight for a podium in the championship,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

”We look back on a promising first season for the team at the top level of world rallycross, with strong results from both drivers. Now the work starts to come back even stronger next year, to continue our groundbreaking journey and challenge the very best in the world.

Results and standings after the FIA World RX of Germany finale: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx/
More information about the CE Dealer Team programme: www.cedealerteam.com

22-11-13 ‘Ring Meister’ Kristoffersson signs off season in style in Germany
Five-time World Champion rules the roost at the Nürburgring
Johan Kristoffersson concluded a dominant 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign with an eighth victory from ten rounds at World RX of Germany today (13 November).

Kristoffersson’s weekend at the Nürburgring was not flawless – he uncharacteristically picked up a five-second penalty for cutting a corner in heat two – but, as has so often been the case in the history of the World Championship, the Swede was unquestionably the class of the field.

Just in case anybody needed reminding of that fact, he went a full eight tenths-of-a-second faster than his nearest rival in the single-lap SuperPole shootout, before pacing two of the three heats and winning both his progression race and semi-final in his Volkswagen RX1e.

After exiting a hectic first few corners of the final in the lead, the result was never truly in doubt, and Kristoffersson duly edged away from his pursuers to take the chequered flag more than a second-and-a-half clear to cement the 35th success of his glittering World RX career.

“It was a very good weekend,” acknowledged the Kristoffersson Motorsport star. “This is a huge team effort and the KMS guys and girls have delivered a perfect car all year. Every win we’ve achieved has been for our loyal partners and everybody involved in this project who put the whole package together from zero. When they build a car I can trust and that gives me the confidence to push, I can simply focus on doing my job.

“Many of those people were on-site and seeing the car that they built race for the first time. That was a very nice feeling, as was sharing the Teams’ Championship podium with my dad. It’s been some years since I joined papa on the podium at a rallycross event – the last time was back when he was driving, so that is a memory we will share for the rest of our lives.”

Kevin Hansen emerged from Kristoffersson’s dust in second place, looking to have exacted revenge on Niclas Grönholm by pinching third spot in the championship classification at the last gasp – just as the Finn had done to him at the same circuit 12 months ago. The Swede’s delight, however, turned to despair when he was subsequently disqualified from the final due to a technical infringement.

That gifted Grönholm the runner-up spoils, having only made it into the final when Construction Equipment Dealer Team stablemate Klara Andersson – who had initially qualified – was withdrawn to allow her team-mate to fight for a top three position in the overall standings.

Taking full advantage of the opportunity, the 26-year-old threw his bright yellow car boldly around the outside of turns two and three to climb from fifth to second at the start, and following Hansen’s disqualification, that was where he would finish as he ascended the podium for the fourth time this season.

Timmy Hansen – for much of the weekend, Kristoffersson’s closest competitor – wound up third after coming off worst in the three-way first corner shuffle, with Ole Christian Veiby placing fourth.

Andersson was unfortunate to be denied her place in the final following her finest display in World RX to-date. Having won the first race of her fledgling career in the series courtesy of a gritty drive in heat three, she then confidently kept Kristoffersson at bay for much of the pair’s progression race – missing out on a famous world champion-beating performance by less than a third-of-a-second.

Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS rookie Gustav Bergström exited proceedings at the semi-final stage, as did Euro RX1 Champion Anton Marklund – making his electric racing debut in ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s SEAT Ibiza – and Guerlain Chicherit.

Behind the wheel of the evocative Lancia Delta Evo-e-RX – the reincarnation of a 1980s rallying legend, the Lancia Delta Integrale – Chicherit was in the wars throughout, with a clash with the younger Hansen brother in heat one on Saturday ruling him out of the remaining heats. The Frenchman returned to action on Sunday, and looked set to reach the final before a heavy kerb strike on the penultimate lap of his semi-final broke the Lancia’s suspension.

In the last round of the 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship’s Euro RX3 campaign, Kobe Pauwels fought back from a slow start to the weekend to prevail at the end of a dramatic final. Saturday pace-setter Jan Cerný got a lightning launch from the middle of the grid to grab the initial lead, but an early joker strategy brought Pauwels back into play.

When Cerný subsequently took his own joker on lap three, he rejoined alongside his arch-rival, but two-into-one was never going to work and contact with the tyre wall tore the right-front wheel from the Czech driver’s Škoda Citigo. Pauwels emerged unscathed to secure a fourth triumph from five rounds this year, ahead of hugely impressive newcomer Jens Hvaal and series sophomore Damian Litwinowicz, who duly sealed second in the title table.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 2.275s
3. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.852s
4. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 4.709s
DSQ. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/

22-11-13 Mästerlig avslutning av Johan
Johan Kristoffersson avslutade säsongen på allra bästa sätt. Den femfaldige världsmästaren kontrollerade den sista deltävlingen i rallycross-VM och tog sin åttonde seger i år, den 35:e totalt i VM.
- Det här är en seger för alla som har varit delaktiga i det här projektet, säger Johan.

Kristoffersson hade sitt på det torra inför säsongsavslutningen av det helelektriska FIA-mästerskapet på Nürburgring. Mästerskapstiteln säkrade han redan i Barcelona.
- När alla duktiga medarbetare i teamet ger mig en så bra bil varje helg så känner jag mig trygg och kan göra min hemläxa. Det blir ett svårslaget koncept, menar Johan, som slutade på 182 poäng, mot 135 för tvåan Timmy Hansen.

Huvuduppdraget under helgen i Tyskland var att försöka hjälpa Ole Christian Veiby till en medalj och Gustav Bergström att bli bästa rookie.

För Veiby lyckades inte uppgiften fullt ut. Han tog sig till final, men slutade där femma och blev därmed också femma totalt i VM på 123 poäng, fyra från bronset.
- Jag hade en bra start och provade verkligen, men det gick inte att ta sig fram från ytterspår. Efter det så såg jag inget i allt damm och med lågt stående sol, förklarar Veiby.

Norrmannen valde ändå att summera återkomsten till rallycross på ett positivt sätt.
- Det har varit en bra säsong, lite otur med en del tekniska problem, men huvuduppgiften var att bidra till att säkra teammästerskapet. Det jobbet gjorde vi.

Det uppdraget var i hamn redan i Spanien. Totalt stannade Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS på 305 poäng mot 263 för Hansens team.

Gustav Bergström klarade också sin uppgift, att bli årets bästa rookie i VM-serien. Kampen stod mot Klara Andersson och trots att Bergström missade finalen i epilogen så slutade han sexa, fem poäng före Andersson, 107 mot 102.
- Vi var lite off pace hela helgen, men det löste sig ändå, summerar Bergström.

Även Gustav fick jobba från ytterspår, vilket på den korta startsträckan och med den trånga första böjen innebar en plats i bakre ledet.
- Och därifrån såg man inte mycket. Det var sjukt mycket stenskott, säger Bergström, som ändå uppskattade sitt första besök på Nürburgring.
- Fränt att få sladda och åka mycket sidledes och särskilt som det var på Nordschleife.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson fick denna dag också kliva högst upp på prispallen för att motta förstapriset i teammästerskapet. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-bossen kunde inte vara annat än stolt.
- Nyckeln har varit det fantastiska lagarbetet. Alla har varit så duktiga, så dedikerade och allt har fungerat så friktionsfritt, från första penndraget till att vi plockar ner all utrustning här på Nürburgring. Den här helgen hade vi dessutom de flesta som har varit inblandade på plats hos oss i depån.

Att VM-säsongen slutade med en seger gjorde därför inte saken sämre.
- Johan är stark och löser sin uppgift. Synd att inte Ole Christian nådde sitt mål med en medalj, men han har gjort det bra under säsongen med flera pallplatser och en viktig insats för teamet, precis som Gustav som blir bästa rookie. Gôtt att vi får avsluta med en vinst!

Och den matintresserade stallchefen hade firandet planerat. Är man i Tyskland äter man…
- En äkta stor och rejäl wienerschnitzel. Det är bokat och klart för hela teamet!

Nästa stora firande blir FIA:s gala i Bologna 9 december.
- Där kommer vi att rulla in Kristoffersson Motorsports hembyggda elbil Volkswagen RX1e bredvid Red Bulls F1-bil och Toyotas WRC-bil. Häftigt!

22-11-11 CE Dealer Team to finish its groundbreaking first World RX season at Nürburgring
Construction Equipment Dealer Team heads to the legendary Nürburgring in Germany this weekend for the final round of its groundbreaking first season in the all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship.

CE Dealer Team entered the FIA World RX this year, as the sport enrolled into a new era of sustainability with the introduction of state-of-the-art electric cars.

With the series’ first-ever gender equal full-season driver line-up, CE Dealer Team continues its push to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers.

Niclas Grönholm enters the final round of the year following three consecutive podiums, as he currently holds third in the driver’s championship, trailing second by nine points. The 26-year-old Finn won the German finale last year in snowy conditions.

”I am hoping to have a good race in Germany, to round off a promising first season with the team. I managed to win there last year, so the track should suit me pretty well. There is still everything to play for in the fight for the remaining podium positions in the championship, so the aim is to end the season with a strong result,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Swedish racer Klara Andersson will conclude her first-ever full season in the top tier World RX in Germany. The 22-years-old sits seventh in the standings, with six points up to sixth.

"It will be exciting to return to the Nürburgring, where I raced in RX2e there last year in tricky and snowy conditions. Me, as well as everyone in the team, are pushing hard to finish this season off strongly, and I cannot wait to push the PWR RX1e to the max one last time this year”, said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team holds third in the teams’ championship heading to the season finale.

”It has been an intense first groundbreaking season for us in the FIA World RX, as we have made a mark and pushed the boundaries both on and off track together with our partners. We now look forward to finishing the season with a strong result for the team as well as both drivers in Germany,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The World RX of Germany action starts on Saturday with practice sessions, Superpole and the heat sessions, followed by progression race and finals on Sunday. The action is broadcast worldwide on TV – as well as through the RX+ online streaming platform: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/rx-plus/all-live/

A full schedule for the World RX of Germany weekend is available here: https://cloud.nuerburgring.it/s/6JcwWfiYaLM6CYf

More information about the CE Dealer Team programme: www.cedealerteam.com

22-11-10 Legendary Nurburgring beckons for Hansen team in World RX season-finale
Rising American rallycross star George Megennis and experienced Swedish team #YellowSquad are aimng for continued momentum in the third and fourth rounds of the NRX NEXT American Championship at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend [November 12-13].

Megennis delivered his performance of the season so far in the opening two rounds of the NRX NEXT America series at Glen Helen in California last month, the official support category to the Nitro Rallycross Championship.*

Victory on the opening day and a strong second place finish in round two placed Megennis at the head of the standings. While the results were extremely positive, the major takeaway for the whole team was the performance throughout the weekend, both on and off track, something that both driver and team are focused on continuing this weekend.

Last year at in Phoenix. Megennis came away with a pair of second place finishes, but results can equally not be taken for granted in the highly-competitive, single-specification series for Supercar Lites machines.

While the Nitro RX weekend will run from Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13, the NRX Next class will compete on Saturday and Sunday, with the action streamed live on the Nitro RX broadcast, on Facebook and YouTube.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad Nitro Next Driver
“I’m really looking forward to Phoenix this weekend. The track is really fun and I had good finishes there last year.

Coming from some good results at Glen Helen, I’m really looking to carry that momentum and hopefully manage to pull together another win.

The track is a lot of fun – very fast with a good rhythm, and the jumps are unique and incredibly challenging, especially when you’re under pressure in a racing situation.”

Eric Färén
Team Manager
“The aim for this weekend is to continue the good momentum we had in Glen Helen, to keep working hard to find the speed we need and develop every time we go out on track.

If we can align those things, then the results should come. Of course every time we start an event the ultimate objective is to win.

George’s talent has never been in question and last time he really underlined to everyone how capable he is. We’re all looking forward to fighting for more of the same this weekend

22-11-10 Legendary Nurburgring beckons for Hansen team in World RX season-finale
Just as quickly as it got underway, the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship will draw to a close this weekend at the historic Nurburgring Circuit in Germany, where the first ever all-electric World RX season will reach its conclusion.

For the Hansen World RX team, a four-time winner of FIA World RX titles, the last instalment of the campaign means one more opportunity to fight for the top places on the podium and to make a final assessment of the competitive order ahead of the winter season, and a chance to re-group ahead of 2023.

But before thinking about the next chapter, Hansen World RX drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen are both in the midst of the fight to secure a top three overall position in the Drivers’ Championship, driving the 500kW four-wheel-drive Peugeot 208 RX1es.

2019 World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen is currently second in the Drivers’ standings, while 2016 Euro RX Champion Kevin Hansen is fourth. With four drivers covered by just 11 points in the battle to attend the prestigious FIA Gala at the end of the year, the racing will be fierce!

World RX’s first visit to the Nurburgring was held in snow-covered wintery conditions last year, but warmer temperatures this weekend are expected, with the event the first traditional single-header round to be run over two days within World RX 2022 since the opening round of the season in Norway, back in August.

Where:
The third of three Formula 1 circuits to conclude the 2022 World RX season, the rallycross layout at the famous German venue is located in the Mullenbachschleife section of grand prix track, within the wider complex of the legendary Nordschleife circuit – widely renowned as ‘The Green Hell’.

A 90 degree right-hander begins the rallycross lap, the World RX drivers then crossing between sealed and unsealed surfaces for the 1.029km route. The joker lap section is on gravel, running around the outside of turn four.

When:
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [November 12 – 13] via the World RX Website: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/

Saturday November 12
Practice: 09:50
SuperPole: 11:00
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:45
Heat 3: 15:00

Sunday November 13
Warm-up: 12:00
Progression: 13:15
Heat 2: 14:15
Semi-Final and Final: 15:00

Blast from the past:
Last year at the Nurburging, the Hansen World RX team claimed its third World RX Teams’ title, but the Hansen squad has been racing in top-flight rallycross events in Germany for decades. Arguably the best performance for a Hansen driver was at the Estering in Buxtehude in 2015, when Frenchman Davy Jeanney dominated. Fastest in Heat 1, Jeanney would start on pole position for the rest of the weekend, winning Heats 2 and 3. The only blot on his copybook was in Heat 4, when he hit the wall on the loose-surface section, but thereafter, he won his semi-final and then the final in style, taking the win by five seconds ahead of rally legend Petter Solberg. To make it a double celebration for Team Peugeot-Hansen, Timmy Hansen finished the final in third.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"We are working hard to take the fight for the podium and victory again this weekend."

“The weather this year at the Nurburging looks very different to last year, which can be a good thing for us.

Of course we were both happy and unhappy with how things went last time out in Barcelona, we lacked some performance to be able to fight for the win on the Sunday, even if on Saturday it went our way and we took our first electric win.

We are working hard to take the fight for the podium and victory again this weekend, especially as we have a good possibility of finishing second and third in the Drivers’ Championship.

We have changed our setup a little in the team as we look to find more performance and be more efficient. We know some areas where we can improve so hopefully we can end the year on a high.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
“It’s an amazing package for rallycross on the technical side from the FIA and the World RX Promoter.”

“I’m very excited for this weekend. Last year it was very hectic at the Nurburgring with a double-header event, so this year racing in a single round, we can approach it in a different way.

We have some new people joining us in the team to understand the car even better and develop for next year. Obviously we will try and get as good a result as we can this weekend and in the championship – but we are focused on preparing for 2023 too.

It’s a great track in Germany and I hope we can really have a fantastic event.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"I’m going to try and enjoy this last event before the off season – we need to enjoy every lap and all of the racing."

“It’s been quite an intense season but it doesn’t feel like very long ago that we got started.

I’m going to try and enjoy this last event before the off season – we need to enjoy every lap and all of the racing.

There was snow in Germany last year and there has been some work done on the track so we don’t really know what to expect, but most of all it’s about enjoying these incredible cars and continue to work to improve and go faster to lay down more groundwork for the future. And of course, we want to get the best result possible as well.

22-11-09 Veiby i tät medaljkamp
Rallycross-VM 2022 går i mål på klassiska Nürburgring. De två mästerskapstitlarna är redan säkrade för Johan Kristoffersson och Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, men kampen om andra och tredje plats fortsätter till slutet.
- Ett litet jobb återstår, att dra i land en medalj, säger Ole Christian Veiby.

Johan Kristoffersson avslutade tävlingshelgen i Barcelona med en seger och såg därmed till att den femte världsmästartiteln hittade hem till Arvika, den första med elektriskt driven bil. I par med Ole Christian Veiby såg han dessutom att ta tillräckligt många poäng för att avgöra striden om teammästerskapet.

En enkeltävling i Tyskland återstår, där övriga medaljer ska fördelas. Timmy Hansen ligger tvåa på 123 poäng, Niclas Grönholm trea på 114 medan Kevin Hansen och Ole Christian Veiby är lika på 112.
- Det blir spännande, men när bilen har fungerat har jag varit på pallen i alla tävlingar, så chanserna bör vara goda, tror Veiby.

Han debuterar på Nürburgring, men ser inte det som något problem.
- De andra har inte så stor erfarenhet där heller och jag hoppas få lite hjälp av world champion Kristoffersson.

Världsmästaren åker till Tyskland utan press på sig, men någon semesterkörning lär det inte bli.
- Jag ska köra så fort det går, så att de andra kan få titta på mina data, säger Johan, som också lite smått kan börja förberedelserna inför nästa år med sin Volkswagen RX1e.
- Vi kommer att testa en del saker på min bil, sånt vi inte har vågat göra tidigare när inte mästerskapet har varit avgjort. Det ska bli riktigt intressant.

Kristoffersson får också lite ny utmaning på banan. I säsongens sista tävling hoppar europamästaren Anton Marklund in i Muennich Motorsports bil och så blir det premiär för GCK Motorsports nostalgiinspirerade Lancia Delta med Guerlain Chicherit bakom ratten.
- Kul att få se den bilen och att Anton kommer in lyfter mästerskapet, tycker Johan.

Teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS ser också positivt på nytillskotten.
- Kul att det händer saker i mästerskapet. Marklund är verkligen värd den här chansen efter sin mästartitel i EM, säger Tommy Kristoffersson som känner av ett kraftigt ökat intresse för det nya elbilsmästerskapet inför säsong två.
- Vi har redan fått ett flertal riktigt seriösa förfrågningar om att bygga bilar, avslöjar Tommy, som nu har sin mest intensiva del av arbetsåret framför sig.
- När vi nu har säkrat två titlar så gäller det att titta framåt. Vi går ur den här säsongen och in i nästa med stor stolthet, men man kan aldrig vara säker på framtiden, konstaterar Kristoffersson senior, som också vill avsluta innevarande säsong på bästa sätt.
- Johan får lägga stor energi på att försöka hjälpa de andra, så att Ole Christian kan ta hem sin pallplats i mästerskapet och att Gustav blir bästa rookie.

Tredjeföraren Gustav Bergström går en egen kamp mot Klara Andersson för att bli bästa nykomling i rallycross-VM.
- Chanserna är goda eftersom jag leder den kampen, men vi får se vad som händer, säger Gustav, som också han debuterar på Nürburgring.
- Jag vet ungefär hur banan går, men inte så mycket mer, säger 19-åringen från Stockholm som har imponerat stort under sin debutsäsong.

Inställningen inför avslutningen har han glasklar för sig.
- Bara flat out!

Den tionde och sista deltävlingen i årets mästerskap körs över två dagar med start för superpole kl 11 på lördag och progression race på söndag kl 13:45.

22-11-08 New additions set to shake up the pack in Nürburgring season finale
Chicherit and Marklund to take fight to series regulars in Germany
The 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship reaches its conclusion at Germany’s famous Nürburgring this weekend (12-13 November) – with two new names on the entry list as a champion is rewarded and an icon returns.

The biggest talking-point in the build-up to the season finale has been the forthcoming competitive debut of GCK Motorsport’s Lancia Delta Evo-e RX, based upon the legendary Lancia Delta Integrale. On its eagerly-awaited series bow, the car will be piloted by four-time World Freeriding Champion and experienced rallycross racer Guerlain Chicherit, who reached the final in his most recent World RX appearance at the Nürburgring last year.

Another new addition to the all-electric World Championship grid will be Anton Marklund, who similarly last competed in the top flight this time 12 months ago. The Swede – the dominant force in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s headlining Euro RX1 tier this season and four times a previous podium-finisher in World RX – will take to the track in ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s SEAT Ibiza, as he targets a full-time return to the international pinnacle of the sport.

Chicherit and Marklund, however, will face some pretty stiff opposition at the Nürburgring, led by Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS’ Johan Kristoffersson, who cemented his fifth Drivers’ championship in style in Catalunya just over a week ago. Fired-up following his Saturday disappointment in Spain, the Swede lapped a full second quicker than any of his rivals in Sunday’s SuperPole session in Barcelona – and now the title is safely in the bag, anything is possible.

Fellow world champion Timmy Hansen manoeuvred himself into pole position to clinch the runner-up spoils in the standings by outscoring the rest of the field in Catalunya. As he returns to the circuit where last season, he agonisingly lost out on a second career crown on countback, the Hansen World RX Team ace is determined to end the campaign on a high.

Behind the 2019 title-holder, there is a tense three-way scrap for third place in the overall table between Niclas Grönholm, Kevin Hansen and Ole Christian Veiby. Grönholm – now racing for Construction Equipment Dealer Team – was a winner in Germany last year, with the younger Hansen brother following him home. Veiby arguably has the fastest car of the three at his disposal, but has suffered from a run of ill-fortune in recent rounds that he hopes is now in the past.

Impressive teenager Gustav Bergström has rarely been far from the pace of his illustrious team-mates Kristoffersson and Veiby in a third Volkswagen RX1e – reaching the rostrum on three consecutive occasions in Belgium and Spain – while fellow rookie Klara Andersson returned to the final in Catalunya. The Swede won a heat at the Nürburgring in the FIA RX2e Championship in 2021, and has her sights set on a repeat of her Portuguese podium this weekend.

In the supporting Euro RX3 series, Kobe Pauwels – much like Kristoffersson in World RX – will be let off the leash with the championship already secured, but his rivals similarly have designs on a victory celebration. While the Belgian will unquestionably be tough to beat, fellow Audi drivers Damian Litwinowicz, João Ribeiro, Nuno Miguel da Costa Araújo and Nils Volland, as well as Škoda star Jan Cerný are all eager to open their winning accounts for 2022 before the final curtain falls.

All of the action both on and off-track will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now on sale for the discounted rate of €29,99. More information can be found here, and race weekend tickets can still be purchased here: https://nuerburgring.eventim-inhouse.de/webshop/webticket/eventlist

fiaworldrx.com.

22-11-03 Lancia Delta Evo-e RX set for Nürburgring World RX debut
GCK Motorsport’s retro beast to race in Germany next weekend
Just under a year ago, GCK Motorsport made an announcement that shook the international motorsport community, revealing that it was working on a new electric rallycross car based upon the legendary Lancia Delta Integrale. At World RX of Germany next weekend (12-13 November), the iconic Italian ‘hot hatch’ will head into battle – as it joins the FIA World Rallycross Championship for the 2022 season finale.

In its original incarnation, the Lancia Delta dominated the FIA World Rally Championship scene at the end of the 1980s into the 1990s, securing no fewer than five manufacturers’ titles and three drivers’ crowns.

As a child of the eighties, GCK (Green Corp Konnection) Founder and President, Guerlain Chicherit, was inspired by the exploits of countryman Didier Auriol behind the wheel of this Group A beast. When the French entrepreneur launched his company’s retrofitting division in 2020, the emblematic Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned model was therefore an obvious choice.

Thus was born the GCK Exclusiv-e retrofit of the Lancia Delta Integrale – the road-going Lancia Delta Evo-e – presented by Chicherit to the World RX family at the Nürburgring last year, and which is now in the final phase of homologation and soon set to enter production.

The race-bred version – the four wheel-drive Lancia Delta Evo-e RX – was designed and manufactured from the ground up at GCK Performance’s workshop in Issoire in central France, with the use of bespoke tools and equipment. The chassis alone took more than 1,200 hours to complete.

In a neat fusion of past glories and future technologies, its unmistakeable body shape conceals a tubular structure and two cutting-edge electric motors generating 500kW – equivalent to 680bhp – meaning electrifying performance is guaranteed.

Four-time World Freeriding Champion and experienced rallycross racer Chicherit – whose most recent World RX start came at the Nürburgring 12 months ago, yielding a fifth-place finish on the second day – will climb into the cockpit for the car’s competitive debut, using the event as preparation for a full-season assault in 2023.

“I’m really excited to be back in World RX, a year on from my last appearance in the championship,” he enthused. “One thing is for sure – our Lancia Delta Evo-e RX will stand out from the crowd in a field of modern cars in this ultra-spectacular series.

“I must congratulate GCK Performance for the fantastic job they have done over the past nine months. The build quality and level of finish are both incredible – I have no doubt the Lancia will impress plenty of people out there. We’ll clearly need a bit of time to get to grips with the car and make it competitive, but right now, I’m just eager to get out on-track!”

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.
Mycket mer motorsport och nyhetslänkar på www.motorsportisverige.se | www.motorsportivarmland.nu

22-11-02 Megennis returns to rallycross winners' circle at Glen Helen with #yellowsquad
Rising American rallycross star George Megennis delivered his performance of the season so far in the opening weekend of the NRX NEXT America series to claim his first win of the campaign at Glen Helen.

Racing within the fourth weekend for the Nitro Rallycross Championship in 2022, Megennis also claimed a second-place finish in the double-header event to seize the championship lead.

Across the entire weekend at the Los Angeles venue, Megennis was only once beaten in a race session, as he dominated in round one of the new series on Saturday with fast pace and strong overtaking moves in the heat race and semi-final to claim race wins and ensure pole position for the all-important final. In the main event, Megennis led from the front to secure a first win of the 2022 season.

Carrying that momentum into the second day on Sunday, Megennis again won both his heat and semi-final to start on pole position for the final. In a close battle for the lead through the opening corners, Megennis dropped to second – immediately taking his joker lap.

As the New-York Native traded lap times with the race leader, he eventually emerged second, once the rest of the pack had taken their joker laps, and Megennis finished second to further extend his margin at top of the championship table.

George Megennis
The next rounds of NRX NEXT America take place in Phoenix, Arizona just next week (November 12-13).

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“Wow what a weekend! It was incredible, the whole team performed perfectly and we won five out of the six races we took part in.

It was really fun, as well as great for the fans. The track developed really well over the weekend compared to last year and the new changes that the organisers made were fantastic!

It was a nearly perfect weekend and I’m already hyped to go again in Phoenix.”

Eric Färén
#Yellowsquad Team manager
“That was a really good weekend for the team – everyone worked hard to perfect the car and driving. George did a perfect job. He fought his way to the front on Saturday with some great overtaking in the heat and semi-final and won every-single session.

Sunday was also perfect until the final, where Casper Jansson had a good start from second on the grid, which is kind of a better position at Glen Helen than pole because you get the inside of what you for main first corner.

George tried to go all the way around the outside, but had to go for the joker option and lost a bit of time there. Thereafter it was a battle of lap times and Casper did a good job up front to beat us. Winning five of thesix6 sessions during the weekend is still awesome – George was super consistent and fast. He is improving and showing more experienced driving all the time.”

22-11-02 Euro RX1 Champion Marklund returns to World RX at Nürburgring
Swede already four times a podium-finisher at the highest level
Recently-crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion Anton Marklund will return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship for the 2022 season finale at Germany’s Nürburgring next weekend (12-13 November), behind the wheel of ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s SEAT Ibiza RX1e.

The car has been campaigned this year by team owner/driver René Münnich, but with the German – a former event-winner at Euro RX1 level – unavailable for the Nürburgring due to prior business commitments, a replacement was needed.

Marklund has been one of the most impressive performers on the entire World RX package in 2022. The Swede was unquestionably the dominant force in the European Championship’s headlining Euro RX1 category with SET Promotion, and he duly wrapped up the title – adding to those he had already achieved in 2012 (TouringCar) and 2017 (Supercar) – a round early at Montalegre.

With the trophy secured, Marklund went out and celebrated with a third victory from six starts at Spa-Francorchamps last month – and now he is poised to return to World RX with ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport.

The 29-year-old last competed in the World Championship at the Nürburgring just under 12 months ago, in a Hedströms Motorsport Hyundai i20, and he counts four podium finishes to his credit in the series – with a win taken away from him in Norway in 2019 due to a technical infringement.

Marklund now has another chance to impress at the very highest level – and it is one he intends to grab with both hands, hoping that a good performance could put him firmly in the shop window and act as a stepping-stone towards a full-time comeback next year.

“This has all come together so quickly,” he revealed. “I got a phone call on Saturday evening from my engineer, Laurent, who has also been helping me a bit as a mentor and manager. He told me about the proposal and said I had just ten minutes to decide. I didn’t have my calendar in front of me, but it was a complete no-brainer!

“I’ve had a fantastic year in the European Championship and accomplished everything I had set out to. I really thought my season was over after Spa – I had even put all my racing gear away for the winter – but to get to race one of the new electric World RX cars isn’t the kind of opportunity that comes up every day, so I had to say yes.

“I’m so grateful to René and ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport for putting their trust in me and giving me this chance. With no testing ahead of the race weekend and all the other drivers at the peak of their performance following almost a full season of experience, it’s going to be a huge challenge, but from the short time I’ve had trying out the RX2e car before, my driving style seems to suit electric pretty well.

“The difficult bit will be to find those last few tenths-of-a-second, but I will give it everything I have and try to give the team as much feedback as I can to try to help them push in the right direction for the future.

“I’ve made no secret of my desire to return to the World Championship. I’ve definitely got some unfinished business there, and going into 2023 with some prior advantage of driving an RX1e car can only put me in a stronger position – but in terms of objectives for the weekend, I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’ll go into it with a very humble approach, a lot of energy and positive vibes – and aiming to enjoy every single moment I’m out on-track.”

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-10-31 McConnell claims maiden Nitro RX win at Glen Helen in podium lock-out for DRR JC
Swedish-American Nitro Rallycross Championship team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik (DRR JC) completed a second podium lock-out in the four rounds of the season so far, as the squad’s three drivers all finished on the rostrum at Glen Helen in Los Angeles.

Competing in the Group E category for single-specification all-electric FC1-X machines, the amalgamated squad, led by Team Principal Joel Christoffersson secured another maiden wiin with a new driver to victory lane, and extended its points advantage in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ championships.

Jamaican star Fraser McConnell dominated in Glen Helen, taking top position in the Battle Brackets on Saturday before winning his Sunday heat race from pole position. In the last race of an intense weekend of action, McConnell fended off a challenge for his position at the start of the final, then led from the front to secure a first win at this level.

The result comes just a round following a huge accident for McConnell, at the ERX Motor Park, where he also fought back to claim his first-ever Nitro RX podium. McConnell’s victory, in his first year racing an all-electric car, lifts him to third in the Drivers’ standings.

Fraser McConnell (JAM), Group E:
“I approach every weekend with the same mindset, trust my instincts, trust the preparation, and achieve the best as I can. It does help when you have really good support like I did this weekend! It’s good to bounce back after the last event and put in some good laps this weekend – big up to DRR JC for the A-Shock FC1-X, huge thanks to the team they worked their ass off for this so I’m really happy to bring it home.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“What a fantastic weekend it has been. We had some bad pace on Saturday but really found the speed on Sunday when it really mattered for all three drivers. I’m so proud of the team and how they have worked again this weekend, and I’m so proud of Fraser to take his first win. It’s been a great job by everyone, it’s amazing to lock the podium out at this level against some very, very good competition. We’re looking forward very much now to the next race in Phoenix.”

Swedish driver Robin Larsson fought back from a difficult Battle Brackets session to win his heat on Sunday to rebuild his weekend. The two-time European Rallycross Champion took his joker lap early in the final race in a bid to out-manoeuvre race leader McConnell and Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC team mate Andreas Bakkerud, having run second through the opening turns. He would finish second come the finish and secured a haul of points to extend his lead at the head of the Drivers’ standings.

In the sister FC1-X run under the RX Cartel banner, Bakkerud like McConnell fought back from a challenging weekend at ERX to return to the Nitro RX podium for the first time since the Norwegian claimed victory in the Swedish round of the campaign at Strangnas, the result ensuring that Bakkerud retains second in the Drivers’ standings. His event ended with a fierce battle to the finish with team mate Larsson.

22-10-30 Timmy Hansen takes two from two in Barcelona World RX weekend
Former FIA World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen produced a consistently strong performance throughout the ninth round of the series at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, following his first win of the season the previous day, to again finish on the podium.

Second fastest in the single-lap SuperPole session, 13-time World RX race winner Hansen then set the second fastest time in both Heats 1 and 2 to be second in the Ranking classification.

With changes made to the setup of the Hansen World RX Team’s all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e ahead of the Progression session, Hansen won his race to secure pole position for the semi-final, from which he again seized the advantage to ensure a strong starting position in the final. In that main event, Hansen drove a strong race to finish second, another podium for the team in the first year of World RX’s more sustainable all-electric future.

For Kevin Hansen it was another torrid event. Fifth in the Ranking classification, Hansen made a great start from the outside of the grid in the semi-final, but a slight touch from another car on the inside sent his Peugeot 208 into a half-spin. The Swedish driver saved the moment, but with the pace so high in World RX this season, he was unable to make it into the final.

The final round of the championship at the Nurburgring in Germany in two weeks’ time [November 12-13]. Timmy Hansen lies second in the Drivers’ standings, while Kevin Hansen is fourth overall. Hansen World RX Team is second in the Teams’ Championship table.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
“It’s been a weekend of two halves. For Timmy it’s gone well but for Kevin it has been difficult."

“It’s been a weekend of two halves. For Timmy it’s gone well but for Kevin it has been difficult. But, he has also had times of good speed so for sure he deserved much better.

Timmy had good results, but we were disappointed on Sunday with our overall speed, we were second but far behind Johan Kristoffersson so we have a big job to do to be faster and to catch him. That will not be done overnight, it’s something we really need to dig deeper into to work on for next season.

From our team we congratulate Johan and the KMS team for winning the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles and we’ll try to take the fight to them at the final round in Germany.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
“It’s an amazing package for rallycross on the technical side from the FIA and the World RX Promoter.”

“I don’t really know what to say, to be honest. It hurts to not have any payback this weekend for the hard work that’s been put in, on my side of the garage it just wasn’t our weekend.

We tried some things with the car but we were not fast enough early in the day. We got much better, but when you’re starting on the outside of the grid then it’s very difficult too.

We have stuff to work on for the future to find more speed. I did my best every time I was on track, when we got the car underneath me it was much better and we will keep trying to improve.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team

“The weekend overall has been amazing, after our win yesterday, second place today is another strong result and I’m super happy about the weekend as a whole."

“The weekend overall has been amazing, after our win yesterday, second place today is another strong result and I’m super happy about the weekend as a whole.

Johan Kristoffersson was quite untouchable today and won his fifth World RX title so massive congratulations to him and well deserved. I was second and proud of that, I think it was the maximum I could do today.

I feel sorry for Kevin, he had one of those weekends where it doesn’t go right and disappointment sucks, but we will keep pushing, our guys are amazing and we will give our everything for the season final in Germany.”

22-10-30 King Kristoffersson: Super Swede is crowned in Catalunya
‘Untouchable’ Kristoffersson Motorsport star races to fifth title
Johan Kristoffersson clinched his fifth FIA World Rallycross Championship crown – and the first of the series’ new electric era – at World RX of Catalunya today (30 October), unleashing one of the most dominant performances of his glittering career to seal the deal in style.

Fired-up by the disappointment of the previous day, Kristoffersson immediately laid down a marker by lapping almost a full second quicker than anybody else in the SuperPole session. He then maintained that prodigious pace throughout the heats, with none of his competitors able to hold a candle to the Volkswagen driver.

It was a similar story in his progression race and semi-final, earning the Swede pole position for the all-important final. After making a textbook start, he pulled inexorably away from his pursuers – led by Saturday winner Timmy Hansen – to ultimately take the chequered flag more than five seconds clear of the chasing pack and cement not only his 34th victory at the highest level, but more importantly, an extraordinary fifth Drivers’ title in just six years.

“I’m very proud,” reflected an emotional Kristoffersson. “We started out from scratch with this car. It’s our baby, and so many people have put their whole lives into the project. This is such a team effort, and it’s been a real pleasure to have been a part of that journey.

“Today, the Volkswagen was flying, and I really enjoyed showing off its pace and potential in the final – that was a lot of fun, pushing flat-out for five laps. I think every driver dreams of having a car like that.

“A fifth world title is just unbelievable, and it will take some time to sink in. It’s the first time my girlfriend and son have been here to see me win the championship, and I’m so happy to get to share this special moment with them. It feels amazing.”

The elder Hansen brother completed an excellent weekend’s work with second place, admitting that his countryman was ‘untouchable’ today but nevertheless leaving the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the event’s highest scorer. The 2019 world champion was Kristoffersson’s closest rival all day, and he pipped Ole Christian Veiby to the runner-up laurels by just over a second.

For the Norwegian, third position marked a welcome change of fortunes following a run of bad luck of late, and the result helped to secure Kristoffersson Motorsport the 2022 World RX Teams’ title. Klara Andersson was only narrowly behind in fourth – advancing to the final for the first time since her podium at Montalegre and again showing strong speed as she kept pace with her illustrious and more experienced adversaries.

Niclas Grönholm wound up fifth in the sister Construction Equipment Dealer Team car – the Finn hobbled by power steering issues in both the semi-final and final – while Kevin Hansen found himself on the back foot following a contact-induced spin at the start of the first progression race. The Swede proceeded to make a storming start from the outside of the grid in his semi-final, only to get rotated sideways in a haze of tyre smoke – ultimately putting paid to his hopes of reaching the final.

Despite once more demonstrating impressive form, teenage rookie Gustav Bergström’s challenge similarly ended at the semi-final stage, with René Münnich completing the order in his ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza.

VRANCKX CROWNED AS SJÖKVIST WINS AT LAST
In the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, Isak Sjökvist finally came away with the win he has been threatening all season, as Viktor Vranckx lifted the Drivers’ trophy.

After setting the pace in the heats, Sjökvist looked set to miss out on the final completely when a first corner squeeze in semi-final two left him down in fourth place – but Lady Luck was on his side, as penalties for both Pepe Arqué and Patrick O’Donovan ahead handed him another chance. The Swede did not waste it, converting pole position into a popular maiden triumph in the single-spec series.

Vranckx followed him home in second, maintaining an unbroken podium run that deservedly earned the Belgian the championship crown. Nils Andersson rounded out the rostrum in third, in so doing assuring himself of the same position in the overall classification.

The 2022 World RX campaign will conclude in a fortnight’s time at Germany’s Nürburgring (12-13 November).

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 5.112s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 6.325s
4. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 7.562s
5. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 2 laps

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/rx-plus/live-timing/

22-10-30 Niclas Grönholm claims third consecutive World RX podium for CE Dealer Team in Spain
Construction Equipment Dealer Team took its third consecutive podium in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, as Niclas Grönholm claimed second in the penultimate round in Barcelona.

The Spanish double header was the first-ever all-electric World RX event, with all support classes competing throughout the weekend being 100% electric.

Niclas Grönholm was in the fight for the win on Saturday, ultimately finishing second and taking his third straight podium in the World RX. The Finn is now third in the standings going into the final round, just nine points from second place in the drivers’ championship.
”It was a challenging weekend, where we had to work hard to find the pace. It was great to get a podium in front of all our partners and guests at the track. We had some issues in Sunday’s finals that made it hard to fight for a good result, but we still salvaged some points. I am already looking forward to the final round in Germany, and to secure a strong result in the championship,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson fought back on Sunday to secure her third appearance in a World RX final, finishing fourth ahead of team-mate Grönholm. The Swedish driver holds seventh in the standings, six points short of sixth.

”It was a long weekend with a strong ending. We have been working all weekend to find a good balance with the car, which was especially difficult on Saturday due to the constant track evolution. On Sunday, we found a setup that I felt comfortable pushing with, and the pace in the final was really good. I am proud of the development on a new tricky track, and it was fun to push for the podium today in the final,” said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team holds third in the team standings ahead of the final round, which takes place in Germany on November 12-13.

”It feels great to take our third consecutive podium, as well as getting both cars into Sunday’s final in front of all our partners here in Barcelona as we had over 400 guests on site. Everyone in the team will continue to work hard along with our partners to finish our ground-breaking first season with a strong result in Germany,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

”Also, big congratulations to Johan Kristoffersson on taking his fifth drivers’ title, as well as the KMS-team for securing the team championship.”

Results and standings after FIA World RX of Catalunya: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx/

22-10-30 Kristofferssons femte VM-titel
1, 2, 3, 4 - 5! Världens bäste rallycrossförare säkrade sin femte VM-titel med en briljant uppvisning i Barcelona. Johan Kristoffersson blev därmed också den historiske förste VM-segraren med en elbil.
- Helt otroligt faktiskt. Det är fem gånger som allt ska snurra rätt och trilla på plats och det har det gjort, säger en rörd Kristoffersson.

Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS/KMS såg också till att ta hem teammästerskapet.

Kristofferssons uppvisning i den nionde deltävlingen av FIA World Rallycross Championship var formidabel. Efter en lördagstävling där Johan hamnade i trubbel i finalen och slutade femma så var det en helt annan femma i den andra deltävlingen.

Det var Kristoffersson från start till mål i alla race, från den nionde raka superpole-segern på morgonen fram till eftermiddagens finalvinst, den sjunde på nio deltävlingar.
- Att få säkra titeln genom att också korsa mållinjen först känns extra bra. Jag hade en fantastiskt bra bil idag. Det var bara att trycka gasen i botten i fem varv och i finalen sparade jag inte på nånting.

33-åringen från Arvika inte bara vann; han gjorde det i utklassningsstil, med över fem sekunders marginal i sin eldrivna Volkswagen RX1e. Därmed har han också vunnit fem titlar på raken av de säsonger han har deltagit i VM. Endast 2019 lånade han ut titeln till Timmy Hansen genom att inte delta.

Efter den fantastiska triumfen var Kristoffersson snabb med att lyfta fram hela teamets insats.
- Det är ett otroligt arbete som ligger bakom den här framgången. Grabbarna i verkstaden har gjort ett fantastiskt jobb och stått ut med att jag har hållit dem sysselsatta 24-7 med mina idéer.
- Att dessutom få vinna teammästerskapet tillsammans med Ole Christian är också stort. Första gången vi jobbade tillsammans var 2013. Jag har lärt mig mycket från honom om rally och nu är vi lite mer på min hemmabana inom rallycross.
- Det är ju inte bara jag som har gjort bra resultat under säsongen, utan även Ole Christian och Gustav som hela tiden har tagit steg framåt.

Veiby hade inledningsvis en tuff helg. Problem med batteriet gjorde att han missade kvalomgångarna under lördagstävlingen och senare även fick stå utanför finalen. Runda två blev desto trevligare. Ole Christian radade upp fina styrningar under dagen och fick till slut kliva upp på pallen tillsammans med Johan, som trea efter Timmy Hansen. Men vägen dit var också krokig. I målsvängen på semifinalen fick Veiby en rejäl smäll av Kevin Hansen.
- Då trodde jag det var kört, men ett fantastiskt jobb av teamet att fixa hjulupphängningen på en kvart. Världens bästa killar!

Ole Christian kunde med rätta känna en stolthet efter att i hög grad ha bidragit till att säkra teammästerskapet.
- Helt fantastiskt att få vara med om detta första säsongen tillbaka i rallycross efter sju år. Och jag tycker jag har gjort mitt jobb.

I förarmästerskapet ligger Kongsvinger-föraren nu femma, på samma poäng som Kevin Hansen och två efter Niclas Grönholm. Det ser ut att bli en kamp om bronset på Nürburgring om några veckor.
- Det blir svårt att nå andraplatsen, men vi får ladda för fullt för att bli nummer tre.

För Gustav Bergström var lördagstävlingen den trevligaste upplevelsen. Än en gång imponerade stockholmaren och avrundade dagen med att kliva upp på pallen för tredje tävlingen på raken.
- Fantastiskt kul med ännu en tredjeplats, även om man också börjar bli sugen på en andraplats. Jag hade bra fart hela dagen och kände att det var under kontroll. Fick också lite hjälp av Johan där i första kurvan.

Bergström hade sedan svårare att hitta rätt under söndagen på den kluriga Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya och missade finalen.
- Vi snurrade väl bort oss lite setup-mässigt där och sen hamnade jag i en extremt tuff semifinal.

Bergström utökade ändå försprånget till Klara Andersson med en poäng under helgen och har nu sex poäng att gå på i kampen om att bli bästa rookie inför säsongsavslutningen på Nürburgring.

För Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-chefen Tommy Kristoffersson var det en dag av stor lättnad och lycka i Barcelona.
- Att få vinna på det här sättet är nästan för bra för att vara sant! Stor dominans av Johan, Ole Christians comeback idag och ett team där alla har fått visa sig på sin yttersta spets den här helgen. Ovanpå det har vi nykläckta kycklingen Gurra som har blommat ut!

Många framgångar har Tommy upplevt, både som förare och som stallchef, men den här sticker ut i mängden även för honom.
- Faktiskt ett av de största ögonblicken jag har upplevt, att vi lyckades med det här, från de första kontakterna med våra finansiärer som mer eller mindre köpte grisen i säcken till att få triumfera på det här sättet.

För Johan blev det också en extra känslosam stund eftersom sambon Zandra och sonen Colin för första gången fanns på plats när han säkrade en VM-titel.
- Det gör det extra stort och jag visste inte ens att de skulle komma hit, så det var en överraskning.

22-10-29 Triumphant Timmy Hansen hits the high notes in Catalunya
2019 World Champion celebrates ‘overdue’ first victory of season
It had been, by his own admission, a long time coming, but Timmy Hansen finally secured his first win of the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign with a commanding performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya today (29 October) – meaning Johan Kristoffersson will have to wait at least one more day to clinch his fifth Drivers’ crown.

At a track where he had triumphed twice before, Hansen was in determined mood from the outset, with the sole focus of turning around the bad luck that has plagued him and Hansen World RX Team this season and returning to the top step of the podium.

Having run Kristoffersson close for the fastest time in the SuperPole session and placed third in the intermediate ranking, Hansen then engaged in a crowd-pleasing duel with his countryman in the first progression race.

After getting the undercut on Kristoffersson at the start, his Volkswagen rival launched a counter-attack and the pair ran side-by-side the length of the back straight prior to coming together at Turn Nine, with Hansen striking the tyres and his fellow Swede being tipped into a half-spin.

The 2019 world champion proceeded to follow team-mate Kevin Hansen home in semi-final two, before exiting Turn One in the final in second position behind Niclas Grönholm, as a squeeze spat Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen out wide.

After immediately taking his joker, the elder Hansen brother then hunted Grönholm down, snatching the lead on the last lap to belatedly open his winning account for the year in emphatic fashion and climb to second in the standings.

“Coming here, I wanted nothing more than to win, and it feels fantastic to finally do it,” the 30-year-old reflected. “It’s long overdue, and we knew it was going to come sooner or later. Both Kevin and I have led finals this season and we’ve come so close I don’t know how many times, but today was the day when everything came together at the right moment.

“I’m so happy, and so thankful to all the guys inside the team. We’ve been working on this car and this electric project for so long, and focussing super hard on bringing updates to close the gap. We’ve kept believing and kept pushing and now we are in fighting range, and to finally stand on the top step of the podium in World RX’s new electric era feels amazing.”

Grönholm battled back from a last corner error that cost him victory in his progression race to secure another podium finish for Construction Equipment Dealer Team, with impressive rookie Gustav Bergström rounding out the rostrum for the third time in swift succession.

At the scene of his second career World RX victory 15 months ago, Kevin Hansen wound up a distant fourth following the first corner delay – although the Swede unleashed a strong turn-of-speed all day and thrilled fans during spellbinding wheel-to-wheel scraps with both Grönholm and Ole Christian Veiby.

A three-second penalty for the Turn One contact in the final relegated Kristoffersson to fifth, having looked set to scoop his fifth World Championship title after going undefeated up to that point. The 32-year-old’s coronation will have to wait – for another 24 hours at least.

In the sister Kristoffersson Motorsport car, Veiby endured a tough day, with technical issues ruling him out of both heats. Despite blistering starts in his progression race and semi-final, the Norwegian was ultimately unable to overcome his early disadvantage.

On her first appearance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Klara Andersson showed promising pace for CE Dealer Team in relation to her illustrious adversaries, with René Münnich bringing up the order in eighth.

On the penultimate day of the 2022 FIA RX2e Championship campaign, the battle for the runner-up spot in the overall standings took centre stage. Isak Sjökvist and Nils Andersson are tied on points following the opening two heats, with Patrick O’Donovan trailing the two Swedes in third after falling foul of a jump-start.

Champion-elect Viktor Vranckx sits just sixth at the end of a scrappy day, with former Formula 1 and MotoGP stars Nick Heidfeld and Carlos Checa displaying consistent progress in seventh and ninth respectively.

Tomorrow’s competitive action will begin with the World RX SuperPole session at 11:25 CET, followed by the first race of the day at 12:40 CET.

All of the entertainment will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now reduced to just €29,99. More information can be found here.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 0.516s
3. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Gustav Bergström + 3.885s
4. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 7.880s
5. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 7.924s

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/rx-plus/live-timing/

22-10-29 Timmy Hansen claims first electric World RX victory for Hansen World RX Team in Barcelona
Swedish star Timmy Hansen delivered the result the Hansen World RX Team had been fighting for all season, as he drove to victory in the eighth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain – the team’s first ever electric rallycross win.

Immense effort by the small yet effective Hansen squad had been made since committing to its biggest ever investment in rallycross ahead of the 2022 season, as World RX switched to electric technology and a more sustainable future.

But, in the four events, including three double-header weekends in the season so far, while the Hansen team’s Peugeot 208 RX1e machines and drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen displayed race-winning potential, mitigating circumstances meant a visit to the top step of the podium for one of the most decorated teams in rallycross history had so far eluded the squad.

That changed at Catalunya RX, where 2019 World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen, at a circuit where he had won twice previously, qualified for the final with a strong run through the event, climbed to second in the opening corner from third on the grid, then hunted down leader Niclas Gronholm and took the lead on the final lap to drive to a 13th career win.

The result moves Timmy Hansen up to second in the Drivers’ standings.

In the sister 208 RX1e, Kevin Hansen won his semi-final in a battle against his older brother to start second on the grid for the final, but he dropped to last place following an incident with Johan Kristoffersson.

The two-time World RX race winner finished the race in fifth, but was promoted to fourth following a penalty for Kristoffersson.

The ninth round of World RX 2022 takes place at the same circuit tomorrow [October 30].

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"It feels great for the whole team that we have achieved this result – we needed that!"

“I was actually a little upset after the first corner of the final today with what happened between Johan and Kevin, but then of course you need to focus on the driver still in the race for the win.

The gap to the leader came down to three seconds, then Timmy closed some more and finally things went our way.

We have worked so hard and been in the fight so often this season but things just didn’t go our way, so it feels great for the whole team that we have achieved this result – we needed that!”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
“It’s fantastic for the team to get a first win of the season, everyone has been working really hard on these new cars."

“It’s fantastic for the team to get a first win of the season, everyone has been working really hard on these new cars - we’ve been developing in the right direction.

Today the luck was on Timmy’s side compared to the last weekend in Spa, so it was good to see that the team could get a win today.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"Finally! We’ve come so close so many times this year, and today it’s great to have finally won a race in this new electric era, we’ve proven we can do it!"

“Finally! We’ve come so close so many times this year, and today it’s great to have finally won a race in this new electric era, we’ve proven we can do it.

We’ve been fast all day, track conditions have been hard to compare between races but we’ve been there on the pace. We had a good start in the final when it really counts and from there on Niclas [Gronholm] took the lead on four new tyres. He ran fast but I managed to catch the gap to him with an early joker and pass him when he went into the joker on the last lap.

This is incredible, finally we take a win. I’m so proud of the whole team that has worked so hard for this – everyone keeps believing in what we are doing so it feels very good.

We need to stay focused though for tomorrow and the next round, fine turning both the driving and the car to try and win again.”

22-10-27 RX2e rings the changes with exciting new era in 2023
Series opens up to teams, more power and new champion’s prize
Building upon the success of its first two seasons, the FIA RX2e Championship – the all-electric support series to the FIA World Rallycross Championship – will embark upon a new era in 2023, with the introduction of a number of significant changes to secure its long-term future.

Since debuting on the high-profile World RX package last year, RX2e – a joint venture between Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies and Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE – has attracted no fewer than 32 drivers, producing some spellbinding on-track action and memorable wheel-to-wheel duels.

That list of competitors includes not only the likes of Olympic gold medal skiing hero Aksel Lund Svindal, 14-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion Laia Sanz, multiple Formula 1 podium-finisher Nick Heidfeld and two-time MotoGP race-winner Carlos Checa – with the latter pair set to make their debuts in Catalunya this weekend – but also a raft of rising young stars. Klara Andersson has since gone on to reach the rostrum at the highest level in World RX, with 2022 championship leader Viktor Vranckx making no secret of his desire to similarly step up next year.

Up to this point, most cars have been run by QEV, but from season three, RX2e will become a team-based championship, with private outfits able to buy or lease cars and adapt the bodywork while QEV continues as single supplier.

Performance will also increase from 250kW to 270kW, with a ‘boost’ up to 350kW, while greater technical freedoms are under discussion and competitors will benefit from ten per cent more track time at race weekends than is currently the case.

The series will be awarded a European title from next year, with the 2023 campaign due to feature five races. Each two-car World Championship team will be granted a free entry to RX2e, while the RX2e champion will receive a free entry to World RX the following season, thereby forging a closer relationship with the main series and a clear pathway to the pinnacle of the sport.

Wlodek Szaniawski, President of the FIA Off-Road Commission, said:
“After successfully proving its enormous potential over the past two seasons through a combination of fantastic racing, a competitive and reliable technical package and one of the best cost-to-performance ratios in the sport, it is now time to open RX2e up to private teams, many of whom have already expressed keen interest in taking part.

“We also feel it is important to strengthen the link between RX2e and World RX, with whom the series shares both the paddock and the spotlight. Klara Andersson has shown this season that the skills she learnt in RX2e have enabled her to quickly adapt to the top level and take the fight to the very best rallycross drivers in the world – and we look forward to seeing many more following in her footsteps in the years to come.”

Joan Orús, CEO, QEV Technologies, added:
“RX2e started out as an arrive-and-drive concept, with the aim of making cutting-edge electric technology accessible to as many drivers as possible. Now that goal has now been achieved, we are delighted to present our changes for season three, which we are confident will bolster the series’ appeal and reinforce its position as the best category for aspiring professional drivers in rallycross as well as other off-road disciplines.”

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-10-27 Crucial weekend for CE Dealer Team at classic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Construction Equipment Dealer Team heads to the classic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain for the penultimate round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Niclas Grönholm enters the double header in Catalunya with back-to-back podiums in the last events. The Finn is challenging for the runner-up spot in the drivers’ championship, only three points short of second place.

”Barcelona is obviously going to be crucial in the fight for second place in the championship, so we must do everything we can to catch as many points as possible. The track is pretty challenging, and with the new cars, I am sure it is not going to be easy. But I am looking forward to the challenge and continuing to build on our speed from the last rounds,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson showed encouraging pace at Spa-Francorchamps, just missing out on a spot in the final. The Swedish driver currently holds seventh place in the championship heading into the penultimate double header.

”I am excited to be back in the PWR RX1e in Barcelona. Again, a new track for me, and it looks very fun and technical. My pace has been progressing very nicely the last few events, and I cannot wait to get back on track to keep learning and get quicker and quicker,” said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team is third in the teams’ championship, with two rounds to go in its inaugural ground-breaking season in the all-electric World RX.

”We’re in an important stage of the championship, where every single point is crucial. The team along with its partners have continued the hard work to be as prepared as possible ahead of the double header in Spain. Our ambition is to continue to deliver competitive results and keep challenging for a strong position in both championships,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The FIA World RX of Catalunya starts on Saturday with round eight of the 2022 FIA World RX, followed by round seven on Sunday. The double header broadcast globally – as well as through the RX+ online streaming platform.

A full schedule for the World RX of Catalunya weekend is available here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/news/world-rx/2022/live-stream-schedule-world-rx-of-catalunya-2022/

22-10-26 VM-titlar inom räckhåll
Tre tävlingar återstår av VM-säsongen och Johan Kristoffersson har möjlighet att säkra den femte världsmästartiteln i rallycross redan den här helgen.
- Det hade varit kul, men en del jobb återstår. Jag får också rikta in mig på att vara lite hjälpryttare åt mina teamkompisar, säger Kristoffersson inför helgen i Barcelona.

Den avslutande dubbeltävlingen på Nürburgring har reducerats till en enkel. Det innebär att de jagande förarna bara har tre race på sig att hämta in Johan Kristofferssons försprång på 41 poäng. De två tävlingarna i Barcelona kan avgöra titelstriden i det första helelektriska mästerskapet.
- För mig gäller det att inte bli kvar i någon däckbarriär eller dra på mig bestraffningar, utan att komma i mål och fortsätta plocka poäng, konstaterar Johan, som också vill hjälpa teamkompisarna Ole Christian Veiby och Gustav Bergström att nå så högt som möjligt i VM-tabellen.

Hur ser rollen som hjälpryttare ut?
- Det handlar framför allt om att hjälpa till med information om banan. Jag har bra erfarenheter från Barcelona. Det är en tekniskt svår bana, där förutsättningarna ändras snabbt om vädret skiftar. Förhoppningsvis kan jag förmedla viktig information till Ole Christian och Gustav, säger värmlänningen som har vunnit sex av sju deltävlingar så här långt.

Bakom Kristoffersson är kampen om andraplatsen stenhård. Kevin Hansen har 90 poäng, Veiby 89 medan Niclas Grönholm och Timmy Hansen står på 87.
- Kul, fyra bilar i ett rått race om andraplatsen. Jag ska göra mitt bästa för att försöka ta den, säger Veiby.

Den 26-årige norrmannen har, precis som Kristoffersson, goda minnen från Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, där han vann EM-deltävlingen 2015. Det bidrar till positiv energi efter en mindre lyckad tävling senast.
- Det var inte den bästa helgen i Spa, men det hände saker som jag inte kunde göra mycket åt själv.

Även om det var motigt för Ole Christian, så blev den tävlingen i Belgien totalt sett en stor framgång för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS. Dubbelseger för Johan och två pallplaceringar för rookien Gustav Bergström.
- Det var ju bra, även om jag var sugen på andraplatsen dag två, säger Bergström, som hoppas kunna fortsätta på sin branta utvecklingskurva. Strategin är glasklar.
- Copy paste på Johan! Han är ju den bäste.

I teammästerskapet leder KMS med 43 poängs marginal ner till Hansens team. Även här kan titelstriden avgöras redan kommande helg.
- I den bästa av världar säkrar vi teamsegern, Johan tar hem VM-titeln, Ole Christian andraplatsen och Gustav blir bästa rookie, säger stallchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Men för att komma dit krävs en hel del optimala insatser och att teamet tar uppgiften på fullaste allvar.
- Vi har förberett oss på bästa sätt, men det är två tävlingar och många poäng på spel. Vi behöver vara skärpta och göra jobbet precis som vanligt, påpekar Kristoffersson, som känner bra vibrationer i staben.
- Det är en otroligt bra stämning i laget och det finns en vilja och hunger att slutföra uppgiften.

Även Johan Kristoffersson hyllar hela laguppställningen.
- Vi har varit väldigt starka genom hela säsongen och har vunnit tävlingarna på egen kraft, även när det har blåst motvind. Helt otroligt bra, säger Johan som känner stor tillförsikt när han sätter sig tillrätta i sin elektriska Volkswagen RX1e för att köra första superpole-kvalet kl 11:35 på lördag.

22-10-26 OMSE releases Fiesta MK8 Supercars to customer drivers for the first time
For the very first time Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE is delighted to offer its latest-evolution rallycross Supercar to customer drivers.

The Ford Fiesta MK8 was introduced to the rallycross world for the first time in 2018, and has since claimed victories in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, FIA European Rallycross Championship and Nordic-based RallyX Series.

Previously run under the OMSE banner for the multiple title-winning team’s ‘works’ drivers, such as Kevin Eriksson, Oliver Eriksson, Sebastian Eriksson and Fraser McConnell, OMSE is now releasing the cars to customer drivers for the 2023 season, run on a fully arrive-and-drive basis.

The cars, overseen by team manager Kevin Eriksson, will be available for competition in a variety of series, with a focus on RallyX in Scandinavia. With a large proportion of OMSE’s efforts dedicated on the growth of the FC1-X concept in Nitro Rallycross in the USA, the RallyX calendar will slot perfectly into those commitments.

But, the Swedish team – former title-winners in the World Championship and in America – is offering opportunities to race the Fiesta MK8 in the European Rallycross Championship and domestic series across the world, including in France, the UK, Latvia, Ireland, Poland and elsewhere.

The Fiesta MK8 has been operated by OMSE as its primary internal combustion engine programme until the present day, the cars among the very latest in evolution of rallycross Supercar on the planet.

Full results, statistics and information about the Fiesta MK8 project can be discovered in the new book OMSE_Engineering to Win while further details about joining the programme for 2023 are available by contacting Kevin Eriksson [details below].

Kevin Eriksson | OMSE Team Manager:
“As part of the many projects we have underway within OMSE, we have decided to release the Fiesta MK8 to customer drivers. We’ve had a lot of enquires about the cars, so we are keen to give drivers the opportunity to race in our latest-specification of internal combustion engine Supercar. These cars have won races at a range of different levels and feature some revolutionary technology. OMSE has proven over the years to be one of, if not the world’s leading Supercar producer, and especially when it comes to customer support, with many of our older generation cars still active, especially in Europe. Our programme with the Fiesta MK8, alongside additional plans to also be running our Honda Civic Supercars in a similar way next year, will be absolutely no different.”

22-10-26 Crunch time in Catalunya as electric extravaganza awaits
World RX heroes set to electrify Catalan crowds
The FIA World Rallycross Championship will make history this weekend (29-30 October) with the staging of the dual-surface discipline’s first-ever completely electric event – as four-time world champion Johan Kristoffersson eyes a little piece of history of his own.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been a staple of the World RX schedule since 2015 – indeed, only Höljes in Sweden and Riga in Latvia have hosted more World Championship rounds – but this year’s double-header Catalan contest is set to be extra-special.

As the sport races full speed ahead towards an exhilarating electric future, World RX of Catalunya will mark its inaugural all-electric affair. The headlining World Championship will be joined by the feeder FIA RX2e Championship and the maiden edition of the pioneering e-Mobility Experience, the largest e-mobility fair in southern Europe – and on-track, the action promises to be as electrifying as it has been all season.

With a 41-point advantage over his nearest pursuer, Johan Kristoffersson is aiming to clinch his fifth Drivers’ crown this weekend. Behind the wheel of his Volkswagen RX1e, the Kristoffersson Motorsport star has triumphed six times out of seven so far in 2022, and he knows what it takes to tame the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – although 15 months ago, he came off second-best there following a series of pulsating scraps with the Hansen brothers.

But for ill-fortune and some strategic mis-steps, Kevin and Timmy Hansen would have at least one win apiece to their name this year, too, and the Swedish siblings produced a superb team effort to keep countryman Kristoffersson behind in Catalunya last season.

Both drivers are embroiled in a fierce four-way fight for the runner-up spot in the overall standings with Ole Christian Veiby and Niclas Grönholm – a mere three points separating the quartet.

Although he was out of luck just over two weeks ago in Belgium, KMS ace Veiby has displayed a strong turn-of-speed on his rallycross return this year – and with four podium appearances to-date, the Norwegian has proved to be a perfect rear-gunner to team-mate Kristoffersson. Grönholm, for his part, won at Montalegre and reached the rostrum at Spa, as the new Construction Equipment Dealer Team increasingly establishes itself as a force to be reckoned with.

Two young rookies to have shown a great deal of promise, meanwhile, are Gustav Bergström and Klara Andersson. The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS teenager stunned observers by placing inside the top three on both days in Belgium, while his CE Dealer Team counterpart similarly sprayed the champagne in Portugal, where she became the first female driver ever to finish on the podium in international rallycross’ top flight.

Completing the field, René Münnich might be the series’ elder statesman, but like a fine wine, the German is continuing to improve with age – and it was in Catalunya last season where the ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport driver / team owner advanced to the final for the first time...

VRANCKX ON THE VERGE, HEIDFELD AND CHECA ON THE GRID
If Kristoffersson could be crowned this weekend in World RX, then the winner of the supporting FIA RX2e Championship definitely will be crowned, with Viktor Vranckx also on the cusp of title glory heading into the final round of the campaign.

Although the teenage Belgian prodigy needs barely a handful of points to seal the deal, he will be fired-up to sign off the season with a win – particularly after seeing good friend and close rival Patrick O’Donovan ascend the top step of the podium in the last two events, hauling the British driver firmly into the mix to finish second in the standings.

To make the position his own, O’Donovan will need to overcome Swedish duo Isak Sjökvist and Nils Andersson, while two intriguing new names on the entry list this weekend are Nick Heidfeld and Carlos Checa, with the former Formula 1 and MotoGP stars preparing to make their rallycross debuts.

All of the action both on and off-track will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now on sale for the discounted rate of €29,99. More information can be found here, and race weekend tickets can still be purchased here.

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-10-26 Hansen World RX Team targets fightback in Barcelona
The penultimate event in the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend, where Swedish outfit Hansen World RX Team is targeting a fightback performance at one of its most successful venues.

The 2022 campaign so far, the very first season of the discipline’s brand-new all-electric era has been a case of what might have been for the Hansen squad. Across seven rounds so far, at more than half of the races the team’s drivers, Timmy and Kevin Hansen, have been in the thick of the fight for outright victory.

At no time more so than at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium two weeks ago, where the Hansen’s 500kW, four-wheel-drive, fully-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e was the fastest car on the grid, and in both rounds of the double-header, the team was in contention for victory, only to lose out due to mitigating factors.

Sometimes however, things do not go the way they are planned in motor racing. The Hansen team knows that well, as despite being the most-winning team in FIA European Rallycross Championship history, and claiming four World RX crowns, with three teams’ titles (2015, 2019, 2021) and a drivers’ crown (2019), the 30-year experience of racing at the highest level in rallycross has taught the team how to fight back, as much as lead from the front.

That is the objective for this weekend. The Barcelona circuit is where the squad claimed a 1-2 finish last season and has secured nine podiums in World RX since 2015. This weekend, on the second of three Formula 1 venues in the 2022 World RX schedule, the team is targeting more rostrum finishes, as two opportunities, with a full points’ scoring round on both Saturday and Sunday, make up the Catalan weekend.

Kevin Hansen and Timmy Hansen lie second and fifth in the Drivers’ Standings respectively, while the Hansen World RX Team is second in the Teams’ Standings.

Key Facts | Catalunya RX
Where:
Nestled in the final sector of the Catalan Formula 1 circuit, the World RX track is 1.135 kilometers in length, comprising of 11 corners, with a 60% tarmac / 40% gravel surface layout.

In the middle of the venue, a 30-meter jump into a tight right-hand corner poses a challenge, while the joker lap strategies are critical, with the extra route located around the outside of turns five and six. Run in a stadium-like environment, fans can see almost the whole circuit from every angle.

When:
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [October 29-30] via the World RX Website.

Saturday October 29
Practice: 10:40
SuperPole: 11:30
Heat 1: 12:45
Heat 2: 14:15
Progression: 15:030
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Sunday October 30
Warm-up: 11:00
SuperPole: 11:20
Heat 1: 12:30
Heat 2: 14:15
Progression: 15:30
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Blast from the past
Timmy Hansen’s 2019 World Rallycross Championship got off to an almost-perfect start with the Hansen World RX team. He dominated the early qualifications in Abu Dhabi, only to be crashed into by another competitor in Q3, damaging his car’s roll cage and putting him out.

Kevin Hansen took up the fight and claimed the win, but for Timmy to join Kevin in the title-contention, the elder brother needed to fight back at round two, in Barcelona. And he did just that, winning every stage of the event to claim victory, with Kevin Hansen extending his championship lead with second place on the podium.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"We’re not far away from a win, we need a little more speed and to give more confidence to the drivers."

“It took a couple of days after how our weekend went in Spa, but we were soon back on it – on the mission to succeed.

We had much better speed in Belgium, we were very happy with that and we have closed the gap to the front a little more. We didn’t get the results we wanted, you can speak about bad luck, but perhaps if we work harder then we will get more luck too.

We’re trying to bring more speed to the coming races and have worked hard on how we should develop these new cars further. We are focused on turning bad luck into good.

We’re not far away from a win, we need a little more speed and to give more confidence to the drivers – hopefully those things can make for a good result in Barcelona.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"It’s an exciting joker lap which makes strategy so important and I just can’t wait to get into the car!"

“It’s really fantastic to go back to Barcelona, it’s a great city and a great rallycross track.

Winning the European Championship title there in 2016 means that it will always be a special place for me, and also my first proper World RX win there last year makes it even more so.

We go there trying to win both races this weekend, it’s a very technical circuit where it’s all about the small details. It’s an exciting joker lap which makes strategy so important and I just can’t wait to get into the car!”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"I’m very much looking forward to go to Barcelona, it’s perhaps my most successful track – for some reason usually it goes very well there for us, so hopefully this can be the weekend where we get that win that we’ve been chasing all year."

“We are on a good trajectory with how we are working with the car, and also for myself learning to adapt to how these new electric powertrains need to be driven.

I’m very much looking forward to go to Barcelona, it’s perhaps my most successful track – for some reason usually it goes very well there for us, so hopefully this can be the weekend where we get that win that we’ve been chasing all year.

We’ve been so close, we were in the lead of the finals many times over the season and it just hasn’t gone our way, but we just need to keep at it, keep performing at the front.

Rallycross is unpredictable by nature, but if we have the speed then one day sooner or later it will go our way. The team is working very hard, and I hope that moment where things fall into place for us is this weekend.”

“It’s second nature to our family to look for solutions to be as competitive as possible, especially in rallycross, it’s just what we do and I know we are all extremely motivated for 2022.

“This is a big step in a new direction that I’m super-happy to be part of, racing extremely fast cars on great circuits against the best drivers and teams in the world, there really isn’t anything better.”

22-10-25 Former F1 and MotoGP stars join Catalunya grid in RX2e
Nick Heidfeld and Carlos Checa set for rallycross debuts
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is no stranger to welcoming Formula 1 and MotoGP stars, having hosted no fewer than 32 four-wheeled and 31 two-wheeled grands prix since 1991. This weekend (29-30 October), two of those top flight heroes will return to make their rallycross debuts, as Nick Heidfeld and Carlos Checa prepare to tackle the dual-surface discipline for the first time in the FIA RX2e Championship.

After being crowned International Formula 3000 Champion in 1999, Heidfeld went on to claim 13 podium finishes in F1 between 2000 and 2011, competing for teams including BMW, Williams and Renault and placing a career-high fifth in the World Championship standings in 2007.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Quick Nick’, the German subsequently showcased his versatility too by establishing himself as a front-runner in both Formula E – reaching the rostrum on eight occasions over the course of four full campaigns in the all-electric series – and the FIA World Endurance Championship, triumphing in the LMP1-L class at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours in 2014 with Rebellion Racing.

From four starts in the American Le Mans Series in 2013, Heidfeld was never off the podium – taking victory at Petit Le Mans – while he has also participated in the Nürburgring 24 Hours and held the record for the fastest time up the iconic Goodwood hillclimb for 20 years behind the wheel of a McLaren MP4/13 F1 car. Now, more than four years on from his last competitive appearance, the Mönchengladbach native is preparing to don his helmet and racing overalls again to do battle in RX2e.

“I’m feeling very excited!” he enthused. “I love driving and have enjoyed trying out a lot of different categories and cars, but rallycross is something completely different. It includes jumps, driving on different surfaces, drifting, close racing – and maybe even a bit of leaning and bouncing off each other...

“The idea and opportunity came up at the very last moment, and having never done a single lap in a rallycross car, I’m going to be pretty unprepared but I love challenges. Already knowing QEV [via his stint with Mahindra Racing in Formula E] also made my decision to jump into this at such short notice immeasurably easier.

“I’m really looking forward to all the aspects that will be new to me and will go into the weekend in a very open frame of mind. My first target is to have fun. Of course, it’s always more fun when you come away with a good result, but I’m well aware I’m far from a rallycross expert and I haven’t raced in a really long time. Maybe this will bring me back into racing in the future. Let’s see...”

Checa similarly boats a stellar career record, although unlike Heidfeld, the vast majority of his success has been achieved on two wheels rather than four. Hailing from Barcelona, the Spaniard has fond memories of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, having sped to his maiden victory there in MotoGP’s 500cc forerunner in 1996, with a dominant performance that resulted in Honda’s 100th grand prix success in the premier class.

In total, Checa spent more than a decade racing in motorcycling’s top flight, prevailing again in Madrid in 1998 and tallying 22 further podium finishes. He went on to win the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance classic in 2008 alongside multiple British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, and lifted the World Superbike Championship laurels with Ducati three years later.

“I’ve been following rallycross,” he explained, “and having attended the World RX event in Catalunya twice as a spectator, I was impressed by what I saw – so to get the opportunity to actually compete in it myself is really exciting.

“I’ve already tested the RX2e car at Calafat, but to race it will be something else again. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for me is a very emotional place. It’s where I started my first race in the World Championship in 125cc in 1993 and where I won my first race in 500cc. To now come back here and participate in this amazing championship is very special, and I feel very motivated for the weekend ahead.”

Checa will join compatriot Laia Sanz at midday tomorrow (Wednesday, 26 October) for an ‘exhibition’ run with the RX2e car at Moll de la Barceloneta in Port Vell, with the pair to be accompanied by former FIA World Touring Car Championship race-winner Jordi Gené in a Cupra UrbanRebel, as a warm-up event for the history-making, all-electric World RX of Catalunya (29-30 October). Entry to the Barcelona waterfront activity is free of charge.

Fourteen-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion Sanz is set to return to RX2e for a fourth outing this weekend, with Belgian teenage prodigy Viktor Vranckx on the cusp of the crown as he bids to seal the deal in style with a third win of 2022. The full entry list can be found here.

All of the action both on and off-track will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now on sale for the discounted rate of €29,99. More information can be found here, and race weekend tickets can still be purchased here.

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-10-11 Baumanis becomes Euro RX Vice-Champion with Spa podium
Latvian driver Janis Baumanis is the 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship for RX1 vice-champion, following the final round of the campaign at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Heading to the sixth and last round of the Euro RX1 season at one of the most famous race tracks in the world, and having finished third in the Euro RX1 standings in 2021, Baumanis embarked on Spa seeking his maiden win of the season to secure the championship runner-up position, to improve on his 2021 result.

Sixth in the opening Heat, driving the #YellowSquad Peugeot 208 WRX, Baumanis was second and then third in Heats two and three, to finish second at the Ranking stage. He then won his Progression race, and finished second in the first semi-final to progress to the final.

In the last five-lap race of the entire season, Baumanis ran third in the early stages, and thanks to strong pace and consistent lap times, including a good joker strategy, he remained in the position to the finish line to secure a 50% podium rate for the campaign, and ensure he finished second in the standings to newly crowned champion Anton Marklund, who also secured the victory at the final round.

The result underlined a strong maiden campaign for the #YellowSquad team at RX1 level, in which Baumanis was a regular pace setter in a field where the fight for the podium was fierce at every single round.

Find more on the FIA World Rallycross Championship website and RX+ All Live.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“To be Vice-Champion in the European Championship is not the result we were hoping for in the beginning of the season, but to be second in such a series is obviously a good result, so we can be pleased with that.

I’m pleased with the work of the whole team and everyone who has been involved. It was not an easy season at all, with a few technical issues and some bad luck on track too.

I’m also maybe not fully satisfied with my performance, but it’s not too bad. In Spa we were very quick on the tarmac but not so much on the gravel, and with the last gravel corner being very important, that was the place we lost the time to the other competitors.

Overall it’s been a good season and I’m looking forward to the future. Thanks to everybody involved.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager

“We are happy to finish second in the championship. Anton Marklund and SET Promotion were very strong this year, so we must say congratulators to them for winning the championship.

This being the first year in Supercar and European Rallycross for #YellowSquad, and a new package for Janis to get used to.

I think we did a good job this season, especially against some very good teams and drivers who have already won events and titles at World Championship level.

Big thanks to everyone in the team for their hard work in Euro RX this year.”

22-10-10 Kevin Hansen claims podium amid disappointing weekend for Hansen World RX team at Spa
wo-time FIA World Rallycross Championship event-winner Kevin Hansen added another podium finish to the Hansen World RX team’s 2022 tally in the sixth round of the series at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, but the Swedish team left the historic venue disappointed at the overall outcome.

Yet again the Hansen team’s 500kW Peugeot 208 RX1e machines were capable of challenging for victory in the first year of a brand-new all-electric era for rallycross’ highest level, the team arguably the class of the field in terms of outright performance across the entire Belgian double-header encounter.

But, as has been the case on so many occasions in 2022, the equation between performance and results did not work out in the Hansen outfit’s favour, aside from Kevin Hansen’s rostrum appearance in Saturday’s final – ensuring that the triple World RX Teams’ champions maintained a record of being on the podium at every event in the 2022 season so far.

2019 World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen led the all-important final from the front in round six of World RX on Saturday, until being spun out of contention by getting hit from the cars behind, while in round seven on Sunday, the elder of the two Hansen brothers was put out of contention by contact that broke his car’s rear suspension in the semi-finals. Kevin Hansen meanwhile lost out in the battle for position in the opening corner of Sunday’s final and dropped to fourth early on, the position he would hold to the finish.

Despite the results, in a closely-fought 2022 season Kevin Hansen is now second in the Drivers’ standings, just three points ahead of Timmy, who is fifth overall, with events in Spain and Germany remaining.

The Hansen World RX Team remains second in the Teams’ standings.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
“It’s a long time since I was so disappointed. I mean really, really disappointed."

Of course it’s a lot up to us to handle things well, but we don’t have the luck, that’s for sure – things are not working our way. There’s not much else to say.

We will get stronger again and rekindle the motivation to fight – we will be back but it does not feel good this evening. This was a weekend we should have had at least one win.

We will work hard, we will try again, and we know it will turn around, but at the moment this really feels so disappointing.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"I learned a lot about the car this weekend and it was good to be on the podium on Saturday."

“We obviously wanted more from this weekend, but we were on the pace and there to challenge for the wins. It’s just the small things that affected us, starting in the second position on the grid and not getting the inside for the starts, which was a bit unfortunate.

But I’m super proud of the whole team. They did another brilliant double-header. On my side, I really tired everything I had to get our first win of the season but just didn’t have it this weekend.

I learned a lot about the car this weekend and it was good to be on the podium on Saturday. I’m looking forward to Barcelona for the next race, it’s a track that has been kind to us in the past and I had my last World RX victory there as well. Hopefully there we can have more luck on our side.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"The gap between performance and result this weekend felt huge, but Barcelona next time is one of my favourite tracks and I’m going to give it my everything.”

“It felt like we did everything right this weekend, we had great pace, we were the ones to beat. We had great starts and the whole package. But somehow, in a way I cannot understand, both races this weekend ended horribly badly.

I got crashed out on Saturday from the lead of the final, then today in the semi-final the contact between me and [Niclas] Gronholm broke a suspension arm and the race was basically over.

Contacts ended the weekend. It’s kind of devastating how it can go this bad from such a good event, but I’ve got to bring with me that we do have the whole package and we need to keep on doing what we’re doing.

The gap between performance and result this weekend felt huge, but Barcelona next time is one of my favourite tracks and I’m going to give it my everything.”

22-10-09 Kristoffersson blows the doors off his rivals on scintillating Spa day
Swede builds championship lead on day two in Belgium
Johan Kristoffersson blew the door off his car in heat one at Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps today (9 October), and then blew the doors off all of his rivals to clinch a sixth victory of the 2022 campaign and take another significant step towards a fifth career crown.

After maintaining his unblemished SuperPole record by a tenth-of-a-second from Timmy Hansen, Kristoffersson picked up a puncture in his first heat race at the legendary Belgian Grand Prix venue. With smoke pouring off his right-rear tyre, the damage got progressively worse as the Swede wrestled his Volkswagen RX1e around the circuit at barely abated speed, with the tyre letting go completely on the last lap and ripping the right-rear car door off in the process.

Following that Gilles Villeneuve-esque performance and a stellar repair job by the Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS crew, Kristoffersson came out on top of a spirited scrap with Niclas Grönholm in heat two – which included a crowd-pleasing pass in the banked gravel corner – before winning his progression race at a canter.

The Swede subsequently fended off countryman Kevin Hansen in the second semi-final to secure pole position for the all-important final – and following a textbook launch, he was thereafter never headed, racing clear of his pursuers to take the chequered flag almost four seconds to the good. The result has extended his advantage at the top of the title standings to 41 points with only two race weekends remaining – a fact not lost on the four-time world champion.

“You need to be in the right place at the right time, and thankfully, we were,” beamed Kristoffersson after tallying the 33rdtriumph of a career that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. “The team is delivering a perfect car every time we go out and we worked hard on our starts today, because they weren’t the best yesterday. That paid off in the final, and thankfully there was no squeeze into Turn One because the wall there is pretty unforgiving.

“From there, I saw there was some fighting going on behind and once I had established a gap, I could just cruise to the finish while taking care not to get any more punctures. It was a very good race, and I was super happy to share the podium with Gustav [Bergström] again – and I have to say, the championship is looking pretty good now...”

Grönholm sealed second to cap a weekend of continued progress for Construction Equipment Dealer Team – not to mention some stellar starts. The Montalegre winner had to give best early on in the final to young KMS rookie Gustav Bergström, but he fought back to snatch the runner-up spoils – his second podium finish of the season.

Buoyed by his breakthrough rostrum result yesterday, Bergström rebounded from a broken driveshaft in heat one to pull off a gutsy overtaking move on Grönholm in the final, and while he ultimately didn’t have quite enough pace to keep the Finn at bay once the joker strategies had played out, he nonetheless impressed with another third-place finish.

Kevin Hansen wound up fourth after sliding wide in the last corner – finding himself inadvertently clipped by Grönholm in the process – with Ole Christian Veiby classified fifth, although the Norwegian did not reach the flag due to coming off worst in a first corner crunch with Bergström and Hansen that broke his Volkswagen’s steering.

Once more, 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen looked set to take the fight to Kristoffersson, but suspension damage in his semi-final caused the Swede to miss out on a place in the final by less than half-a-second. The driver that denied him that spot – CE Dealer Team rookie Klara Andersson – also failed to reach the final despite again taking the fight to her more experienced adversaries. René Münnich brought up the rear in his SEAT Ibiza.

O’DONOVAN PIPS HOME HERO IN RX2e AS CHAMPION CELEBRATES IN EURO RX1
Patrick O’Donovan defeated fans’ favourite Viktor Vranckx in a thrilling FIA RX2e Championship duel, with the pair separated by a scant 0.150s at the finish line. Competing on home soil, championship leader Vranckx was playing catch-up all weekend, but the pace was clearly there and he and good friend O’Donovan went toe-to-toe in the final.

The Belgian thought he had done enough following an early joker strategy, but his British rival turned the tables on the very last lap to exit his own joker marginally in front – in so doing, making it back-to-back successes after winning in Riga last time out. Pablo Suárez scored his second career RX2e podium behind the pair in third.

Anton Marklund celebrated his third FIA European Rallycross Championship title triumph with a dominant performance in Euro RX1, as the Swede – let off the leash with the trophy already in the bag – showed just why he is the new champion with a peerless performance to claim a third victory of the campaign.

On his return to the paddock, Juha Rytkönen was a front-runner throughout and deservedly clinched P2 ahead of Janis Baumanis, whose third rostrum visit of the season secured the Latvian second in the standings. Home hero Enzo Ide – who similarly had designs on the runner-up laurels – saw his bid scuppered by a technical issue at the start of his progression race.

The next stop on the 2022 schedule will be World RX of Catalunya on 29-30 October.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 3.995s
3. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Gustav Bergström + 4.932s
4. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 9.305s
5. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 5 laps

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/rallycross-results/benelux-world-rx-of-spa-francorchamps-2/results/

22-10-09 Niclas Grönholm claims podium at Spa-Francorchamps for CE Dealer Team
Construction Equipment Dealer Team took its second straight FIA World Rallycross Championship podium, as Niclas Grönholm finished second at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

The first day of action saw Niclas Grönholm progress to the final after a win in the semi-final, finishing fifth.

The Finn fought back during the Sunday final, to finish second behind championship leader Johan Kristoffersson, and secure his second podium for CE Dealer Team in its ground-breaking FIA World RX journey.

”It was a tough day, but everything went well from the semi-final and onwards. I had good launch, and some great fights in the final. Yesterday we had the pace to challenge for the win, and it was a bummer that I made a mistake in turn one. From there on, it was hard to do anything. Today I played it smart in the first corner and was able to come out in second. Pace-wise, this was the best weekend so far. This is good to build on for the future,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson showed encouraging speed all weekend, winning her first ever semi-final on Saturday. She later got disqualified after an incident. The Swedish driver just missed out on a spot in the final on Sunday after another promising performance.

”It was not our weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. We had the pace to fight for a good result both days but kept running into bad luck. Thanks to the team for working really hard all weekend. We deserved more, but we will keep working hard to come back stronger. Great job by my team-mate Niclas on securing another podium for the team,” said Klara Andersson.

With his second podium of the season, Niclas Grönholm moves up to fourth overall in the drivers’ standings, just two points from third. Klara Andersson sits in seventh with two double headers remaining.

The CE Dealer Team mechanics put in a stellar job after Saturday's progression race, fixing both PWR RX1e cars just in time for the finals. CE Dealer Team holds third in the team championship.

”This weekend has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Both Niclas and Klara have showed good pace and have been fighting in the top, but we have also encountered some bad luck stopping us from getting the results. Therefore, it was great to get a podium for the second weekend in a row after a strong performance from Niclas. The speed of Klara was really encouraging all weekend and we’re looking forward to the next,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

Results and standings after the FIA Benelux RX of Spa-Francorchamps available here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx-team/

22-10-09 Kristoffersson överlägsen i VM
Johan Kristoffersson dominerar fullständigt i årets helektriska rallycross-VM. Med sex segrar på sju deltävlingar är den femte VM-titeln mycket nära.
- Det ser väldigt bra ut för mästerskapet, säger Kristoffersson efter dubbelsegern på Spa-Francorchamps där han fick sällskap på pallen av Gustav Bergström.

Kristoffersson följde upp lördagens triumf med ännu en seger i söndagens tävling på den klassiska banan uppe i Ardennerna. Precis som i helgens första deltävling undvek han farorna och manövrerade fram till en klar seger.
- Rättvist tycker jag. Johan hade bra fart hela helgen. Rätt kontrollerat också, även om det blev en punktering i början, säger teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, Tommy Kristoffersson.

Det blev en kvalificering som präglades av punkteringar, vilket också drabbade förarna i Volkswagen-teamet. Kristoffersson fick punktering i heat 1 medan Veiby och Bergström drabbades i heat 2. Gustav fick dessutom stopp på sin bil i heat 1 och hamnade därmed åtta i kvalet. Johan var tvåa så långt och Ole Christian fyra.

I progressionsheatet blev det en trippel för KMS-förarna i race 2 med Johan som etta, Gustav tvåa och Ole Christian trea.

Semifinalerna blev också en stor framgång för teamet. Kristoffersson rattade sin helelektriska Volkswagen RX1e med perfektion och tog hem segern, där Ole Christian var trea och därmed också tog sig vidare till final. Gustav var i det läget redan klar för final efter att ha slutat tvåa i första semifinalen. Full pott för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS!

I finalen fick Johan en skaplig start och lyckades därmed från sitt innerspår ta sig ut i ledning.
- Bättre och bättre starter under dagen och det var också något vi hade jobbat hårt på. Därifrån körde jag bara på, men försökte också vara försiktig i sista kurvan för att undvika punktering. Till slut blev det en överlägsen seger, den sjätte för säsongen, av sju möjliga!
- Stort tack till teamet som gör det möjligt. Vissa gånger har vi ju kommit tillbaka till depån med i princip bara ratten i näven, säger Johan och tänker främst på de däckexplosioner som slog bort bakdörren på såväl Kristofferssons som Veibys bil.
- Bästa mekanikerna som finns, fyller Gustav Bergström i.

“Jag ska titta hur Johan gör och så ska jag göra likadant” har Gustav sagt några gånger den här säsongen. Och som han gör det. I finalen använde han Johans koncept från lördagstävlingen. Vek in från yttern bakom övriga fältet och smet på innern fram till tredje plats. Därefter gjorde han en elegant passage på Niclas Grönholm i målsvängen, exakt som Johan gjorde i andra kvalomgången.
- Copy paste! Jag hade bestämt mig redan på griden att gå för innern och det lyckades ju riktigt bra. Att jag kunde passera Niclas också var ju kul.

Till slut lyckades ändå Grönholm ta sig förbi Bergström, men den 19-årige stockholmaren fick kliva upp på pallen för andra gången på två dagar.
- Klart man var sugen på andraplatsen också, men jag kan inte vara besviken över ännu en pallplats.

Stallchefen Tommy Kristoffersson var mycket imponerad.
- Världsklass av Gustav! På riktigt alltså. Det kan se ganska enkelt ut när man sitter hemma i soffan, men det är verkligen inte lätt att fatta rätt beslut i den farten. Mycket moget gjort.

Och läromästaren Johan Kristoffersson instämmer:
- Gustav ser, lär och lyssnar och är dessutom mentalt stark. Smart den pojken som gör som jag, konstaterar Johan med ett skratt.

För Ole Christian Veiby var det ännu en tung dag. Visserligen bra resultat under dagen och en finalplats från ytterspår, men där tog det stopp direkt. Styrningen fick sig en smäll i första kurvan och Veiby kunde bara parkera.
- Bilen funkade bra och vi var bra med på superpole och i Q1. Punktering i Q2, men det fick ju alla. Ja, sedan fortsatte det med oturen där i första svängen på finalen.

I sammandraget ser det ändå inte illa ut för Veiby. Han ligger trea på 89 poäng, endast en poäng efter Kevin Hansen.
- Vi är tre stycken som jagar tätt bakom Kevin. Det blir en stenhård kamp om silvret, säger Veiby.

I täten har Kristoffersson dragit undan till 41 poängs ledning, ett försprång som verkligen bäddar för ett nytt VM-guld.
- Det ska ganska mycket till för att vi ska missa den, konstaterar Tommy Kristoffersson.

I teammästerskapet är det också upplagt för KMS som den här helgen ökade med ytterligare tio poäng, fram till 43 poängs ledning före team Hansen.

VM-serien fortsätter i Barcelona, Spanien, sista helgen i oktober, även då en dubbeltävling.

22-10 -08 Kristoffersson benefits from Hansen heartbreak in Belgium
Defending champion takes fifth win of the season at Spa. Johan Kristoffersson extended his advantage in the chase for the FIA World Rallycross Championship crown in round six of the 2022 campaign at Spa-Francorchamps today (8 October), as the Swede sped to the top step of the podium for the 32nd time in his extraordinary career.

After securing his customary position at the head of the classification in the single-lap SuperPole shootout, Kristoffersson then unusually didn’t set the pace in any of the subsequent sessions, going third-fastest in both heat one and heat two, second in his progression race and third in the semi-final.

That all mattered little, however, when the final came around, as from fourth on the single-file grid, the defending world champion cut neatly to the inside entering Turn One while Niclas Grönholm and Kevin Hansen focussed on fending each other off, to slot into second behind pole-sitter Timmy Hansen.

Into the Raidillon hairpin for the first time, a chain reaction saw Kristoffersson pushed into the back of Hansen, sending the latter into a spin, with the Peugeot subsequently collected by the Construction Equipment Dealer Team car of Grönholm – who was ultimately found guilty of causing the concertina effect.

That left Kristoffersson out front from young team-mate Gustav Bergström, and in a consummate performance, he went on to take the chequered flag almost five seconds clear of his closest pursuer.

Second position went the way of Kevin Hansen, who was delayed by the Raidillon mêlée but displayed good speed on another day of what might have been for Hansen World RX Team, as he won his progression race and pipped Kristoffersson to second at the semi-final stage.

Bergström – who wasn’t even due to take part in the final until a disqualification catapulted him onto the grid – wound up third to reach the World RX rostrum for the first time in only his sixth start at the international pinnacle of the sport.

Grönholm crossed the finish line fourth, but a five-second penalty for the incident at the hairpin relegated him to fifth behind the frustrated Timmy Hansen, who for much of the day had looked like he was set to belatedly open his winning account for the year.

Klara Andersson was on the pace for CE Dealer Team at the track where she made her debut on the World Championship package last year in RX2e, but a technical problem in heat two ruled her out of the progression stage and she was subsequently disqualified from the semi-final after being deemed at fault for a first corner collision with Timmy Hansen, Bergström and René Münnich.

Ole Christian Veiby’s stellar podium run came to an end as he found himself afflicted by myriad issues in his Volkswagen RX1e – causing him to miss out on the final for the first time in 2022 – but the Norwegian will be primed to fight back on the second day of the Belgian double-header tomorrow.

“We started on a high and ended on a high,” reflected Kristoffersson, after bookending his day in first place. “In-between, it was quite tricky. We didn’t get the best start in heat one, and from there we always seemed to be fighting from behind and with the lap times so tight, we didn’t quite have enough pace to make the difference with the joker strategy.

“I feel sorry for Timmy – he was in a winning position in the final and really didn’t deserve that. Going up to the hairpin, there was a bit of a train from behind and he got spun round. It wasn’t his day. It turned out to be my day, but obviously it’s a bit bittersweet. Most of all, I’m happy for Gustav – to finish on the podium so early in his World RX career is fantastic. Big congratulations to him.”

ACTION APLENTY IN SUPPORT SERIES
There is a three-way tie at the summit of the standings in the FIA RX2e Championship overnight between Nils Andersson, Isak Sjökvist and Patrick O’Donovan. The two Swedes topped a heat apiece, with O’Donovan fast and feisty to go second-quickest in both sessions. Championship leader Viktor Vranckx sits fourth, admitting to making ‘two big mistakes’ in heat one as he swiped the wall in the joker – but the home hero will be fired-up to bounce back tomorrow.

Despite accusing himself of ‘not really pushing hard enough’, recently-crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion Anton Marklund leads the way in Euro RX1, with Montalegre winner Enzo Ide just ahead of arch-rival Janis Baumanis in the duel for the championship runner-up spoils.

Tomorrow’s competitive action will begin with the World RX SuperPole session at 09:35 CET, followed by the first race of the day at 11:10 CET.

All of the entertainment will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now reduced to just €29,99. More information can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/i/info/

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 4.837s
3. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Gustav Bergström + 5.757s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 8.546s
5. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 12.091s

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/rx-plus/live-timing/

22-10-08 Seger för Johan och pallen för Gustav
Vägen var krokig, men det blev seger för Johan Kristoffersson i den första deltävlingen på Spa-Francorchamps. Lika glädjande var det att Gustav Bergström slutade trea och därmed tog sin första pallplats i VM-karriären.
- Väldigt bra gjort av Gustav och på det sättet han gjorde det efter startsmällen i semifinalen, säger Kristoffersson.

På sitt sedvanliga mästerliga sätt lyckades Johan själv lösa segerknuten även denna gång, trots att det såg riktigt jobbigt ut under lördagens race på den klassiska banan i Ardennerna.

Efter att ha varit snabbast på superpole gick det tyngre för Johan som inte fick till starterna och inte heller lyckades köra sig fram till heatsegrar.
- Det är svårt när man hamnar i trafik. Det går inte att ta sig fram snabbare då.

I semifinalen slutade han trea, men tog sig vidare tack vare bra kvalplacering.

Från fjärde spår i finalen blev det ännu en halvknackig start, men en smart manöver till insidan öppnade upp fältet och Johan tog sig ut som tvåa.
- Det var plan B att dyka på innern om jag inte fick en riktigt bra start. Ärligt talat tror jag den planen fungerade bättre än plan A hade gjort.

Uppe i första hårnålen blev det seriekrock och ledande Timmy Hansen fick en tryckare som vände runt honom. Kristoffersson kunde smita upp i ledning och höll sedan undan fram till sin 32:a seger i rallycross-VM, den femte av sex möjliga i årets helelektriska mästerskap.
- Tråkigt för Timmy. Han förtjänade inte det där, men samtidigt kan inte vi be om ursäkt för segern. Så här är det med sport.

En som verkligen fick uppleva sportens tjusning var Gustav Bergström. Total frustration vändes till euforisk lycka. Det ville inte riktigt lossna för den 19-årige stockholmaren i kvalracen och när det blev dags för semifinalen gick rullgardinen ner ordentligt. Bergström fick en tryckare och hamnade i betongmuren på insidan där det tog stopp.

Tankarna just då?
- Jag vet inte riktigt om jag tänkte så mycket, var mest väldigt förbannad.

Teamet satte ändå fart med att få Bergströms elektriska Volkswagen RX1e i stridsdugligt skick igen ifall det skulle komma en bestraffning - och så skedde. Klara Andersson diskvalificerades och Bergström fick en plats i yttersta startspåret i finalen. Efter karambolaget i andra kurvan hade Bergström plötsligt tagit sig upp på andra plats. På slutvarvet blev han visserligen passerad av Kevin Hansen, men som trea i mål var den första - och så efterlängtade - pallplatsen säkrad.
- Kul att få ge tillbaka till teamet och alla som har krigat för det här, säger Bergström som vrålade av glädje efter målgång.

Full av självförtroende inför fortsättningen kan man tänka.
- Jag fokuserar mest på att bli ännu snabbare

En betydligt sämre dag var det för Ole Christian Veiby. Återkommande elfel förstörde dagen för norrmannen.
- Det var glapp i någon kontakt in till batteriet så bilen stannade ute på banan flera gånger, säger en besviken Veiby.

Till semifinal tog han sig ändå och där fungerade bilen som den skulle.
- Men det var ett tufft heat och jag hamnade på yttern, så det var svårt att göra något.

Något positivt kunde han ändå hämta med sig från den avslutningen på dagen för hans del.
- Farten i semifinalen var lika bra som Johans, säger Ole Christian som också gladdes åt andra.
- Det blev ju en bra dag för teamet i och med att Johan vann och härligt för Gustav att ta sin första pallplats.

Teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, Tommy Kristoffersson, kunde nöjt pusta ut efter ännu en händelserik dag i World RX.
- Det är inte över förrän det är över. Det har vi lärt oss förut. Idag hände det mycket åt alla håll och kanter, men vi lyckades hålla momentet uppe och det lönade sig till slut.

Teamchefen imponerades förstås av VM-ledande sonen Johan.
- Vi åkte ju hit med strategin att inte ta alltför stora risker och det mindsetet hade Johan. Han vet var riskerna finns på den här banan och han höll sig borta från problemen.

Och att tredjeföraren Bergström stod pall gladde förstås också Kristoffersson senior.
- Det var dags! Jag tycker han hade upplagt för två pallplatser redan i Montalegre, men då ville det sig inte. Han har kört ihop till den här framgången och han imponerade i finalen med riktigt snabba varvtider.

Bergström avancerade i sammandraget till sjätte plats på 63 poäng. Johan Kristofferssons seger innebär att han nu leder förarmästerskapet på 111 poäng, hela 33 före Kevin och Timmy Hansen samt stallkompisen Ole Christian Veiby, samtliga på 78 poäng.

I teammästerskapet spelade KMS oavgjort med team Hansen, 28 lika. Därmed står det 189-155 totalt.
- Med tanke på dagen som Ole Christian har haft så får vi vara väldigt nöjda med det, summerar Tommy Kristoffersson.

World RX på Spa-Francorchamps fortsätter under söndagen med den sjunde deltävlingen i mästerskapet.

22-10-07 JC Raceteknik set for Audi S1 Rally Legend outing with Veiby and Andersson
Experienced rally and rallycross drivers Ole Christian Veiby and P-G Andersson will mix codes for one of the most anticipated motor sport events of the season next week, as the pair join JC Raceteknik to drive a pair of converted rallycross Supercars at Rally Legend in San Marino.

The Norwegian and Swedish drivers will compete in a pair of Audi S1 RX Supercars for the 20th running of the annual event, which every year attracts a wide range of famous drivers.

The rally, run over three days, comprises of 14 competitive stages. While the two JC Raceteknik cars will run in the Legend Stars category, and not be officially timed, they will complete all of the mileage, joining some legendary cars and drivers in the class, and the event.

Veiby, who raced in a full RallyX campaign with JC this year, will be co-driven by Swede Jonas Andersson for the event, while Anders Fredriksson will navigate for P-G Andersson.

Rally Legend gets underway next Thursday, October 13 and runs until Sunday October 16.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“I’m happy to be going back to Rally Legend. Last time we were there with EKS we had a great time and enjoyed ourselves a lot. This time we go there with two cars – I’m very happy to have Ole Christian back, we have talking about this for a while now! It’s an honour to have P-G in the team and it will be fun to work together, but most importantly this weekend is to go sideways and give the fans the best show.”

Ole Christian Veiby (NOR):
“Rally Legend is going to be super cool and will be one of the highlights of the season. I’m very excited to finally do another rally – it's been a little while since the last time. We’re going there to have plenty of fun while we make a great show for the crowd. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity since I remember Mattias Ekstrom was there with the same car a couple of years ago and it looked incredible. Just the thought of doing a rally with a Supercar with that amount of power, compared to an R5 rally car for example, is going to be a fantastic experience. It's my first time attending the Rally Legend event, from what I have seen it looks like a great show with plenty of fans and spectators. It’s a perfect place to take that car out and do some donuts and big slides!”

P-G Andersson (SWE):
“It's going to be a fantastic experience to drive a Supercar on the roads of San Marino. I’m looking forward to the awesome crowd there and hopefully sunny weather. It will just be 100% pleasure with no stage or lap times to fight for. We’re just going to have fun and make a good show for the spectators - we aim for fast pace and big slides!”

22-10-06 Baumanis and #YellowSquad aim to conclude 2022 campaign on a high
The sixth and final round of the 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship for RX1 will be held at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium this weekend (October 8-9), where Swedish team #YellowSquad and Latvian driver Janis Baumanis are planning to end the season on a high.

Racing the Peugeot 208 WRX with the team for the first time in 2022, Baumanis has regularly challenged the front of the order, but has also run into misfortune through the campaign. In the most recent two events, in Latvia and Portugal, he has set pace capable of fighting for victory, with the Montalegre track in Portugal eventual culminating in his second podium appearance of the season.

Janis Baumanis
Now, having finished both third and second in the final this year, and currently lying second in the Euro RX1 standings, #YellowSquad and Baumanis are targeting a first victory together to finish the year in style at the most famous venue in the series.

Baumanis has raced at the Spa rallycross circuit twice before, finishing fifth in World RX in 2019 and third in Euro RX last year, while the circuit has been revised for 2022, to increase the amount of loose surface in the final corner, to improve the possibility to overtake.

The action takes place on Saturday and Sunday, all broadcast on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX+ service, check out the World RX website for details.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“It’s very nice that the final round of the season is in Belgium, at Spa. It has always been remarkable to go there as it’s a very iconic track and the atmosphere in Belgium is always great.

We’ve had some good pace this year, but some unlucky moments on the track too, the rain in heat three in Sweden for example that changed our weekend.

I know the car a lot better now that I have done some test days and five races, and there is one more chance to get the win we all want.

I know the track well and I’ve been driving there all the years when the race has been happening. I’m feeling more confident in the car than ever, so I’m looking forward to the fight for the final victory of the season.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“It’s been a busy summer with Euro RX1, with ups and downs in terms of results, but in the recent races the pace has been very good.

We going to work as hard as possible as a team to tie the weekend together at Spa to be able to win the last race of the year – heading into the off season in the best way.

It might not be possible to win the championship anymore, but we’re also going to be pushing hard to help Janis finish second in the points and the best way to do that would be to again stand on the podium, ideally on the top step!”

22-10-06 CE Dealer Team starts second half of World RX at legendary Spa-Francorchamps
Construction Equipment Dealer Team heads to Belgium and the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the fourth race weekend of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

CE Dealer Team arrives to the Belgian double header after a historic double podium in Portugal, where Niclas Grönholm claimed the team’s first World RX win and team-mate Klara Andersson became the first-ever female to secure a podium in the championship.

With his victory last time out, Niclas Grönholm is in the fight for the podium positions in the drivers’ championship. The Finn lies fifth, with just 10 points to second-placed Ole Christian Veiby.

”We’re heading to Belgium with a great boost after our fantastic result in Portugal. Spa is a short track where the starts are crucial. Turn one is tricky, and always causes a lot of action. There are a few places to overtake, but that is never easy. I am looking forward to continuing to build the pace in the car, and hopefully we can have two good races,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson holds sixth place in the driver’s standings after her historic podium, eight points behind team-mate Niclas Grönholm.

The Swedish driver made her debut in the World RX support-series RX2e last year at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing in a strong fourth place.

”I am really looking forward to being back at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. It is where I made my international rallycross debut exactly one year ago, and I have really good memories from this track,” said Klara Andersson.

”After the great results in Portugal, I am bringing a positive feeling and confidence to Belgium, and look forward to keep progressing with the team.”

Going into the second half of CE Dealer Team's ground-breaking journey in the new all-electric World RX, the team is third in the team’s standing and closing on its rivals.

”There has been no rest after our historic result in Portugal. The team along with our partners have continued to work hard to make sure we come as prepared as possible to continue to challenge for the very top in the final half of the season,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The Benelux RX of Spa-Francorchamps starts on Saturday with round six of the 2022 FIA World RX, followed by round seven on Sunday. The double header broadcast globally – as well as through the RX+ online streaming platform.

A full schedule for the Benelux RX of Spa-Francorchamps weekend is available here: https://www.spa-francorchamps-events.com/assets/6989cf5b-d63c-4144-a5b0-a35f59e4788a/timetable.pdf

More information about the CE Dealer Team programme: www.cedealerteam.com

22-10-05 Hansen World RX Team excited to race on revised Spa circuit
Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium needs little introduction to motor sport fans world-wide, it’s one of the most historic venues on the planet. This weekend, the sixth and seventh rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship take place at the legendary circuit, which has undergone revisions for 2022.

First introduced to World RX in 2019, the Spa rallycross track was immediately a drivers’ favourite, with a long multiple-line gravel final corner that made for amazing racing. When the championship returned to the venue last year, that corner had changed in its complexion with a more abrasive surface, changing the racing action.

Kevin and Timmy Hansen with the new Peugeot 208 RX1e.

For 2022, the championship organisers have worked to re-introduce a loose-gravel element to that final turn. Reigning World RX Teams’ Champions, Hansen World RX Team currently lie second in the World RX Teams’ standings, while Swedish drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen sit third and fourth in the points respectively.

In a brand-new all-electric era for the discipline, Hansen Motorsport and it’s 500kW, four-wheel-drive Peugeot 208 RX1e machines have been on the podium in all but one round of the season so-far, and this weekend, has eyes fixed on challenging for the top step of the podium.

Like most of the events in 2022, the Belgian weekend is a double-header, with brand new opportunities to fight for victory on both Saturday and Sunday.
Remember: Amazing photos and videos at Red Bull Content Pool!
The new Peugeot 208 RX1e back at service after a race.
Key Facts | Spa RX

Where:
Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium’s Ardennes forest has hosted Formula 1, World Endurance Championship and even World Rally events in recent years, along with its own famous events like the Spa 24 hours.

The rallycross track, built for the 2019 season, is located in the first part of the F1 lap, beginning in front of a huge grandstand, before heading through the world renowned Eau Rouge corner, through a hairpin towards Raidillon and then back down into the rallycross section, with the joker lap around the inside of the final corner, before a jump over the finish line.

When:
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [October 8-9] via the World RX Website: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/

Saturday October 8
Practice: 09:00
SuperPole: 10:25
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Sunday October 9
Warm-up: 09:00
SuperPole: 09:30
Heat 1: 11:00
Heat 2: 13:15
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Blast from the past
Hansen Motorsport is familiar with winning events in the European Rallycross Championship in Belgium and so far has one win to its credit in the World Rallycross Championship in the country.

That came at the Mettet circuit in 2018, when rally legend Sebastien Loeb ended a dominant run for the PSRX Volkswagen team to claim victory, taking the lead at the opening corner of the final and never looking back. It would be Frenchman Loeb’s final win in World RX….so far.

Also that day, Timmy Hansen had been spun at the first corner of his semi-final, and had to fight back through the field to even make it to the final. Once in the last race of the weekend, Hansen made the best of first corner traffic and climbed to second behind team mate Loeb. He eventually finished third to make it a double podium for team.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"We have worked a lot on what we can do to improve and we have some updates for this race."

“Of course we look forward to getting on track again, especially because Spa is little different this year. The gravel corners, five and six, will finally be gravel again it looks like - the organiser and the promoter have worked on that.

That’s good because last year when it was quite full grip around the track, it’s difficult to make any incredible rallycross, so we look forward to some loose material.

Like always we will try again to get in a good position and to fight for podiums. Definitely the highest place on the podium is our biggest wish, like always. We have worked a lot on what we can do to improve and we have some updates for this race. Hopefully that will solve some of our small issues with the lap times and help us be quicker.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"There’s going to be two lines; a high and a low line, which I think should be great if that works.
Hopefully the outside is quicker so that could open up opportunities for overtakes.”

“It’s going to be great to be back in Spa, it’s such an amazing track.

It’s a fantastic atmosphere with huge grandstands around and hopefully we have a lot of fans coming out to support us and cheer us on to get our first win of the season, and to take a step closer towards the top of the championship again.

I’m really hungry for success again and I think this track should suit us fantastically in the Hansen team. The track is only a few corners, but what I hear is we have some updates on the gravel side of things.

There’s going to be two lines; a high and a low line, which I think should be great if that works, to use the different type of lines. Hopefully the outside is quicker so that could open up opportunities for overtakes.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"We’re hoping to have two solid races and hopefully me and Kevin can climb back up into the podium positions in the championship"

“It’s exciting going to Spa because we don’t quite know what the track will be like.

It’s been two very different character of circuits – in 2019 there was this epic long gravel corner, but last year they put a kind of concrete on it, so it was high grip instead.

We know they’re trying to spice things up with trying to make a few different lines, so that will be interesting.

On the team and car side, of course we want some revenge since the last time out when we lost out on the win.

Of course, leading the final and then not even getting on the podium was tough, so we’re hoping to have two solid races and hopefully me and Kevin can climb back up into the podium positions in the championship.”

22-10-05 Dubbel ledning skapar trygghet
Fjärde tävlingshelgen i elektrifierade rallycross-VM går på klassiska Spa-Francorchamps. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS åker till Belgien som ledare i både förar- och teammästerskap.
- Vi har många poäng med oss dit, så vi är inte i läget att behöva ta stora risker, säger VM-ledande Johan Kristoffersson.

Kristoffersson körde i mål som etta i båda tävlingarna i Montalegre, Portugal, men fråntogs segern i den andra tävlingen efter en bestraffning. Trots detta leder han mästerskapet med 21 poäng före teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby och med 25 poäng ner till Timmy Hansen på tredje plats.
- Vi kom till den tävlingen som etta och fyra och åkte därifrån som etta-tvåa, dessutom med utökad ledning i teammästerskapet. Det kan man inte klaga på, säger Ole Christian Veiby, som har klivit upp på pallen i fyra av fem tävlingar hittills.

Nu väntar en ny dubbeltävling lördag-söndag, den sjätte och sjunde av totalt elva i årets VM-serie.
- En ny bana igen för mig och en annorlunda upplevelse. Den här är byggd på formel 1-banan. Det blir lite mer banracing jämfört med Montalegre, konstaterar Veiby.

Även teamets tredje förare, Gustav Bergström, debuterar på Spa kommande helg.
- Den ser lika frän ut som de andra banorna. Jag får fokusera på att lära mig banan först och ta det därifrån, säger Bergström, som fick köra sin andra final i karriären under lördagens tävling i Montalegre, men sedan inte fick vara med i slutuppgörelsen på söndagen, på grund av ett tekniskt fel.
- Besviken så klart, men det är bara att satsa dubbelt så hårt på Spa.

Johan Kristoffersson har större erfarenhet av racingbanan i Ardennerna. Förra året vann han den VM-deltävlingen, då tävlande för EKS/JC.
- Den gången var vi tvungna att ta många poäng, så det blev större risktagning, minns Kristoffersson, som är väl medveten om de risker som väntar på Spa, inte minst in i första sväng.
- Starten är chansartad. Det finns risker med att stå utvändigt och på insidan väntar en betongmur.

Kristoffersson tror att banan kan passa för teamets förare och de tre KMS-byggda eldrivna Volkswagen RX1e-bilarna.
- Väldigt kul att vi har tre förare som levererar och bilar som fungerar. Vi har nu kört på banor med både högt och lågt grepp, på torrt underlag och i regn och vi verkar inte ha någon akilleshäl.

Det är en slutsats som teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson instämmer i:
- Vi har en trygghet i teamet och stämningen är på topp. Allt eftersom lär vi oss vilka knappar vi ska trycka på och våra förare känner sig mer och mer komfortabla i bilarna.

Samarbetet mellan förarna är också något som Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-bossen lyfter fram.
- Johan är ju ankaret i vårt team och han är duktig på att dela med sig av information och erfarenhet. Kommunikationen är en mycket viktig pusselbit. I takt med framgångarna växer också Ole Christian och Gustav. De har hittills presterat så bra som vi hade kunnat hoppas på i den bästa av världar.

Men stallchefen betonar också vikten av att hålla huvudet kallt i rådande läge, med ledning i båda mästerskapen.
- Vi är de jagade och måste agera därefter. Alla måste vara disciplinerade för att göra det bästa av det läge vi har arbetat oss fram till.

22-10-04 Hansen World RX Team partners with Utimaco for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
The Hansen World RX Team is delighted to partner with leading global IT security solution provider Utimaco within its 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship programme.

As part of the exciting new relationship, the four-time World Championship winning Hansen team and Utimaco have aligned in an effort to shed light on the underappreciated field of automotive cybersecurity, especially through Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, utilising the Hansen team’s presence in the thrilling and dynamic discipline of rallycross as a marketing platform, with sport embarking on a brand new all-electric era in 2022.

Recent studies in Europe have revealed that while members of the public are enthusiastic about the digital features in their vehicles, many have worries about the security of those vehicles, whether that is vehicles being tracked, or payment information being taken.

The findings highlight the need for vehicle manufacturers and security providers to educate users about their security systems while also striving to constantly improve and evolve technologies.

Utimaco’s involvement in the Hansen World RX Team is a strategic decision to draw attention to how vehicles are increasingly incorporating digital devices and the need for added security, while also raising awareness of security present in vehicles and best practices for keeping vehicles safe.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month takes place each October as a collaboration between the U.S. government and industry to ensure that every American has the resources they need to feel safer online.

Similarly, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) is partnering with the Commission and Member States in carrying out #CyberSecMonth. The EU’s annual campaign is dedicated to promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations, and providing up-to-date online security information through awareness raising activities and sharing of good practices.

The spotlight placed on the FIA World Rallycross Championship and Hansen team in the series is the perfect place for Utimaco to spread its message.

Ansgar Steden, Utimaco Chief Revenue Officer
"We see this as another step in pushing the envelope around cybersecurity in the automotive space."

“Hansen Motorsport is an innovator in its field, always pushing the boundaries and developing new technologies. Their development of a fully electric rallycross car shows that, like ourselves, they have an eye to the future of their field.

We see this as another step in pushing the envelope around cybersecurity in the automotive space. Every new car sold today has at least some kind of wireless connectivity, and some have dozens of connected components often sourced from multiple OEM manufacturers.

Without high-grade digital security this could be an extremely dangerous situation, but we’re making it possible for drivers to know that they are safe when driving.”

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"We work constantly striving to be the best in our field, which if of course the highest level in rallycross, and Utimaco is a company that has been in the lead when it comes to cybersecurity for decades now."

“We are very proud to be sponsored by Utimaco and to carry their logo on our Peugeot 208 RX1e cars.

We work constantly striving to be the best in our field, which if of course the highest level in rallycross, and Utimaco is a company that has been in the lead when it comes to cybersecurity for decades now.

We recognise the important work that they are doing to secure vehicles on the road, and look forward to continuing our open discussions to share our experiences from our own fields together.”

To find out more about the partnership and what Utimaco is doing this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit: https://utimaco.com/

22-10-04 Next stop Spa: Action poised to hot up in the Ardennes
Changes to Belgian rallycross track set to enhance the racing
The battle for glory in the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship will resume in Belgium this weekend (8-9 October), as the sport’s electric trailblazers take to the track at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

The famous Ardennes venue will welcome World RX for the third time, and is preparing to play host to rounds six and seven of the current campaign – the first in the championship’s pioneering new electric era.

With cars that generate 500kW (equivalent to 680bhp) and 880Nm of instant torque at the touch of a pedal – capable of propelling them to 100km/h faster even than Formula 1 – tackling iconic corners like Eau Rouge and Raidillon, the ingredients are firmly in-place for a weekend of absolutely electrifying entertainment.

Indeed, the action so far in 2022 has been nothing short of spectacular. Last year’s Spa winner Johan Kristoffersson leads the way as he hunts a fifth World Championship crown, but while the Swede’s record of four victories out of five this season might look daunting for the opposition, the statistics do not tell the full story.

At Montalegre last time out, it was Niclas Grönholm who ascended the highest step of the podium, as the flying Finn claimed Construction Equipment Dealer Team’s breakthrough World RX triumph in the Swedish outfit’s maiden campaign in the series. The son of two-time FIA World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm endured a tough start to the season, but both he and the team are rapidly finding their feet and their form.

The same can be said of Hansen brothers Timmy and Kevin. The 2019 title-holder came off worse in a clash with Kristoffersson on the second day in Portugal after taking the lead at the beginning of the final, while his younger brother had the audacity to overtake the four-time world champion not just once but twice during the course of a single race. Hansen World RX Team could – and arguably should – have won both rounds a fortnight earlier in Riga too, so will be motivated indeed to open their victory account for the year in Belgium.

With four rostrum finishes from five starts since making his return to World RX, Ole Christian Veiby has been getting ever-closer to his illustrious Kristoffersson Motorsport team-mate, and with the potent Volkswagen RX1e underneath him, the Norwegian – now up to second in the standings – will undoubtedly be in the mix for silverware again this weekend.

Teenage rookie Gustav Bergström has similarly caught the eye with his raw speed – to say nothing of his lightning launches – and two final appearances to-date demonstrate that he is clearly benefitting from the tutelage of Kristoffersson and Veiby alongside him.

In much the same way, Grönholm’s CE Dealer Team stablemate Klara Andersson has been making waves of her own, advancing to the final on her series debut in Hell and racing to an historic podium finish at Montalegre. That result that will surely fire her up for a repeat performance at Spa, where she first joined the World Championship package 12 months ago, impressing with a strong run to fourth in RX2e.

Experienced rallycross campaigner René Münnich completes the field in his SEAT Ibiza RX1e. The German – who both runs and drives for the team that bears his name – is getting nearer to the outright pace with every appearance, and a Euro RX1 event win last year is testament to his ability.

HOME HEROES PRIMED TO SHINE IN SUPPORT SERIES
In the all-electric FIA RX2e Championship, Viktor Vranckx will be looking to reassert his supremacy on home soil at Spa. The 16-year-old from Lier has taken the series by storm in his rookie season, with two wins out of three so far and a sensational turn-of-speed. A third triumph of the campaign this weekend would surely enable him to put one hand on the coveted drivers’ crown.

The FIA European Rallycross Championship’s headlining Euro RX1 category will make its final appearance of 2022 at Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps. Anton Marklund clinched his third European title at Montalegre, but the event was won by Enzo Ide – a maiden rallycross success for the 31-year-old from Tielt, who is increasingly demonstrating just how much he has learned from working closely with two of the sport’s ultimate maestros in Kristoffersson and 2016 world champion Mattias Ekström.

In a change to Spa’s rallycross circuit from last year, loose gravel has been added to the lower third of the long banked corner from Turn Five to Turn Six, in an effort to encourage more overtaking as drivers have to choose between protecting the inside line on a potentially slower surface, or sending it high around the outside.

All of the action both on and off-track will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now on sale for the discounted rate of €29,99. More information can be found here, and race weekend tickets can still be purchased here.

fiaworldrx.com.

22-10-03 Megennis claims double Nitro RX podium at ERX
The Nitro Rallycross Championship returned to its homeland of America for the third event of the season at the ERX Motor Park in Minnesota, where #YellowSquad driver George Megennis delivered a competitive and mature performance to claim a pair of podiums.

Racing on one of the most challenging courses in the world of rallycross, the all-dirt ERX track delivered action throughout the weekend, as the NRX NEXT Europe season held it’s final two rounds as part of another double-header weekend.

Following a strong qualifying performance, semi-final victory in round five on Saturday ensured a front-row start for the final, and despite changeable and slippery conditions, Megennis battled for the win. He eventually finished second to climb the championship table into third overall.

Hallman, Megennis and Olofsson on the podium
The dynamic circuit was fully dry for Sunday’s running, where Megennis won both his heat race and the semi-final to give himself another front-row start for the final. In the main event, the sixth and final points scoring opportunity of the campaign, the New York-based driver again finished second to notch up his third podium of the season and ensure that he finished third overall in the European series standings.

Megennis and #YellowSquad now turn attentions to the US-based series for the single-make, four-wheel-drive Supercar Lites machines, that will commence later this fall within the Nitro Rallycross schedule.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“It was an absolutely fantastic weekend, we were really consistent and I had a fanatic time. The racing was super fun and clean – a big goal for this weekend was to keep my nose clean on track and I absolutely achieved that.

I couldn’t be happier to come away with a double-podium, not even that but two second places. Huge thanks to the team for a great car, it was a lot of fun!”

Eric Faren
#YellowSquad Team manager
“We had some small issues during the event, but George did an amazing job every time he was on track – he drove really, really well all weekend.

2022 hasn’t been the easiest for him so far at the events in England and Sweden, but at ERX he really showed his class with a very mature performance and it was a big pleasure to be part of. We can’t wait now for the next race we will do together in America.”

22-10-03 Amazing team effort in Nitro RX at ERX Motor Park rewarded with 2-3-4 result
An enormous team effort by the amalgamated Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik Nitro Rallycross Championship team ensured a 2-3-4 result in the third round of the 2022-2023 season at the ERX Motor Park in Minneapolis, USA despite two of the team’s four cars suffering huge accidents in Timed Practice on Saturday morning.

The result of the freak incidents meant an all-night repair effort in the paddock for the mechanics and engineers to fix the team’s FC1-X cars, that incredibly returned to action on Sunday morning in the Group E category.

Racing under the Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC banner, round one winner Robin Larsson maintained his 2022 form by winning the bracket battles on Saturday, taking his second Top Qualifier position of the year. He then won his heat race on Sunday morning to progress directly to the final. Starting on the front row in the main event, the Swede challenged for victory in the opening laps, before taking the decision to manage the position and ensure a strong points’ haul. The result means he extends his lead in the standings to 21 points.

In the sister car, round two winner Andreas Bakkerud had a huge crash in Timed Practice, putting him out of the opening day. The DRR JC squad worked through the night to repair the No.13 FC1-X and by 0730 on Sunday morning, the car was ready to race once again, having undergone a comprehensive rebuild. Bakkerud rewarded the effort by finishing second in his heat and semi-final, before driving to a strong fourth place finish in the final. He remains second in the points.

Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“I gave it two laps in the final to try and find a way to overtake Travis [Pastrana], but there was no reason to risk a puncture as the track got worse and worse every lap. Travis was really pushing, so I tried to get second and score good points for the championship. We didn’t have the speed from the beginning of the weekend, but we worked ourselves in to be contending at the top. We’re at the top of the standings and I’m so happy for the team who worked so hard overnight, so it’s been a big effort by everyone.”

Like Bakkerud, Jamaican star Fraser McConnell rolled his FC1-X after one of the ERX Motor Park’s huge jumps on Saturday morning, McConnell’s car ending up in a lake on the outside of the track.

The team got him back out for Sunday morning however, where McConnell finished second in his heat race, won his semi-final and from the second row on the grid in the final, drove to a first career top-level Nitro RX podium in the most extreme circumstances, repaying the hard work of the team.

In the fourth DRR JC FC1-X in the Group E category, local hero Andrew Carlson impressed with his pace in his first race in the all-electric cars. He won the LCQ to make it through to the final, in which he finished a strong sixth.

Fraser McConnell (JAM), Group E:
“Just to be here racing is a success, hats off to the DRR JC guys, they didn’t sleep on Saturday night and I just wanted to do my best to repay them. The accident was a really scary one, the biggest one of my career – just to be able to walk and be healthy and do what I love is priceless. There’s work to be done, the other guys were really fast here, but based on Saturday’s events I wouldn’t have seen this result coming, so it’s good to know if you keep pushing, you can do it.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Having been awake for 36 hours, like many of the guys in the team, I feel quite exhausted, but I’m very happy that we could get both Andreas and Fraser back out after their crashes, and to have all four cars in the final again, achieving a lot of points in the championship is a really great result. I’m so thankful to the team we have. We have such a great team spirit, nobody complained once about the work they needed to do to rebuild Andreas’ car. Robin scored a lot of good points, despite struggling a bit with the speed in the beginning. Andreas found speed in the end after taking it a little easy to start with on Sunday, and it’s fantastic for Fraser to get his first podium at the top level in Nitro RX. Andrew was great to work with, it was a pleasure to have him in our team and I hope we can work together again in the future.”

Swede Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and American Lane Vacala raced in the final rounds of the NRX NEXT Europe series, taking place over a two-day double-header at ERX. Racing identical Supercar Lites machines, Ahlin-Kottulinsky claimed a brace of fifth place finishes to end the series P5 in the standings, while Vacala took a P6 and P7 across the two days to finish the campaign in sixth.

22-09-30 Megennis and #Yellowsquad return to ‘amaxing’ ERX for third Nitro RX Weekend
Rising American rallycross star George Megennis and the #YellowSquad team travel to the ERX Motor Park in Minnesota this weekend for the third Nitro Rallycross Championship event of the season, where the NRX Next category for Supercar Lites machines will again run a double-header [October 1-2].

Following the cancellation of the Finnish round of the series, the ERX event will be the final two rounds of the NRX Next Europe series, before the American leg of the campaign truly begins in earnest.

Having proven to have the ultimate pace in the NRX Next season so far, at events in the UK and Sweden, Megennis finished on the podium in round four of the year at Strangnas, and having also been in contention for a podium at ERX last year, will be hoping to return to the rostrum this weekend.

The ERX track – made up of an all-gravel construction rather than rallycross’ normal mixed surface format of tarmac and gravel – is regarded by drivers as one of the most exciting of the year, with huge jumps, cambered corners and multiple opportunities for overtaking.

Megennis and #YellowSquad have two chances to challenge for victory this weekend in the double-header, on Sunday and Sunday. The action can be watched live on the Nitro RX broadcast. Details will be published on the #YellowSquad social media channels.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“I’m super excited for this weekend! I’ve raced at ERX before so I know how much fun it is. The flow of the track is amazing and the racing is always fantastic. The track is so wide there are passing opportunities everywhere. I absolutely can’t wait to get out there and get racing!”

Eric Faren
#YellowSquad Team manager
“It’s great to be back in America for the event for the race at ERX this weekend. We were fast at ERX last year - it’s an insane track and we learned a lot. I feel we really saw George develop as a driver in the first two races of the season at Lydden and Strangnas, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together this weekend.”

22-09-29 Kevin Eriksson is BACK for Nitro RX round three
Fast Swede Kevin Eriksson has thrown off the crutches to return to action in round three of the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship at ERX Motor Park in Minnesota (October 1-2), having been forced to miss the opening two rounds of the season due to injury.

Eriksson will climb aboard an all-new, all-electric FC1-X machine in the leading Group E category of Nitro RX, driving for Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE, his family’s team.

Former World Rallycross Championship race-winner and two-time RallyX Champion Eriksson, 26, was an integral part of the development of the new space frame chassis, four-wheel-drive, 800kW FC1-X electric cars, but an accident ahead of the season-opener at Lydden Hill in England forced him onto the sidelines.

The OMSE flag has been flown in the early part of the season, at events in the UK and Sweden by Eriksson’s brother Oliver and Finn Niclas Gronholm, but now Kevin Eriksson will line up alongside his brother in the team for round three, driving the No.23 FC1-X as Nitro RX heads to the US.

The squad’s best result of the season so far came courtesy of Gronholm in round one, while Oliver Eriksson challenged for victory in round two, before being slowed by a puncture.

Keep up to date with information for the event via the OMSE social media channels.

22-09-23 New Portuguese joker shakes up the pack with help from Volvo CE
Revised Montalegre layout proves popular amongst drivers
The first fruit of the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment was put to the test at Lusorecursos World RX of Portugal last weekend (17-18 September), as a revised first corner and new joker at the Circuito Internacional de Montalegre shuffled the pack and drew enthusiastic comments from competitors.

Through its official track building partnership with Volvo CE, World RX is able to leverage the equipment, experience and expertise of the Swedish industry leader, with the aim of enhancing and improving existing circuits and – ultimately – constructing new ones.

Hand-in-hand with the fastest and most powerful cars the World Championship has ever seen – with World RX’s new-generation, all-electric beasts pushing out the equivalent of 680bhp and 880Nm of instant torque – the objective is to fashion fresh features and innovative elements that will generate the most exciting racing on the planet.

At Montalegre, the changes were two-fold. The old joker lap – a long, sweeping asphalt right-hander at the end of the main straight – became the new Turn One. The track width on the exit of the corner was also increased, allowing for a range of lines to be adopted away from the start and resulting in some thrilling overtaking moves.

Following consultation between Rallycross Promoter, international motorsport’s governing body the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), drivers and teams, a new joker was duly designed and built – assisted in the final phase by Volvo CE machinery, including the cutting-edge ECR25 Electric – between Turns Two and Five.

This S-shaped gravel section – pitching cars ones way and then the next in quick succession – ran alongside the main lap, producing a number of dramatic and unpredictable merges as drivers on the faster racing line kept their foot flat to the floor in an effort to reach Turn Five before rivals navigating the tight-and-twisty joker. In addition to heightening the intensity for competitors, the parallel lines made for a visual treat for spectators both trackside and watching at home via RX+.

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“Montalegre marked the first step in our quest – in conjunction with Volvo Construction Equipment – to design the rallycross tracks of the future. Whilst a comparatively small step at this early stage, it was nonetheless significant and demonstrates our commitment to making World RX the most spectacular motorsport product around.

“The feedback from drivers was generally very positive, and while there are aspects we will look to refine moving forward – such as the width of the new joker, for example – that is exactly what this process is all about, experimenting with different elements to see what works, what doesn’t and what we ultimately need to create the perfect rallycross tracks of the future. Thanks again to Volvo CE for their input and support – we have an exciting journey ahead of us!”

Johan Kristoffersson, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 FIA World Rallycross Champion, said:
“The new joker lap was nice, and the changes made the first corner more interesting. To be honest, I prefer this layout compared to the old one where you could split the strategy at Turn One. I really liked it.”

Timmy Hansen, 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion, said:
“I definitely liked the new Turn One, most of all. That was a really good improvement, getting all the cars together down that long straight – it ended up as a very good first corner. You could take the start from the inside, middle or outside and still have a chance of grabbing the lead. The joker lap was good but could maybe be a bit wider to flow a bit better with the rest of the circuit and perhaps include a jump.”

Niclas Grönholm, Winner at Montalegre in 2021 and 2022, said:
“I think the new joker was a good addition to the circuit to add a bit more action, and the old joker being the new Turn One was better as well, so it was a good change overall.”

Kevin Hansen, Two-Time World RX Event-Winner, said:
“The new joker lap was a fantastic change to the Montalegre track – tight, technical and, being on gravel, even more fun! We’re already working on updates to it for 2023 as we continue to build Rallycross 2.0.”

Anton Marklund, 2012, 2017 and 2022 FIA European Rallycross Champion, said:
“I think the new joker lap was really positive, to be honest; first of all, it made for a better Turn One than in the past, and I always like driving on gravel so to bring even more gravel to the circuit is an upside for me. It generated a big improvement to the track and racing action, and if we can widen it a little moving forward to allow a bit more room for sideways driving, that would make it flow even better still.”

For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-09-20 Baumanis and #Yellowsquad claim hard-fought second place finish in Portugal
For the second FIA European Rallycross Championship round in a row, this time at Montalegre in Portugal, #YellowSquad and Latvian driver Janis Baumanis displayed performance capable of challenging for victory, which resulted in a strong second-place finish on the podium.

The weekend got off to a brilliant start for former Euro RX3 champion Baumanis in the competitive Euro RX1 category, with the fastest time in the opening heat on Saturday.

He also battled for the fastest time in Heat 2, but contact at the joker merge in his race damaged the Peugeot 208 WRX and resulted in the 12th best time. The team worked hard into the Portuguese evening to repair the car and bounced back for day two.

In Heat 3, Baumanis made a brilliant start and led his race from the front, but a minor mistake on the increasingly-rutted loose-surface section put the 208 WRX into the barrier, which resulted in another 12th best time.

But, Baumanis still qualified fifth overall, then delivered a strong latter phase of the weekend, with second in his progression race and then victory his semi-final to make it through to the final.

In the main event, Baumanis challenged for victory, and only just lost out in the closing stages, coming away with a strong second-place finish behind winner Enzo Ide.

The final round of Euro RX1 2022 takes place at Spa in Belgium on October 8-9.

Follow all the action and get all the results at RX+ All Live: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/i/info/

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“The weekend was one of the most difficult I’ve ever had. It was very up and down, with very fast lap times and good pace, but also unnecessary things on track.

I had an amazing start in Heat 3 but the rear kicked out, I lost control and hit the barrier. After that it was hard to get back into the rhythm but I managed to do the next two races, the progression and semi-final without big risks and we had four new tyres for the final. But, in one lap at this track it’s very difficult to make the difference to be able to overtake at the joker merge.

I’m happy with the podium, I’m happy for Enzo that he got the win and I’m happy for Anton (Marklund) that he won the championship. For sure we wanted more from this season, but it has been difficult. We can be happy with how this weekend started though, and then how it ended.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team manager
“Janis had great pace a number of times this weekend, but a couple of unfortunate incidents put us on the back foot both in terms of results in different sessions and the rhythm of the event that is so important when the competition is strong.

Thanks to the huge effort from the team for working so hard to make sure the car was 100% every time it went on track, and together with our engine supplier Oreca we had some brilliant launches. That really helped in the later stages of the weekend, and Janis did very well in the progression race, semi-final and final.

While we were right in the fight to win in Portugal, I think we can be satisfied with both the result in the end, and the performance we showed that we have.”

22-09-19 Hansen World RX Team robbed of victory hopes in Portugal, but claim podium finish.
The Hansen World RX Team displayed incredible team spirit in the fourth and fifth rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Montalegre in Portugal, and came away with another podium finish to add to the 2022 tally.

But, it was a weekend that could have delivered so much more for the Swedish team and it’s 500kW all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e machines.

The incredible Montalegre circuit presented a whole new challenge for all of the teams in the new all-electric era of World RX, with harmony needing to be found in the setup of the cars between the fast tarmac sections and flowing gravel corners, with huge kerbs.

In round four of the championship on Saturday the team didn’t have the pace early in the day, but both drivers, Kevin and Timmy Hansen, made it through to the final, where Kevin Hansen – the 2016 European Rallycross Champion – made the best start but was forced wide in the first corner and lost ground.

2019 World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy battled with the leading contenders before having to overtake another car to climb up the order after taking his joker lap, and eventually finished third, with Kevin in fourth.

The team also started on the back foot on Sunday, but were diligent in dealing with the ever-changing track conditions which resulted in Kevin Hansen delivering one of the drives of the season so-far to twice overtake four-time Drivers’ champion Johan Kristoffersson in his progression race to move to the semi-finals.

Timmy meanwhile also won his progression race to climb to the semi-finals in pole position, but, while Timmy made it through to the final, Kevin was forced out by first corner contact, which broke his 208 RX1e’s suspension.

Timmy made the best start from the outside of the grid in the final and went around the outside of the whole pack to lead the last race of the weekend, but he was pushed off by another competitor in the first corner of lap two, ending the team’s victory hopes Timmy eventually finishing the race in fourth.

Timmy and Kevin Hansen are now P3 and P4 in the World RX Drivers’ Championship respectively, while the Hansen World RX Team is P2 in the Teams’ standings.

The next two rounds of the World RX take place at Spa in Belgium on October 8-9.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"Timmy did a magnificent start in the final but got spun off track after contact at the start of the second lap."

“We struggled a little on Saturday to find the speed, but we worked hard, learned a lot and managed to come out with a podium, but most importunately we saw some signs that we were moving in the correct direction.

These RX1e cars are tricky to work with, on the chassis side we improved quite a lot and we saw in the progression race we had a really good run with both drivers.

Unfortunately it changed quite dramatically in the semi-final, Kevin had a race incident which broke his rear suspension and Timmy didn’t really have the pace.

He did a magnificent start in the final but got spun off track after contact at the start of the second lap. We’re disappointed that Johan Kristoffersson felt he needed to do such a manoeuvre but more so that we didn’t get a reward for the work we did and the speed we had. But, that’s how it is sometimes.

We’ve had amazing words and support from the passionate Portuguese people here and we will try to put things together even better in the next race in Spa.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"We had the chance to win and it was a shame we couldn’t follow through to the end of the weekend but I’m so proud of everyone in our team."

“I think this weekend really showed our team spirit. To be honest we were really slow starting off both days, but we worked incredibly well to improve and the guys did an amazing job keeping the car in perfect race condition every time and working to improve the speed.

I also worked to improve the driving on my side, everything came together step-by-step and we were even on track to improve even more. We had the chance to win and it was a shame we couldn’t follow through to the end of the weekend but I’m so proud of everyone in our team.

Sometimes you hit the post in football and the ball bounces out, sometimes it bounces in. This time it bounced out but we can take a lot of positives from this weekend.

It’s a shame for the championship it ended in the semi-final on Sunday, especially coming from a very tough day on Saturday. We will bounce back stronger.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
“We made a brilliant start in the final on Sunday and got pushed off on the second lap. The race ended there. That was it"

“We made a brilliant start in the final on Sunday and got pushed off on the second lap. The race ended there. That was it.

I think we did a really good performance, especially on Sunday, but the result was out of my hands. It’s disappointing, but we had a very strong showing as a team, I’m proud of our guys for their great work.

We won the race to turn one in the final, which really matters. We had the pace several times this weekend even if not every time, and we’re fighting hard as a group.

Of course every time you finish on the podium when the competition is so tough you have to be satisfied, so the result on Saturday was good, but we had the chance, again, to take a win on Sunday and that got taken away from us which was frustrating.

Hopefully we can get our overdue first win in this electric era of World RX next time out in Spa.”

22-09-18 Klara Andersson first female to reach World RX podium
Grönholm breaks Kristoffersson’s run on historic day for CE Dealer Team
Niclas Grönholm raced to Construction Equipment Dealer Team’s maiden FIA World Rallycross Championship victory at Montalegre today (18 September), as Klara Andersson made history with a breakthrough podium finish and Johan Kristoffersson’s unbeaten run finally came to an end.

Kristoffersson was peerless throughout the heats on the second day of Lusorecursos World RX of Portugal to top the intermediate ranking once again behind the wheel of his Volkswagen RX1e, but he had to give best to Kevin Hansen in a thrilling duel in the pair’s progression race before bouncing back to take the second semi-final.

After losing out to the sister Peugeot 208 RX1e of Timmy Hansen at the start of the final, Kristoffersson spied an opportunity heading onto lap two and made a late dive to the inside entering Turn One, but contact sent his countryman skating into the gravel.

While the Kristoffersson Motorsport ace proceeded to hold sway at the front of the field – digging deep on the penultimate lap to stave off a charging Grönholm – he was subsequently penalised ten seconds for the clash, relegating him to the foot of the final positions for the second year running.

Right from the outset on Sunday, CE Dealer Team looked a much sharper proposition than 24 hours earlier – although a puncture in heat one did not get Grönholm’s challenge off to the smoothest of starts. The Finn unleashed a strong turn-of-speed in his progression race and then converted fifth on the grid into a semi-final win, surviving a coming-together with Kevin Hansen that left the Swede with broken suspension.

In the final, Grönholm opted for an early joker strategy that looked set to pay dividends as he chased Kristoffersson down, only for the Swede to produce a scintillating penultimate lap that allowed him to take his own joker and still emerge just in front – but it would ultimately prove academic, as the stewards’ intervention elevated Grönholm to the top step on the podium for a seventh career triumph.

“This obviously isn’t the way I like to win and it’s always slightly bittersweet in situations like this,” the 26-year-old reflected. “We struggled in the first four rounds, but today was a bit better and we finally came away with a result.

“From the progression race onwards, I had a good feeling in the car, and I was confident of challenging for the podium in the final if we got the tactics right. I made a few mistakes towards the end, without which I think I could have got Johan anyway. I know how it feels to be in his shoes, but it’s great for CE Dealer Team and all our partners to get both cars inside the top three. We’ve had a tough season so far, but we seem to be on a good path at last – so hopefully we can keep this going.”

Ole Christian Veiby replicated his runner-up result from the previous day – the Norwegian’s fourth top three finish from five starts in 2022 – as he again ran team-mate Kristoffersson close, with Andersson hassling him all the way to the chequered flag in third, impressing with her pace and racecraft weekend-long. Not only did the 22-year-old complete a double podium for CE Dealer Team, but she also became the first female to reach the rostrum in top flight international rallycross history.

Timmy Hansen ultimately wound up a disappointed fourth on a day that had at one stage promised so much more for Hansen World RX Team, with younger brother Kevin enduring a real rollercoaster ride, from the high of brilliantly overtaking Kristoffersson – twice – in the first progression race to the crushing low of exiting proceedings at the semi-final stage, just as he had seemed poised to truly take the fight to the championship leader.

In the ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza, René Münnich displayed much improved form compared to day one as he significantly narrowed the deficit to his World RX rivals, while KMS rookie Gustav Bergström’s day ended when he was ruled out of the progression race due to a late arrival at pre-grid.

CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN SUPPORT SERIES
Anton Marklund secured his third FIA European Rallycross Championship title in Portugal today, although the Swede’s path to glory was far from straightforward. Following his joker merge collision with Janis Baumanis yesterday, the SET Promotion star found himself bundled wide into Turn One in the final, which was then compounded by a rare mistake in the joker.

With the bit between his teeth, he fought back to fourth at the flag, which – with Baumanis finishing second – was enough to get the job done with one round still to go. Enzo Ide celebrated his first rallycross victory following a superb drive for EKS, with experienced campaigner Ulrik Linnemann claiming a second podium of the season in third.

An emotional Kobe Pauwels fulfilled a ‘childhood dream’ as he dominated proceedings in Euro RX3 to similarly clinch the coveted crown with a round to spare. The Belgian teenager was on imperious form in Portugal, and betrayed no nerves in the final as he led from lights-to-flag. Damian Litwinowicz produced his finest performance of the season so far to take second place, with Nuno Miguel da Costa Araújo sending the partisan fans home happy by reaching the rostrum for the first time in third.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team 5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 2.853s
3. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) Construction Equipment Dealer Team +4.412s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 4.821s
5. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport +9.241s

For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-09-18 Victory for Niclas Grönholm and CE Dealer Team as Klara Andersson claims historic first female World RX podium
Construction Equipment Dealer Team turned around a challenging Saturday at Montalegre in Portugal, to get a historic double podium on Sunday as Niclas Grönholm claimed the team’s first FIA World Rallycross Championship win - with team-mate Klara Andersson becoming the first-ever female to secure a podium in the championship.

Niclas Grönholm was piling the pressure on reigning world champion Johan Kristoffersson through the Sunday final and crossed the line in second place. But just minutes after the chequered flag fell, Kristoffersson got a 10 second penalty for contact with Timmy Hansen - promoting Grönholm to winner of round five in the FIA World RX.

”I hoped we could be challenging for a podium, and in the end we did. I guess we did something right, and this is something that will boost for the coming races this year. And it feels especially great to stand on the podium together with my team-mate Klara,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson fought, just as team-mate Niclas Grönholm, back from a difficult first day of action. The Swede secured a place in the final with second behind Grönholm in their semi-final.

Klara Andersson fought Ole Christian Veiby for third in the final, with Kristoffersson’s penalty meaning that Klara Andersson is the first-ever female driver to climb onto the FIA World RX podium.

”Wow, what a weekend, especially as this is my first time driving here! And it was one of the most difficult but fun tracks I’ve ever raced on. I’m really proud of the teamwork and progress we’ve had. To claim my first FIA World RX podium is of course amazing, but I’m above all proud of the development I’ve made with my pace in the final. This is a well-needed boost for everyone in the team and that we will carry with us for the next round,” said Klara Andersson.

The double podium in Portugal means that Niclas Grönholm moves to fifth in the championship with Klara Andersson climbing to sixth, eight points behind her team-mate.

CE Dealer Team holds third in the team championship heading into the next FIA World RX round which will take place at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on October 8-9.

”Today was a real team effort and a really strong result, with everyone pulling together to bounce back from a difficult first day. Niclas once again showed that he is one of the world's best drivers and Klara is making impressive progress as a newcomer in the championship. We will celebrate tonight, but there is no rest as we need to keep pushing forward to challenge for the very top in the final half of the season,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

Results and standings after FIA World RX of Portugal: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx/

More information about the CE Dealer Team programme: www.cedealerteam.com

22-09-18 Bra helg trots tuff bestraffning
Johan Kristoffersson var först över mållinjen och såg ut att ha tagit sin femte raka seger i rallycross-VM. Men Kristoffersson fick ett tio sekunders tillägg och blev nerflyttad till femte plats.
- Jag har fått bestraffningar förr och kunnat acceptera dem, men den här köper jag inte, säger Johan.

Kristofferson var tvåa ut i söndagens final i Montalegre efter Timmy Hansen. Ner mot första svängen på andra varvet laddade han för att ta sig förbi. En fint på utsidan och sedan dök Johan på innern. In i svängen blev det hjul mot hjul och Hansen försvann rakt fram.
- Jag kommer upp på insidan och han svänger in. Jag kan inte förstå att jag skulle vara skyldig när det är han som svänger in. Om man har missbedömt och blir bestraffad så är det som det är, men här tycker jag att jag gör allt rätt, säger Kristoffersson.

Teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, Tommy Kristoffersson, instämmer:
- Jag är inte överens med det domslutet. Timmy flyttar sig inåt i inbromsningen och det kan man inte göra. Men nu är beslutet som det är och vi får acceptera och ta det. Vi hade ändå en bra helg totalt sett.

Det blev än en gång en dag med blandade känslor för teamet. Kristoffersson var visserligen klart snabbast i såväl superpole som heat 1 och 2, där även Veiby och Gustav Bergström var bra med. Men i progression race blev det krångligare. Johan slutade tvåa i sitt race medan Ole Christian var trea i sitt.
- De hade vattnat banan så förutsättningarna blev helt annorlunda. Där tappade vi lite fart, kommenterar Veiby.

Gustav kom inte till start efter att ha varit försenad till pre-grid. Därmed var hans tävlingshelg över.
- Tekniska problem gjorde att vi inte hann fram i tid med Gustavs bil. Därför fick han inte starta. Det är ett faktabeslut och inget att säga om, säger Tommy Kristoffersson.

Bergström var av förklarliga skäl inte nöjd.
- En stor besvikelse, kommenterar han.

För Kristoffersson och Veiby vände dock lyckan än en gång. Johan tog starten mot Timmy Hansen i semifinalen och höll undan till seger. Ole Christian tog en tidig joker och jagade ikapp Hansen, som snurrade på sitt jokervarv. Etta och tvåa därmed för KMS-förarna.
- Jag hade honom under kontroll och hade kommit ut före i vilket fall, säger Veiby om sin kamp med Hansen.

I finalen fick de båda Volkswagen-ekipagen kämpa för sina platser.
- Det var svårt, blev trångt i starten, så jag fick följa Niclas Grönholm rakt in i jokern. Därefter var det bara att hålla farten och komma ut före Klara Andersson för att säkra en pallplats, säger Veiby.

Norrmannen gick i mål som trea,men flyttades upp till andraplatsen efter Johans bestraffning.
- En riktigt bra helg för teamet. Vi kom hit som etta och fyra i förarmästerskapet och åker härifrån som etta och tvåa. Även i teammästerskapet ökade vi ledningen.

Detta alltså trots att Kristoffersson fick sin tiosekundersbestraffning och flyttades ner från första till femte plats med Niclas Grönholm som ny segrare.
- Vi hade bra fart hela helgen. Det känns skönt, säger Johan, som börjar få allt bättre kontroll över sin helelektriska Volkswagen RX1e.

I förarmästerskapet leder nu Johan med 91 poäng, 21 före stallkamraten Veiby, som i sin tur är fyra före Timmy Hansen. Bergström tappade ett par placeringar ner till sjunde.

I teammästerskapet leder nu Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS med 33 poäng före Hansen World RX Team.
- En propagandahelg för rallycrossporten. Det var bra fajter hela vägen, avslutar Tommy Kristoffersson.

22-09-17 Kristoffersson on top at Montalegre
Swedish star makes it four from four in 2022
As he has had to do on every occasion so far this season, Johan Kristoffersson was forced to fight his way to the top step of the podium at Lusorecursos World RX of Portugal today (17 September) – but the Swede produced another consummate performance at Montalegre to maintain his unbeaten run in 2022.

At the scene of his maiden FIA World Rallycross Championship victory back in 2015 – and five years to the day since he clinched the first of his four Drivers’ crowns – Kristoffersson added a 31st career triumph to his extraordinary CV as he led home a commanding Kristoffersson Motorsport one-two ahead of Ole Christian Veiby.

It was a result that had looked somewhat unlikely only a few hours earlier. A brush with the wall in the joker in heat one left Veiby with a puncture that sent him into the barriers immediately after taking the chequered flag. The damage to his Volkswagen RX1e ruled the Norwegian out of heat two, and when Kristoffersson then picked up a double puncture in his progression race, KMS’ day looked to be falling apart.

Unleashing prodigious raw pace, however, the Scandinavian pair proceeded to win their respective semi-finals – both from the far outside of the grid – to earn the prime starting spots for the all-important final.

Despite light contact with a fast-starting Kevin Hansen – who tried to sweep around the outside into the lead – the two Bauhaus-backed VWs held sway at the front of the field at the exit of Turn One, and thereafter they would not be headed.

Kristoffersson duly took the chequered flag for his fourth straight success of World RX’s new electric era – extending his championship lead to 26 points in the process.

“What a day – just unbelievable!” reflected the 33-year-old. “Both Ole Christian and I had to fight back, which thankfully we managed to do. I was a bit worried after getting the punctures in the progression race, and that was on my mind in the final, so I was trying to play it as safe as I could.

“I’m really happy for Ole Christian to finish second after the way his day began, and for us to take a one-two finish on pure pace – with Gustav [Bergström] reaching the final again as well – was just fantastic.”

For Veiby, the runner-up spoils represented the finest finish of his career to-date and third podium from four starts on his return to the World Championship following a seven-year absence. Timmy Hansen rounded out the rostrum in third on a consistent day for Hansen World RX Team – posting fastest lap in the final after pulling off a superb pass on Bergström – just in front of younger brother Kevin in the sister Peugeot 208 RX1e.

Teenage rookie Bergström continued to impress with a fifth-place finish in the third KMS car, but there was disappointment for Construction Equipment Dealer Team. Both Niclas Grönholm – winner at Montalegre last year – and Klara Andersson showed a strong turn-of-speed around the Portuguese track, but missed out on the final after making contact with each other in the first semi-final.

TITLE PROTAGONISTS COME TO BLOWS IN EURO RX DUEL
The story of the day in Euro RX1 was a high-speed joker merge collision between championship contenders Anton Marklund and Janis Baumanis in heat two, which delayed the former and put the latter out on the spot. That clash elevated the increasingly impressive Enzo Ide to the summit of the overnight standings ahead of the two title protagonists and experienced campaigner Ulrik Linnemann.

In Euro RX3, Jan Cerný exploited his rallying experience on Montalegre’s gravelly surface with an exquisite performance to top the table in his little Škoda Citigo. Champion-elect Kobe Pauwels leads a gaggle of Audis in second, chased by the rapid Damian Litwinowicz and home hero João Ribeiro.

Tomorrow’s competitive action will begin with the World RX SuperPole session at 09:35 local time (10:35 CET), followed by the first race of the day at 11:10 local time (12:10 CET).

All of the entertainment will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass now reduced to just €29,99. More information can be found here.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 1.666s
3. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.080s
4. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.874s
5. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Gustav Bergström + 6.673s

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/rallycross-results/lusorecursos-world-rx-of-portugal-1/results/

22-09-17 Dubbelseger efter stark comeback
Det såg svårt ut, riktigt svårt, men Johan Kristoffersson och Ole Christian Veiby löste problemen. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-duon slutade etta och tvåa i den fjärde deltävlingen av rallycross-VM.
- Helt fantastiskt! Det var ingen lätt dag för oss, säger Kristoffersson.

Lördagens tävling i Montalegre var den första av två under helgen. På denna en av sina favoritbanor var Johan Kristoffersson på hugget redan från början med sin helelektriska Volkswagen RX1e. Snabbast i superpole-kvalet och seger i de båda kvalomgångarna.

I efterföljande progression race blev det krångligare. Johan råkade ut för en dubbelpunktering på bakhjulen och tvingades bryta.
- Det var något slag där i två kurvor på raken och jag lyckades tydligen träffa båda. Maximalt!

Därmed blev det ytterspår i semifinalen, men med ett tidigt besök i jokerspåret och bra fart på banan så manövrerade sig Kristoffersson upp till seger.
- Jag fick en riktigt bra start och sedan gjorde jag en superjoker. Den var vinnande.

Från pole position i finalen tog Johan starten och gav sig iväg mot den 31:a segern i World RX.
- Alla tre gubbar i finalen. Det ger energi till hela teamet, säger Johan.

Med stallkompisen Ole Christian Veiby bakom blev det en behaglig färd mot fjärde raka segern i årets helelektriska VM-serie.

Veiby i sin tur hade också en märklig resa fram till pallen. I första kvalheatet var han tvåa, men kraschade in i en mur i samband med målgång beroende på en punktering.
- Punktering och lite för hög fart över mållinjen, kommenterar Veiby.

Han kom sedan inte till start i andra kvalheatet och inte heller i progression race. Till semifinalen var bilen lagad och besiktad och Veiby fick från sitt ytterspår en kanonstart.
- En ny chans och jag kunde ge allt i semifinalen. Jag fick en riktigt bra start och körde runt dem.

I finalen kom han ut som tvåa efter Johan och höll sedan undan för Timmy Hansen och tog därmed sin tredje pallplats för säsongen, den första uppe på andra steget.
- Det trodde jag inte efter Q1, men ett fantastiskt jobb av hela teamet. Ingen ger upp.

Teamets tredje förare, Gustav Bergström, imponerade än en gång. Med en andraplats i sin semifinal säkrade han sin andra finalplats för säsongen. På den svårbemästrade Montalegre-banan hittade Bergström snabbt rätt med linjerna.
- Det har varit mitt problem tidigare, att jag har varit så långsam att hitta pace. Nu tänkte jag att det fick bära eller brista. Titta på Johan hur han kör och kopiera det.

En strategi som höll på att bära ända upp på pallen. Han hade Timmy Hansen bakom sig ett tag och nosade därmed på tredjeplatsen, men bilen var sig inte riktigt lik efter en tryckare i starten.
- Det vinglade hit och dit och ratten var sned, så på slutet slog jag av.

Bergström rullade därmed in som femma i finalen, men hade än en gång visat att han är att räkna med i VM-eliten.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson var än en gång imponerad:
- En tuff uppgift för Gustav, men han klarade den. Så imponerande!

Tommy var förstås nöjd med hela teamets insats.
- Vi kom hit med gott självförtroende och hade bra fart redan från start, men sedan blev det problem både för Ole Christian och Johan och vi fick nollställa oss. Upp, ner och upp igen. Det var rena berg-och-dalbanan idag, men teamet visar en otrolig karaktär. Vi var uträknade, men kom tillbaka. Det är mental styrka, konstaterar Kristoffersson och avrundar:
- Tre förare i final är maxutdelning och dessutom utökad ledning i både förar- och teammästerskap. En del jobb att göra på bilarna inför imorgon, men det jobbet går lättare när vi plockade så många poäng.

22-09-15 Baumanis and #Yellowsquad ‘even more motivated’ for result in Portugal
The FIA European Rallycross Championship returns to the picturesque circuit at Montalegre in Portugal, located high in the Vila Real mountains this weekend, where Latvian driver Janis Baumanis and the #YellowSquad team are more motivated than ever for a top result in the fifth round of the 2022 series (September 17-18).

Less than two weeks ago, Baumanis stormed to the front of his semi-final race at his home round of the series in Riga, Latvia, but was slowed by a freak technical issue with his Peugeot 208 WRX.

Now, having finished on the podium in Norway and displayed winning potential in Latvia, former European Rallycross Champion Baumanis, who has twice stood on the Portuguese podium in the Super1600 (RX3) division, is targeting a top result at the most southerly event on the schedule.

The Montalegre Circuit, first introduced to top-flight rallycross in 2007, has been revised for 2022, with the joker lap moved to later in the lap and the first corner changed to use the section that was previously the joker lap, around the outside of the original first corner.

Baumanis currently lies second in the Euro RX1 drivers’ standings with two rounds of the campaign remaining.

The action takes place on Saturday and Sunday, all broadcast on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX+ All Live service, check out the World RX website for details.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“It’s been four years since the last time I raced in Portugal. I have very good memories from this track, it’s always been super nice to drive in Super1600 and Supercar.

It has fast chicanes, a fast tarmac section and a super sideways gravel section. After the race in Riga I feel like I have a bit more horsepower under my right foot and I believe that all of the team is motivated more than ever to get a good result.

It was hard to finish the race in Riga in the way we did but that just gives us even more energy to show what we can do in Portugal.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“The Euro RX races are coming thick and fast at the moment, and we are keen to bounce back from the disappointment of Riga last week where Janis was so good in the semi-final until we hit a problem. The 208 WRX was very good last year in Portugal with Timmy and Kevin Hansen in World RX and we know Janis had good pace in Norway, where low grip traction was important, just like Montalegre, so we have reason to be confident ahead of this weekend. We are a little way behind in the points in the battle for the Euro RX title, but all the time we still have a mathematical chance, then we will not give up and continue pushing as hard as we can to achieve the best results possible.”

22-09-14 Två bilar till EM-finalen på Spa - Peter laddar om med Polon och hyr ut teamets Hyundai i20
Tävlingssuget finns där än, trots strulet i Riga som resulterade i att Peter blev utan körning där. Nu laddar Hedström om och kör EM-finalen på anrika Spa Francorchamps i Belgien och kastar in en anmälan i elfte timmen som utan tvivel var sist in av alla.

Efter debaclet i Riga med skyddsburen i teamets VW Polo Supercar så är bilen nu genomgången hos Ingvar Gunnarsson Motorsport och allt är tip top.
- Gunnarsson har fixat det som var missat på bilen, jag var så jäkla åksugen i Riga, så det ska bli hur kul som helst att köra på Spa, menar Peter Hedström.

Legendariska Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps runt 5 mil sydost om Liege i östra Belgien, banan där det körts mängder med F1 och långlopp i racing, står som värd för EM-finalen i rallycross. Den är spektakulär med sina parallella hopp och går på delar av den ikoniska F1-banan, bland annat backen Raidillon med 15% lutning som vänder av i en tvär hårnål innan bilarna susar tillbaka ner mot Eau Rouge. Peter har aldrig själv kört på banan förut, men ser verkligen fram mot sin första drabbning i Belgien.
- Den kan nog passa mig ypperligt, Michalak var träningssnabbast i Polon där ifjol och jag kommer att starta på hans inställningar, Spa är en bana där starten fäller stort avgörande, det passar mig perfekt, berättar Peter.

Teamets Hyundai i20 som ifjol kördes av Anton Marklund på denna banan, kommer i år att hyras ut till Betomik Racing Team. Vem som kommer köra bilen är däremot fortfarande hemligt.
- Får tyvärr inte avslöja föraren ännu, avslutar Peter lite kryptiskt.

22-09-14 Hansen World RX Team targets victory in Portugal
From the technical, abrasive circuit in Riga, Latvia almost two weeks ago, the FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to the fast, flowing gravel-heavy circuit of Montalegre in Portugal this weekend for the second double-header of the season, where the Hansen World RX Team is targeting its first victories of the year.

The reigning World RX Teams’ Champions took a step forward in performance last time out in Riga, and came tantalising close to claiming victory in each of the two rounds, but instead left with a trio of podiums with drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen.

The Swedish brothers, who also challenged for victory at the Montalegre circuit last year, are now focusing, along with the entire Hansen team, on the new challenge this weekend with the all-new all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e machines introduced to the highest level in rallycross for 2022.

As World RX charges into a more sustainable new era with the introduction of the electric machines, then multiple European and World Championship winning Hansen team – having made its biggest ever investment in the discipline – has faced one of its biggest challenges too, to get on top of the new technology in the 500kW, four-wheel-drive car, and with a podium in every event so far in 2022, is focused on climbing onto the top step of the rostrum this weekend, with two opportunities to do so in the two individual rounds.

The Montalegre circuit was introduced to international rallycross in 2007, but will feature a revised layout for 2022, with a new-look first corner and a re-located joker lap in a bid to bring even more excitement to the racing action.

Key Facts | Montalegre RX
Where
The Montalegre Circuit is situated high in the mountainous Vila Real region of Portugal and is one of the drivers’ favourite venues, the track home to big kerbs and a fast, flowing gravel sections. For 2022, the lap has been changed, turn one will now be in what used to be the joker lap, while the joker lap section has been moved to between turns two and five, and will now be on loose surface too.

When
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [September 17-18] via the World RX Website.

Saturday September 17
Practice: 09:00
SuperPole: 10:30
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Sunday September 18
Warm-up: 09:00
SuperPole: 09:35
Heat 1: 11:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Blast from the past
Hansen Motorsport introduced a new car for the 2006 FIA European Rallycross Championship, a Citroen C4, but a small problem while testing with engineer supplier Oreca in France on the way to the first round delayed the team.

Then, when mechanic Kennet Nyberg, who still works for the team today, picked up a sickness bug, it was left to Kenneth Hansen himself to drive the team’s bus from France to Lousada in Portugal, something he describes as ‘the worse journey ever’.

But, the weekend went better than the journey, Hansen won the event, his eight Portuguese victory, in front of the passionate Portuguese crowd.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"I think the first corner will be better than before as it’s a little more open, so it’s possible to go more than one car wide into it."

“We learned a lot at the last race in Riga which we will carry forward into this weekend. I hope the pace we had on the second day there will mean we can really be fighting for the win in Portugal.

This is a is a track with more gravel than we’ve had so far this year, and there have been some changes there. I think the first corner will be better than before as it’s a little more open, so it’s possible to go more than one car wide into it.

It’s difficult to say how the joker lap will be until we really see it, but it’s very good that the organisers are trying to make changes, and it’s great that the joker will be in front of a grandstand.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"I think we’ll see a new top speed record on the long straight, going more than 200kph down into turn one."

“The season so far has been has been busy and very short. We’ve had a very steep learning curve to climb, we’ve still only properly run the cars for six days in total, so we’re still looking for solid ground.

From the last race in Riga I think we have found a solid direction to take the car, which is really good. We have some exciting times ahead, Portugal is very different to Riga and it’s going to be very interesting setting the cars up for going sideways, I think we will have to compromise on setup.

I think we’ll see a new top speed record on the long straight, going more than 200kph down into turn one. Hopefully we can fight for the wins this weekend.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"I’m going there with high hopes that we can be strong and we can take some good results and climb back into the championship fight. I’m very excited to dive into the weekend.”

“Portugal is the most gravel style circuit that we have on the calendar and I think it’s a favourite for all of the drivers. The rhythm you can get there is incredible through the gravel section, throwing the car over the massive kerbs.

It’s going to be a big challenge setting these new cars up for the gravel sections which relative to Riga are very different. Last year Portugal might have been our strongest track in terms of pace, we didn’t win the event, we came second and third after a big battle in the final.

I’m going there with high hopes that we can be strong and we can take some good results and climb back into the championship fight. I’m very excited to dive into the weekend.”

22-09-14 Kristoffersson har det lilla extra
Starten på nya helelektriska rallycross-VM har varit fantastisk! Efter tre raka segrar åker Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS till Montalegre i Portugal med självförtroendet på topp.
- Jag känner att jag har lite extra att ge när det behövs, säger Johan Kristoffersson, med maximala poäng hittills i mästerskapet.

Det värmländska teamet gick in i VM-säsongen med höga förväntningar både på sig självt och från omgivningen. Leveransen kom direkt! Johan Kristoffersson vann premiären i Hell och följde upp med en dubbelseger i Riga för två veckor sedan. Johan har redan börjat bli bra kompis med sin nya eldrivna Volkswagen RX1e.
- I Riga fick jag stundtals samma känsla som 2018 och 2020. Jag kunde plocka ut det som behövdes under de viktiga varven i båda finalerna.

Den känslan bör inte bli sämre av att nästa dubbeltävling går i Portugal kommande helg. Det var just i Montalegre som Kristoffersson tog sin första seger i VM 2015.
- En helt otrolig känsla, minns Johan. Det var premiären på vår första VM-säsong. Vi hade byggt bilarna hemma i garaget och visste inte alls hur vi skulle stå oss i konkurrensen.

Sedan dess har det blivit ytterligare 29 segrar för den fyrfaldige världsmästaren. Circuito Internacionale de Montalegre är en av Kristofferssons favoritbanor, inte bara för premiärsegern, utan också för den action som banan bjuder in till.
- Riktigt häftig bana! Man kör med ett leende på läpparna och det går att köra om utan att någon behöver göra ett misstag.

En delvis ny bansträckning väntar, där gamla jokerspåret nu ingår i den ordinarie rundan medan en ny joker har byggts längre in på varvet.
- Det låter som en bra lösning eftersom vi inte får ta jokern i första svängen enligt det nya reglementet.

För teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby blir banan en ny utmaning, en inspirerande sådan.
- Spännande. Stora curbs att klättra på, men jag tror det kan passa mig.

Veiby har också fått en fin start på säsongen med två pallplatser på tre tävlingar och en fjärdeplats i förarmästerskapet.
- Två nya möjligheter till pallplats den här helgen. Kanske dags att kliva upp till en andraplats.

Framgångarna hittills har gjort gott för 26-åringen från Kongsvinger. Pressen var stor inför comebacken i rallycross, därtill i en gigantisk VM-satsning med nya elbilar.
- Jag känner att jag har tagit stora steg och gör mer rätt saker när det gäller taktik och smartness. Axlarna är lägre och pressen känns inte lika stor.

Även teamets tredjeförare har imponerat stort hittills under säsongen. Gustav Bergström ligger sexa i mästerskapet, på samma poäng som femman Niclas Grönholm, och fick köra sin första final i Riga.
- Nu siktar jag ett snäpp högre. Det finns mål kvar att uppnå, säger Gustav utan att avslöja något mer.

Debutant på banan är även han, men simulatorn har gett en viss aning om vad som väntar.
- En svår bana, särskilt grussektorerna. Det krävs en jävla attack över curbsen.

Teamchefen för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS intygar att den högt belägna banan i Montalegre bjuder på en rejäl utmaning.
- En speciell bana, men jag tror den passar våra bilar. Vi har bra fjädring och traction, säger Tommy Kristoffersson, som ser fram emot turen till södra Europa.
- Stort intresse där nere. Vi har fått en hel del mejl och meddelanden om att fansen väntar på oss. Det känns bra!

Teamchefen kan inte vara annat än nöjd med gänget han tar med sig till Portugal. Säsongsinledningen har motsvarat förväntningarna - på alla plan.
- Alla förare har levererat. Johan är vårt ankare och vi vet vad han kan, men jag tycker att han har tagit ännu ett steg och mognat. Han har varit djupt inblandad i processen med bilbygget och även fått jobba på sin roll som mentor åt de andra förarna. Ole Christian hade en ganska stökig försäsong, men har nu hittat en helt annan balans i sin körning. Han har funnit sin plats och agerar med trygghet. Och när det gäller Gustav så har jag sagt det förut: han har överträffat alla våra förväntningar.

Men det är också andra saker som gör att teamchefen drar på smilbanden.
- Vi har ett unikt sätt att jobba, från förare till ingenjörer och hela vägen genom teamet. Vi har samlat all erfarenhet från tidigare projekt inom till exempel STCC, där vi också körde tre bilar, och i PSRX där teamkänslan alltid lyftes fram av Petter Solberg. Allt har hamnat precis rätt och det ger trygghet, avslutar en nöjd Tommy Kristoffersson.

22-09-05 Baumanis stars in Riga, but freak issue robs #YellowSquad of top result
Latvian Janis Baumanis is a sporting star in his home country and at the fourth round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship on the outskirts of Riga racing for #YellowSquad, he came within touching distance of a dream result, only to be robbed by a freak technical issue.

Entering the event second in the Euro RX1 championship standings following his first podium of the season in Norway, Baumanis was third and then second in the first two heats, held on Saturday. Fifth place in heat three on Sunday morning made for sixth overall in the Ranking classification, following tweaks to the setup of the Peugeot 208 WRX overnight.

Baumanis finished second in his progression race to earn a strong starting position for the semi-finals, where in a bid to make it through to the final and repeat his sensational home win of 12 months prior, Baumanis dashed into the lead in emphatic fashion.

But, while sitting comfortably at the head of the field, an intercooler problem never seen before by the team caused the car to slow mid-race, putting him out of contention.

Baumanis remains second in the standings with two rounds to go, the next of which is in just a fortnight’s time, at Montalegre in Portugal (September 17-18).

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“We had a strong weekend and found some extra speed on Sunday. I had a big push for the start of the semi-final and was able to take the advantage until the moment a technical problem happened and that was it. It’s a big shame, especially because the final was held in the rain and I was really hoping the whole weekend to be able to drive in the rain – I think we could have done very well.

It’s not the result that I wanted especially at my home race, but that’s rallycross sometimes. It’s always special to race at home, especially with all of the support that I don’t have the same at any other race. It takes a lot of energy too, but it is a pleasure that we have so great track here, everybody loves it and it’s great to drive. Like I said it was a shame we were not able to give the fans a big result to cheer about in the end, but that’s how it goes.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“Until the technical issue happened in the lead of the semi-final, we had a very solid weekend. We struggled a little to find the last tiny bit of pace, but Janis had some very good race wins in the heats.

The intercooler problem was just a freak thing, we have never seen that happen in all the years Hansen Motorsport has run this setup in World RX on the Peugeot 208, so it is just one of those things.

But otherwise, it’s always a pleasure to race here in Riga, and especially with all the support Janis has from the fans. It was a good job too by everyone in the team.”

22-09-05 Evjen claims first Euro RX win with JC Raceteknik in Latvia
Just weeks after claiming his first career podium in the FIA European Rallycross Championship at his home round in Norway, Sondre Evjen delivered one of the performances of his career to drive to his first Euro RX win at Riga in Latvia with JC Raceteknik.

It was a challenging weekend for every team in Euro RX1, with a dry track on Saturday turning to mixed wet conditions on Sunday morning, but using the experience of the team, and the talent of a driver who has come of age in 2022, Evjen and JC-run Audi S1 were second fastest in two of the three heats, before storming to victory in both his progression race and the semi-final to secure a strong starting position for the final.

In the final held in wet conditions, Evjen made the best launch to lead after the frantic opening corners, and held on despite massive pressure from the championship leader behind.

At a critical moment in the race, as the joker lap strategies played out, Evjen delivered his best middle sector time of the weekend (in wet conditions) and at the joker merge, maintained the advantage to storm to victory, the Norwegian celebrating by performing donuts in front of the enthusiastic Latvian crowd after the finish.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“It’s just fantastic to end the weekend by taking the Supercar win, it’s a great, great result for the team and for Sondre. It’s special that he took his first Supercar Lites win with us here in 2016 and now the first Supercar win too. We have worked many years together and it has always been the goal to win and it’s so nice to do it in front of so many fans this weekend. At the moment this is the last race we have planned to do with Sondre this year. You never know what might happen in the future, but if this is the end of this season, it is a pretty special sign off for the whole team in Euro RX here.”

Sondre Evjen (NOR), Euro RX1:
“We lacked a little bit of speed in qualifying but the lap times were there, it was just the consistency we were missing really. In the progression race and the semi-final, everything went to plan. We won both with the same tyres then in the final, it was all about the start. With the weather changing so fast we didn’t do everything we wanted to do with the set-up, so we went on quite a dry set-up, but all in all we managed to do the most important lap, which was the joker lap and I managed to stay ahead of Anton (Marklund), and then it was just about not doing any mistakes. He pushed me at one point but he went off the throttle and I could pass him again, so fair play to him. I was actually really quite nervous for the whole final because I could see him everywhere in the mirrors but it was really, really fun. I had partners, colleagues and friends here this weekend so it was the perfect time to start winning in this championship.”

22-09-04 CE Dealer Team salvages points from challenging Riga World RX double header
Construction Equipment Dealer Team drivers Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson fought hard during a challenging FIA World Rallycross Championship double header in Riga, Latvia - the second race weekend of the team's ground-breaking journey into the new all-electric rallycross era.

The Nordic duo faced changing weather conditions, incidents and technical challenges, but fought through to salvage valuable points.

The first day of action saw Niclas Grönholm securing a heat victory and making it to the final, before an electrical issue caused by heavy contact from a competitor put an early end to his hopes.

The Finn managed to make it to the final on Sunday as well, finishing fifth.

"This weekend has been difficult overall as we were struggling with the pace a bit and encountered some issues. But I would still say the feeling was better than in Norway and we learned a lot during what has been an educational weekend. We have clear vision on what to try next in Portugal," said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson, the only female driver in the top-tier of an FIA World Championship this year, fought hard in the double header weekend but missed out on the final rounds.

She did nonetheless secure a total of 17 points and trails team-mate Niclas Grönholm by just two points in the overall standings.

"It has been a challenging weekend. We tried a lot of things during the weekend, both in wet and dry conditions. And this has been valuable for our development, although we hoped for better results this weekend. The Riga circuit is a technically tough circuit, but I am overall happy with the development I have made regarding my driving and I'm looking forward to the next round," said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team continues an intense FIA World Rallycross Championship schedule, leaving Latvia for Portugal where the third round of the 2022 season awaits in a fortnight.

"We are obviously not happy until we are on top of the podium. But this is early days still in our programme and we know which areas we need to work on. Niclas, Klara, as well as everyone in the team, improved their performance under the tough and hectic circumstances this double header weekend. We are going to recharge our batteries and fight back in the coming round, that's for sure," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

Results and standings after the FIA World RX premiere in Latvia can be accessed here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx/

More information about the CE Dealer Team programme is available here: www.cedealerteam.com

22-09-04 Triple podium for Hansen World RX Team in Riga double-header
Riga in Latvia hosted the second installment of the new all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship era with a double-header at the Bikernieki circuit, where the Hansen World RX Team claimed a trio of podiums with the Peugeot 208 RX1e.

Former Euro RX Champion Kevin Hansen was the driver to beat on the opening day of the weekend, third fastest in Heat 1 followed by the fastest time of all in Heat 2 to claim top position at the Ranking stage.

He then won his semi-final from the front to take pole position for the final, and led the last race of the day from the front in the early stages, eventually finishing second overall after a close battle with winner Johan Kristoffersson.

In a strong performance from the team, 2019 World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen was also in the fight for victory, having taken the second-best time in the SuperPole session to open the weekend, then challenged brother Kevin and Kristoffersson in the final, ultimately finishing third to add to his podium from the opening round of the year in Norway.

The Hansen World RX Team worked hard overnight to extract more pace from its new 500kW four-wheel-drive 208 RX1e machines and made improvements for round three, but the Swedish squad was greeted with a new challenge on Sunday morning, running the cars for the very first time in wet conditions in Heat 1.

Timmy Hansen went fastest in Heat 2, while Kevin Hansen fought back from being pushed into a wall in Heat 2, pausing his challenge, to win his progression race and make it to the final, where like brother Timmy, he chose an outside starting position.

Thanks to fantastic launches, in part due to a big effort from both Oreca for Performance Engineering and Öhlins on the suspension side, the pair ran first and second early on in the final, Kevin heading Timmy, the latter diving into the joker at the first opportunity. Kevin took his extra route later in the race, but when all of the joker strategies played out the result would be second (Kevin) and fourth (Timmy) for the squad.

Hansen World RX team’s focus now shifts to the next rounds of World RX that take place in two weeks, at Montalegre in Portugal (September 17-18).

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"You need to risk things sometimes to be able to win and we managed to get the cars better – both drivers had big smiles after morning warm up on Sunday."

“We didn’t have the speed on Saturday but managed to get a good result in the end, then we put our heads together and tried some strange things with the cars. You need to risk things sometimes to be able to win and we managed to get the cars better – both drivers had big smiles after morning warm up on Sunday. The cars were good, we had some incidents, it’s been a really hard weekend for the team but overall we have to be pleased with three podiums. But, it should have been so much more, especially on Sunday. We should have managed the tactics better in the final but we will learn from this. It’s been a great weekend of rallycross in Latvia overall taking this new era to a different country and promoting this increased sustainability effort to a different audience and we will continue to do that too at the coming races.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
I have to really praise the mechanics because they had such a difficult weekend with the weather changing all the time and a lot of changes on the car, so a really a big thanks to them for all of the amazing work that they do.

“It’s been a very challenging here in Riga, we had a lot of ups and downs especially on day two. We had to find a lot of pace and really push ourselves as a team, almost outside our boundaries to understand where the speed we need was. We did a really good job
– I have to really praise the mechanics because they had such a difficult weekend with the weather changing all the time and a lot of changes on the car, so a really a big thanks to them for all of the amazing work that they do.

On my side I think I had a really good two days, on Saturday especially I was in the right position in the lead of the final, but just lost out on the win in a single lap.

Sunday was a lot of up and down like I said, but we made a good start when it counted in the final to be leading, so it’s bitter sweet to finish second. We need to find more performance, but overall two second places and now second in the championship for me is a solid weekend.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
We have to learn from what happened and to continue our hard work – but we are making progress!

“Riga has probably been one of our most challenging tracks of the last few years, we haven’t always been good here and I think we did very well to recover a lot of pace from day one to day two.

On Saturday we didn’t have the pace to win but we did a very good job to fight at the front and both me and Kevin finish on the podium.

We did a lot of work to find more pace for Sunday, I’m really happy with the work of everyone in the team. On Sunday, even though the heats were difficult for us, especially in the wet for the first time we didn’t have the pace – we had the win in the bag in the final, but we didn’t get it right. We have to learn from what happened and to continue our hard work – but we are making progress!

I also must publicly apologise to Niclas Gronholm for the big hit in the progression race. We had to change the brake pads before the race and when I came over the jump the car just didn’t stop. I completely rammed the back of him and ended his race and mine. The brakes were also a problem for me for the rest of the day, so that’s another thing for us to work on ahead of the next races.”

22-09-04 The big 3-0: Kristoffersson doubles up in Latvia
Super Swede outwits World RX rivals again in Riga. Johan Kristoffersson maintained his unbeaten start to the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship season on the second day of action at Ferratum World RX of Riga-Latvia today (4 September), conquering changeable conditions to emerge on top once again.

Fastest in the single-lap SuperPole session – like on Saturday, by less than a tenth-of-a-second from Timmy Hansen – Kristoffersson might have admitted to ‘tiptoeing’ his way through heat one after the heavens opened, but he was fastest nonetheless. He had to narrowly give best to his Peugeot rival in heat two, but the result still cemented his position at the summit of the intermediate ranking.

The defending world champion dominated his progression race before tactics came fully into play with regard to start position selection for the semi-finals and final on the drying track surface. In the semi-final, Kristoffersson plumped for the middle of the grid in third and it paid off handsomely – propelling him more than five seconds clear of the pursuing Hansen. For the final, he elected to start second – and he would be made to work somewhat harder.

Slight contact between the two career-long adversaries into the first corner allowed Kevin Hansen in the sister 208 RX1e to sweep around the outside from fifth into the lead. An opening lap joker from elder brother Timmy released Kristoffersson to take up the chase, and as the laps ticked down, the Volkswagen driver turned up the wick.

When Kevin Hansen dived into the joker at the end of the penultimate tour, the Kristoffersson Motorsport star had – like yesterday – just a single lap to make the difference. Also like yesterday, that was all he needed. As the chequered flag was readied, Kristoffersson exited the joker to seal his 30th World RX win by the margin of just under three tenths-of-a-second.

“What a weekend!” reflected the 33-year-old, following his sixth victory in the Latvian capital. “Double-headers are demanding anyway, but this weekend was even more so with the weather being so up-and-down. We had to adapt to driving the car in the wet for the first time and make constant set-up changes to suit the conditions, which was a huge challenge for the whole team.

“It’s all about small details here in Riga – and that proved to be the case again. It was a tough fight with Kevin in the final, but I managed to reel him in and just had enough time to get the overlap we needed, and it was nice to see Ole Christian [Veiby] on the podium as well. Big thanks to the whole crew for doing a great job and for giving us a car that was on-point every time we went out – they worked incredibly hard for this result, and I’m so happy for them all.”

For Kevin Hansen, the runner-up spoils – replicating his Saturday result – marked the culmination of a tremendous recovery, given the Swede had languished at the bottom of the ranking due to a collision with Veiby at the start of the second heat. The 24-year-old won his progression race following a clash between Timmy Hansen and Niclas Grönholm, and led his semi-final until he was pushed into a half-spin by Veiby on the last lap, for which the Norwegian incurred a ten-second penalty.

The younger Hansen’s weekend haul has elevated him to second in the championship – tied on points with his team-mate, who ultimately finished fourth after looking for much of the day like he would be the one to truly take the fight to Kristoffersson. The 2019 world champion flashed cross the finish line less than half-a-second behind Veiby, who showed a strong turn-of-speed around the Bikernieki circuit to tally a second podium from three starts in his comeback campaign.

Grönholm wound up fifth at the end of a difficult weekend for the Construction Equipment Dealer Team – just over two-and-a-half seconds shy of victory. Stablemate Klara Andersson, KMS young gun Gustav Bergström – who continued to impress with his lightning-fast launches – and René Münnich all exited proceedings at the semi-final stage.

FIRST-TIME WINNERS IN RX2e and EURO RX1
Patrick O’Donovan overhauled weekend-long pace-setter Isak Sjökvist for a breakthrough triumph in the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, holding his nerve in a thrilling three-way scrap in the final to cap what he described as the ‘best day of his life’.

The 18-year-old was a factor throughout in the all-electric, single-spec series, before truly showing his intentions with a commanding progression race win. His semi-final was similarly straightforward – the final, anything but.

After out-muscling Sjökvist through the opening complex of corners, O’Donovan proceeded to keep the Swede and local star Roberts Vitols at bay. After the latter retired, the Briton successfully fended off Sjökvist and championship leader Viktor Vranckx – the Belgian teenage prodigy finding himself in the wars for much of the day, but nonetheless claiming a third consecutive top three finish.

At the scene of his first podium at European level two years ago, Sondre Evjen produced a superb performance to claim his maiden victory in Euro RX1, beating former champion Anton Marklund to the top step of the rostrum at the end of an epically entertaining final.

Fourth overnight, the JC Raceteknik ace went second-quickest in heat three to climb one spot to third, before winning his progression race and semi-final – taking advantage of ill-fortune for home hero Janis Baumanis, who led until turbo issues scuppered his hopes of a repeat of his 2021 success – to line up second for the all-important final.

From there, Evjen outfoxed Marklund at the start and survived a last lap error in the tricky conditions to hold on for a popular triumph. The runner-up spoils enabled the SET Promotion star to extend his championship lead over the luckless Baumanis, with EKS’ Enzo Ide chasing the pair to the flag in third.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 0.285s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 1.657s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.139s
5. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 2.567s

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/rallycross-results/ferratum-world-rx-of-r--ga-2/results/

22-09-04 Trettionde VM-segern för Johan
Tre tävlingar och tre segrar! Johan Kristoffersson är ostoppbar så här långt i rallycross-VM. I Riga blev det en dubbelseger för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren.
- Underbart att få ta den sjätte segern här i Riga och den trettionde totalt i VM, säger Kristoffersson.

Efter att ha tråcklat sig fram till segern i lördagens tävling så följde Kristoffersson upp med ännu ett mästerverk i konsten att hitta en väg att vinna.

Den fyrfaldige världsmästaren hade visserligen bra fart hela dagen och toppade resultatlistan efter två kvalomgångar, varpå han även vann progression race och semifinalen. Men i finalen var det bröderna Hansen, Kevin och Timmy, som kom flygande från ytterspår och tog sig in framför Johan. Hansens försökte sedan störa Johan med sin jokerstrategi, men den iskalle värmlänningen manövrerade sig ändå fram till en knapp seger före Kevin Hansen.
- Jag lyckades göra två riktigt bra varv när Kevin och Timmy tog sina jokrar.

Därmed triumferade Kristoffersson dubbelt på Bikernieki-banan i Riga.
- Ett stort tack till publiken här i Riga. De har stöttat mig på ett fantastiskt sätt. Och maximala 60 poäng hittills låter som ljuv musik i mina öron.

Johan berömde också sitt team för den utdelningen.
- De jobbar oavbrutet för att ge mig en bra bil varje gång jag ställer mig på startlinjen och att vi är tre förare som alla presterar bra ger oss också en fördel.

Just i Riga handlade mycket om var på startlinjen man skulle ställa sig. Växlande väderlek komplicerade förutsättningarna. Pole position, innerspåret, visade sig inte vara särskilt lyckat. De flesta snabba starter kom från startspåren längre ut. Kristoffersson utnyttjade detta i semifinalen, då han valde startspår tre.

En som verkligen fick till starterna var annars Gustav Bergström. Teamets tredjeförare fick smeknamnet “Rocket man” av stallkompisen Kristoffersson.
- Jag hittade väl något i starten som de andra inte gjorde, medger Bergström, som än en gång imponerade, sin orutin till trots.

Med en tredjeplats i sin semifinal verkade också Bergström vara klar för final, men den försvann när teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby fick ett tidstillägg, vilket gjorde att Kevin Hansen tog plats i finalen.
- Jag behövde ett mirakel där och det kom, men sedan togs det ifrån mig igen, konstaterar en frustrerad Bergström, som plockade 21 poäng under helgen och ligger sexa i förarmästerskapet på 31 poäng, samma som femman Niclas Grönholm.

Framför dessa ligger Ole Christian Veiby på fjärde plats med 38 poäng. Norrmannen tog sin andra pallplats för säsongen när han slutade trea i söndagsracet med sin Volkswagen RX1e.
- Det fanns mycket bra att ta med sig från den här tävlingen. Två pallplatser hittills är bra med tanke på att jag inte har kört mycket rallycross de senaste åren.

Veiby var i händelsernas centrum under dagen. I ena kvalomgången var han inblandad i en incident med Kevin Hansen, men friades av juryn. I semifinalen däremot fick han alltså ett tiosekundersstraff för en knuff på samme Hansen. Helt fel, tyckte Veiby. En seger i semifinalen förbyttes i därmed i en tredjeplats, men Ole Christian tog sig ändå till final. Där jobbade han bakifrån och med fältets snabbaste jokervarv säkrade han tredjeplatsen.
- Det var blött på innern, så mitt startspår var helt värdelöst, men jag körde bra och lyckades ta mig fram i fältet.

För Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS blev det därmed ännu en lyckad dag denna framgångsrika helg. I teammästerskapet ökade man sin ledning gentemot Hansens team från åtta till sexton poäng totalt.
- Det är betalningen för ett otroligt arbete som vi har lagt ner. Vi har fått jobba för alla segrar och poäng, men med en perfekt laginsats har vi lyckats hittills, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson, som var full av beundran för alla sina tre förare.
- Johan presterar på topp, Ole Christian gör absolut allt vi kan förvänta oss och Gustav… Jag vet inte vad jag ska säga längre, men att han gör det så bra redan nu är otroligt imponerande.

Rallycross-VM fortsätter med en ny dubbeltävling i Montalegre, Portugal, om två veckor.

22-09-03 Andra segern för Kristoffersson
Johan Kristoffersson tog sin andra raka seger i rallycross-VM i helgens första tävling på Bikernieki-banan i Riga.
- En riktigt bra start på säsongen för hela teamet, säger Kristoffersson efter sin 29:e seger i VM-karriären.

Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS hade bra fart på bilarna hela dagen, men det blev ändå ingen enkel väg till Johans seger och en utökad ledning i teammästerskapet.
- Det var ingen “walk in the park”. Så som systemet är uppbyggt så fick vi jobba för det. Vi var i brygga, men på sluttampen lyckades vi lösa det, konstaterar teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Johan var snabbast i superpole-kvalet och fick därmed en lite krångligare väg genom de två kvalheaten. Kristoffersson lyckades knipa andraplatsen totalt efter Kevin Hansen, vilket gav pole position i progression race. En fin start och en säker leverans ledde till innerspår i semifinalen, men där blev det problem.
- Jag fick inte till starten i semin, men tack vare att Gustav tog täten kunde jag ta en tidig joker och lösa problemet ändå, säger Johan.

Teamkompisen Gustav Bergström övertygade stort under lördagens runda på Bikernieki. I semifinalen tog han starten från yttern och rundade världsmästarna Timmy Hansen och Johan Kristoffersson.
- Jag fick en raketstart där och tänkte att jag skulle prova att slänga in bilen i första kurvan och det var ingen där så det var bara att köra, berättar Gustav, som ledde racet länge, men till slut fick ge sig mot de båda betydligt mer rutinerade förarna.

Belöningen blev ändå karriärens första finalplats i en VM-deltävling.
- Fick en bra start där också, men sedan blev det som det blev, åkte på en bredmacka, säger Gustav som slutade på femte plats i finalen.

Strax framför sig hade han stallkompisen Ole Christian Veiby som levererade en stabil körning.
- Mycket positivt under dagen. Pacen fanns där. Visst, man vill alltid stå på pallen, men marginalerna är små, konstaterar Veiby, som hade häng på en upprepning av tredjeplatsen från premiären.
- Jag kom ju ut som trea och trodde nog att jag hade pallplatsen, men det blev lite kontakt i första kurvan och bilen blev understyrd på ett sätt som den inte hade varit tidigare under dagen.

Med maximala 40 poäng för Johan Kristoffersson och klar ledning i förarmästerskapet, samt utökad ledning i teammästerskapet, 65 poäng för KMS mot 54 för Hansens, var det förstås en nöjd teamchef som summerade första tävlingsdagen i Riga.
- Johan har bra fart hela dagen. Ole Christian gör sitt jobb och säkrar viktiga poäng i teammästerskapet. Gustav har tagit jättekliv, väldigt mogen körning av vår gröngöling. Därmed blir han också en viktig strategispelare för oss i heaten, summerar Tommy Kristoffersson med en positiv känsla inför söndagens tävling.

22-09-03 Kristoffersson wins the hard way in Riga
Four-time world champion forced to fight for 29th career triumph. Johan Kristoffersson made it two-from-two in the 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship as he fought his way to victory at Ferratum World RX of Riga-Latvia today (3 September), thrilling fans with a scintillating turn-of-speed at the Bikernieki circuit.

In front of an enthusiastic Latvian crowd, the second round of World RX’s new electric era had everything – a champion’s fightback, some sensational no-holds-barred action and the emergence of a future star.

After setting the pace in a tense SuperPole session by just a single hundredth-of-a-second over Timmy Hansen and topping the times again in heat one, Kristoffersson came off worst in a breathtaking battle with his fellow Swede and Niclas Grönholm in heat two, allowing Kevin Hansen to seize the prime spot in the intermediate ranking.

The younger of the Hansen brothers then maintained that momentum in the first semi-final as he narrowly held off Kristoffersson’s team-mate Ole Christian Veiby to the chequered flag, before the defending world champion dug deep to recover from a slow start in the next race to leapfrog both Timmy Hansen and Gustav Bergström in a third KMS-run Volkswagen Polo.

Kristoffersson described his semi-final win as ‘lucky’, but there was little luck involved in the final. Once again, he did not lead into Turn One, following pole-sitter Kevin Hansen through the opening complex of corners as the pair proceeded to edge away from the squabbling Veiby and Timmy Hansen behind.

Having remained glued to his countryman’s bumper for the first two laps, Kristoffersson shot into the joker, and though Kevin Hansen tried to cover him off next time around, the VW star’s devastating raw pace was enough to turn the tables – and seal the 29th win of his extraordinary career.

“It feels like we’ve spent most of today fighting back since winning SuperPole, so it’s really nice to pull this one off,” said Kristoffersson, who has extended his advantage at the summit of the title standings to 11 points over Timmy Hansen. “It’s been a tough day in that respect, and I owe big thanks to the team for preparing for the event so well – the car felt good right from the word ‘go’ – as well as to my team-mates for doing such a brilliant job.

“I saved my tyres early on in the final so I would still have some left when I needed them, as I knew I would only have one lap to make the difference. Thankfully that tactic paid off, enabling me to put in one of my best laps of the weekend so far. Normally I would like to celebrate now, but with another round still to come here, we have to remain focussed. Hopefully we can celebrate tomorrow...”

For Kevin Hansen, the runner-up spoils represented the perfect response to a disappointing start to the campaign three weeks ago in Norway – where the Swede uncharacteristically failed to reach the final – with older brother Timmy following him closely across the line in third to complete a double podium for Hansen World RX Team.

Veiby backed up his rostrum finish in Hell with fourth place today ahead of first-time finalist Bergström. The 19-year-old stunned by pushing Niclas Grönholm all the way in his progression race before out-manoeuvring both Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen at the start of the second semi-final, going on to bely his lack of experience to keep the latter at bay until the Peugeot driver jokered.

On a frustrating day for the Construction Equipment Dealer Team, Niclas Grönholm retired from his semi-final due to a broken steering arm, while Klara Andersson was unable to replicate her head-turning pace from the season curtain-raiser.

Sweden’s Isak Sjökvist leads the way after the opening two heats in the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, with home hero – and series debutant – Roberts Vitols putting in a crowd-pleasing performance on his way to third. Belgian teenage prodigy Viktor Vranckx – unbeaten so far in 2022 – is just fifth overnight, with work to do on Sunday.

The increasingly impressive Enzo Ide tops the table in round four of the Euro RX1 campaign, ahead of championship leader Anton Marklund – fastest in heat two after being tipped into a half-spin at the beginning of heat one – and last year’s Riga winner, Janis Baumanis. Fellow Latvian Ronalds Baldinš is similarly well in the mix in fifth.

Tomorrow’s competitive action will begin with the World RX SuperPole session at 09:35 local time (07:35 CET), followed by the first race of the day at 11:10 local time (09:10 CET).

All of the action will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More information can be found here. Event tickets can still be purchased here.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.082s
3. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 2.748s
4. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 3.400s
5. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Gustav Bergström + 7.403s

22-09-01 CE Dealer Team heads to Riga for FIA World RX double header
Construction Equipment Dealer Team will face its first-ever double header, as the FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to Latvia this weekend for round two and three of the championship’s ground-breaking electric era.

CE Dealer Team arrives to Riga after an encouraging first weekend in Norway three weeks ago where Klara Andersson claimed fourth and team-mate Niclas Grönholm fifth, with both drivers of the fully electric PWR RX1e race cars going through to the final.

”It will be exciting to come to Riga for a challenging double header. After our promising debut in Norway, I am determined to continue working hard with the team to develop both myself and the car even more. The track is one of the most technical of the entire season, which will be a fun challenge. I feel good and look forward to the weekend,” said Klara Andersson.

Niclas Grönholm has previously been on the podium at the Latvian track, located just outside the capital city of Riga.

”I am hoping for a strong weekend with a solid points haul. We have done some work between the races, which we hope will make us a bit quicker. Riga has always been a good event for me, so I am feeling pretty confident going back this year,” said Niclas Grönholm.

After a promising start to the sustainable new era of electric rallycross, CE Dealer Team looks to continue to push the boundaries on track and inspire for a sustainable change in society.

”We look forward to continuing our ground-breaking journey in the World RX together with our partners, and we have a vital weekend coming with the Riga double header. After a solid start to our campaign in Norway, we have worked hard to develop both the team and our cars for the challenges ahead. Our ambition is to continue to score points and take a step further up in the results,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The FIA World RX of Riga starts on Saturday with round two of the 2022 FIA World RX, followed by round three on Sunday. The double header broadcast globally – as well as through the RX+ online streaming platform.

A full schedule for the World RX of Riga weekend is available here: https://www.rigarx.com/en/timetable/

22-08-31 Arbetsro efter succépremiären
Efter succépremiären i Norge åker Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS till Lettland med dubbel mästerskapsledning i rallycross-VM.
- Väldigt bra. Det gav oss trygghet och arbetsro. Vi tar oss an Riga med gott självförtroende, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Inför premiären i Hell för tre veckor sedan var osäkerheten stor. Hur skulle teamets tre nybyggda Volkswagen RX1e stå sig i konkurrensen i den nya elbilsserien? Alldeles utmärkt skulle det visa sig. Fyrfaldige världsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson inledde sin jakt på femte titeln med seger, medan teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby plockade åt sig tredjeplatsen.
- Det kändes bra, både med vinsten och med många poäng i teammästerskapet, säger teamchefen som kunde dra en mycket stor suck av lättnad.
- Det är ju största projektet någonsin som vi har gett oss in i, så pressen på oss var stor inför premiären. Tiden har också varit knapp. Vi fick göra en brandkårsutryckning till Höljes för första och enda testet och därefter direkt till Norge, men i det stora hela har det fungerat bra.

Även Johan Kristoffersson kunde njuta av att få kliva högst upp på prispallen i den historiska första VM-deltävlingen med elbilar i RX1.
- Kul för hela teamet. Vi har jobbat hårdare än någonsin inför premiären, säger Johan.

Efter premiärtävlingen har det varit några veckor i något lugnare tempo, tid för att landa där hemma.
- Välbehövligt, konstaterar Johan.

Med nya krafter tar han nu sikte på Bikernieki-banan i centrala Riga.
- Det är en bana som jag gillar, tekniskt utmanande och allt som oftast har det gått bra för mig där.

2017 säkrade han sin första VM-titel just där och förra året blev det en seger på två försök. Även denna tävlingshelg är det doubleheader som gäller, en separat tävling lördag respektive söndag.
- Det gäller att komma väl förberedd, med en bred setup, med möjlighet för anpassning till ändrade väderleksförhållanden.

Även Ole Christian Veiby imponerade i VM-premiären i sin comebacksäsong inom rallycross. En tredjeplats och ett raskt kliv upp på pallen!
- Det måste man vara nöjd med. Nu gäller det att fortsätta på samma spår, menar 26-åringen från Kongsvinger.

Veiby har begränsad erfarenhet av banan i Riga, men färsk sådan.
- Jag körde i Nordic där nu i somras. Det är ingen lätt bana, väldigt teknisk och den sliter på bilarna.

Att det är en hektisk tävlingshelg med två race gillar Veiby.
- Bra med mycket körning. Det ger fler möjligheter. Nu får vi se vem som har gjort läxan sin.

Teamets tredje förare, Gustav Bergström, gör däremot sin debut på Bikernieki.
- Den känns rolig när jag har kört den i simulatorn i alla fall. Sen får vi se hur det blir i verkligheten.

Bergström var aningen missnöjd med sin sjätteplats i premiären, åtminstone direkt efter tävlingen.
- Då var jag rätt besviken, men så här i efterhand var det väl en godkänd debut. Det tog lite för lång tid att hitta rätt pace, men sedan så gick det bra.

Bergström ser framför sig en lite tuffare attityd i helgens tävling.
- Mer attack och sedan försöka sy ihop varven.

Tommy Kristoffersson var däremot nöjd med Gustavs insats i Hell och uppskattar att hans förare också använder insidan av huvudet.
- Jag trodde ärligt inte att Gustav skulle köra så bra som han gjorde och även Ole Christian övertygade på ett mycket positivt sätt. De gör precis det de ska göra och Johan får som vanligt ta ett stort ansvar. Det är honom vi lutar oss emot. För säsongen som helhet handlar det också om att inte bli inblandad i problem, så man måste inte sticka in näsan överallt, avslutar Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-chefen med bra vibrationer om fin poängutdelning även kommande helg.

22-08-31 #Yellowsquad driver Baumanis targets victory at home in Riga
Former FIA European Rallycross Champion and previous winner of his home round of the Euro RX series at Riga in Latvia, Janis Baumanis, heads to his home round of Euro RX1 this weekend (September 3-4) targeting a repeat of his dream victory last season.

Baumanis’ 2022 campaign turned around at the Norwegian round of the campaign in mid-August, where the Peugeot 208 WRX driver set front-running pace and finished on the podium.

The Norwegian result came following difficult events in Hungary and Sweden, but, thanks to consistent points scoring in the opening three rounds of the campaign, Baumanis lies second in the Euro RX1 standings, within a competitive 2022 field.

Now, he is targeting a repeat of his victory from last year at the Bikerneiki Circuit in Riga this weekend. #YellowSquad and Baumanis have already got laps of the 12-corner, 1.295km Latvian track under their belt this year with the 208 WRX, in a pre-season test, and given the car’s previous form at the circuit along with Baumanis’ pace, and home support which gives a boost to the Latvian star, the team is excited to get racing under way this weekend.

The action takes place on Saturday and Sunday, all broadcast on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX+ service, check out the World RX website for details.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“This is obviously the most wonderful time of the year for me, with all of the things I am involved with before and after the weekend.

For sure there is more responsibilities for me than any other race, but also more support too.

I’m glad the weather will not be as hot as it has been in Riga recently, that it is a bit cooler will be better for the drivers and the spectators.

Last year I had a pretty good result on Sunday so I want to do the same again this season. Some things have been changed on the track, which should make it even better and I can’t wait for the city parade on Thursday evening.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team manager
“We felt like our season properly got underway in Norway, where Janis drove very well and things started to go our way, unlike in Hungary and Sweden.

Janis felt comfortable in the car in Hell and we had a positive pre-season test in Riga earlier this year, so hopefully we can hit the ground running this weekend.

As a team we have already raced in Riga this year in the RallyX series with Yury Belevskiy, so hopefully the knowledge we have from that will help us too, along with the huge home support that Janis has at his home track.”

22-08-30 Hansen's faces fresh electric World RX challenge in Riga
The Swedish Hansen World RX Team returns to action for the second and third rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship this weekend in Riga, Latvia (September 3-4), a venue that will pose a fresh challenge in the new all-electric era for teams and drivers.

Following the opening round of the 2022 campaign at Hell in Norway – a traditional Scandinavian rallycross venue – three weeks ago, World RX heads to one of the best venues to be introduced to the World RX schedule since 2014, in Riga.

World RX of Latvia in Riga September 3-4 2022
Not only will the high-grip abrasive surface, immovable barriers that line the course and three jumps pose a different challenge for the drivers on track with the new all-electric 500kW four-wheel-drive machines, but with the event running as a double-header, including a full round of the championship on both Saturday and Sunday, it will be an intense weekend for the mechanics and engineers in the paddock too.

In the opening round of the season, racing Hansen Motorsport’s new Peugeot 208 RX1e, former World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen finished second in the final to stand on a historic first podium in the brand-new all-electric period for World RX. Kevin Hansen also showed great pace, but contact in the semi-finals meant he didn’t make it through to the final. Both drivers know how sweet it tastes to stand on the podium in front of a hugely passionate crowd in Riga, and will be fighting to return to the rostrum this weekend.

Key Facts | Riga RX
Where:
The Bikerneiki Circuit located on the outskirts of Latvia’s capital city, Riga, was introduced to the World RX schedule in 2016 and is considered one of the best ‘modern’ venues in the discipline. The rallycross layout uses parts of the historic Bikerneiki race circuit, but also heads through the forest on the loose-surface section. The 12-corner, 1.295km lap features three jumps, a last-corner joker merge and a 60% asphalt and 40% gravel split.

When:
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [September 3-4] via the World RX Website.

Saturday September 3
Practice: 09:00
SuperPole: 10:25
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Finals and Final: 17:00

Sunday September 4
Warm-up: 09:00
SuperPole: 09:30
Heat 1: 11:00
Heat 2: 13:15
Progression: 14:45
Semi-Finals and Final: 17:00

Blast from the past
Rally legend Sebastien Loeb entered World RX full time in 2016, and, driving for Team Peugeot Hansen, stormed to his first World RX win in Riga driving a Peugeot 208 WRX in wet conditions – the Frenchman celebrating his success with impressive donuts after the finish line.

In the same event, newly crowned Euro RX1 champion Kevin Hansen was pushed off the track on lap one of the Euro RX final, but he stormed back through the field to finish second.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
"We like the track and event in Riga, so we are pushing hard to challenge for victory again."

“Now we have landed after our first event in this new era. It was a huge trip to get to the first event. We’ve had a little more head space to focus on the details ahead of the second weekend and work with what we learned in Norway, some things were good and some were bad.

We struggled a bit with the car at the end of the event in Norway, so we have tried to work on why that happened and move forwards. We were generally pleased with the base performance and reliability we had in Norway and we like the track and event in Riga, so we are pushing hard to challenge for victory again.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"Riga is a beautiful city with great people, hopefully the weather will be good too so it will be a weekend to enjoy and hopefully I can also bounce back in the championship too.”
“It will be great to go back to Riga. It’s a track that has a lot of tarmac, is very much like a racing circuit in some way and I think it will suit the new cars very well.

We’re working on improving our car after the first Championship event so we have big hopes for the weekend. Riga is a track where you have to be very precise and there is a high demand on the tyres, and with five laps in every race in the new format, it will be interesting to see how we can manage that.

Riga is a beautiful city with great people, hopefully the weather will be good too so it will be a weekend to enjoy and hopefully I can also bounce back in the championship too.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"It’s been a busy couple of weeks of analysing, understanding and adapting, so I think we arrive to Riga with a very interesting package."

“We have been working so much on getting things even better than we had last time in Norway. It’s been a busy couple of weeks of analysing, understanding and adapting, so I think we arrive to Riga with a very interesting package.

We still need to learn more about electric cars in rallycross. Doing it in Riga, with a double header weekend which will be very hectic, will be interesting.

I’m very excited to get back in the car and I’m hopeful we will have a good weekend and to put on a good show for the passionate fans there.”

22-08-30 Baltic battle in prospect as World RX races into Riga
Double bill of electrifying action on the cards in Latvian capital. Following a spectacular start to the sport’s new electric era in Norway earlier this month, the FIA World Rallycross Championship is building up for a double dose of high-speed entertainment this weekend at Ferratum World RX of Riga-Latvia (3-4 September).

The Latvian capital’s historic and evocative Bikernieki circuit has been a popular fixture on the World Championship calendar since 2016, with its high-grip asphalt placing a firm focus on tyre strategy and its unforgiving nature and ever-present barriers offering scant margin for error.

Defending champion Johan Kristoffersson – who kick-started his successful bid for a fourth Drivers’ crown with his first win of the 2021 campaign in Riga last summer – returns to the track at the summit of the standings, after battling back from a slow start to his semi-final in Hell to reach the top step of the rostrum with a 28th career victory.

The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS star was pushed hard in the curtain-raising contest by Hansen World RX Team duo Timmy and Kevin Hansen, and Construction Equipment Dealer Team pairing Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson, not to mention his own team-mate, Ole Christian Veiby – a top three finisher on his World RX comeback following an almost seven-year absence.

The Norwegian will be discovering the Bikernieki circuit for the first time, but for the Hansen brothers, it is familiar territory. Timmy triumphed there in 2019 en routeto the Drivers’ title, adding a further two trophies to his collection last season with a podium double.

Arguably the form driver in Latvia 12 months ago, though, was Grönholm, who celebrated his highest-scoring weekend of the campaign with a win and a second place. Both he and team-mate Andersson proved in Norway that they will be a force to be reckoned with this year, as the young Swede in particular drew praise for a superb performance on her World RX bow.

In the FIA European Rallycross Championship, all eyes will be on home hero Janis Baumanis, who is targeting a repeat of his crowd-pleasing Euro RX1 victory from last season. Now behind the wheel of #YellowSquad’s Peugeot 208, the Marupe native is going from strength-to-strength with every event, and arrives sitting second in the championship behind Nyirád and Höljes winner Anton Marklund, who clinched the Euro RX Supercar crown in Riga five years ago.

“This is obviously the most wonderful time of the year for me, with all the things I am involved in before and after the weekend,” revealed Baumanis. “For sure there is more responsibility for me than at any other event, but also more support. Last year I had a pretty good result on Sunday, so I want to do the same again this season...”

Multiple Latvian motocross and CrossCar champion Ronalds Baldinš is similarly sure to receive a warm welcome as he joins the fray for the first time in EKS’ former title-winning Audi – piloted to glory by Andreas Bakkerud last time out in Hell – while compatriot Roberts Vitols makes his debut in round three of the 2022 FIA RX2e Championship, in which Viktor Vranckx is aiming to maintain his thus far unbeaten record.

A busy timetable of off-track activities will complement the on-track excitement. The event will officially begin with an opening ceremony featuring World RX drivers and cars in downtown Riga on Thursday evening (1 September), followed by autograph sessions over the weekend itself, as well as driver parades on the circuit in classic convertibles, miniature car races for children organised by nearby Riga Motor Museum, ‘taxi’ rides and displays by Red Bull athlete and stunt rider, Arunas Gibieža. A full schedule can be found here.

All of the action will be broadcast live on RX+, providing access to every race live or on-demand on any device with premium production, hundreds of hours of fast-paced content and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, plus interviews, in-depth expert analysis, drone shots, on-board cameras, highlights and much more.

RX+ event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More information can be found here. Race weekend tickets can still be purchased here.

All content contained within this email is rights-free for editorial use. Find all news releases, images and videos in the World RX News Room. For further content, visit the championship website: fiaworldrx.com.

22-08-21 Peter Hedström kör i Riga
- Anders Michalak står över Lettiska EM-deltävlingen
Den fjärde deltävlingen i årets rallycross-EM är på gång om fjorton dagar. Hedströms Motorsports förare Anders Michalak väljer att stå över denna tävling, ett faktum som gav en oväntad öppning för teamchef Peter Hedström.

Norska EM-deltävlingen i Hell blev inte den framgång Anders Michalak hoppats på rent poängmässigt, där det nu efteråt är allt för långt upp till EM-podiet för att gå ”all in” på EM. Upplänningen från Almunge väljer därför att stå över nästa EM-deltävling i Lettiska Riga om två veckor, för att i stället sikta in sig på EM-finalen på legendariska Spa-Francorchamps.

Med teamet redan riggat och redo för en tripp till Riga så blir det i stället teamchef Peter Hedström som gör en snabb comeback bakom ratten på en av teamets VW Polo Supercars. Banan i Riga gillar Peter och har många sköna minnen från den Lettiska huvudstaden. Teamet ställer endast en bil på startlinjen denna tävlingshelg. Valet var därför enkelt för Peter när bilen stod redo och han själv inte behöver fokusera på annat än att köra.
- Det var ett ypperligt tillfälle, allt var bokat å klart, så det var bara att hoppa på, säger Peter Hedström.
Rent historiskt så ger Riga många sköna minnen för Hedström, som redan 2016 var snubblande nära en podieplats i finalen, men blev vänd av Rustad och slutade femma. 2019 tog Peter sin första podieplats och gjorde ifjol ett blixtrande inhopp med teamets Hyundai.
- Jag har alltid kört fort i Riga, ifjol gjorde jag ett EM-inhopp och slutade på pallen, det är en bana som nog passar mig och det har alltid stämt för mig här, menar Peter Hedström.
Den Lettiska EM- och VM-deltävlingen i Rallycross avgörs helgen den 3:e och 4:e september på Bikernieki Racetrack, som har sina anor ända från 1950-talets tillfälliga banor i detta område av Riga.
Euro RX1-fältet består av 18 bilar och Peter Hedström är tillsammans med EM-ledande Anton Marklund de enda två svenska förarna på startlinjen.

22-08-15 Baumanis claims Euro RX1 podium with #YellowSquad in Hell
The sun shone on Hell for #YellowSquad driver Janis Baumanis in the third round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship in Norway, as the Latvian star found his form and claimed a first podium of the year – his first with the Swedish team.

Baumanis entered the event on the back of two difficult opening races of the campaign, in Hungary and Sweden, but following successful test sessions and assessment of areas to improve, team and driver hit the ground running at the Lankebanan circuit in Hell, Norway.

Second fastest in heat one, less than a hundredth of a second off the fastest time, Baumanis had a challenging heat two race in the Peugeot 208 RX1, but dug deep, went fourth fastest in heat three, then made it into the final thanks to second place finishes in both his progression race, and the semi-finals.

Janis Baumanis on the pace in Norway
In the final, Baumanis made ground at the opening corner to run third, and despite delivering a stunning sideways joker lap entry, much to the delight of the Norwegian fans watching on the outside of the first corner, the former European Rallycross Champion just missed out on the runner-up position.

The strong points score means Baumanis remains second in the Euro RX1 standings, heading to his home round of the series in Riga, Latvia next month (September 3-4).

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“On Saturday we started very well with good lap times in practice and a quite decent heat one. I was maybe too slow in the joker lap and I made one mistake on the last lap, but otherwise it was really good. The car felt great, heat two didn’t go well but still it was a very good feeling in the car, it was like a glove on my hand. In heat three on Sunday I didn’t feel good at all in the car, but we did some changes it improved for the semi-final and in the final we managed to finish P3. I was pushing Sondre [Evjen] for second but there was no way to pass, there are very quick drivers in the European Championship this year! I gained one point on Anton [Marklund, championship leader] which is better than nothing. Next time we go to my home race and I will be pushing to win there.”

Eric Färén
Team Mananger
“Janis showed very good pace this weekend, and it’s great to finally get onto the podium with him this year. As a team we all worked hard between Holjes and Hell to find the pace we felt we were missing, and while there is still more work to do, like there always is in this game, we made a big step forward here. The level in Euro RX1 is really high at the front of the field this year, I think maybe higher than it has been for quite some years so to finish on the podium is a good achievement. Of course we want more, and we’ll do everything we can to give Janis the best opportunity to score strong results for the rest of the year.”

22-08-15 Evjen claims maiden Euro RX podium with JC Raceteknik in Hell
Norwegian driver Sondre Evjen drove to a career-first FIA European Rallycross Championship podium at his home round of the series in Hell with a spirited drive for JC Raceteknik.

Entering the event on the back of consistently running at the front of the Supercar field in the 2022 RallyX season, Evjen drove the JC-run Audi S1 to a best time of sixth in the heat stages and wound up seventh in the ranking order – fast pace not being rewarded with a better overall result due to spending much of the qualifying races stuck in traffic.

Strong second places finishes on track in both the progression session and semi-finals ensured Evjen made it through to the five-car final, where starting line abreast in the new FIA rallycross grid layout, he made a good start, avoided contact in the opening corner and was finally able to put his fast pace to good use.

Running second for much of the race, Evjen also benefitted from good joker lap tactics by the team, and he drove to second place on the podium, behind reigning champion and compatriot Andreas Bakkerud.

Evjen will continue his selected appearances in Euro RX with the next round of the series in Riga, Latvia on September 3-4.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“We had a good weekend here in Hell, it was a fantastic ending with P2 in the final, thanks to a brilliant move in the first corner. Sondre was driving very well and we had the pace all weekend but with the new race format and not being able to take the joker on the first lap we got stuck in traffic, so it was not so easy. We knew we had the chance to get to the final and to do a good first corner from the outside. I’m so happy for Sondre to claim a podium position at home and we have good momentum going to the next Euro RX race in Riga – he had good speed there in RallyX Nordic so I think we can achieve good results there as well.”

Sondre Evjen (NOR), Euro RX1:
“It was a tough start at the beginning of the weekend and we had a hard fight all weekend. We got stuck in a lot of traffic and I didn’t really get into the right rhythm, but the pace was there and we made it through to the final. It wasn’t perfect from me in the final on the gravel sections either, but we managed to hold it together to the end and to take second place at my home track is fantastic. I’m very happy with the result, the whole team has worked hard this weekend and this is a great result for them.”

22-08-14 Kristoffersson makes history in Hell with electrifying win in Norway
Next-generation rallycross beasts thrill fans at Lånkebanen
The FIA World Rallycross Championship’s exciting new era got off to an electrifying start in Hell this weekend (13-14 August), with Johan Kristoffersson delivering a champion’s performance in front of a large and enthusiastic Norwegian crowd to battle back from misfortune to the top step of the podium.

As the popular Lånkebanen circuit returned to the calendar for the first time in three years, the most successful driver in World RX history served signal of his intent straightaway in Saturday morning’s SuperPole session, when he produced the ‘send of the weekend’ into the joker en route to the quickest time.

The Swede similarly set the pace in two of the three heats to soar to the top of the intermediate ranking – posting the fastest lap ever seen around the track in heat three – before fending off countryman Kevin Hansen to win his progression race, which earned him the right to select the prime starting spot for the first semi-final.

In the only real blip on an otherwise near-spotless weekend for him, an issue when the lights went out left the No. 1 Volkswagen RX1e car momentarily stationary. While the four-time title-winner fought back to make it through to the all-important final, it meant that instead of beginning from his customary pole position, he would be lining up in the middle of the grid.

Undeterred, and in characteristic Kristoffersson style, he immediately turned that disadvantage to his favour, hanging back slightly into the first corner as Ole Christian Veiby, Niclas Grönholm and Timmy Hansen tussled three-wide for the lead and neatly undercutting them all on the exit.

Once in front, he eased away to take the chequered flag more than three-and-half seconds clear of Hansen, in so doing cementing the 28th victory of his glittering career – and making history as the World Championship’s inaugural electric winner.

“All-in-all, it was a very good first weekend for World RX’s electric era, and it was great to see so many spectators at the track,” reflected Kristoffersson. “It’s been a huge challenge for everybody to get to this point, and all the teams have done an incredible job simply to be here. With everything being so new, there’s obviously still a lot of work to do, but it was impressive to see how well the cars ran with so little prior testing and we are learning more about them all the time.

“On our side, I’m super happy for the team most of all – to finish one-three and be leading both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships is an amazing effort. I was very disappointed after the semi-final, but it was fantastic to fight back. We went from a big low to a big high in the space of about half-a-hour – and as a Swede, I’m not used to such major swings in emotion! But I’m so happy to win...”

Fellow world champion Hansen – who led the way overnight following the opening two heats – narrowly got the better of an entertaining scrap with rallycross returnee Veiby for the runner-up spoils, despite Hansen World RX Team struggling to match the speed of Kristoffersson Motorsport on the second day.

For Veiby, a maiden World RX podium in his first World Championship appearance since 2015 capped a strong comeback, with Klara Andersson similarly impressing on her way to fourth for Construction Equipment Dealer Team as the young Swede confidently held her own in illustrious company on her series bow. She crossed the line a fraction ahead of team-mate Niclas Grönholm, who endured a largely difficult weekend but deployed a sensational start in the second semi-final to outfox all of his adversaries.

Teenage prodigies and home hero star in support series
In the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, Belgian teenager Viktor Vranckx maintained his flawless record so far this season with another commanding victory to back up his Höljes triumph, while Olympic skiing legend Aksel Lund Svindal showed an eye-catching turn-of-speed on his rallycross debut as he grew visibly in confidence and betrayed no nerves in the heat of battle.

Home hero Andreas Bakkerud sent the crowd wild with a hard-fought win in the FIA European Championship’s headlining Euro RX1 category. The Norwegian was there-or-thereabouts throughout, placing second in the intermediate ranking before out-muscling pole-sitter Anton Marklund at the start of the final to grab a lead he would not subsequently relinquish.

In Euro RX3, championship leader Kobe Pauwels returned to winning ways as he proved to be a class apart behind the wheel of his Volland Racing Audi A1, ramping up the tempo over the course of the weekend.

The FIA World Rallycross Championship next moves on to Riga in Latvia on 3-4 September.
FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport 5 laps
2. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team + 3.692s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 4.057s
4. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 5.049s
5. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) Construction Equipment Dealer Team + 5.332s

Full results for all classes can be found here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/rallycross-results/ramudden-world-rx-of-norway-2/results/

22-08-14 Timmy Hansen finishes second in first-ever electric World RX weekend
Former World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen drove Hansen Motorsport’s all-new Peugeot 208 RX1e to a strong podium finish in the first-ever event for the new-look all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship at Hell in Norway (August 14).

Hansen set the fastest time in the first-ever official timed session for electric World RX, in Free Practice on Saturday morning, then was second quickest in the first and third heats. In heat two however, he stormed to fastest time, showing the potential of the twin-motor, 500kW, four-wheel-drive 208 RX1e machine.

Racing at the picturesque Norwegian venue, the most northerly on the World RX schedule, race victory in the progression session set Hansen up for a strong start in the semi-finals, where he ultimately finished second, before he made an amazing start in the final, followed by an audacious attempt at improving his track position at turn one around the outside, but was forced wide.

Still learning how to set up the new electric machines in World RX, like all of the teams in the paddock, Hansen’s 208 wasn’t fully underneath him in the final. However, he used all of his experience to hold on to second position, claim a first podium of the new era for the sport and score strong points towards his championship challenge.

In the sister 208 RX1e, former European Rallycross Champion and World RX race-winner Kevin Hansen also delivered front-running pace, setting third best time throughout the heats and progression race. But, in the semi-final the younger brother was forced off at the opening corner, breaking the car’s left-rear suspension, putting him out of the event.

Classified seventh in the final standings, the result didn’t reflect the incredible effort made by all of the Hansen team and its partners, but the squad leaves Hell satisfied by an overall successful weekend.

The next rounds of World RX take place next month (September 3-4) at Riga in Latvia.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
“I'm proud of having taken not only our team, but also world rallycross as a sport to a ground braking new electric era."

“I'm proud of having taken not only our team, but also world rallycross as a sport to a ground braking new electric era.

In summary of this historic weekend we are happy that the cars worked well, we had nothing major go wrong, we are still learning a lot about the setup and of course at the end it was good with a podium for Timmy – that was very successful. Kevin going out with a broken rear suspension arm in the semi-finals was disappointing because he had also done very well through the weekend, but overall with the cars and the first electric race can be considered a great weekend.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"For sure a podium was very achievable today – the speed was there all weekend."

“It’s a big shame to have lost a chance of fighting for the podium due to contact in the first corner of the semi-final, for sure a podium was very achievable today – the speed was there all weekend. I’m really pleased for the team, we have worked so hard to be here and to be on the pace is great. We have still much to understand and we are working on that as a team – a team I have full faith in. My day didn’t go as hoped, but I’m very happy generally with the weekend and will take a lot of homework home with me looking to the next race.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
"This is a very good result, I’m very happy for our guys and everyone in this championship for making this happen."
“Through qualifying we showed really good pace, that’s so nice when we have built these cars back home in the workshop and it showed we made the right decisions and we are there fighting at the front. For sure there is a lot to go home and work on, but it was a good weekend. In the semi-final and especially the final I thought inside the car I had a problem, I nearly spun a couple of times but I managed to hold off Ole Christian Veiby, he followed me through the joker lap and I managed to hold onto P2 playing it safe to the finish. This is a very good result, I’m very happy for our guys and everyone in this championship for making this happen, there are some electric championships that have started from scratch but we are a World Championship that has gone fully electric. This is only the first race and things will get better still. Well done to Johan [Kristoffersson] for taking the win.”

22-08-14 Construction Equipment Dealer Team reaches final on World RX debut in Norway
Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm made a strong start to Construction Equipment Dealer Team’s ground-breaking journey in the new all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship at the classic track Hell in Norway, with both cars making it to final in the team’s first outing.

In her FIA World RX debut, the 22-year-old Swede Klara Andersson fought for the podium in the final, finishing fourth ahead of team-mate Niclas Grönholm.

”It’s been a fantastic debut for me in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. It feels absolutely amazing to finish fourth behind such merited drivers as Johan Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen,” said Klara Andersson.

”We have shown our potential and collected valuable experience. The team have really supported me all weekend and pushed me forward. There are still some tenths to find in both me and the car, and I look forward to continuing in Riga.”

With the world’s first gender equal full-season line-up, the fully-electric PWR RX1e was competitive from the get-go, with both cars making it to the final as the 26-year-old Finnish driver Niclas Grönholm took the team’s first race win in the semi-final.

”It was a difficult weekend in the beginning with some issues of setting up the car on Saturday, and some issues on Sunday morning. But in the semi-final, I got a clean run with a great start. In the final I couldn’t really do anything after the start,” said Niclas Grönholm.

”I want to say big thanks to all our partners and everyone in the team, who have worked so hard for us to even be here, and to find more speed in the car all weekend.”

With the highly anticipated premiere of the new all-electric World RX completed, CE Dealer Team look to continue its journey with the aim to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers at the next round in Riga, Latvia, September 3-4.

”It’s been a solid start our journey in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Every member of the team along with our partners has made a fantastic job. It was fantastic to see the PWR RX1e on the track for the first time, as both Niclas and Klara put in great efforts to get all the way to the final in our debut,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

”With this strong debut for the team, car and championship, we now look forward to continue to make a mark on and off tack in Riga in a few weeks’ time.”

Results and standings after the FIA World RX premiere in Norway can be accessed here: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/results-standings/championship-standings/seasons/championship-standings/season-2022/world-rx/
More information about the CE Dealer Team programme is available here: www.cedealerteam.com

22-08-14 Historisk seger för Kristoffersson
Historia skrevs i norska Hell när Johan Kristoffersson tog hem den första VM-deltävlingen någonsin med elbilar i klasen RX1e.
- Otroligt kul att vinna och extra roligt att vi är två som står på pallen, säger Johan.

Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS kunde nämligen också glädja sig åt en tredjeplats för Ole Christian Veiby och ledning i teammästerskapet.

Det var en lättad teamchef som pustade ut efter en oerhört intensiv period fram till premiären:
- Otroligt bra! Det är ganska lätt att dedikera den här segern till alla som varit delaktiga och gjort det möjligt för oss att komma hit. Ofattbart mycket jobb har lagts ner, summerar Tommy Kristoffersson.

Det blev en premiärhelg där förare och team fick känna sig fram med de nya bilarna. Johan Kristoffersson visade att utvecklingen går snabbt framåt när han satte helgens snabbaste tid i tredje kvalomgången, även EuroRX-bilarna inräknade. Kristofferssons snabba avslutning innebar seger totalt i kvalet.

I efterföljande progression race var det Kristoffersson från start till mål, vilket innebar pole position i semifinalen. Där blev det problematiskt när den fyrfaldige världsmästaren blev stående på startplattan någon sekund extra. Någonting krånglade med launch-knappen som teamet inte hade makt att styra över.
- Jag fick någon error i displayen, vet inte vad som hände, säger Kristoffersson.

Jakten på en finalplats tog sin början från sista plats. Första hindret, Rene Münnich, blev stående. Därefter återstod teamkompisarna Ole Christian Veiby och Gustav Bergström. Med hjälp av sitt jokervarv tog sig Kristoffersson förbi Bergström, men fick sedan nöja sig med andraplats bakom norrmannen.

Veiby startade således från pole position i finalen med Niclas Grönholm utanför och Kristoffersson i tredje spåret.

Ner mot första kurvan gled Veiby ut något, vilket rutinerade Kristoffersson utnyttjade genom att smita på insidan med sin Volkswagen RX1e.
- Johan är smart och rutinerad och förstod att den möjligheten kunde uppstå. Det var ett av de tänkbara scenarion vi hade före finalen, kommenterar Tommy Kristoffersson.
- Jag såg att Niclas satte tryck på Ole Christian som jag visste inte skulle släppa där och då var det bara för mig att prova på innern.

Timmy Hansen kom ut som tvåa och Veiby trea. Den ställningen stod sig ända till mållinjen och därmed en historisk första seger i elbils-VM för rallycrossportens mest framgångsrike förare någonsin.
- Väldigt glädjande för hela teamet. Det är verkligen omänskligt mycket jobb som grabbarna i verkstaden har lagt ner de senaste veckorna.

Tommy Kristoffersson kunde konstatera att tävlingen avslutades helt logiskt.
- De två snabbaste förarna under helgen stod till sist överst på pallen.

Efter en helg med en del upp och ner avslutade Ole Christian Veiby storstilat med att ta hem den tredje pallplatsen.
- Klart att när man står i pole position så drömmer man om att vinna, men det blev lite trångt i första kurvan. Ändå härligt att göra det så bra och få kliva upp på pallen här på hemmaplan.

Första- och tredjeplatsen gör att Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS leder teammästerskapet efter första deltävlingen på 33 poäng, mot 25 för Hansen WorldRX Team.
- Väldigt bra att Ole också tog sig upp på pallen, viktigt för teammästerskapet, berömmer Tommy Kristoffersson.
- Hade någon sagt före helgen att vi skulle sluta etta och trea så hade jag tagit det alla dagar i veckan, säger Veiby.

Stallchefen var också nöjd med tredje föraren, Gustav Bergström som slutade sexa, precis utanför finalfältet.
- Klart han är besviken att han inte fick köra finalen, men jag är jättenöjd med Gustav, bra varvtider och sektortider. Det finns potential.

Bergström själv var ändå lite nedstämd.
- Jag kommer närmare och närmare, men synd att man inte tog sig till final. Den chansen försvann väl egentligen redan under lördagen.

I första kvalomgången fick Bergström en tryckare bakifrån och körde därför in i Niclas Grönholm, vilket gjorde att hela fronten trycktes in under hjulen. Det blev som pulkaåkning ut från banan.
- Jag kommer tillbaka starkare till Lettland, lovar Bergström.

I RX2e gick det också bra för den fjärde KMS-föraren Nils Andersson. Efter en trevande lördag skruvade han upp tempot och körde till sist i mål som tvåa bakom Viktor Vranckx. Andersson ligger också tvåa totalt i mästerskapet med 32 poäng, mot 40 för Vranckx.

22-08-11 VM-premiär med stor stolthet
Äntligen dags för VM-premiär! En ny era tar sin början - med eldrivna fartmonster i nya klassen RX1e. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS är redo att ta kampen om VM-gulden!
- Det är en stor stolthet och en otrolig milstolpe för oss som privatteam att ställa tre bilar på startlinjen, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson inför premiären i norska Hell.

Det har varit ett intensivt år med ökad frekvens på jobbet under de senaste månaderna i verkstaden utanför Arvika.
- På bara ett år har vi byggt tre jättesnygga nya bilar enligt ett helt nytt koncept, den absolut största satsning vi har gjort någonsin. Det har varit ett enormt arbete att lyckas med det här så som världen ser ut just nu, fortsätter Kristoffersson syftande på ökade kostnader och försvårade leveranser.

Efter det första testet i Höljes har stallchefen en hälsning till rallycrossfansen.
- Det kommer att gå fort, riktigt fort. Johan har aldrig åkt så snabbt runt Höljes-banan som han gjorde med den nya bilen - redan andra testdagen.

Johan Kristoffersson själv kan intyga att det är bra drag i teamets nya Volkswagen RX1e.
- Det var 190 blås utför backen, så det accelererade riktigt bra!

Kristoffersson junior kunde också konstatera att de nya bilarna erbjuder utmaningar.
- Till skillnad från en fyrhjulsdriven supercar är det här som att köra en framhjulsdriven och en bakhjulsdriven bil samtidigt, med två motorer som inte pratar med varandra. Det gäller att knäcka den koden så fort som möjligt!

Johan räknar med jämna race på Lånke-banan.
- Det kommer att bli stentufft. Starterna tror jag blir extremt jämna.

Med chans till riktig rallycrossaction framåt första kurvan.
Kristoffersson har vunnit den norska deltävlingen tidigare, men det var också där han fick foten överkörd 2017, en smärtsam upplevelse.
- Det finns bra och dåliga minnen därifrån, men nu gäller det att samla poäng för mästerskapet, säger Johan som förstås siktar på den individuella VM-titeln, men också teammästerskapet i samarbete med Ole Christian Veiby.

Norske Veiby kör på hemmaplan under helgen.
- Jag har visserligen närmare från hemmet till Höljes-banan, men den här tävlingen går trots allt i Norge. Att debutera i VM på hemmabana är förstås extra roligt, säger Kongsvinger-bon Veiby.

Även Ole Christian imponerades av bilens prestanda vid det första testet, men blev också medveten om utmaningarna.
- Det gick riktigt snabbt, men bilen är känslig för ändrade inställningar och vi behöver hitta ytterpunkterna. Det finns förstås mer tid att plocka, säger Veiby som, precis som Johan, kommer att köra i Red Bulls färger i kampen om VM-titeln.
- Vi åker för att göra det så bra som möjligt för teamet och för egen del siktar jag på pallen.

Teamets tredje förare, stockholmaren Gustav Bergström, fick också känna på krafterna vid veckans test.
- Det kändes kanon. Det sköt på lite kan man säga. Det är lätt att få hjulspinn, men bilen känns ändå lättare att köra än en supercar, summerar Bergström.

I ett startfält med mycket meriterade förare slår 19-åringen sannerligen ur underläge.
- Det är sjukt bra förare med, men det är kul att vara underdog. Jag har aldrig ens sett banan, men det verkar ballt med mycket nerför och uppför.

Som vanligt inför en premiär byggs det spänning och ovisshet, men särskilt det här året när allt är nytt, såväl bilar som tävlingskoncept, påpekar Tommy Kristoffersson.
- Visst har vi testat, men ingen vet hur det blir förrän vi är i skarpt läge. Det ska bli riktigt spännande, säger Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-chefen och fortsätter:
- Vi är tävlingsmänniskor allihop. Allt vi har gjort är inget värt om vi inte kan hävda oss. Målet är att ta hem både förar- och teammästerskapet.

22-08-11 Hansen Motorsport reveals new RX1e car ahead of first-ever electric World RX race in Hell
Multiple World Championship winning team Hansen Motorsport is delighted to reveal its first-ever all-electric rallycross car, the Peugeot 208 RX1e, ready to compete in the opening round of the new-look FIA World Rallycross Championship this weekend in Hell, Norway (August 13 – 14).

Developed in-house at the Swedish team’s Gotene workshops, exercising over 30 years’ experience of competing at the highest level in rallycross, the Peugeot 208 RX1e is the first car produced with an all-electric powertrain in the squad’s history, the next step on the team’s journey in its efforts to increase sustainability and environmental awareness, having already signed up to the United Nations Sports For Climate Action Framework last year.

As part of the mammoth effort by every single member of the team, two cars fitted with
homologated single-specification four-wheel-drive electric powertrain kits, delivering 500kW, have been prepared by Hansen Motorsport to compete in World RX with drivers Timmy Hansen – the 2019 Drivers’ Champion – and Kevin Hansen – a former Euro RX champion and multiple World RX event-winner.

2022 marks the first stage in a multi-year commitment by the team, as part of its biggest ever investment to rallycross, and the quest for more success on track begins this weekend at the historic Hell Circuit in Norway, a fitting location as the Nordic country is one of the world’s leading lights for automotive sustainability.

The team – together with its partners displayed on the striking new liveries – enters the Norwegian round on the back of a successful “official” pre-season test at Holjes last weekend, and is targeting success from the outset in what is expected to be a hugely-competitive field this season.

Key Facts | Hell RX
Where:
The Lankebanen (Hell) Circuit is World RX’s most Northerly venue in 2022, located 50 kilometres from the city of Trondheim and 8 kms from the closest international airport. The circuit itself, which features significant undulation, is a favourite among drivers. It is 1.019km in length and comprises of 63% asphalt and 37% gravel.

When:
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [August 13-14] via the World RX Website.

Saturday August 13
Practice: 09:35
SuperPole: 11:30
Heat 1: 13:10
Heat 2: 15:40

Sunday August 14
Warm-Up: 09:05
Heat 3: 10:10
Progression: 13:10
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00

Blast from the past
Part of the World RX schedule from 2014 – 2019, the Hell circuit returns this year, but who can forget Timmy Hansen’s win for the Hansen team in 2015, where ‘team work made the dream work’, as live on television, Timmy could be seen telling his spotter on the radio that team mate Davy Jeanney, who he was battling for the win, needed to be careful in the joker lap section as it was very slippery. The pair finished 1-2 on the podium.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen World RX Team
And, we are not just making electric rallycross cars here, we are making the fastest cars ever in rallycross.

“It has been quite a journey from pushing the button on this project to just finishing the first test last week. It has been incredible for a team of our size to build a car of this level. We are many years in rallycross and we have been very successful, so I would be lying if I would say are not looking to win, but it will be hard. We need to have reliability, to both finish all the races and to have the speed to win. It’s going to be a fight from the tent in the paddock to the finish flag. It feels really great to be part of this new era, following the route of the car manufacturers and focusing on how important it is to move to a more sustainable future for our planet. And, we are not just making electric rallycross cars here, we are making the fastest cars ever in rallycross. It was not as simple as just removing the internal combustion engine and putting in the electric powertrain – this has been a huge effort by everyone in the team, in Sweden, France and England and hopefully we pay that effort back with good results this weekend.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
It’s been a big challenge and now it’s time to get racing underway.
“We had a really successful test last week, the first time to get an understanding for the DNA of this car and we were very happy not to have any big reliability issues. In my opinion there are a lot of things we can maximise on the car, so there are some exciting times ahead. It’s going to be a long season getting the car dialled in, and I’m sure our competitors feel the same way. It’s a very exciting to start this new era. We have been waiting for this for the last four years and I’ve been really impressed by the work done by everyone at Hansen Motorsport and our partners to get to this point. It’s been a big challenge and now it’s time to get racing underway. We are hungry for success, we are aiming to be on the podium and the top step is the target, but we also know it will be a very competitive feild. I think we have a good chance – I can’t wait.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team
We are well ahead on 0-100kph compared to the previous cars so it’s definitely a step into the future.

“It feels super cool to finally be driving electric rallycross cars in World RX. We’ve been speaking about it for so long and anticipating this moment, building the cars to make them the best we can. So to actually be driving them now, I’m very positively surprised by many things, mostly with how fast the car is – it really is as fast as we had been hoping. The speed of the launch is just incredible now – it’s something completely different. We are well ahead on 0-100kph compared to the previous cars so it’s definitely a step into the future. We still have a lot of work to do, there are many things we still want to try, but we are going racing now so we will just dive into it and put everything together the best we can. I’m absolutely convinced that these cars will be the fastest rallycross cars that we have seen yet so that’s very exciting!”

22-08-11 Laddade inför Hell - Anders Michalak går för pallplats och rookien Linus Östlund siktar högt i Norge.
Nu till helgen är det är dags för årets tredje deltävling i rallycross-EM och Hedströms Motorsports förare Anders Michalak siktar mot toppen av EM. Ännu en intressant start blir det också för teamets nordvärmländske Supercar-Rookie Linus Östlund.

Hedströms Motorsport har banat sig väg till Hell en bit utanför Trondheim och dess klassiska kuperade bana som är värd för den Norska deltävlingen av EM och VM i Rallycross. Förarna möter en kuperad bana på 1019 meter med stora höjdvariationer byggd utefter en bergsida. Teamet är nu framme i god tid och etablerar sig inför helgens drabbning. Förarna är laddade till max.
- Båda våra trailers drog iväg en dag tidigare än beräknat, ett gott tecken på att allt är i ordning. Jag har en god känsla inför den här tävlingen och tror stort på våra två chaufförer vi har till start i helgen, säger teamchef Peter Hedström.
Anders Michalak ligger för närvarande sexa i EM, men Almungeföraren har siktet inställt på avancemang. Han kör för att närma sig pallen i EM-sammandraget, där Anders endast har tre poäng upp till tredjeplacerade Enzo Ide.
- Skulle vara skönt att komma dit, tiderna finns ju där, nu gäller det att knyta ihop säcken, vi ska försöka pusha ordentligt för att komma närmare och ge dem i toppen en match, säger Anders Michalak.
Banan har Michalak kört på flera gånger förut, dock aldrig i Supercar.
- Jag har kört Lites där, men aldrig Supercar, det ska bli kul och det tar nog bara något träningsvarv så sitter den, jag gillar banan i Hell, det är en schysst och kuperad bana, berättar Michalak.

Linus Östlund som gjorde Supercardebut på EM i Höljes, laddar nu om för en ny Supercarkamp med toppförarna. Men i Hell, där har han aldrig tävlat förut.
- Det ska bli intressant och roligt på samma gång, har sett fram mot att få prova den här banan, jag siktar på en semifinalplats först och främst, säger Östlund.
Karaktären på banan är speciell, något som tilltalar Östlund.
- Jag har varit där och kollat, men aldrig kört den själv, ligger lite udda uppe ett berg och är spektakulär, menar Östlund.
Förberedelser inför tävlingen då?
- Jag har kollat den del på onboardfilmer, men sen är det nog bara att få en bra uppfattning på träningen.

Nitton förare av tio olika nationaliteter är anmälda till EM för RX1 i Hell. Tävlingen startar redan på fredag med supportklass och på lördagen klockan 09:35 drar tävlingen igång på allvar med träningspasset för samtliga klasser. Finalpasset körs på söndag med start 15:10.

22-08-11 Construction Equipment Dealer Team to make historic World RX debut at Hell in Norway
Construction Equipment Dealer Team will make its highly anticipated FIA World Rallycross Championship-debut this weekend at the classic track Hell in Norway – fielding the world’s first gender equal full-season line-up.

It will be a historic weekend, as the sport now takes the step towards an exciting sustainable future with its new all-electric 680hp cars, which accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than two seconds – quicker than a Formula 1 car.

CE Dealer Team, with the series’ first-ever gender equal full-season driver line-up of Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm, will make its on-track debut this weekend as team aims to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers.

The all-electric World RX premiere fields a highly competitive grid, where CE Dealer Team will face experienced opponents such as reigning World Champion Johan Kristoffersson and team-champions Hansen World RX Team.

”We are thoroughly proud to start our groundbreaking journey in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. We are ready to make a mark on and off track together with our partners as we now step in to the new electric and sustainable future of rallycross,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

”We have worked tirelessly with our partners to get the all-new PWR RX1e ready for the premiere and we are humbled by the task as we look forward to a weekend with tough competition in Norway.”

CE Dealer Team driver Niclas Grönholm is a six-time-winner in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The 26-year-old Finn took his first ever World RX-win in Hell back in 2019.

”It will be nice to finally get racing, it has been a long wait to get this project going and the time is here at last. For sure, it will be interesting to see where we are with the pace, and I am excited show the cars and our new team to our partners and fans for the first time,” said Niclas Grönholm.

22-year-old Swede Klara Andersson will make her World RX-debut at Hell together with CE Dealer Team, as the only female driver in a top-tier FIA championship in 2022.

”I'm really looking forward to kicking off the World RX season in Norway this weekend. Making my RX1e debut is a huge milestone for me, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity from CE Dealer Team,” said Klara Andersson.

”There will of course be a lot of emotions, but the focus will be on taking it step by step and building confidence in me and the car. The tests have so far gone beyond expectations, and I am really looking forward to start racing.”

The World RX of Norway action starts on Saturday with practice sessions and the two first heats, followed by heat three and finals on Sunday, to be broadcasted worldwide – as well as through the RX+ online streaming platform.

More information about the CE Dealer Team programme is available here: www.cedealerteam.com

A full schedule for the World RX of Norway weekend is available here: https://hellrx.com/tidsskjema/

22-08-10 Baumanis and #YellowSquad confident for weekend in Hell
Latvian star Janis Baumanis returns to one of his favourite rallycross circuits this weekend, as the third round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship takes place at Hell in Norway (August 13 – 14).

Having aligned with #YellowSquad for 2022, Baumanis currently lies second in the standings following rounds in Hungary and Sweden thanks to consistent performances, but both events have come with bad fortune for driver and team, with a puncture in round one and then a rain-hit qualifying race in round two ending hopes of finishing on the podium.

But, as international rallycross returns to the picturesque Hell circuit for the first time since 2019, the team has worked hard behind the scenes in a bid to return to the winners’ rostrum this weekend.

The circuit holds a special place in Baumanis’ career, he claimed a maiden Euro RX3 (Super1600) victory at the venue in 2014, before finishing on the podium in Euro RX1 (Supercar) the following year in a Peugeot 208 with the Hansen Talent Development team.

Racing in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2019, Baumanis claimed his first of two podium finishes that season, racing in challenging wet conditions. With the weather set to be unpredictable this week, that can also only help Baumanis’ cause.

Racing takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with the action broadcast on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX+ service, check out the World RX website for details.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver

“It feels like a long time since Holjes, so finally we are going racing again. Hell is a track that I have very good memories from, getting good results with both the Hansen Talent Development team in 2015 and other teams when I have raced there.

The track is very cool, for me one of the most interesting we go to. It’s maybe not the most challenging for the driver, but it is very nice when you can get a good rhythm there. The atmosphere is always good too.

We have done some testing since Holjes to be prepared for the race and I’m feeling more confident in the car. We are still working on making good consistent starts, and hopefully we can be there soon. If we can made good starts then I am confident the rest can be good. I’m looking forward to Hell, I think this will be our best race of the season so far.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“It’s great to be returning to Hell, a circuit where Janis has clearly gone well in the past, especially after some good preparation we have done as a team since the last round at Holjes. It will be interesting not being able to take the joker lap on the first lap as part of the rules changes for 2022, so grid position will be more important than ever I think on this circuit. We just can’t wait to get started.”

22-08-09 Hell Yeah! World RX ready to electrify the motorsport landscape in Norway
The FIA World Rallycross Championship is on the Road to Hell this weekend, for the start of the series’ eagerly-anticipated electric era at Ramudden World RX of Norway (13-14 August) – and an electrifying spectacle is firmly in prospect.

Following months of hard work behind-the-scenes, the championship’s ultra-powerful electric beasts – whose twin motors, pushing out 500kW (equivalent to 680bhp) and 880Nm of instant torque, will propel them to 100km/h faster than Formula 1 – are ready to go hell for leather out on-track.

With World RX representing the very pinnacle of international rallycross, the devil is always in the detail and the sport’s drivers and teams have spent the past few weeks fettling and testing their new cars in an effort to gain a crucial edge over the opposition heading into the forthcoming campaign.

The Hell entry list is headlined by Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS’ Johan Kristoffersson, who is chasing an incredible fifth Drivers’ crown behind the wheel of his Kristoffersson Motorsport-run Volkswagen RX1e. On previous form, the Swede will be tough to beat – but his rivals are high-achievers, too.

Timmy Hansen tied with Kristoffersson on points last season at the end of a nail-biting duel, so the Hansen World RX Team star will be more fired-up than ever as he targets a second title to add to his 2019 triumph. Younger brother Kevin Hansen, meanwhile, continues to go from strength-to-strength – as evidenced by an unparalleled seven podium finishes from nine starts last year – and is more than ready to step out of the shadow and grab his own share of the spotlight.

Niclas Grönholm enjoyed his finest campaign to-date in 2021 – matching Kristoffersson for wins on his way to third in the overall standings – and the Finn will lead the Construction Equipment Dealer Team charge. His team-mate Klara Andersson is the first permanent female competitor in World RX history, and great things are expected of the highly-rated young Swede – who shone in the supporting FIA RX2e Championship last season – over the coming years.

There is also a rapid and experienced home hero in the field, as Ole Christian Veiby rejoins the fray for Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS just under seven years on from his last appearance in World RX – and having enhanced his CV significantly over the intervening period at the highest levels of rallying.

While GCK Motorsport’s Lancia Delta Evo-e will not be ready to race in Hell due to the extensive development work required to incorporate the new technology into the car, it will appear on-track in World RX later in the season.

The popular and undulating Lånkebanen circuit will celebrate its return to the calendar following a three-year absence with a full bill of rallycross entertainment, as the stars of RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 – including Olympic skiing legend Aksel Lund Svindal and fans’ favourite Andreas Bakkerud – similarly prepare to head into battle. One thing is for sure – it’s going to be a Hell of a weekend!

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“I feel a bit like a kid at Christmas, to be honest, waiting to see these ground-breaking electric World RX cars race for the first time. Ever since we took over as championship promoter, we have been very clear about our commitment to a more sustainable future and we have been working tirelessly towards this day.

“This is a totally fresh start for World RX, and one that will disrupt and transform the motorsport landscape by demonstrating the outstanding potential of this pioneering new technology. Seeing the cars hit the track in Hell is going to be a very proud moment for everybody involved – and the start of what I have absolutely no doubt will be an amazing adventure for this great sport.”

Bill Law, Head of Brand, Marketing and Communications at Volvo CE, said:
“The transformation to electrification is a thrilling and vital turning point for motorsport and one we are honoured to play a part in bringing to the global stage. We ourselves are no strangers to change and have been leading the way with electric machines that drive our own industry forward and push the boundaries for high-performing sustainable construction solutions.

“Our collaboration with World RX as Official Construction Equipment Supplier and Track Building Partner mirrors our ambition to drive awareness of electric power and build the world we want to live in. Change starts here and it’s set to be an adrenaline-fuelled revolution.”

James Weekley, General Manager - Motorsport at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd, said:
“We are excited to be part of a defining moment in world motorsport. The electric era of the FIA World Rallycross Championship is the perfect platform for Cooper Tire to showcase its world-beating tyre technology and commitment to a more sustainable future.

“Rallycross is one of the greatest challenges in motorsport for a tyre manufacturer – developing a range of products that deliver exceptional performance on both sealed and loose surfaces while dealing with the incredibly high demands of the discipline’s fast and aggressive nature is exceptionally difficult.

“With the switch to electric powertrains delivering close to 900Nm of instant torque, Cooper Tire has developed a new ACB11 rallycross tyre which takes performance to new levels while utilising sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques. These are very exciting times for the sport, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the cars hit the track for what we are sure will be some intense and thrilling racing!”

All of the on-track entertainment and off-track features will be broadcast live on RX+. Event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More information can be found here, while race weekend tickets can still be purchased here: https://hellrx.com/billetter/

22-08-05 Stjørdal to stage world première of rallycross’ new electric era
The all-electric beasts that will do battle for glory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship this season will be officially unveiled in exactly one week’s time (11 August), during a downtown presentation and parade in Stjørdal ahead of Ramudden World RX of Norway in Hell.

Stjørdal is no stranger to rallycross fever, but this year, the popular pre-event, free-to-attend ‘warm-up’ in the town will carry extra significance. It will mark the first time anybody outside of the drivers and teams will get a glimpse of the new cars, which will hit the track in Hell over the following weekend (13-14 August) to kick-start an 11-round campaign that will culminate in the coronation of World Rallycross’ inaugural electric champion.

Beginning at 19:00 CEST, the World RX cars will be presented to the public, media and VIPs in front of Stjørdal’s striking Kimen Kulturhus, with drivers taking to the stage to offer insights into what fans can expect from the sport’s next generation. With twin electric motors delivering 500kW – the equivalent of 680bhp – and 880Nm of instant torque at the touch of a pedal, these cars will be capable of reaching 100km/h faster even than Formula 1.

The launch will similarly feature the FIA RX2e Championship and superstar skier Aksel Lund Svindal, who yesterday confirmed he will make his rallycross debut in Hell in the electric support series.

The presentation – which will be live-streamed on RX+, on World RX’s Facebook and YouTube channels and by championship media partners – will be followed by an autograph session and parade through the streets of Stjørdal, before the cars return to the track for final preparations ahead of the race weekend.

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We are tremendously excited to be revealing World RX’s new electric era in Stjørdal next week. There has been a huge amount of hard work put in by all involved to get to this point, and as we prepare to go racing in Hell, anticipation is sky-high.

“There’s no question that Norway is leading the way in Europe when it comes to sustainability and environmental awareness in the automotive industry, so there could be no better place to begin our electrifying journey. We hope as many people as possible will join us there!”

All of the on-track entertainment and off-track features throughout the weekend in Hell will be broadcast live on RX+. Event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More information can be found here, while race weekend tickets can be purchased here.

A full pre-season news clip, news cut and accompanying still images will be available to download from the World RX News Room on the Red Bull Content Pool after the launch.

22-08-04 Olympic skiing hero Svindal to make rallycross debut in Hell
Multiple World Champion and World Cup winner heading off-piste in RX2e
Norwegian has already turned heads in maiden car racing campaign
Self-confessed environmentalist eager to experience sport’s new electric era

Twice an Olympic gold medallist, five times a World Champion and one of the most successful alpine skiers in history, Aksel Lund Svindal is heading off-piste for his latest adventure – as he prepares to make his rallycross debut on home soil in Hell, Norway next weekend (13/14 August) in the FIA RX2e Championship.

In skiing circles, Svindal’s reputation precedes him. Considered by many as the best Norwegian alpine skier ever to have shredded the slopes in the winter sports discipline, his achievements are beyond impressive. Since catapulting himself into the public eye during the 2001 World Cup in Austria, he has gone on to clinch two World Cup crowns – in 2007 and 2009 – 36 wins and 80 podiums, to say nothing of nine World Championship medals and a further four in the Olympics.

No stranger to setting and breaking records – as the only man to secure three major global downhill titles – his Olympic gold in alpine skiing in South Korea in 2018 made Svindal the oldest skier to achieve such a feat at the age of 35. He remained ultra-competitive right up to the moment he hung up his skis following the 2019 FIS World Championships in Åre, Sweden, where he bowed out in style with downhill silver, missing a sixth career gold by a scant two hundredths-of-a-second.

Now 39, the Red Bull athlete has turned his attentions to another adrenaline-fuelled arena – rallycross. Having dipped his toe into the motorsport waters in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia this year – stunning seasoned observers by winning on his debut and currently occupying fifth spot in the overall standings – he is ready to test his mettle with a one-off outing in the all-electric, single-spec RX2e series.

Featuring on the support package to the FIA World Rallycross Championship – which will similarly go fully electric this year, beginning in Hell – RX2e is a fiercely-contested category in which competitors duel doorhandle-to-doorhandle in identical cars producing 250kW (335bhp) of power and up to 510Nm of torque, with a number of other parameters prioritising driver skill above anything else.

Svindal sampled the car at Spain’s Circuit Calafat last week, with guidance and tuition from Sweden’s Klara Andersson – who raced in RX2e in 2021 and will make her World Championship debut in Norway as the first permanent female entrant in World RX history – and fellow rising star Nils Andersson, who reached the rostrum in the series for the first time at Höljes last month.

Having palpably enjoyed his initial laps behind the wheel, keen environmentalist Svindal has offered an insight into the motivation behind his upcoming RX2e appearance.

Aksel Lund Svindal, Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion Skier, said:
“Norway has always had a passion for rallycross, and now with this new era of fully electric rallycross cars, it’s the perfect fit with the EV adoption we have. To get the chance to try this car in Spain, as a car enthusiast, was really cool – it’s crazy fast and really fun to drive.

“I have big respect for rallycross drivers, because it’s a sport that is just action-packed. There is so much happening, and when you go out in the car for the first time, it’s certainly a handful but it handles really well. As Norwegians, we are familiar with the acceleration of electric cars, and both the acceleration and handling of the RX2e car on such rough surfaces is very impressive.

“Even if I’m only an amateur and this is just for fun, to go to Hell and see everything up close and join the action is something I’m really looking forward to. It’s no secret that I’m a big advocate of sustainability and innovation, and with the increasing electrification of motorsport and the incredible performance that will bring, I’m super excited to see what the future has in store...”

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming such a pure, dyed-in-the-wool racer and sporting icon as Aksel to the World RX family in Hell. He is a world-class athlete from a completely different sport, but whose skillset, commitment and lightning-fast reactions should equip him well to tackle the various challenges he will face in RX2e. We can’t wait to see how he gets on next weekend.”

All of the on-track entertainment and off-track features throughout the weekend in Hell will be broadcast live on RX+. Event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More information can be found here, while race weekend tickets can be purchased here. s

22-08-01 Megennis and #YellowSquad secure delicious Swedish Nitro RX podium
The Swedish round of the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship was somewhat of a homecoming for the #YellowSquad team and American driver George Megennis, who has done significant learning in the Swedish rallycross arena since his transition to the discipline, and the efforts of both team and driver were rewarded with a podium in round four of the NRX NEXT Series.

The team entered the weekend following a challenging event in the opening double-head of the campaign in the UK in June, but with hard work pre-event, knew a strong result was more than possible.

On a totally-revised Strangnas Circuit, where Megennis had tested once before in the track’s previous form, the team ran inside the top four positions on Saturday in the super-competitive division for single-specification Supercar Lites machines, before Megennis won the LCQ and finished fifth in the final.

On Sunday, Megennis picked up his pace, and having delivered some of the best overtakes of the entire weekend on the opening day, matched that flare with consistency to be second fastest in the opening heat and again finish second in the semi-final to progress to the final. In the main event, he challenged at the front of the order and despite getting held up by a spinning car in the latter stages hampering his victory hopes, Megennis crossed the finish line in third, to secure his first podium of the campaign – a result the rising star described as “delicious” after the race.

Nitro Rallycross now heads to North America for the second stage of the season this fall. Megennis and #YellowSquad are working hard to be involved.

George Megennis poses with the #YellowSquad Supercar Lites machine during a test at Strängnäs Motorstadion. Thursday, August 5, 2021.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“The weekend was amazing. It was a really fun track that was really quick in the gravel sections so it was a lot of fun to drive, and it was really cool to see the changes Nitro had made to the track since I tested there last year.

Sunday was a really good day, we knew from Saturday that we had the pace to be at least top three, so it was about putting it all together, being much more conservative, being very smart about when I chose to make my moves and it ended up being a very good day, with finishing third. Honestly not having any major car-to-car contact on Sunday was really great for me, it was an important day for me and great for the whole team. I had a lot more fun here than I did at Lydden and it was delicious to finish on the podium.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager

“We made a step forward this weekend. Saturday was a hard day, and the performance of the team and pace of the driver deserved more than a fifth in the final, but things were much better on Sunday.

We were challenging for the win in the final, and ended up third, which we can be happy with after a challenging start to the season. It’s been a pleasure to work with everyone in the team and the changes and improvements to the track at the new-look Strangnas have been great for both Nitro RX and Swedish rallycross. Well done to George for finishing on the podium.”

About#YellowSquad
#YellowSquad is a vibrant junior rallycross team formed by brothers Kevin and Timmy Hansen in February 2019, and a subsidiary of the world championship-winning Hansen Motorsport organisation. Its focus is on delivering a platform for aspiring rallycross drivers to learn the skills needed to progress up the ladder towards the World Rallycross Championship.

The team made its racing debut in the RallyX Nordic Cross Car (XC) category in 2019 with Julius Ljungdahl, before stepping up to the RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites class in 2020. It scored a clean sweep of titles in RX2 - the feeder series to World RX - and RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites categories with Henrik Krogstad in 2020.

Last year it competed in the Nitro Rallycross support category, NRX NEXT, with American driver George Megennis, who in 2022 is back with #YellowSquad to continue his journey.

Janis Baumanis also joins #YellowSquad in 2022 and takes on the challenge of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.
#YellowSquad provides young drivers with development opportunities beyond the cockpit, including fitness, nutrition, self-development and media relations. Alongside Team Principal Kevin Hansen, World RX Champion Timmy Hansen is responsible for driver coaching, while Eric Färén is the Team Manager.

22-08-01 Svensk-norskt samarbete i VM
En svensk-norsk duo i teammästerskapet och en rookie som tredjeförare. Så blir Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-uppställningen i nya elektriska rallycross-VM. Johan Kristoffersson får sällskap av Ole Christian Veiby och Gustav Bergström.
- Det känns mycket bra att vi kan komplettera laguppställningen med Ole Christian som gör comeback i vårt team och en ung lovande talang som Gustav, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Ole Christian Veiby - 25-åring från Kongsvinger i Norge - har lång erfarenhet i rally som tidigare fabriksförare för Skoda och Hyundai i WRC 2. Under det här året har han varvat upp sin vilande rallycrosskarriär och är nu redo att ta kampen mot de allra bästa i nya elbilsserien. VM-titlar individuellt och i teammästerskapet står på spel.
- Jag har haft målet att ta mig in i WRC, men som alla vet är det en väldigt svår uppgift. Jag har inte helt gett upp det hoppet och kommer att fortsätta köra en del rally, men nu ska det bli intressant att göra något nytt. Rallycross med elbilar känns helt rätt och vi har sytt ihop ett bra paket. Jag tror vi kommer att slåss i toppen, säger Veiby, som alltså kommer att köra i teammästerskapet i par med Kristoffersson.

Norrmannen ser fram emot att jobba med utveckling av de nya bilarna, Volkswagen RX1e, tillsammans med fyrfaldige världsmästaren.
- Han har förstås en otrolig kunskap inom rallycross och tillsammans med min erfarenhet tror jag det blir en bra mix. Johan är enligt min mening världens bäste motorsportsutövare och han har hävdat sig på flera områden. Det är ingen tvekan om att hans erfarenhet är guld värd när vi ska kämpa om just guldet!

Kristoffersson själv är självklart också inspirerad inför jakten på den femte VM-titeln.
- Nu börjar vi på ett nytt kapitel i historien och det är otroligt häftigt att få vara med på det här utvecklingsarbetet tillsammans med bästa tänkbara teammedlemmar.

Förutom Kristoffersson/Veiby i teammästerskapet kommer Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS också att ställa en tredje bil på startlinjen. I den placerar man Gustav Bergström, 19-åring från Stockholm, som debuterade i RX Lites förra säsongen och har fått känna på Supercar under det här året. Bergström ligger dock lågt i förhandssnacket:
- Att göra debut i World RX är förstås en dröm som går i uppfyllelse. Det kommer att bli tufft. Jag ska försöka lära mig så mycket som möjligt, säger Bergström, som gjorde ett lyckat inhopp i en Porsche under Dubai 24-timmars i januari, med klasseger som följd.
- Jag är självklart medveten om att det är en extremt tuff uppgift som väntar mig i en VM-serie på allra högsta nivå, men med Johan och Ole Christian i teamet så har jag alla möjligheter. Jag är bra på att lära mig snabbt.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson har lite olika förväntningar på sina nypresenterade förare.
- Ole Christian kom till oss redan som 16-åring och ville köra Clio Cup, men vi övertygade honom att det var bättre att köra Porsche, så han gick från 150 hästkrafter till 450 på en timme. Därefter körde han rallycross med oss och sedan har han gjort en otrolig resa inom rally med erfarenhet från många olika bilar. Han är inte så gammal, men han har stor rutin. Gustav började på absolut noll förra året, men jag såg direkt att känslan fanns där. Men vi kan förstås inte ha några höga förväntningar den här säsongen. För honom handlar det om att utvecklas.

Kristoffersson är i övrigt mycket nöjd med utvecklingen av jätteprojektet i rallycross-VM.
- Det är ett privilegium att få jobba med våra proffsiga kontakter som tidigare jobbade inom Volkswagen Motorsport, att kunna fortsätta samarbetet med våra trogna partner Volkswagen-återförsäljarna och Bauhaus.

Den meriterade och rutinerade stallchefen har en vision om ett riktigt dream team, på alla plan.
- Vi har en konstellation med många olika erfarenheter. Av dessa delar är min ambition att bygga ett harmoniskt lag med bra atmosfär och stark gemenskap. Min måttstock är den prestigelösa proffsighet som vi upplevde med Volkswagen Motorsport under PSRX-tiden 2017 och 2018, säger Tommy.

Men, lagandan till trots kan man räkna med en del intern kamp, kanske också lite landskamp. En stor del av besättningen på Ole Christian Veibys bil kommer att bestå av norrmän.
- Självklart! Svenskar och norrmän kämpar alltid om att vara bäst. Vi kommer absolut att göra vårt bästa för att vinna den kampen, konstaterar Veiby med ett skratt.

22-08-01 Incredible top five lock-out for JC Raceteknik in home Nitro RX round
Swedish team JC Raceteknik claimed an incredible result in the second round of the Nitro Rallycross Championship at Strangnas in Sweden, as the team locked out the top five positions in the headline Group E category for all-electric FC1-X machines.

Running within the amalgamated Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik team, under the Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC banner on the significantly-revised historic Swedish circuit, Norwegian star Andreas Bakkerud and Nitro RX round one winner Robin Larsson stormed through the final to secure a second consecutive 1-2 finish.

Bakkerud was among the front-running pace throughout the weekend, then made the best start in the final to lead throughout and claim a maiden Nitro RX win. Larsson meanwhile had to battle through the second phase of the weekend, following broken steering in the opening heat race. He fought back by winning the semi-final from low down on the grid, then climbed to second in the final to chase Bakkerud for the majority of the race and finish a close second.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“It’s been a fantastic weekend here in Strangnas with a 1,2,3,4,5. I almost cannot believe it - it’s a really great achievement for the team, and a big achievement for the drivers. It’s nice to see how we have got the cars going, and a setup that is working well. We had some bad luck in some races, but overall it’s been a great weekend and I’m glad to see Andreas on the top step of the podium. The feeling is very good and now we look to ahead to the next races in America.”

Andreas Bakkerud (NOR), Group E:
“It’s insane the effort that JC is putting into this Nitro Rallycross programme, with eight cars on the grid this weekend. Before the weekend I was a bit sceptical, especially having five of those cars in Group E. I thought it was too much but at the end finishing 1,2,3,4,5 with me as the winner – I couldn’t be more proud of the whole gang. I know many of the mechanics and I know every car has a top team to win and that’s a huge effort. It’s cool for me to finally win the big hardware. I’ve done a few races in Nitro Rallycross and taken a third, second and now a first. For me and Robin now in the championship, we'e very equal, it’s a mega job. We stayed away from trouble, and that was a key for this great result.”

Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“We had a really good weekend again, this time Andreas took the P1 with me in P2. The result is pretty incredible for the team. Things looked pretty dark for me after the first heat on Sunday morning where I got a small hit in the front wheel. I started way back in the semi-final, I didn’t have much expectation but after two corners I was in P1 and it felt really good. I controlled the race from there. In the final I also got a good start. I hunted Andreas for the first two or three laps but the lap I went into the joker I made a mistake and he did a perfect lap. That is what it is, it’s really small margins, but it’s been a really good weekend.”

Four-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson drove the Nitro RX ‘Star Car’ for the Strangnas weekend and quickly got up to speed in his very first time driving the FC1-X. Working on the setup of the all-new machine, thanks to the support of the other drivers in the team with greater experience in the concept, Kristoffersson won his heat race on Sunday morning, but was handed a penalty that ultimately meant he needed to progress to the final via the LCQ. In the final he made an incredible start from the back row of the grid, drove around the outside of the pack to climb into podium contention and eventually finish third.

Jamaican Fraser McConnell once again challenged in the Group E category and finished second in the semi-final to Robin Larsson to progress to the final, in which he finished fourth, holding on despite suffering a puncture as he crossed the finish line.

Johan Kristoffersson (SWE), Group E:
“It was my first time in the FC1-X. It was some experience. It started off pretty good, it felt okay in the first jump practice. We made some changes here and there to try and get the car to my liking but I couldn’t really get my head around the car - we tried a few things that I felt was an improvement and in the end I felt like we were chasing our tail a little bit. It was great to be part of the DRR JC team, they have experience of the car, and obviously it was very good to be team mates with some of the fastest guys in the championship and have the luxury to choose from their data to find lines and get me up to speed as quickly as possible. That was a big help. I got a penalty in the first heat on Sunday morning so had to fight my way through to the final and started on the back row. I started to understand the tyre a bit more after the LCQ, and I think I have to be very happy to have a very good first corner. I tried to go round the outside and did my best to keep up with Andreas and Robin and be careful not to pick up any punctures. I had an enjoyable weekend, I learned a lot and it was a great atmosphere in the team – they are killing it with P1 to P5 in the final. It was a team victory. I wish them luck for the rest of the season.”

In his second Nitro RX appearance, Norwegian Ole Christian Veiby again challenged for podium positions, finished second in his semi-final and then fifth in the final to complete a dream result for the JC Raceteknik team in the Group E category. In the NRX NEXT division for Supercar Lites machines, Swede Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Lane Vacala flew the JC flag and Ahlin-Kottulinsky claimed the best result of the pair with sixth in the final in round three on Saturday, in a highly-competitive field. In the equally-competitive Crosscar category, Alex Gustafsson claimed a best result of sixth in round three on Saturday afternoon.

22-07-28 American ace Megennis set for Swedish Nitro RX encounter
The second round of the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship season takes place at Strangnas in Sweden this weekend, where American ace George Megennis will continue his NRX Next campaign with #YellowSquad.

Megennis set the pace in the opening rounds of the campaign at Lydden Hill in the UK, but mitigating circumstances meant that pace couldn’t be turned into a strong results on either day.

The team and Megennis have worked hard since the opening round to assess the Lydden Hill weekend and improve going forwards, as the historic Strangnas circuit hosts one of its biggest ever events this weekend, with the track featuring a range of changes to increase the spectacle, including a jump after the first corner. The joker lap has also been relocated on the reconfigured circuit, a venue which in its previous guise, Megennis has already driven in testing with #YellowSquad.

George Megennis poses with the #YellowSquad Supercar Lites machine during a test at Strängnäs Motorstadion. Thursday, August 5, 2021.

As has become customary at Nitro RX events, NRX Next competitors will compete in a double-header weekend across the two days, giving two opportunities to fight for a podium result.

The action can be watched live on the Nitro RX broadcast. Details will be published on the #YellowSquad social media channels.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“Strangnas is an amazing track and the changes Nitro have made look epic. I’m very hopeful going into this round because I have driven there before on the old circuit. We were really fast at Lydden Hill so hopefully we can continue that good form and pace to get the results we know are possible this weekend.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team manager NRX Next
“George was one of the fastest drivers on track in the opening NRX Next weekend at Lydden Hill, but things just didn’t work out to turn that pace into a strong result. We have had a productive time since that event, analysing where things can be improved and I’m confident going to Strangnas this weekend that we can be fighting for strong finishes in both rounds. It’s exciting to be competing on the revised circuit which brings new life to a traditional Swedish venue.”

22-07-26 Andersson victorious with JC in Strangnas as Evjen claims another podium
Reigning RallyX Crosscar Junior Champion Lukas Andersson ended his 2022 campaign with the JC Raceteknik team in style with victory in the final weekend of the season at Strangnas, while Sondre Evjen claimed another podium in the headline Supercar category to secure bronze medal in the series.

Andersson’s final victory in a weekend of mixed conditions proved his own pace and the ability of the team, with a brilliant performance. His efforts were rewarded with runner-up position in the championship standings.

Evjen meanwhile was among the fastest drivers in the Supercar field all season, and quick pace throughout the Swedish weekend for the Norwegian driver meant he challenged for victory, eventually finishing second to secure a bronze medal in the series.

Philip Gerhman completed a competitive season in the Audi S1 with JC Raceteknik with fifth in the final and seventh in the overall standings, one place behind team mate Ole Christian Veiby, who was unfortunately black flagged from the Strangnas final for an incident at the joker lap merge.

Supercar Lites racer Jimmie Walfridson had a challenging weekend battling in traffic and finished ninth in the single-make class of 2022, while Alex Gustafsson set a best time of fifth in the highly-competitive Crosscar category, when conditions were at their most consistent in Q4, and was classified 10th. He ended the season in the same position. Erik Nilsson meanwhile set a best time of second fastest in Junior Crosscar, in Q3, but unfortunately just missed a place in the final. He completed the season in ninth position.

With the RallyX season in the bag, there’s no time to rest for JC Raceteknik. The second round of Nitro RX takes place this weekend at the same Strangnas circuit, running cars in the headline Group E category, Supercar Lites and Crosscar categories.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“We had good pace this weekend in Supercar, and it was great to have three cars in the final. Sondre has been very good this year and he was close to a win this weekend. He should be happy with another strong result. It’s a shame that Ole Christian got the penalty, he was also fast in the final here, like Philip was too. Jimmie had a difficult weekend in Lites, things just didn’t seem to go his way, and it was a little bit the same for Alex in Crosscar, but he did show his potential in Q4. I’m delighted for Lukas to get a win in Crosscar Junior after a lot of hard work this season, we could have had two cars in the final here but it didn’t work out for Erik this time, although his time in Q3 was very good. Now we are working hard ahead of the second Nitro RX event this weekend.”

Lukas Andersson (SWE), Crosscar Junior:
“It was a really fun weekend with very different weather conditions. The car felt really good and knew I could reach a silver medal in the championship, so I gave everything I had. I had the speed on the track so it was the starts that mattered, and finally when we got the settings right – the starts were perfect. We took it home from pole position in the semi-final, and managed to do the same in the final – it was a great relief to finally get the result we were looking for after a season with a lot of troubles. It was enough to move up from fourth place to second place in the championship, which we can be happy with. Big thanks to everyone who helped me.”

Sondre Evjen (NOR), Supercar:
"We had good pace all weekend, there was a bit of rain on the first day, but the car felt really good on Sunday and we were able to drive freely and win Q4 and the semi-final with good pace, we just didn’t have quite enough pace to keep up with Niclas to fight for the win. We had a good battle with Thomas (Bryntesson) for second in the championship, but just ended up third. I’m very happy with the whole season with JC this year. The car and team have been good everywhere – it has been very small margins that have made the difference in this championship. We took four podiums, just missing a victory, but we will take that momentum with us to the European Championship race in Hell in a few weeks!”

22-07-25 Kristoffersson to make Nitro RX Group E debut at Strangnas with DRR JC
The most successful World Rallycross Championship driver in history, Johan Kristoffersson, will make his Nitro Rallycross Championship debut in his home round of the series at Strangnas in Sweden this weekend (July 30-31).

Four-time World RX Champion Kristoffersson will race an all-electric FC1-X within the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik team, his debut in an electric rallycross car, having won his fourth World RX Drivers’ crown together with JC Raceteknik last year.

The 33-year-old has 23 World RX wins to his credit, and also won the inaugural Extreme E series last year. He has previously claimed titles in the RallyX Nordic rallycross series and circuit racing championships, including the Swedish Touring Car Championship crown.

The Strangnas event marks the second round of the 2022-2023 Nitro RX season, as the series expands outside America for the first time, while it will also be the second-ever event for the FC1-X in the new Group E category.

Kristoffersson will join round one winner Robin Larsson (Sweden) and podium-finisher Andreas Bakkerud (Norway), along with Jamaican star Fraser McConnell in racing under the DRR JC banner, while JC will also field cars in the Supercar Lites and Crosscar divisions.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“We know how good Johan is and we worked very well together last season. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in the FC1-X at Strangnas, especially when most of the other drivers have already done an event in the car at Lydden Hill. We learned a lot with our four drivers and cars in the first round, it’s always a big milestone to get the first race with brand new cars in the bag and now we can focus more on the details of finding more performance. I’m sure Johan’s experience will also help us in that too and we can look forward to a good weekend together.”

Johan Kristoffersson (SWE), Group E:
“I’m looking forward to the weekend and I‘m happy to get the opportunity to race together with JC and DRR for the Nitro event in Strangnas. The track is a little bit different to what I raced on in Strangnas before, but we worked together last year to win the world championship so I am feeling comfortable in the team. For sure it will be a very steep learning curve during the weekend as it will be my first race in an electric rallycross car and the format is a little different to what I’m used to as well. I’m looking forward to trying out the FC1-X and racing against some competitors I haven’t raced against before. Some of them I know from the past but some of them are new, so that will be fun. It will be a great experience and a huge challenge, but I’m really looking forward to trying my best and we will see how it goes.”

22-07-18 Supertalangen får chansen hos Hedströms
- Sunnegrabben Elias Svensson växlar upp till Supercar i RallyX-finalen.
Framgång föder framgång sägs det, Elias Svensson är vass förare i Crosskart Extrem. Tillsammans med Hedströms Motorsport och Lecab får nu blott 18-årige Elias chansen att lägga i en högre växel och testa Hedströms Motorsports VW Polo Supercar i finalen på RallyX.

Till vardags hittar honom bakom ratten på en Crosskart Extrem från Casmat Sweden. Elias är superhet i Crosskart Extrem just nu, ligger fyra i RallyX. Hann vann både senaste deltävlingen i RallyX (Riga) och i Crosskart-SM (Likenäs).

Till finalen i RallyX Nordic växlar han tävlingsbil från sin bakhjulsdrivna Casmat Extrem drygt 400 kilo och ca 150 hästkrafter till Hedströms Motorsports fyrhjulsdrivna fullblodsmonster, en VW Polo Supercar med fyra gånger så mycket effekt fördelat på drygt 1200 kg.
- Det ska bli jäkligt kul, vi har kört ett test nu i torsdags inför tävlingen, berättar Elias Svensson.
Testet gjordes på Höljes och Elias fick börja i värsta tänkbara förhållanden, på blött underlag.
- Det gick fint och bilen kändes fin att köra även om det var svårkört när det regnade, sen torkade det upp och gick allt fortare, fortsätter Elias.

Styrningen i finalen av RallyX blir möjlig tack vare Oscar Svedlund och Lecab, som tillsammans med Hedströms Motorsport vill matcha fram en ny talang i rallycrossens tungviktsklass.
- Oscar ringde mig på jobbet för tre veckor sen och tyckte jag skulle testa Supercar i finalen på RallyX, jag kunde inte fatta det först, berättar Elias.

Oscar hade fått upp ögonen för den kvicke Sunnebon som gjort imponerande resultat och gärna vill se vad han kan prestera i tungviktsklassen.
- Elias är fantastiskt snabb, en riktig supertalang, vilket han visat på de tävlingar han kört, sen vet jag att det är ett stort steg upp till Supercar, berättar Oscar Svedlund.

Ett första test i tävlingsmiljö med Supercar för Elias blir i RallyX-finalen i Strängnäs, men det kan bli mer.
- Vi tar Strängnäs som ett första test, sen får vi se från det vart det bär, avslutar Svedlund.
Elias Svensson kommer för övrigt köra dubbelt i Strängnäs, då han även har chans på total pallplats i internationella tävlingsserien RallyX:s Crosscar-klass med sin Casmat Extrem. Han är där endast sex poäng från bronsplats.

Finalen av RallyX körs redan nästa helg, den 23-24 Juli på Strängnäs Motorstadion.

22-07-10 Tvåhjulning kostade finalkörning för Jimmie Walfridson i RallyX i Riga
Det gick inte lika bra för Torsbysonen Jimmie Walfridson när den sjätte deltävlingen kördes i Riga under söndagen. En tvåhjuling i semifinalen blev kostsam.
– Tyvärr tog det roliga tog slut direkt i starten när jag tvåhjulade. Där rök både drivaxeln höger fram och styrstaget, säger Jimmie.

I fredags kördes den femte deltävlingen i det nordiska rallycrossmästerskapet RallyX och idag var det dags för den femte deltävlingen.

Jimmie slutade på tredjeplats i fredags och kom till start med siktet inställt på ny pallplats.

Han inledde dagen med heatseger som gav fjärde plats i omgången och hamnade i trafik vilket gav nionde plats i andra omgången. I tredje och sista omgången vara han sist iväg i starten, men körde upp sig och blev heattvåa.

I semifinalen startade han i andra led i ytterspåret och i den trånga starten blev det närkontakter som gjorde att han tvåhjulade. Ett tag såg det ut som att det skulle sluta med en rullning.
– Tyvärr tog det roliga tog slut direkt i starten när jag tvåhjulade. Där rök både drivaxeln höger fram och styrstaget, säger Jimmie.

Han missade därmed finalkörning och slutade nia i tävlingen.
– Det har varit lite upp och ner i omgångarna idag men det positiva jag tar med mig härifrån är farten vi hade i fredags. Den farten ska jag ta med oss och försöka avsluta på bästa sätt i finalen i Strängnäs, säger Jimmie.

Finaltävlingen i Strängnäs körs 23-24 juli.

Resultat Riga deltävling 6
1. Casper Jansson 29 p
2. Ole Henry Steinsholt 23 p
3. Isak Sjökvist 23 p
4. Mattis Jansson 19 p
5. Simon Olofsson 17 p
6. Martin Ekspjuth 23 p
7. Mats Oskarsson 11 p
8. Martin Jonsson 11 p
9. Jimmie Walfridson 11 p
10. Martin Enlund 10 p

Komplett resultat: https://www.chronomoto.com/rallyx/
Mer info hittar du på www.walfridson.com där vi följt tävlingen heat för heat.

22-07-08 Äntligen pallen igen för Jimmie Walfridson – tredjeplats i RallyX i Riga
Torsbysonen Jimmie Walfridson har haft en tung inledning av rallycrossäsongen och missat finalkörning i de inledande deltävlingarna i det nordiska mästerskapet RallyX. Trots en lite trevande inledning av den femte deltävlingen i Riga lyckades han äntligen knyta ihop säcken och få både bil och körning att hålla ihop ända in i finalen.
– Äntligen! Det satt gött att äntligen få köra final och få kliva upp på pallen igen, säger Jimmie.

Jimmie inledde med nionde och elfte tid i de två första omgångarna.
– I första omgången hamnade jag i trafik och i andra omgången gick bilen sönder på sista varvet och vänster bak vek sig när lagret skar, säger han.

Men en andra plats i sista omgången gjorde att han klättrade upp från elfte till femteplats och fick starta i femte spår i semifinalen. Han kom trea i sin semifinal och startade i sista led i finalen. Där fick han en fin start och var tredje bil ut ur första kurvan. En placering han inte släppte.
– Äntligen! Det här satt verkligen långt inne, men efter allt strul som jag haft den här säsongen satt det gött att äntligen få köra final och få kliva upp på pallen igen, säger han.

Jimmie klättrar upp från tionde till sjätteplats i mästerskapet.
– Tyvärr har den mediokra inledningen på säsongen gjort att jag inte är med och slåss i toppen, men jag ska göra vad jag kan under de två avslutande deltävlingarna, lovar han.

Nästa deltävling (deltävling 6) körs 10 juli på samma bana i Riga.

RallyX Riga, deltävling 5
1. Simon Olofsson 30 p
2. Martin Ekspjuth 24 p
3. Jimmie Walfridson 20 p
4. Mattis Jansson 21 p
5. Martin Enlund 23 p
6. Ole Henry Steinsholt 14 p

Komplett resultat: https://www.chronomoto.com/rallyx/
Mer info hittar du på www.walfridson.com där vi följt tävlingen heat för heat.

22-07-07 World RX’s electric era to start in Norway next month
The 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship will begin at Hell in Norway next month (13-14 August), following the postponement of Germany’s Nürburgring event to allow teams maximum time to prepare for the sport’s exciting new electric era.

World RX will adopt full electrification in the headlining category this year as the series moves towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future. Not only that, but the cars will be the most powerful and spectacular ever seen in the championship, generating 500kW – the equivalent of 680bhp – and 880Nm of instant torque at the touch of a pedal, resulting in eye-watering acceleration faster even than Formula 1.

Teams have been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes in advance of the electric switch, but global events over the past couple of years have caused supply chain issues leading to unforeseen delays in car builds.

In order to launch this new generation of rallycross beasts in fitting fashion, the decision has consequently been taken to grant teams two further weeks to perfect their preparations. The opening round has duly switched to Norway on 13-14 August, with Germany becoming a double-header weekend and staging the season finale on 12-13 November.

The calendar* has also been bolstered by the addition of a fully electric double-header in Catalunya on 29-30 October at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which has hosted World RX every year since 2015.

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We are taking a major step this year and have no doubt that electric technology will elevate World RX to the next level, but such a significant evolution takes time and nobody has been immune to the global challenges of the past two years. Together with the teams, we are committed to presenting the new cars to fans in the best way possible, and we are confident the extra two weeks’ preparation time will enable everybody to do that.

“We look forward to returning to Catalunya in October and ending the season in style at the Nürburgring, but first, our focus is on Hell – and to getting World RX’s new era underway with a truly electrifying event!”

Ingo Böder, CEO, Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG, said:
“We had a wonderful first World RX event last year, with some superb racing and a fantastic title battle that went right the way down to the wire – and while it is a shame not to be able to host the first round of the sport’s new electric era, we are very much looking forward to staging the season finale again – now with double the on-track action! Hopefully spectators will enjoy a similarly close fight this year – and who knows, with the new November date, perhaps we will see a sprinkling of snow again to add to the excitement...”

Tor Helge Forbord Slind, CEO, HELL RX AS, said:
“There has been tremendous interest and excitement around World RX’s return to Hell this year, and to get to stage the eagerly-awaited premiere of the championship’s new electric era really is the icing on the cake.

“We are proud in Norway to be leading the energy transition in the automotive industry – 90% of new cars sold here now are either electric or hybrid – so there are plenty of synergies with what Rallycross Promoter is doing and we look forward to putting on an incredible event for fans next month with sensational action in all four classes.”

Victor Casanovas, General Manager, SevenMila, Promoter of RXCatalunya, said:
“Catalunya is characterised by its close association with motorsport, and the eighth edition of CatalunyaRX – already a classic stop on the international calendar – is proof of this. We are very pleased to continue this relationship in the discipline’s new, fully electric era, with a mixed-gender competition that enables local fans to watch and learn from first-class international drivers, thereby keeping the motorsport vibes growing in the territory.”

*Updated calendar subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval

22-07-04 Rain dampens result for Baumanis and #yellowsquad at Magic Weekend
In front of over 20,000 people at Holjes in Sweden Latvian star Janis Baumanis and the #YellowSquad team battled with some of the best rallycross drivers in the world throughout the Magic Weekend, but a brief rain shower during the third qualifying race meant fast pace couldn’t be converted into a top result.

Mixed conditions had been the order of the day on Saturday, but a strong performance by Baumanis left him seventh in the day one classification, just a handful of qualifying points outside the top four.

Looking to climb the order on Sunday morning, Baumanis ran in the first race of heat three. A short, heavy rain shower at the Varmland circuit, for only the duration of the opening race of the session meant that Baumanis did his best on dry tyres in extremely challenging conditions. Despite surviving the five-lap race his time was almost a minute slower than the fastest time set in the later races of the session. An incredible margin in a sport where it is usually tenths of a second separating the leading contenders, leaving Baumanis with only the 20th best time.

Ninth in the raking after the heats, Baumanis did all he could in the progression race and semi-final, but agonisingly with the new-for-2022 format, due to the wet run in heat three and his compromised ranking position, second place in the third semi-final meant he just missed out on a place in the final.

Classified sixth in the event, Baumanis’ performance at the end of the weekend was a strong damage-limitation exercise, and while several of his fellow regular Euro RX1 competitors also ran into difficulties, the Latvian former European Rallycross Champion climbed to second in the 2022 standings. A positive outcome from a challenging weekend with four rounds of the season remaining.

JANIS BAUMANIS
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“If somebody was unlucky this weekend then it was for sure me. It was difficult Saturday and then more difficult on Sunday, with rain in heat three easy hopes for the final were gone when we dropped out of the top places.

I did what I could in the semi-final, for sure I could have done more, but to be closer to [Johan] Kristoffersson and to overtake him then I need to do a lot of driving and learn a lot more. Especially somewhere like Holjes where he knows every centimetre of the track.

We’re second in the championship now, that’s not bad but there is a gap to the leader so we need to work hard in the coming races. There are still four races in the championship to go and this is rallycross, anything can happen so we will work hard to fight back.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“We had some small issues during the weekend but the big one was when it was raining only for our race in heat three, which put us much lower in the ranking positions than we would have been, then it was very difficult even with a good progression race and semi-final to make to the final. All-in-all, the pace was quite good through the weekend and we were a bit unlucky overall. It was great to be back at the Magic Weekend in Holjes but now our focus is straight onto improving for the next races.”

22-07-04 Hard work unrewarded for JC Raceteknik in Euro RX at Holjes
JC Raceteknik embarked on its home round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Holjes, Sweden with eyes set firmly on the podium, together with Norwegian driver line-up Ole Christian Veiby and Sondre Evjen, but in a difficult weekend, neither driver made the final.

Fans returned to Holjes for the Magic Weekend in their tens of thousands, where in the JC Raceteknik Audi S1s, Veiby and Evjen battled through challenging weather conditions and tough competition on track looking for a top result.

Consistently inside the top five in the opening two heats, Evjen lay fifth overnight after Saturday’s racing, while Veiby sat in 10th position, not finding a good rhythm with the car or circuit.

Hard work overnight by the team improved things for Sunday morning, and Veiby set his best pace of the weekend in Heat three. Both drivers progressed through the Progression races, Evjen with a race win and Veiby a third-place finish, but both would finish third in their respective semi-finals and just miss out on a place in the final, ending hopes of finishing on the podium.

Meanwhile in Latvia, reigning RallyX Nordic CrossCar Champion Isak Reiersen, co-driven by Lucas Karlsson, made his European Rally Championship debut with a JC Raceteknik-run Ford Fiesta Rally 4 and the rising star finished 23rd overall and fifth in the ERC4 Junior category.

JC returns to action this weekend in Riga, Latvia for the fifth and sixth rounds of RallyX. Keep up to date with all the information about the free live broadcast via our social media channels.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“It was an okay weekend in Holjes, we had quite good pace with Sondre on Saturday, but Ole Christian didn’t have the pace we wanted. We found some speed overnight and after warm-up on Sunday morning we felt very good. We had a good heat three and felt confident going into the semi-finals, but a few moments in the first corners lost time for both drivers and we didn’t make the final. We are here to fight for the podium so for sure we are not happy with this, but that’s how it is. We go to Riga this weekend and try to improve. And for Isak, he did a great job this weekend to continue his learning, it was another successful weekend for him and the team in rally.”

22-07-04 Marklund inherits second win of season after box office battle at Höljes
Anton Marklund made it two from two in the 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Höljes today (3 July), benefitting from a post-event disqualification for on-the-road winner Oliver Solberg to extend his advantage at the summit of the standings.

The build-up to the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ might have been all about the event’s box office stars – four-time FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson, defending Euro RX1 title-winner Andreas Bakkerud and FIA World Rally Championship protagonist Solberg – but it was championship leader Marklund who outperformed them all throughout the heat races to seal the top spot in the intermediate ranking as the Swede went about proceedings in his usual calm, unflappable and ultra-quick manner.

From there, the Nyirád winner dominated his progression race and was comfortably managing the pace in the first semi-final when a late puncture dropped him behind Bakkerud. With countryman Anders Michalak hunting him down, he doggedly clung on to a spot in the final by barely a third-of-a-second.

That meant that instead of beginning the last race of the weekend from pole position, he took the start from the middle of the grid, exiting Turn Two in second place behind Solberg. A first lap joker by Kristoffersson forced the Hedströms Motorsport driver into an immediate response, and as he rejoined the main track, the pair made contact that sent both sideways, obliging them to call upon all of their famed car control to straighten themselves out.

Following a brief stint at the front of the field, Marklund’s own joker dropped him to third, but he had already been dealt one dose of good fortune when a puncture for Kristoffersson dropped the KMS ace out of the podium battle. Another late twist in the tale then saw Bakkerud succumb to suspension failure on the penultimate tour, elevating his SET Promotion rival to second, which would become first when Solberg was subsequently disqualified for non-compliant underbody protection on his Hyundai i20.

“Obviously you never want to win this way, and I feel very sorry for Oliver because he drove amazingly all weekend,” said Marklund. “I know the heartache he is feeling right now, since I lost what would have been my first World RX win in Norway in 2017 due to a technical infringement, but that’s the way it is and the result is obviously very positive for the championship for us.

“To be second overall on Saturday was already very good, but to then go fastest in heat three and move to the top of the leaderboard in such a strong field was fantastic – and it was brilliant to see so many fans back again.

“Here at Höljes, there’s always a lot of drama. I hoped I wouldn’t be struck by it, but in the semi-final, I picked up a puncture and had to really fight to hang on for the last two laps. In the final, I then completely overshot the jump on lap one and after that, the front end of my car didn’t really feel like it should. I couldn’t keep up with Oliver’s pace, but I got lucky with the other guys having issues and we ended up with the win. Hopefully we can now capitalise on this momentum over the rest of the year.”

Marklund’s second consecutive victory this season saw him stretch his margin at the top of the title table from four points to 18. Second place in the final went the way of Jean Baptiste ‘JB’ Dubourg, who truly took the fight to his Scandinavian adversaries and – like the winner – survived a late semi-final puncture. Despite his failure to finish, Bakkerud was classified third.

FIRST-TIME WINNERS SHINE IN SUPPORT SERIES
In Euro RX3, rising star Marius Solberg Hansen produced a sensational performance to defeat championship leader Kobe Pauwels for a hugely popular triumph in only his second outing in the series.

After pushing the Nyirád winner hard during the heats, Solberg Hansen – who last year was awarded the prestigious Petter Solberg Scholarship – dominated his progression race, withstood the threat of Damian Litwinowicz in the second semi-final and then led the all-important final from lights-to-flag.

Pauwels – who felt he was lacking pace on the opening day – came out fighting on Sunday and very nearly made it two victories from as many rounds this season, but the runner-up spoils nonetheless enabled him to pull further clear in the chase for the coveted crown. The Belgian’s closest challenger is now João Ribeiro – who reached the rostrum again in third – as Jan Cerný found himself spat into the gravel and out of contention at the start of his semi-final.

Under the tutelage of last year’s champion Guillaume De Ridder, Belgian prodigy Viktor Vranckx made a winning start to his FIA RX2e Championship career at Höljes. The teenage hotshot – still only 16 – was the pace-setter all weekend, and held off home hero Nils Andersson in the final for a dazzling debut success in the all-electric single-spec series.

Isak Sjökvist made it two Swedes on the podium in third, while Patrick O’Donovan – the driver who looked most likely to challenge Vranckx for the top spot – saw his bid end at the semi-final stage when a miscommunication caused him to miss the joker lap, ruling him out of the final.

FINAL RESULT: EURO RX1
1. Anton MARKLUND (SWE) SET Promotion 5 laps
2. Jean Baptiste Dubourg (FRA) Jean Baptiste Dubourg + 2.019s
3. Andreas BAKKERUD (NOR) EKS + 1 lap
4. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 3 laps

DSQ Oliver SOLBERG (SWE) Hedströms Motorsport

FINAL RESULT: EURO RX3
1. Marius SOLBERG HANSEN (NOR) MSH RX 5 laps
2. Kobe PAUWELS (BEL) Volland Racing + 0.383s
3. João RIBEIRO (PRT) João Ribeiro + 3.289s
4. Janno LIGUR (EST) Ligur Racing + 4 laps
DSQ Damian LITWINOWICZ (POL) Damian Litwinowicz

FINAL RESULT: RX2e
1. Viktor VRANCKX (BEL) Bert Vranckx 5 laps
2. Nils ANDERSSON (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport + 0.616s
3. Isak SJÖKVIST (SWE) Hedströms Motorsport + 1.337s
4. Raul FERRE (AND) ACA Esport + 2.335s
5. Pablo SUÁREZ (ESP) QEV Motorsport +11.506s

Full results can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

22-07-03 Solberg fråntagen segern - Olivers Hyundai 3 kilo för tung
Han kom, han sågs, han segrade - och blev fråntagen segern. Oliver Solberg var helt outstanding i teamets Hyundai i20 Supercar under helgens Euro RX1 på ikoniska Höljesbanan. Hedströms Motorsport kunde också matcha fram Anders Michalak och Linus Östlund till semifinaler i Euro RX1, båda snubblande nära finalkörning.

Showen var över, Oliver Solberg var snabbast mål och sågs av de 22400 på åskådarläktarna leverera ett hopp upp på taket till sin Hyundai i vild segerglädje. Det var en mycket emotionell Oliver Solberg som sedan rullade upp framför VIP-läktaren för segerintervju. Glädjetårarna sprutade och äntligen efter mycket slit kom det en seger för Oliver. På hemmaplan i Värmland dessutom.
- Det var en stor lättnad, jag har haft en tuff tid i rally-VM nu och det känns så skönt att äntligen få vinna och att göra detta tillsammans med Hedströms, det är helt underbart, sprudlade Oliver.

Solberg har under helgen fått jobba hårt med att få till den perfekta starten, men i finalen då var det inget snack.
- Jag var så jäkla bestämd i finalen, så då satt den perfekt.

Sen kom det snöpliga eftermälet. och glädjetårar förvandlades till tårar av bedrövelse. Vid teknisk efterkontroll var bilens hasplåt 3 kg för tung. Märk väl, inte för lätt utan för tung.
- Han kommer ändå vara allas moraliska segrare, det är ju inga fördelar av att ha en för tung bil, menar teamchef Peter Hedström.

Anders Michalak i en av teamets VW Polo Supercar gjorde en strålande tävling, tog sig till semifinal och väl där var snubblande nära finalkörning.
- Hade jag inte blivit hindrad av en viss gul bil i semin, så hade jag nog kunnat köra final, säger Anders Michalak.

Han avancerar via niondeplatsen i Höljes från sjunde till sjätte plats i EM och känner sig ändå rätt nöjd med helgen.

En helt suverän helg hade också teamets Supercar-Rookie Linus Östlund, som inför hemmapubliken tog både heatseger, grejade semifinalstyrning och till slut hamnade på en elfte plats i sammandraget.
- Jag är nog nöjdaste killen i Värmland, basunerade Östlund ut när speaker Fridlund intervjuade.
Linus höll ett tempo i paritet med de snabbaste i semifinalen och var mycket nöjd med sin insats på hemmabanan.
- Känns skönt att farten finns för att vara med och hugga på toppåkarna i klassen och jag är sjukt nöjd med bilen, berättar Linus.

Teamets Supercar Lites-chaufför Isak Sjökvist, som i Höljes körde RX2e, repeterade sin bedrift från fjolåret, då som nu tog krigade han till sig en tredjeplats i finalen. Vinnarskallen Sjökvist var inte helt nöjd med helgen, men med lite distans så kändes det ändå bra.
- Efter att få smälta det kommer det nog kännas okej, vi är med i toppen, jag kände att vi hade farten och försökte hitta det där lilla sista, men det är små marginaler, Viktor och Nils var för tuffa idag, jag gav allt jag hade, berättar Sjökvist.

Teamet hade sammanfattningsvis en strålande helg med många glada gäster och partystämning.
- Kanonbra, tre bilar till semi i Supercar, Sjökvist på pallen i RX2e och Oliver som segrare, helt suveränt, summerar teamchef Peter Hedström.

COOPER TIRES RX OF SWEDEN, FIA EURO RX ROUND 2 - 2022
EURO RX1 Resultat 12 främsta av 25.

1. Anton Marklund, Hyundai i20, SWE
2. Jean Baptiste Duborg, Peugeot 208, FRA
3. Andreas Bakkerud, Audi S1, NOR
4. Johan Kristoffersson, VW Polo, SWE
5. Oliver Solberg, Hyundai i20, SWE
6. Janis Baumanis, Peugeot 208, LVA
7. Sondre Evjen, Audi S1, NOR
8. Ole Christian Veiby, Audi S1, NOR
9. Anders Michalak, VW Polo, SWE
10. Sivert Svardal, VW Polo, NOR
11. Linus Östlund, VW Polo, SWE
12. Marcin Gagacki, Ford Fiesta, PO

22-07-03 Nils tvåa men stopp för Johan
Johan Kristoffersson fick inte chansen att utmana om segern ända fram till slutet i Höljes. En punktering satte stopp i finalen.
- På ett ställe där jag aldrig fått punktering tidigare. Jag hade gärna kört några varv till, säger Johan, som ändå kunde glädja sig åt teamkompisen Nils Andersson som slutade tvåa i RX2e.

Som väntat var Johan Kristoffersson en av de som satte färg på EM-rallycrossen på Höljes-banan i norra Värmland inför 22 400 åskådare.
- All-in-all får vi vara nöjda. Vi var med och fajtades om segern, men det räckte inte hela vägen.

Prestationen var lite upp och ner för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren under helgen.
- Det var en del småstrul, så jag fick inte riktigt den där go’-känslan som vi hade här förra gången.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson summerade på ungefär samma sätt.
- När det fungerade gick det fort, men det var en del tekniska omständigheter som vi inte riktigt kunde läsa av.

Ändå var alltså Kristoffersson i segerstriden en bra bit in i finalen. Oliver Solberg hade pole position och han var också först ut i starten, med Johan tätt bakom.
- Jag fick en bra start. Planen var att dyka i jokern direkt om Oliver var före och så blev det ju. Jag gjorde en bra joker och ett snabbt varv därefter, men de har väl tävlat mot mig förut.

Mycket riktigt. Solbergs team plockade in Oliver i jokern innan den fyrfaldige världsmästaren hann krympa avståndet mer, ett lyckat drag.
- Det var som i gamla tider, en kamp mot Solberg, bara att det var den yngre generationen den här gången, vilket får mig att känna mig riktigt gammal, säger Kristoffersson med ett skratt och fortsätter:
- Men Oliver körde fantastiskt bra och förtjänade absolut att vinna.

Teamchef Kristoffersson stämde också in i gratulationerna:
- Oliver var värd det här efter en del motgångar. Han var absolut min favorit till segern om inte vi skulle ta den.Solberg fick till sist en ganska ostörd resa mot segern när Kristoffersson fick parkera med punktering på tredje varvet.

För den andre Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren, Gustav Bergström, tog det stopp efter progression race. En plats bland de tre bästa behövdes i racet och Bergström missade med minsta möjliga marginal, i mål som fyra. 19-åringen summerade helgen med blandade känslor.
- På blött underlag fungerade det bra, men på det stora hela kände jag väl inte att jag kom riktigt så nära som jag ville.

Så vad är det som behövs framöver?
- Körtid! Mer träning och även att bli bättre på inställning av bilen, mappning och allting.

Och just därför har teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson valt att matcha den unga talangen i tävlingarna i RallyX samt i EuroRX i Höljes.
- Det här är riktigt tufft motstånd för Gustav, men i tempot på banan matchar han flera förare med betydligt större rutin. Han behöver få ordning på starterna, men han gör absolut det vi kan förvänta oss och slutar som förste reserv in i semifinalen.

Bäste förare från Kristoffersson Motorsport blev nu istället Nils Andersson. I säsongsdebuten i elbilsklassen RX2e slutade Andersson tvåa och visade att han blir att räkna med i mästerskapet. Men inte heller hans helg blev problemfri.
- Jag är nöjd med hur vi kämpade oss genom den här helgen, trots en del problem, till exempel i Q3 där jag blev klämd från två håll och framvagnen kollapsade.

Andersson kom igen och var den som utmanade Viktor Vranckx om segern. Nils hade chansen efter sitt joker-besök, men belgaren kontrade.
- Jag gjorde ett litet misstag plus att han fick till ett riktigt bra varv samtidigt. Det gjorde en halv sekund och var ungefär den billängden som skilde oss åt.

Andersson tar med sig bra vibrationer till nästa tävling på Nürburgring.
- Jag var ju bättre än Johan Kristoffersson den här helgen, säger Nils med ett skratt.

Även här blev det beröm från teamchefen:
- Imponerad av Nils. Tvåa i Höljes är jättebra, avrundar Tommy Kristoffersson.

22-07-01 FIA-besök i historisk tid
VM-premiären för den elektriska rallycrosseran väntar runt hörnet. Mitt i febril aktivitet fick Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS besök av tre representanter från Internationella Bilsportförbundet.
- Det känns mycket hedrande att FIA hälsar på i vår verkstad när vi nu är på väg in i ett historiskt skifte inom motorsport, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Ordinarie arbetstider är lagda åt sidan i spurten in mot premiären för World RX på Nürburgring i slutet av juli. Teamet räknar med att där ställa tre bilar på startlinjen. Den första är nästan färdig för test, den andra bra på gång och den tredje väntas anlända till verkstaden i Koppsäng utanför Arvika inom kort.
- Det här är det största projektet vi har gett oss på under mina drygt trettio år i branschen. Det går i princip dygnet runt nu. Vi kommer till och med att ha folk kvar i verkstaden när vi åker till Höljes, berättar Kristoffersson.

Ett nytt reglemente ska sjösättas, något som sällan sker utan barnsjukdomar. För att se hur teori omsätts i praktiken gjorde därför tre representanter för FIA en visit i KMS-verkstaden under veckan.
- Vi är glada att få komma ut och se hur situationen är på plats där bilarna byggs, säger Karl-Heinz Goldstein, som är teknisk rådgivare inom FIA.

Tillsammans med kollegan Iiro Palmi tog han chansen att göra ett besök på vägen upp till Höljes.
- Eftersom KMS är det team som är längst framme i sin process valde vi att börja här, berättar Palmi.

Fler team kan förvänta sig att få påhälsning.
- Det vore trevligt att besöka alla team, men det kommer nog inte att vara praktiskt möjligt att hinna med, säger Karl-Heinz Goldstein.

Besöket hade ett ömsesidigt syfte. Se och lära från båda håll.
- Vi är här för att se hur teamen tolkar reglementet och för att se att direktiven är tydliga nog för att vara begripliga. Vi vill säkerställa att vi “pratar samma språk”, säger Iiro Palmi.

Trots en pressad arbetssituation verkar ändå läget vara under kontroll hos Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS.
- Jag hade förväntat mig fler frågor, säger Karl-Heinz Goldstein. Hittills har det bara handlat om ett par små detaljer som vi kunde svara på direkt.

Större frågor har tidigare behandlats med påverkan från deltagande team.
- RX1e-klassen är helt ny. Under tekniska arbetsgruppens möten hade teamen möjlighet att bidra till skapandet av ett nytt reglemente, berättar Goldstein.

Med under besöket i Arvika var också Valentin Ragot, som ansvarar för den elektriska säkerheten. Den delen är den sista som kan utvärderas.
- Det är mycket inom mitt område som jag inte har kunnat se än, men det jag har sett så här långt verkar bra.

Vad är då förhoppningarna inför VM-premiären om några veckor?
- Att teamen hinner i ordning i tid, trots ganska lite tid för tester, och att vi får se bra och spännande race, säger Goldstein.

Iiro Palmi har en vision för rallycrossens framtid:
- Många pratar om att vi förlorar en dimension i och med ljudet, även om de här bilarna också kommer att ha ljud. Då behöver vi kompensera det, med ännu mer spektakulära prestationer på banan och professionella arrangemang, till exempel i form av duktiga speakers som skapar spänning med sitt kommenterande, säger Palmi och nämner Höljes som ett gott exempel på detta.

Tommy Kristoffersson ser också en intressant framtid för rallycross.
- De nya bilarna kommer att ha en enorm prestanda. Det kommer att gå undan och bli tuffa fajter.

22-07-01 Magisk helg i sikte
- Oliver, Anders, Isak och Linus förväntansfulla inför The Magic Weekend.

Äntligen är det dags igen! Den magiska helgen i Höljes, hemmaplan för Hedströms Motorsport. Teamet räknar in välkände Anders Michalak, Isak Sjökvist i RX2e, hemmahoppet Linus Östlund och kryddar dessutom med Sveriges VM-hopp i rally Oliver Solberg, som äntrar teamets Hyundai i20 Supercar.

Vi får gå långt bak i tiden för att kunna räkna in ett så stjärnspäckat startfält i Rallycross-EM. Hedströms Motorsport ställer hela tre bilar till start av de 24 i Euro RX1 som rullar ut på startplattan. Dessutom har vi 20 år unge Isak Sjökvist, som till vardags i RallyX kör Supercar Lites för Hedströms, men i VM nu äntrar RX2e.

Almunge-expressen Anders Michalak kör en av teamets VW Polo Supercar och har en bra känsla inför Höljes.
- Jag körde tester i Arvika för ett par veckor sedan inför tävlingen, fick en bra känsla i bilen efter lite tester med fjädringen, säger Anders Michalak.

Bra känsla i bilen fick också Linus Östlund på sina tester. Linus får sticka ut som teamets Supercar-Rookie och trots ett helt gäng SM-guld i Lites och tre olika Crosskartklasser, så är han nybörjare på just Supercar.
- Känns rätt obeskrivligt med tanke på var jag var för bara några år sedan, en dröm som går i uppfyllelse att sitta i en Supercar inför hemmapubliken, säger Linus Östlund.

Någon press på sig känner han inte.
- Nej, jag har ingen press på mig själv, jag ska köra för att utvecklas under tävlingen, så får vi se hur långt det räcker.

Oliver Solberg kommer direkt från Rally-VM i Kenya och hann med ett snabbt starttest på Likenäsbanan innan ankomst till Höljes.
- På slutet blev det riktigt bra och jämna starter, det kan bli svårt om det blir regn, det har jag inte testat nåt på med bilen.

Bilen har teamet tillsammans med Solbergs utvecklat och vässat inför Olivers entävlingscomeback i rallycrossen.
- Motorn känns riktigt bra och chassit har vi gjort mycket jobb på, den känns annorlunda mot Citroen:en med riktigt snabb, summerar Oliver Solberg.

Peter Hedström känner tillförsikt inför helgen med en fin egen laguppställning och ser fram mot lördagens start av VM-tävlingen.
- Jag känner ett lugn i kroppen nu mot tidigare påslag när jag tävlade själv.

Peter lät sig imponeras av Linus på testdagar med stora framsteg.
- Linus är jag grymt imponerad av, Anders är säkerheten själv, Oliver kommer bli grym på Höljesbanan, han hade fruktansvärt ladd här på testet tidigare, Isak snabb förra året och kommer vara där i toppen, det här kommer bli en fantastisk helg, summerar Peter Hedström.

22-06-29 Magisk helg väntar i Höljes
Höljes öppnar portarna för Magic Weekend! Johan Kristoffersson har höga förväntningar inför helgen i rallycrossmetropolen.
- Hoppas verkligen vi får en riktig folkfest med kanske 20-30 000 i publiken, säger Kristoffersson som förstås siktar på seger i Euro RX1.

Efter ett lugnt midsommarfirande med familjen började Johan race-veckan med drygt nio mil på cykel. Den fysiska formen är fin.
- Inte som förr i tiden, men ändå helt okej!

Självförtroendet är också på topp efter de två deltävlingarna i RallyX tidigare i år, där det blev tre segrar på fyra tävlingar, inte minst en dubbelviktoria i just Höljes. Den KMS-byggda gamla VW Polon visade sig konkurrenskraftig tack vare förbättringar som Kristoffersson har jobbat hårt med.
- Efter tävlingen i Finland har vi mest återställt den i race-skick, berättar Johan, som hittar gott om tuffa konkurrenter i det 25 förare starka startfältet.

Kristoffersson räknar upp bland andra: Andreas Bakkerud, Enzo Ide, Anton Marklund, Janis Baumanis, Ole Christian Veiby, Sondre Evjen, Oliver Solberg och Jean Baptiste Dubourg.
- Alla dessa ser jag som tänkbara vinnare.

Men för att någon av dem ska lyckas med det måste de förstås besegra den fyrfaldige världsmästaren från Arvika. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren ser Höljes-tävlingen som ett utmärkt tillfälle att testa det nya tävlingsupplägget inför VM-premiären med elbilarna på Nürburgring sista helgen i juli. I det nya konceptet körs två kvalomgångar följda av ett “progression race” om platserna i semifinalerna. Poäng delas ut endast efter finalerna.
- Bra att få köra en tävling med det nya upplägget inför VM-premiären. Svårt att säga hur det kommer att fungera förrän vi har kört, men jag gillade det gamla upplägget där det lönade sig att köra fort hela tiden.

Teamet kommer till start med två bilar, där unge Gustav Bergström tar hand om den andra ratten.
- Ännu ett bra tillfälle att skaffa rutin inför kommande VM-tävlingar, kommenterar Bergström.

Teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, Tommy Kristoffersson, tycker att förutsättningarna ser bra ut.
- Johan åker förstås dit för att vinna och för Gustav blir det en ny chans att bekanta sig med bilen och tävlingskonceptet.

Bergströms bil har dessutom fått sig en uppdatering med lite nya delar.
- Det blir en spännande helg med jämnt och bra startfält, säger Tommy och fortsätter:
- Hoppas på en riktig folkfest dessutom!

Kristoffersson Motorsport har också ett tredje ekipage i anmälningslistan: Nils Andersson i RX2e. Andersson parkerar inte i KMS-tältet, men har backning och support från teamet när han gör säsongsdebut i elbilsklassen med sin nyligen namngivna Eloise. 22-åringen från Arvika har ett lyckat försäsongstest i Spanien bakom sig när han nu ger sig i kast med de nio konkurrenterna i klassen.
- Det här ska bli riktigt roligt! Jag har svårt att se hur jag skulle kunna komma mer förberedd än jag gör, säger Nils Andersson.

22-06-24 More magic moments in prospect as Höljes gears up to host Swedish summer spectacle
The scene is set. The cars are prepped. More than 50 drivers are ready for action at Höljes in Sweden. Heck, after two years of Covid-enforced absence, even ‘Happy Street’ is back. This can all only mean one thing. It’s time for the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ (2-3 July).

A capacity 25-strong entry in Euro RX1 and high-calibre grids in both RX2e and Euro RX3 are headlined by a multiple World Rallycross Champion, a quartet of European Rallycross Champions, a trio of rallying heroes, a 14-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion and an ice-racing master. It’s quite the line-up.

EURO RX1: A FIRST-CLASS FIELD
Euro RX1 at Höljes constitutes something of a rallycross who’s who, with Johan Kristoffersson throwing down the gauntlet to his rivals when he announced his participation in his family-run Kristoffersson Motorsport Volkswagen Polo.

The quadruple World Champion will face stiff opposition, however, from a number of quarters. Reigning title-holder Andreas Bakkerud has renewed his relationship with EKS, and the Norwegian will head into battle in the same Audi S1 with which he so very nearly clinched the World Championship crown in 2019.

Anton Marklund proved to be unbeatable in the Nyirád curtain-raiser behind the wheel of his SET Promotion Hyundai i20, though he was pushed hard by the increasingly impressive Enzo Ide (EKS), who is demonstrating just how much he learned competing alongside Kristoffersson last year in the top flight.

Series returnee Ulrik Linnemann fought his way from 18th overnight to a rostrum result in the season-opener, and the indefatigable Dane can always be counted upon to put his absolute heart and soul into his performance.

Former Super1600 king Janis Baumanis and six-time Andros Trophy ice-racing champion Jean Baptiste ‘JB’ Dubourg are both fired-up to bounce back from a disappointing end to their Hungarian challenges, while last season’s Cooper Tires ‘Rookie of the Year’ Sivert Svardal produced a giant-killing effort to reach the final at Nyirád and is sure to enjoy plenty of home support.

A famous surname returns to the World RX paddock as Oliver Solberg makes his first competitive rallycross appearance in two years with Hedströms Motorsport, as JC Raceteknik fields a pair of Audi S1s for Norwegian duo Sondre Evjen and Ole Christian Veiby, both of whom have previous podium form in European competition.

Perhaps the darkest horse of all, however, is local favourite Linus Östlund. Hailing from nearby Sysslebäck, the 22-year-old knows Höljes like the back of his hand.

EURO RX3: AUDI VS. ŠKODA TAKE TWO
In Euro RX3, Kobe Pauwels and Jan Cerný waged a fierce duel for supremacy in Hungary and a similar no-holds-barred scrap looks to be in prospect in round two, but there are a number of other contenders amongst the 16-strong entry.

João Ribeiro and Nuno Araújo will fly the Portuguese flag, with fellow Audi A1 driver Damian Litwinowicz likewise sure to be a threat in his sophomore campaign in the series. Teenage hotshot Jirí Šusta went second-quickest in both of the heats he finished at Nyirád, while two former podium-finishers at Höljes have also thrown their hat into the ring, as Estonian Janno Ligur and Norway’s Espen Isaksætre make their seasonal debuts.

RX2e: AN ELECTRIFYING SHOW
The all-electric FIA RX2e Championship begins its second campaign at the ‘Magic Weekend’. Spain’s Pablo Suárez, rising British star Patrick O’Donovan and Sweden’s own Isak Sjökvist were embroiled in a fierce tussle for third place in the overall standings last year, and all three are back for more in 2022.

Sjökvist’s compatriot Nils Andersson is going from strength-to-strength under the tutelage of Johan Kristoffersson, while the female charge will be led by Extreme E front-runner Catie Munnings and 14-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion Laia Sanz, who made her RX2e bow at Spa-Francorchamps last season.

So, we’re all-set. Here we go. Ready to Race!
All of the action weekend-long will be broadcast live on RX+. Event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More info can be found here, while race weekend tickets can still be purchased here. All event entry lists can be found here.

Additional copyright-free images are available for media download via the World RX News Room on the Red Bull Content Pool.

22-06-21 Dream 1-2 result launches DRR JC into 2022 Nitro RX season
Swedish-American rallycross team DRR JC made history in the opening round of the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill, UK, claiming a one-two finish in the first-ever Group E final for the new electric FC1-X rallycross machines, as part of having all four cars finish in the top five.

It was Swede Robin Larsson, driving under the Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC banner who claimed the event by the scruff of the neck, storming to victory in the Battle Brackets on Saturday, and his heat race on Sunday morning to progress directly to the final. In the six-lap, eight-car main event, Larsson led for the duration from pole position, withstanding pressure for the lead to claim an emphatic maiden Nitro RX win with the amalgamated Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik-run squad.

Larsson’s team mate Andreas Bakkerud used all of his experience to climb to second at the first corner of the final, driving the sister FC1-X, and he pressured Larsson hard for the opening laps. He took an earlier joker lap than his team mate, but got delayed in traffic and finished the race in second position – a dream result for the squad.

Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“We had a really good first weekend of the season. I won all of my battles on Saturday and took pole position for the first heats won that to make it straight to the final. Skipping the semi-final and the LCQ was really important, saving tyres and having the inside grid position. I knew the start was going to be really tough, I made a good start, I knew Kris Meeke was going to try a move and there were cars everywhere in the first corner in the final. For the first laps it felt really safe with Bakkerud behind me. Then I took the joker and came out in the lead – it was a perfect weekend for me and really good for the team.”

Andreas Bakkerud (NOR), Group E:
“It was a very successful weekend. My target is to fight for the championship, obviously, so I came here to Lydden Hill wanting a solid top four, and to stay away from trouble. That was my goal. Ending up with P2 is great, at the same time I kind of gave it away to Robin in the battles, making it a bit harder for myself also in the final. I jokered maybe a bit too early, I was stuck in traffic so I actually finished the race with much more boost left in the car so that was a bummer, but at the same time it was a great result for the team. I’m very pumped for the next race, I need to improve my starts, I’m lacking a bit there but I think I’ve been quite fast all weekend so I’d give myself 7.5 out of 10.”

Also inside the top five of the event, Fraser McConnell finished fourth in his first weekend with the team despite the Jamaican star picking up damage after contact from another car at turn one, while Norwegian World Rally Championship ace Ole Christian Veiby, who stepped into the squad in the week leading up to the event, finished fifth.

Swedish driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky returned to rallycross to compete in the NRX NEXT category and the Extreme E driver claimed a podium finish in round two on Sunday. American Lane Vacala scored a best result of the weekend of fourth on Saturday, but was forced out of the final in round two on Sunday with accident damage. In the Crosscar division, Alex Gustafsson made his Nitro RX debut and set the pace in round two on Sunday until the final, where he ran into troubles and finished seventh.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“What a weekend. I have to say, Robin was fantastic at Lydden Hill. And so where the whole team. The 1-2 finish in the final, and all four cars in the top five is a result of a huge amount of hard work and it’s an amazing achievement. Everyone in the team should be very proud. Now we have one race under our belts, we can properly regroup ahead of the next race. We also had strong weekends in NRX NEXT, it’s fantastic that Mikaela finished on the podium on Sunday, and Alex continued his learning in Crosscar and again impressed me with his pace.”

22-06-20 Pallplats för Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky i premiären av Nitro Rallycross, NRX NEXT
Premiärhelgen för NITRO RX, kördes på den legendariska banan Lydden Hill i England. Det blev direkt en pallplats för Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky som var jublande glad efter finalen.

Efter ett åtta-årigt uppehåll var det nu dags för Mikaela att återvända till att tävla i rallycross tillsammans med Team JC. I helgen gick den första tävlingen på NITRO seriens Europatour där det skulle göras upp om medaljerna i de två deltävlingar som kördes under lördagen, respektive söndagen.
"Otroligt roligt att vara tillbaka till rallycrossen! Under helgen har vi jobbat oss framåt steg för steg, och att få avsluta med ett podium kändes helt fantastiskt."

Lördagen gav blandade resultat. Mikaela hade bra fart på träningarna, men startprocedurerna var något som besvärade henne, då hon inte riktigt fick till starterna ännu och kom i väg för sent. Vidare fanns farten där och Mikaela avslutade första dagen med en mer erfarenhet och var laddad inför söndagens race.
"Det har varit många nya intryck under den här helgen, då rallycross skiljer sig tills stor del från banracingen, både racemässigt då det är kort och intensivt, men även startupplägget. Det känns som att när jag väl kommer in i det mer och mer och börjar bitarna falla på plats, men sen är det ju en klar fördel att komma i väg i starten samtidigt som de andra" säger Mikaela med ett skratt."

Till söndagen knäckte hon och teamet koden, som då resulterade med en vinst i semi-finalen.

Under söndagens finalrace startade Mikaela i andra startspår av de 8 bilarna som hade kvalificerat sig final. Efter en tumultartad start och 4 händelserika varv ledde Simon Olofsson finalen med Mikaela på en 2:a plats bakom sig, men på grund av flertalet krascher valde man att rödflagga racet.

Detta resulterade i en omstart, men mot slutet av finalracet med smak på en andraplats fick Mikaela slå av på sitt tempo när bara två varv återstod då hennes servostyrning slutade fungera.
"Det blev lite extra kämpigt på slutet att behålla pallplatsen, men med allt summerat är jag så glad över jobbet vi gjort under helgen! Vi tar vi med oss bra erfarenhet och laddar fullt inför nästa deltävling som går i Strängnäs" summerar Mikaela.

NRX Next European Championship består av 3 deltävlingar;
18-19 juni Lydden Hill, England
30-31 juli Strängnäs motorstadion
27-28 augusti Kymiring, Finland

22-06-20 Megennis’ face pace unrewarded in Nitro RX Europe season-opener
American driver George Megennis and the #YellowSquad team set the pace in the opening two rounds of the NRX NEXT support category within the Nitro Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill (UK), but mitigating circumstances meant the speed wasn’t reflected in the final results.

On a brand-new circuit to 17-year-old Megennis – where rallycross was first created in 1967 – the young driver topped the standings in the opening free practice session of the weekend on Saturday morning and later won his Semi-Final on track. However, a post-race penalty for hitting a course marker meant he had to race in the Last Chance Qualifier to secure a good grid position for the final.

Winning the LCQ was damage limitation for the team and Megennis, before the 2021 NRX NEXT event-winner pushed hard throughout the final, using an early joker lap strategy in a bid to climb the order, and eventually finished fifth.

George Megennis
The second round of the series took place on Sunday, where Megennis was again fastest in practice. He then won his heat race to claim a front row start in the semi-final, a race which he led from the start. However, a mistake landing from the circuit’s large jump while leading by over three seconds meant Megennis again had to progress to the final via a strong victory in the LCQ.

In the main event he got caught in the melee of a dramatic race and was forced to retire with damage sustained from an off-track excursion while battling for the podium. Megennis was classified sixth by virtue of his qualifying performance, and lies seventh in the series standings.

The next two rounds of the Nitro RX Europe series take place at Strangnas in Sweden on July 30-31, where #YellowSquad and Megennis will push hard to return to the podium.

First time for George at legendary Lydden Hill.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver

“Overall it was an okay weekend at Lydden Hill. I was definitely fastest but unfortunately due to a couple mistakes on my part and a whole lot of bad luck we weren’t able to convert that to a good final finishing position.

Now we need to re-group, re-prepare and come back stronger. I’m very hopeful looking towards the next round. I’ve already driven at Strangnas in Sweden so I really think that’ll be to my advantage there.”

Eric Färén
#Team manager
“It has been such a positive weekend at Lydden, the ‘Home of Rallycross’. George was the fastest on track all weekend, but some mistakes here and there cost us shot at a better result both days. We are so excited as a team by our potential so working hard on improving will be a joy.”

22-06-17 Se premiären av Rallycross-SM live på svenskbilsporttv.se
I helgen inleds årets SM-serie i Rallycross. Först ut är Västerås med en dubbeltävling. Du ser premiären och hela SM-serien live på www.svenskbilsporttv.se

Här kommer du direkt till premiärsändningen https://www.svenskbilsporttv.se/livestream/s-premiaren-av-sm-i-rallycross-fran-vasteras-fcu6js

Det är lite öppna dörrar för nya mästare i Rallycrossen. Endast i juniorklassen hittar vi fjolårssegraren från 2021 med till start i premiären. Jim Jansson som vann 2400 finns inte med i premiären och vinnaren i 2150, Klara Andersson har tagit klivet in i VM-serien.

Kliv har även Filip Martinsson tagit inför säsongen. Förra året körde han 2150 i juniorklassen, men i år är siktet inställt på seniorklassen för 2150. Och säsongen har börjat bra.
– Vi har kört en del test på tävlingar nu under året, lite backe, sprintserien i Västerås och Supercupen och det har rullat på åt rätt håll. Det har blivit sju segrar på åtta starter, konstaterar Filip Martinsson som inför säsongen kommer med ny bil.
– Vi har byggt en ny bil för säsongen, en BMW igen, säger Martinsson.

Totalt körs fem deltävlingar av årets SM och det börjar direkt med högsta fart när Västerås bjuder på en dubbelhelg då deltävling ett och två avgörs nu i helgen.
– Man måste tänka på att man ska ha en bil att åka med även andra dagen. Men det är ändå många poäng att köra om så man får inte fegköra. Och vi är där för att vinna. Målet är att vinna SM-guldet, avslutar Filip Martinsson.

22-06-16 Megennis and YellowSquad embark on Nitro RX Europe campaign
#YellowSquad and rising American rallycross star George Megennis embark on a new venture in the Nitro Rallycross Championship this weekend for the first round of the 2022 season at Lydden Hill.

Megennis impressed the rallycross world with his debut season performance in the NRX NEXT category last year in America, and as Nitro RX expands into Europe and further afield for 2022, together with #YellowSquad the 17-year-old New York native is committed to racing in the three-round Nitro RX Europe series at Lydden Hill (UK), Strangnas (Sweden) and Kymiring (Finland).

To prepare for the campaign, Megennis recently competed in the opening weekend of the Nordic-based RallyX season at Holjes, and challenged the more experienced Scandinavia-circuit specialists at the front of the field.

Now he heads to the venue where rallycross was first born in 1967, British circuit Lydden Hill having been revised for the Nitro RX weekend to include a banked corner, large jump and re-located joker lap.

Following the European season, Nitro RX and the NRX NEXT category move to America, a programme Megennis and the #YellowSquad team are working towards participating in.

#YellowSquad #9
George Megennis
#YellowSquad NRX Next Driver
“I feel fantastic, I’m very excited to get out there and send it again. The track looks fantastic and the changes they’ve made are great so the racing should be awesome! I learned a lot at the RallyX race in Sweden from a race craft perspective and the more seat time I get the faster I’ll become!! I’m so hyped to race at this legendary track where rallycross all started!”

Team manager Eric Färén
#Team Manager NRX Next
“I’m so glad to have George continue with us in Nitro Rallycross. After the great debut season we had last year, I feel like will be even stronger and better this year. With a season of experience, George showed everyone at the “warm up” we had at RallyX in Holjes that the speed is there. And with Nitro coming to Europe and the iconic Lydden Hill, there’s a lot of excitement going into this weekend. We can’t wait!

22-06-15 Veiby to make electric rallycross debut at Nitro RX season-opener with DRR JC
Norwegian World Rally Championship ace Ole Christian Veiby will make his electric rallycross debut in the opening round of the Nitro Rallycross Championship this weekend at Lydden Hill, UK, driving a brand-new FC1-X for DRR JC (June 18-19).

25-year-old Veiby completes a four-driver line up in the top Group E category within the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik fold for the maiden Nitro RX event to be held in Europe, at one of the most iconic rallycross circuits in the world.

The DRR JC team is an amalgamation of American squad Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Swedish team JC Raceteknik, a relationship born for the 2021 Nitro RX season that has grown into 2022, as Nitro RX expands into a multi-continent 2022-2023 season.

Veiby – a multiple winner in the World Rally Championship’s WRC2 category and an event-winner in the European Rallycross Championship – has returned to rallycross this year after a seven-year hiatus. Racing an Audi S1 Supercar with JC Raceteknik in the Nordic-based RallyX series, the Norwegian has got reacquainted with the racing discipline and impressed with his pace.

Now he will take one some of the top names in the sport, like Andreas Bakkerud, Robin Larsson, Travis Pastrana, Kris Meeke and more in the first-ever event for the monstrous 800kW, 4WD FC1-X cars in the Group E category, competing on a revised version of the Lydden Hill circuit.

Veiby will test the FC1-X for the first time on Thursday at an official test day ahead of the event weekend.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Ole Christian has had a good year with us so far in RallyX in his return to rallycross, and this is a good opportunity for him to understand Nitro Rallycross and electric cars. We hope he can have a nice race weekend and of course to do as well as possible. For sure he’s at a disadvantage compared to the other drivers in the FC1-X’s who have all done testing already, but he has a lot of mileage in rally and rallycross cars under his belt, so I’m sure he can do well. We will work hard on Thursday to help get him up to speed as quickly as possible.”

Ole Christian Veiby (NOR), Group E:
“It feels really cool to be on the start line this weekend at Lydden Hill. The cars look fantastic and super, super fast, so I’m really looking forward to try it for the first time. It’s going to be a new experience, but we have a test on Thursday so I think we will be quite well prepared for the race weekend. The expectations are always to fight for podiums and victories when I’m racing. Everything is new, but it is new for everybody, so it’s going to be interesting to see what we can do. I’m really looking forward to it, it’s going to be interesting to see what changes have been made to the track, and to try some jumps!”

22-06-13 JC Raceteknik driver Gustafsson set for European Nitro RX campaign
Crosscar Junior Champion, has signed up to race in the inaugural European Nitro Rallycross Championship.

Gustafsson will race as one of the 10 invited entries in the Crosscar category in the three-round campaign, with events held at Lydden Hill (UK), Strangnas (Sweden) and Kymiring (Finland).

The Arvika native, who won the Junior Crosscar title in 2020, has stepped up to the Crosscar category this season and in the opening four rounds of the RallyX campaign, has challenged for the final places at every race, scoring a best result so-far of fourth in the season-opener at Holjes.

Gustafsson will make his Nitro RX debut in the first round of the new season at Lydden Hill this weekend, with the circuit having undergone a number of revisions, including the introduction of a jump and banked loose-surface corner to improve the action.

The Crosscar effort will be run within the wider JC Raceteknik outfit, which includes running cars in the headline Group E category.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“It’s great that Alex is signing up for the European Nitro RX Championship season in Crosscar. We know how good he is, he showed his pace many times in Crosscar Junior. He has also had good pace this year in Crosscar in RallyX, but luck hasn’t always been on his side. This Nitro RX experience will be brilliant for him in his development as a rallycross driver, we will continue to support him all we can. I can’t wait to see how he gets on racing this weekend at the most historic rallycross circuit in the world.”

Alex Gustafsson (SWE), Crosscar:
“Having the opportunity to compete in Nitro RX feels fantastic. And, now that we have a taste of the pace and strength of the competition from the RallyX rounds, we know what to expect. We are switching to a new Crosscar, which feels good and I think will suit me too.

I will do my best this weekend as I always do. The track is new for everyone, which is good because then everyone has the same conditions. What matters is who can learn the track the fastest. To be starting the season outside of the Nordic region and in England at Lydden Hill also feels really good. It’s a track I have dreamed of driving at ever since I was little – all the big stars and legends have raced there so it is a bit of sacred ground to drive on. Then I’m also looking forward to the second round, and racing at home in Sweden. I want to thank everyone who has helped me to get this far, especially my sponsors, mechanics and supporters.”

22-06-10 Två bilar till start i Höljes
Klassisk rallycrosshelg i början av juli. Klart att Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS vill vara på plats i Höljes. Teamet kommer till start i Euro RX med Johan Kristoffersson och Gustav Bergström.
- Höljes i juli, det vill man inte gärna missa. Det överträffar det mesta, intygar Kristoffersson.

I väntan på VM-premiären med nya elbilarna på Nürburgring sista helgen i juli tar den fyrfaldige världsmästaren alla chanser han kan för att slipa på formen. Hittills har det blivit två helger i RallyX, i just Höljes och i finska Kouvola. Tre segrar på fyra tävlingar är ett bra facit. I den nordvärmländska rallycrossmetropolen blev det dessutom dubbelseger - ett imponerande resultat med teamets närmare tio år gamla Volkswagen Polo GTI Supercar KMS.
- Vi tar lärdom av allt vi lärt oss och utnyttjar det till max. Jag har pressat både mekaniker och leverantörer hårt i jakten på det perfekta, att få ut allt av materialet. Resultatet av det jobbet har hittills varit riktigt bra, berättar Johan.

Efter en sådan säsongsinledning är han förstås redo att ta kampen med ett starkt startfält i EM på en av världens mest klassiska banor.
- Det ska bli en kul utmaning och perfekt uppladdning inför VM-serien.

Vid sidan om Johan i depåtältet kommer Gustav Bergström att få kliva in i teamets andra Volkswagen Polo Supercar. Unga talangen Bergström debuterade i värstingklassen med en tävling just i Höljes för en knapp månad sedan. I Kouvola körde han båda racen och nu blir det alltså en ny chans att bygga erfarenhet.
- Jag har fortfarande mycket att lära, men jag känner mig mer och mer hemma i bilen, säger Bergström, som har imponerat så här långt med mogen körning, utan stora misstag.
- Jag försöker köra smart och inte ta alltför stora risker.
- Gustav imponerar på mig. Han gör precis de saker vi kan förvänta oss av honom i det här läget, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson

Gustav kommer till skillnad från Johan också att köra nästa tävling i RallyX i RigA.

Parallellt med förberedelserna inför Höljes pågår bygget av de nya bilarna inför VM. Det är bråda dagar i KMS-verkstaden.
- Vi jobbar på allt vi kan. Det är hektiska, men spännande tider, intygar Tommy Kristoffersson, som trots hård arbetsbelastning tycker att de här tävlingshelgerna är viktiga, även om det inte är med de nya bilarna.
- Det är mycket som ska trimmas in när det gäller utrustning och samarbete. Det handlar också mycket om att få en bra känsla i teamet, en social gemenskap.

Just tävlingsmomentet har alltid varit en viktig del för det framgångsrika teamet från Arvika.
- Man kan förbereda hur mycket som helst hemma i verkstaden, men det är först när man kommer i skarpt läge som man verkligen får ett kvitto på hur allt fungerar, säger Tommy Kristoffersson och får medhåll från Kristoffersson junior:
- Tävlar man mycket blir man bra på att tävla. Vinner man mycket blir man bra på att vinna!

Räkna med att jakten på ännu en seger går vidare i Höljes!

22-06-03 Nils Andersson med miljövänlig satsning i världsmästarens team
Fjolårets Svenska Mästare i Rallycross Supercar Lites satsar på elbil i RX2e. Efter en succéartad säsong 2021 tillsammans med Kristoffersson Motorsport som slutade med ett SM-guld i Rallycross har Nils Andersson i år gjort klart för att växla upp till EM i klassen RX2e i karriärens hittills största satsning. 22-åringen från MK Team Westom i Arvika gjorde redan förra året två inhopp i klassen, men i år blir det full satsning på hela serien. Till årets säsong kommer värmlänningen bättre förberedd och med fokus på prispallen.

Premiärtävlingen körs i Värmländska Höljes 2 - 3 juli, en bana som Nils har många positiva minnen från med bl.a. tre segrar i Crosskart och en seger i SupercarLites. Förra året gästspelade Nils i Höljes, Sverige och i Loheac, Frankrike. I år blir det förrutom premiären i Höljes en del okänd mark med tävlingar på klassiska banor som Nürburgring, Tyskland, i Hell (Trondheim), Norge, i Riga, Lettland och på anrika SPA i Belgien.

Med konkurrenter som redan tävlat en säsong i klassen har Nils en utmaning i att skaffa erfarenhet av bilen och att lära sig nya banor:
- ”Förra årets framgångar gav verkligen mersmak, jag utvecklades mycket som förare och nu hoppas jag även kunna dra viss nytta av den tekniska ”know how” jag får genom mitt dagliga arbete på Kristoffersson Motorsport. Det blir spännande att lära sig nya banor och att snabbt försöka lära sig de olika utmaningarna som respektive bana alltid har. Av årets tävlingsbanor har jag bara tävlat i Höljes och Riga tidigare, de övriga tre banorna blir helt nya bekantskaper. Nu ser jag verkligen fram mot premiären i Höljes”, säger en motiverad Nils Andersson.

Tommy Kristoffersson, teamchef i Kristoffersson Motorsport:
- ”Efter att ha avverkat Crosskart och Supercar Light med seger i båda mästerskapen tycker jag definitivt Nils är mogen att ta steget upp på EM nivå i RX2e, mästerskapet är tufft och några har ett års erfarenhet, trots det tror jag till och med Nils kan vara med och utmana om de främsta positionerna i mästerskapet”, säger Tommy

RX2e introducerade 2021 och är en helt eldriven enhetsklass där samtliga tävlar med identiska bilar. Bilarna drivs av två elmotorer, en bak och en fram, där de tillsammans levererar 250 kW (335 hk) och 510 Nm vridmoment. Till årets serie har bilarna utvecklats ytterligare med bl.a. en ”Push to pass” funktion som kan aktiveras av föraren för att underlätta omkörningar. Serien klassas som den näst högsta i Rallycross efter huvudklassen RX1e (tidigare Supercar).

RX2e Kalender 2022:
Höljes, Sverige: 02 - 03 juli
Nürburgring, Tyskland: 30 - 31 juli
Hell, Norge: 13 – 14 augusti
Riga, Lettland: 03 – 04 september
SPA, Belgien: 08 - 09 oktober

20-05-29 RallyX i Kouvola blev ett riktigt bottennapp för Jimmie Walfridson
I helgen var det dubbeltävling i RallyX i finska Kouvola men för Torsbysonen Jimmie Walfridson blev helgen ett riktigt bottennapp. Han slet med tuffa startspår, hamnade i trafik och var med om flertalet startsmällar som stukade Lites-bilen. Och som om inte det vore nog bröt han revbenet igår.
– Det har verkligen inte gått min väg överhuvud taget i helgen och det är en tävling jag lägger bakom mig direkt, säger Jimmie.

Tredje och fjärde deltävlingen i rallycrossmästerskapet RallyX kördes i helgen i finska Kouvola och Jimmie Walfridson fanns på plats tillsammans med JC Raceteknik för att jaga poäng i Supercar Lites-klassen. Det här är en bana Jimmie normalt trivs på och han har tävlat här tre gånger tidigare. Två gånger i rallycross och en gång i crosskart, vilket resulterat i två andraplatser och en fjärdeplats.

Men den här gången blev det ett riktigt bottennapp för hans del.
– Det har verkligen inte gått min väg överhuvud taget i helgen, trots att det här normalt är en av mina favoritbanor. Det är bara starterna jag är nöjd med i helgen, säger Jimmie.

Under lördagen hade han otur med dåliga startspår i samtliga heat och hamnade både i trafik och startsmällar. Han blev första förare att utanför final i sin semifinal och slutade därmed nia.
Idag var han tillbaka rejält revanschsugen, trots att han under lördagskvällen bröt ett revben.
– Ja du, idag har jag känt att jag har revben, säger Jimmie med ett skratt.

Men söndagens resultat blev ännu sämre för hans del. Redan under sitt första heat fick han sig en rejäl smäll i starten som gjorde att han slutade på femtonde plats i omgången.
– Jag gick ihop med en annan förare, snurrade och bilen dog, säger han.

Han lyckades köra upp sig och var siste bil in i semifinalen men där tog det slut och han slutade tolva i den fjärde deltävlingen i RallyX.
– Jag lägger den här helgen bakom mig och fokuserar på det som fungerat. Starterna sitter bra reaktionsmässigt och att farten finns visade jag i Höljes. Nu ser vi fram emot dubbeltävlingen i Riga 8-10 juli, säger Jimmie.

RallyX Kouvola deltävling 3
1. Simon Olofsson 30 p
2. Ole Henry Steinsholt 26 p
3. Jesse Kallio 20 p
4. Martin Enlund 22 p
5. Mattis Jansson 16 p
6. Martin Jonsson 18 p
7. Isak Sjökvist 14 p
8. Eirik H Berget 12 p
9. Jimmie Walfridson 9 p
10. Mats Oskarsson 9 p

Kouvola Finland deltävling 4
1. Simon Olofsson 30 p
2. Jesse Kallio 22 p
3. Ole Henry Steinsholt 17 p
4. Martin Jonsson 17 p
5. Mattis Jansson 22 p
6. Mats Oskarsson 18 p
7. Martin Enlund 16 p
8. Casper Jansson 15 p
9. Isak Sjökvist 11 p
10. Martin Ekspjuth 10 p
11. Eirik H Berget 7 p
12 . Jimmie Walfridson 6 p

Komplett resultat: https://www.chronomoto.com/rallyx/
Mer info hittar du på www.walfridson.com där vi följt tävlingen heat för heat.

22-05-28 Oturlig avslutning för Johan
Det blev en actionfylld dag i tredje rundan av RallyX. Johan Kristoffersson ledde finalen in i sista kurvan, men fick nöja sig med en andraplats efter att ha drabbats av tekniska problem.
- Så är det i den här branschen. Ibland har man turen med sig, ibland emot, konstaterar Johan, som ändå fick perfekt körträning inför större uppgifter.

Vägen var inte spikrak fram till finalen på Kouvola Circuit heller för Kristoffersson. Visserligen snabbast i första kvalomgången, men med vissa problem med växlingen i starten.

Dessa problem fortsatte i andra omgången, där Johan fick nöja sig med tredje tid, men fortfarande i klar ledning totalt.
- Starterna var inte perfekta och i första startspåret är det ett gupp strax efter start, vilket gör det tufft att komma iväg.

I sista kvalomgången tappade Johan också i starten och hamnade mitt i fältet där han fick slåss för sina positioner. Till slut blev det sjätte tid i kvalomgången och det såg ut som Niclas Grönholm skulle nypa förstaplatsen totalt i kvalet. Philip Gehrman blev räddaren när han i sista heatet satte en tid som var två hundradelar bättre än Grönholms, vilket i sin tur betydde att Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren tog maximalt med poäng i kvalet.
- Det var ju bra. Jag är nöjd med tempot ute på banan. Och eftersom vi kämpade bakifrån så fick jag göra en del schysta omkörningar och jobba på jokerstrategin. Bra träning inför VM!

I semifinalen var Jere Kalliokoski snabb från ytterspår i främsta ledet. Johan fick glida in bakom, men en smart joker-strategi och ett perfekt utfört alternativspår av den fyrfaldige världsmästaren löste problemet. Bäst när det gäller som så många gånger förut. Kristoffersson nöp segern och en plats i pole position i finalen.

Därmed stod han också än en gång i det knepiga innerspåret.
- Jag visste att jag behövde en bra start och satsade på lågt startvarv, men den gick i källaren istället.

Thomas Bryntesson tog täten, men Kristoffersson gjorde ett tidigt joker-besök och med ett snabbt efterföljande varv var han uppe i ledning.
- Det kändes bra i ledningen efter tre varv och jag började fundera på att spara däck.

Men med ett och ett halvt varv kvar blev det tekniska problem som gjorde att Kristoffersson tappade hela sitt försprång.
- Jag försökte ta mig runt ändå, men det blev trångt i sista kurvan.

Bryntesson tryckte på bakifrån och flyttade ut Johan. Bryntesson var först i mål med Grönholm som tvåa och Johan trea. Domarna hade dock synpunkter på Bryntessons attack och gav segern till finländaren, vilket innebar andraplats för Johan.
- I Höljes var det jag som hade flyt och tog segern i sista kurvan. Nu hade jag marginalerna emot mig.

Teamchefen i Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS, Tommy Kristoffersson, var nöjd med dagen, trots det snöpliga slutet.
- Det här är exakt vad vi behöver, täta heat och mycket rallycross-action, så som det kommer att bli i VM.

Precis som i Höljes var han mycket nöjd med teamets insats.
- Vi har gjort precis det vi ska hela dagen. Visst var det upplagt för matchboll, men det som hände kan vi inte förbereda för och det drar inte ner betyget.

Även teamets andre förare, Gustav Bergström, imponerade. Han tog sin första heatseger i Supercar, kvalificerade sig till semifinalen som tolfte man och var bara en placering ifrån en finalplats.
- Väldigt bra! Så nyttigt för honom att få vinna sitt första heat och stabil körning hela vägen. Han har tagit stora steg idag, berömmer Tommy.

Gustav själv kunde förstås inte heller vara annat än nöjd.
- Roligt att få ta sig till semi. Det har gått framåt hela tiden, men det är fortfarande mycket att lära.

21-11-04 RallyX fortsätter i Finland
Andra tävlingshelgen i RallyX avgörs i Kouvola, Finland. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS åker dit med mästerskapsledande Johan Kristoffersson och rookien Gustav Bergström.
- En rolig bana. Vi har bra minnen därifrån när vi gjorde ett ryck i VM-tabellen 2020, säger Kristoffersson.

Premiärhelgen i RallyX blev en riktig succé för Johan Kristoffersson - två segrar och bara tre poäng från full pott under dubbeltävlingen i Höljes. Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson var mycket nöjd med teamets prestation i skarpt läge.
- Jättekul! Vi visste ingenting om hur vi låg till. Det har varit begränsat med testmöjligheter, men alla jobbade jättebra. Det var fin harmoni på båda bilarna.

Förbättringarna på teamets egenhändigt byggda, men numera till åren komna, Volkswagen Polo Supercar GTI KMS visade sig effektiva och även den nyinköpta Polon gjorde sitt jobb.
- Vi har gjort bra framsteg och vi fick ordning på ytterligare saker i Höljes. Nu har vi gjort lite mindre justeringar, men det finns ännu mer att göra. Målet för i år har varit att få bilarna att fungera i ett större “fönster”, så att det blir enklare att kunna anpassa till skiftande förutsättningar när det gäller banor och väder, förklarar Johan.

Tävlingsupplägget i Kouvola, nordöst om Helsingfors, blir det samma som i Höljes. Träning på fredag kväll följt av två komprimerade tävlingsdagar under lördag-söndag för deltävling 3 och 4.
- Ett bra upplägg, tycker Johan. Inte för hetsigt och inte heller för långdraget.

Tävlingsbanan erbjuder däremot en viss skillnad jämfört med Höljes.
- Mer rallyaktig, med mycket grus, och ganska svårbemästrad, berättar Tommy Kristoffersson, som ligger lågt med förväntningarna på sin andre förare, unge Gustav Bergström, som supercardebuterade under den första tävlingshelgen.
- Det är en svår utmaning på den banan och med begränsad möjlighet till träning. Gustav ska vara nöjd för varje förare han kan ha bakom sig. Tar han sig till semifinal är det riktigt bra, menar teamchefen.

Startfältet är även denna gång riktigt vasst, med runt 20 bilar i Supercar. Hemmaföraren Niclas Grönholm hör förstås till favoriterna, liksom Ole Christian Veiby och Sondre Evjen.
- Det blir prestigematcher mot bekanta konkurrenter på flera håll. Dessutom dyker det upp en del finländare som vi vet alltid är duktiga på att köra bil, påpekar Tommy.

En som inte räds en sådan utmaning är förstås fyrfaldige världsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson. Johan vann ena tävlingen i Kouvola under VM-säsongen 2020 och slutade fyra i den andra efter lite strul med torkarna i regnet på en då lerig bana.
- Det blev ändå en bra helg den gången. Vi drog ifrån i mästerskapet, men det var samtidigt en av de tuffaste helgerna för våra mekaniker. Hoppas för deras skull att det blir lugnare den här gången.

I mästerskapstabellen leder Johan med 57 poäng, tretton före Grönholm. Bergström, som bara körde ena tävlingen i premiären, ligger på nittonde plats.

22-05-22 Baumanis makes strong start to Euro RX season in Hungary
#YellowSquad and Latvian star Janis Baumanis made a strong start to the 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Nyirad in Hungary and came within three laps of finishing on the podium.

The Hungarian event marked #YellowSquad’s maiden FIA Euro RX1 start and Baumanis’ returned to the series, while the Nyirad venue joined the schedule for the first time in almost a decade.

Racing on the circuit for the very first time, Baumanis learned quickly aboard the Peugeot 208 RX1, setting the fourth, third and then second-best times in the three qualifying Heats, to take third in the Ranking after the Heat stages.

Baumanis then had one of the races of the weekend on track, battling Danish driver Ulrik Linnemann for the race victory in the semi-finals, where a well-executed joker lap strategy and a great single-lap performance to make the most of the joker call resulted in race victory, and a good starting position for the final.

On the opening lap of the final, Baumanis lost a position, but in one of the overtakes of the day, re-took third position. However, soon after, the 208 RX1 developed a minor technical issue and a loss of power meant the Latvian driver finished the race in fourth position.

The performance through the weekend leaves Baumanis fourth in the Euro RX1 standings, and the team looking forward to the following rounds of the season, at circuits where Baumanis has more recent race experience.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Driver
“I’m very happy. We started from zero and step-by-step we managed to be on very similar lap times to Anton Marklund and Enzo Ide, who had driven here before.

For sure if there is a race next year here I would be able to push from the first practice, because I know all the small details and tricks you need to know here – that is so important.

I had a very nice semi-final battle with Ulrik Linnemann. I managed to overtake him thanks to the joker strategy. It was quite hot in the car, but it was pure fun. I made one mistake at the joker merge, I was a bit too quick and had to go full throttle and pull the handbrake but it was a good show for the TV at least.

In the final something happened and was not able to fight anymore, but the feeling and speed was good and we managed everything very well I think. The spectators loved it this weekend, thanks to all of my fans who came here and to all of the people at home. I really enjoyed the race in Hungary.”

Kenneth Hansen
#YellowSquad Spotter
“It was a progressing weekend. Janis hadn’t been here before and it was the first race in this car, so we tried to help him cooperate with the car through the weekend and to help the car fit to his style.

It’s a challenging circuit when you haven’t driven it before, you need to have a lot of trust in the grip. Through the weekend we saw the confidence growing, Janis delivered very fast lap times in the later stages, so we are pleased. It’s disappointing that he lost at least one place in the final, but it was anyway a good weekend. He had trust in the end in the car here and that is good for the coming races where it will be a different story now he has one race in the car under his belt and we go to tracks he knows.”

22-05-22 Marklund wins Euro RX opener as fans lap up the action at Nyirád
Anton Marklund produced a commanding display to triumph in the 2022 Euro RX1 curtain-raiser at Nyirád this weekend (21-22 May), as Kobe Pauwels dug deep to draw first blood in the Euro RX3 battle in front of a large and enthusiastic Hungarian audience.

Absent from the FIA European Rallycross Championship calendar since 2013, Nyirád’s return to the schedule was eagerly anticipated – and the high-octane action did not disappoint, as drivers relished the challenge posed by the ‘Red Cauldron’, so-called because of the distinctive colour of its gravel, having been built on the site of a former bauxite quarry.

As their confidence increased, competitors threw their cars around with increasing abandon – none more successfully than Marklund, who set the pace in all three Heats and went on to win his Progression race, Semi-Final and then the all-important Final to tally maximum points as he seeks to add a third career crown to the ones he clinched in 2012 (TouringCar) and 2017 (Supercar).

“I’m very happy to start the season in this way,” reflected the 29-year-old, making his maiden appearance with the SET Promotion team. “I love this track – it’s everything that a rallycross circuit should be – although everything got quite tight in the end as the grip level increased, and I wasn’t able to take as big a step forward as the others.

“I knew they were hunting us, and I really felt the pressure before the final. I was a bit angry after the semi-final because I knew my driving hadn’t been spot-on, so I said to myself, ‘now we make this happen!’ I pushed as hard as I could in the final – that was more-or-less everything we had to give. When I signed with SET Promotion, I was confident we had a good package so it’s a great feeling to prove that by winning here. It means a lot.”

Drawing upon all the knowledge and experience he gained driving alongside multiple world champion Johan Kristoffersson in World RX last year, Enzo Ide was Marklund’s closest rival throughout, as the ex-circuit racer underscored the huge improvements he is making by chasing the Swede home in the final.

Series returnee Ulrik Linnemann secured the third spot on the rostrum with a typically gritty, never-say-die performance. The Dane languished in 18th position on Saturday night after a troubled opening day, but raced up the order today and was the architect of the launch of the weekend in his Semi-Final as he fired his Ford Fiesta all the way around the outside of his adversaries from fifth on the grid into the lead.

Janis Baumanis had looked to be podium-bound on his maiden outing in #YellowSquad’s Peugeot 208 until a loss of power in the final dropped the Latvian to fourth, while Sivert Svardal’s hopes of picking up some silverware were scuppered when the reigning Cooper Tires ‘Rookie of the Year’ pulled off the circuit on lap two.

Elsewhere in the 20-strong field, Patrick O’Donovan placed an excellent fourth in the intermediate Ranking and was running second in his Semi-Final before picking up a puncture, dashing his dream of reaching the Final on his Euro RX1 debut. That did not, however, take the gloss off a tremendously impressive performance behind the wheel of his ageing Ford Fiesta.

Six-time Andros Trophy winner Jean Baptiste ‘JB’ Dubourg was similarly amongst the front-runners, but a couple of spins cost the Frenchman dear, while Anders Michalak was a consistent contender in only his fourth Euro RX1 start. Home hero Tamás Kárai, meanwhile, put on a spectacular show for the partisan supporters, missing out on a berth in the Final by less than two seconds.

PAUWELS PIPS CERNÝ IN EURO RX3 THRILLER
In Euro RX3, Pauwels – last year’s runner-up – entered the weekend as the favourite, but it was Škoda star Jan Cerný who stole an early march by leading the way in the Heats, with the pair briefly clashing in the third of them when Turn One contact left the Volland Racing Audi momentarily in the barriers.

Pauwels and Cerný continued their fierce duel throughout the weekend, but it was not until the very last lap of the very last race that the Belgian succeeded in turning the tables, overhauling his Czech rival almost within touching distance of the chequered flag.

“Unbelievable!” reflected an emotional Pauwels. “After the first and third Heats, things looked really difficult for us, but with the support of my team and my family, we made it work. It was never easy because the other guys were quick and I knew I only had one lap to make the difference, but from our pace in clean air earlier in the weekend, we knew we were faster. To win with so much pressure on like that is just amazing!”

The 2022 Euro RX campaign will continue on 2-3 July at iconic Swedish circuit Höljes, which will additionally play host to the opening round of the FIA RX2e Championship and the Official Launch of World RX’s new electric era.

FINAL RESULT: EURO RX1
1. Anton MARKLUND (SWE) SET Promotion 5 laps
2. Enzo IDE (BEL) EKS + 1.045s
3. Ulrik LINNEMANN (DNK) Linnemann Promotion + 8.620s
4. Janis BAUMANIS (LVA) #YellowSquad + 51.827s
5. Sivert SVARDAL (NOR) Sivert Svardal + 4 laps

FINAL RESULT: EURO RX3
1. Kobe PAUWELS (BEL) Volland Racing 5 laps
2. Jan CERNÝ (CZE) PAJR S.R.O + 0.568s
3. João RIBEIRO (PRT) João Ribeiro + 4.743s
4. Damian LITWINOWICZ (POL) Damian Litwinowicz + 5.661s
5. Per-Magne EGEBØ-SVARDAL (NOR) Per Magne Egebø-Svardal + 4 laps

Full results can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

22-05-19 Nitro Rallycross - NRX NEXT European Championship för Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Mikaela kommer att komplettera sin Extreme E-säsong med en satsning i Nitro RX, i klassen NRX NEXT tillsammans med team JC.

"Mitt mål är att köra så mycket bil som möjligt, och när möjligheten öppnades upp för rallycross, speciellt med Joel och hans team JC tvekade jag inte en sekund" säger Mikaela.
2014 körde Mikaela en del tävlingar i just RX Lites, och där hon tillsammans med JC som bäst tog hem en 5:e plats under VM i Höljes.

Även förra året fick Mikaela testa på rallycross igen, då i form av Nitro RX i Florida i Side by Side klassen. Där kammade hon hem en första och andra plats och viljan att komma tillbaka till rallycrossen var ett faktum.

En kontakt med team JC som vunnit 2 VM guld (förar/team mästerskap), och så var planeringen i full fart inför 2022. "Jag ser väldigt mycket fram emot att få vara en del av Joels team igen, de har vuxit till ett av de största teamen och skördat fina framgångar sedan jag körde där sist.
För egen del blir det självklart en instegstrappa till rallycross, motståndet kommer vara tufft, men som alltid kommer jag göra mitt bästa och jag är väldigt taggad på denna nya utmaning" berättar Mikaela

Förutom att driva Mikaelas NRX Next European Championship satsning kommer JC tillsammans med Dreyer & Reinbold Racing också att driva FC1X bilar, där nyheten släpptes igår att hon kommer få teamkollegor som Andreas Bakkerud och Robin Larsson.

Teamchef Joel Christoffersson säger; "Jag känner Mikaela sedan hon körde Gokart, redan som 14-åring var jag mekaniker till henne vid några race så det skall bli kul att få samarbeta med Mikaela igen. Att hon kan köra bil vet vi och en av hennes stora fördelar är att lyssna in instruktioner och sedan omsätta det på banan. Vi ser fram emot vårt samarbete för att nå nya framgångar" säger Joel.

NRX Next European Championship består av 3 deltävlingar, där säsongstart går av stapeln i England, Lydden Hill 18-19 juni, följt av Sverige 30-31 juli och till sist Finland 27-28 augusti.

22-05-18 Robin Larsson och Andreas Bakkerud kör Nitro RX med Monster Energy & DRR JC
Den internationella energidrycksjätten Monster Energy kommer i år att gå in som partner med Dreyer & Reinbold Racing och JC Raceteknik under hela Nitro RX serien. Ett partnerskap som därmed blir Monster Energys första elbilsteam någonsin.

De helelektriska Monster Energy FC1-X-bilarna kommer i år att köras av 2021 års FIA:s europamästare i rallycross, Andreas Bakkerud (Norge) och 2014 års FIA:s europamästare i rallycross, Robin Larsson (Sverige). Båda förarna har tävlat under förra årets Nitro RX-säsong och har mycket erfarenhet som de tar med sig in i den kommande säsongen. Säsongens första tävling kommer att köras på det legendariska Lydden Hill Race Circuit i England den 18 juni.

DRR FC1-X Group E elektriska rallycrossbil kommer att innehålla den ikoniska Monster Energy-klon, samt den klassiska gröna och svarta designen. DRR ingick partnerskap med den Kilsbaserade teamet JC Raceteknik med FC1-X Group E-fordon tidigare i år.

”Vi är extremt taggade på detta samarbete med ett så legendariskt märke som Monster Energy.” säger Dennis Reinbold och Joel Christofferson. ”Och att sedan få kombinera detta med två europamästare som Andreas och Robin, tillsammans med de nya FC1-X Group E-bilarna, kommer att vara ett bra utgångsläge för att ta oss an. Några av världens bästa förare i Nitro RX-serien. Vi känner att kombinationen med Monster Energy, starka förare och JC Raceteknik kommer att ge oss ett starkt team.”

22-05-18 #YellowSquad and Baumanis head to Hungary for Euro RX1 opener
#YellowSquad and former European Rallycross Champion Janis Baumanis embark on the start of a new adventure this weekend, at the opening round of the FIA Euro RX season at Nyirad in Hungary (May 21 – 22).

The classic rallycross venue returns to the international rallycross schedule for the first time since 2013, where Hansen Motorsport driver Timmy Hansen secured a maiden top-flight rallycross victory.

Now, driving for the squad created by Team Principal Kevin Hansen, and run within the wider Hansen Motorsport family, 2015 Euro RX3 Champion Janis Baumanis will drive in #YellowSquad’s first Euro RX1 start.

The 29-year-old Latvian star, who is twice a World RX podium-finisher, is embarking on a full six-round Euro RX1 season in the Peugeot 208 and is targeting top results in the highly-competitive field to build a title-challenge.

To prepare for the campaign, Baumanis has tested in Sweden and Latvia, along with revealing his stunning new livery in his country’s capital city Riga, but this weekend will mark the first time the Latvian has raced at the historic Nyirad venue.

The action will be broadcast on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX+ service, check out the World RX website for details.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“There is a lot of excitement building for me in anticipation of my first race with the team, especially as this is the first time I have raced at the track in Hungary.

It is new for the team too, although of course Kenneth Hansen and Timmy Hansen have some experience there with Hansen Motorsport from a few years ago, things are a bit different now and there is a lot new for #YellowSquad.

I have found some videos to watch online, the track looks very nice, very fast with a lot of gravel. I think it can be good for us and a lot of fun. The main thing is to enjoy everything both on and off track, and I know the team is working as hard as possible to ensure we can achieve good results.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“Finally it is time to start the Euro RX1 season. It is a new adventure for the team to run an RX1 car at this level and we are all very excited for it. Pre-season testing has gone really well and Janis is already looking both comfortable and fast in the 208. The level in Euro RX1 is extremely high, so it will be a big battle all weekend, but hopefully we can start the year with a strong result.”

22-05-17 European Championship stars Hungary for success in Nyirád curtain-raiser
The 2022 FIA European Rallycross Championship will race into life at Nyirád in Hungary this weekend (21-22 May), with a whole host of candidates set to vie for victory in both Euro RX1 and Euro RX3.

Absent from the highest level of international rallycross for nearly a decade, Nyirád – located just 25 kilometres from Hungary’s famous Lake Balaton – makes a welcome return to the schedule this year. Characterised by technical curves, dramatic elevation changes and a host of overtaking opportunities, it is affectionately known as the ‘Red Cauldron’ for the distinctive colour of its unsealed surfaces – having been built on the site of a former bauxite quarry – and it was a popular fixture on the Euro RX calendar from 2006 to 2013.

During that time, drivers of the calibre of Kenneth and Timmy Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud, Timur Timerzyanov and Reinis Nitišs all ascended the top step of the podium in Hungary, often on their way to clinching the coveted crown. Two more names are set to join that illustrious roll of honour this weekend.

In the headlining Euro RX1 series, it is impossible to pick a favourite amongst the 22-strong field. Two-time champion Anton Marklund is one of several competitors to have raced at Nyirád before, and the Swede – who will be behind the wheel of a SET Promotion-run Hyundai i20 – has fond memories of the track.

“It’s really exciting to be going back to Hungary,” enthused the 29-year-old, who finished second there in 2012 on his way to winning that season’s TouringCar title. “I have only good memories from the event. The audience was really passionate – it was a great crowd to race in front of.

“Competing in rallycross brings a lot of joy in terms of action and adrenaline, but there are a special few circuits where it is every bit as rewarding simply to go out in free practice as it is in the races, and alongside Höljes and Hell, I would include Nyirád on that list.

“You can really send the car on the loose gravel and drive full attack, which I love. You need a lot of commitment but also a lot of precision to make sure you get it exactly right – that’s very challenging, but huge fun. I will really enjoy taking part in the first round of the year on a proper rallycross track.”

Marklund will face tough opposition this weekend, from the likes of Janis Baumanis (#YellowSquad) – the highest-returning driver from last season – multiple Andros Trophy winner Jean Baptiste ‘JB’ Dubourg, reigning Euro RX3 Champion Yury Belevskiy (Volland Racing) and 2021 Cooper Tires ‘Rookie of the Year’, Sivert Svardal.

Other leading contenders are likely to be René Münnich – who celebrated his maiden Euro RX1 success at Lohéac last summer – Enzo Ide, entering the fray following a learning campaign alongside multiple world champion Johan Kristoffersson in World RX, rising star Patrick O’Donovan making his debut and Ulrik Linnemann, who rejoins the series after placing inside the top five in the Super1600 (now Euro RX3) standings on seven consecutive occasions between 2011 and 2017.

“I’m happy that Nyirád is back on the calendar as it is always great fun to race on a ‘proper’ rallycross track with real gravel sections, and the fans there go crazy when they see the competitors,” recollects the experienced Dane. “I remember the autograph sessions in Hungary back in the day, when me, [Andreas] Bakkerud and [Krzysztof] Skorupski were fighting for glory. I have been on the podium twice in Hungary and would love to be back there again this year...”

Three-time European Autocross Champion Tamás Kárai spearheads the Hungarian charge, joined by five of his countrymen, while home heroes are also in abundant supply in Euro RX3, making up almost a third of the entry list and led by Zsolt Szíjj ‘Jolly’, who reached the rostrum in Catalunya last year.

Škoda stars Jan Cerný and Jirí Šusta will take the fight to the all-conquering Audi brigade, which is represented by series sophomore Damian Litwinowicz, Portuguese duo Nuno Miguel Da Costa Araújo and João Ribeiro and Kobe Pauwels, who impressed on his way to the runner-up spoils in 2021’s title battle and whose father Koen competed at Nyirád a decade ago.

“During pre-season, we tested there and I absolutely loved it!” revealed the highly-rated Belgian teenager. “It’s a typical old-school rallycross track, with all the dust and elevation changes. It’s really challenging. You need to switch off your brain and go full-throttle, and that’s what I like. I’m really looking forward to the race weekend.”

Racing will get underway at 13:00 on Saturday (21 May), with Sunday’s Progression Rounds, Semi-Finals and all-important Finals to be broadcast live on RX+. Event passes are available for €7,99, with the full season pass on sale for €49,99. More info can be found here, while race weekend tickets can still be purchased here.

Event entry lists can be found here: Euro RX1 / Euro RX3

22-05-16 Building the Future: Volvo Construction Equipment comes on-board as Official Construction Equipment Supplier
Building the Future: Volvo Construction Equipment comes on-board as Official Construction Equipment Supplier

As the FIA World Rallycross Championship races full speed ahead towards its exciting electric future, another key building block has slotted into place with the appointment of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) as the series’ Official Construction Equipment Supplier.

Both parties are firmly committed to accelerating sustainable transformation, with Volvo CE targeting an all-electric range by 2030. The three-year partnership will see Volvo CE put its industry-leading construction equipment to work at the pinnacle of the dual-surface discipline, while pushing the boundaries for safety, equality and diversity and demonstrating the potential of electric power on a global stage.

The synergies are manifold. Much like World RX’s high-calibre competitors, Volvo CE has a track record of delivering high-performance off-road solutions, and the company will use the championship as a showcase for its growing range of electric construction equipment and innovative services to a vast and invested fanbase.

As part of a shared sustainability roadmap, the objective will be to limit transportation and logistics emissions on-site, boost inclusivity and reduce travel-related emissions. Volvo CE will invite predominantly local customers to attend race weekends – with the championship set to visit seven different circuits over the course of its 2022 campaign – while integrated digital tools including the all-encompassing RX+ livestreaming platform will allow a wider audience to enjoy the action virtually.

Further exciting details about the groundbreaking new partnership will be revealed over the coming weeks.

Bill Law, Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications, Volvo CE, said:
“A global shift to an electric future is inevitable and urgent – and we know that more sustainable construction solutions are a vital part of driving that change. That is why we are thrilled to partner with the now fully electric FIA World Rallycross Championship – a series that shares our commitment to not only demonstrate the power of electro-mobility today, but to also work together on a journey to build the world we want to live in.

“When evaluating World RX as an engagement platform, we considered the fact that while the pandemic has accelerated digitalisation, there is still a business need to meet customers and partners to build relationships and to demonstrate and educate around the electric offering. The integration of the physical event and the digital experience makes World RX a good fit into our new marketing approach, reflecting evolving ways to reach all our stakeholders in an engaging and exciting manner.”

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We are very proud to announce Volvo CE as our Official Construction Equipment Supplier. They are a great partner for World RX, and they join us at a seminal moment as the World Championship goes electric. Not only do we share similar goals with regard to sustainability, but Volvo CE will be working with us on some hugely exciting top-secret projects that we will be able to confirm shortly and which we are confident will kick-start rallycross’ new era in sensational style.”

22-05-16 Megennis delivers impressive performance at RallyX in Höljes
Seventeen-year-old American rallycross driver George Megennis delivered an impressive performance in the opening two rounds of the RallyX season in Sweden, held at the legendary Holjes circuit.

Using the event to build on experience gained through his maiden rallycross season in Nitro Rallycross’ NRX NEXT category last year, Megennis re-joined #YellowSquad to race in the RallyX weekend, taking on drivers far more familiar with the challenging venue.

Megennis built his pace through the opening round on Saturday, and set a best time of third overall in qualifying. With more hard work overnight to seek areas for improvement ahead of round two on Sunday, Megennis left the starting blocks on a flyer on Sunday morning, winning all of his races on track and setting second fastest time in two of three qualifying sessions, driving against some of the most experienced and successful Supercar Lites drivers in history.

Having qualified second overall, Megennis then stormed to semi-final victory, but, having lightly touched a course marker, was handed a five-second penalty by the stewards, and he just missed a place on the final grid.

The result wasn’t what driver or team showed was possible through Sunday’s competition, where victory was certainly on the cards, but Megennis left satisfied knowing the pace was there to win, despite competing against drivers with far more experience of Scandinavian rallycross circuits.

George Megennis

#YellowSquad SuperCar Lites Driver
“This was a weekend filled with ups and downs for me. In round one I was still very new to the track and struggled early in the day to find pace. In the afternoon I picked it up but wasn’t able to convert that in the semi-finals into a top three. Overall I was slightly disappointing with the day, but I knew I had the pace for day two.

On Sunday I was fast from the get-go, winning all of my heat races and starting on pole for semi-final 2. However even with a semi-final win and the pace to win the final, the penalty meant I couldn’t start the final. Thank you so much to the whole team, the car was perfect and the coaching advise was brilliant all weekend. We absolutely had the pace to win, but we’ll get ‘em next time.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team Manager
“George was really impressive in his first race at Holjes. It’s a very special track, and we knew that he was so excited to go there as he is such a fan of rallycross, but it is not easy either. However, after only a few laps he could match the very experienced front-runners.

Getting up to speed on a new track quickly showed how his talent and detailed preparation together worked very well. In the end we didn’t get the result we wanted or deserved, but there are so many positives to take from the weekend. George was many times among the top guys and the fastest on track, and he used all of the experience he gained in his first season with us last year. I’m sure he will continue to work hard and improve even more for coming races, which is very promising for the future.”

22-05-15 Johan kung i Höljes
Johan Kristoffersson var kungen av Höljes i RallyX. Kristoffersson följde upp premiärsegern med en ny triumf i andra rundan av dubbeltävlingen.
-Jag är superstolt över hela teamet, så himla bra jobb av alla, säger en mycket nöjd Kristoffersson.

Efter en lite komplicerad väg till segern under lördagen blev det en ganska problemfri resa fram till finalen under söndagstävlingen. Snabbast i såväl första som andra omgången.

I den tredje spelade han med säkra kort och tog inte striden med Niclas Grönholm om segern. En tredjeplats i omgången räckte för att säkra pole position till första semifinalen.

Där gick inte allt riktigt som planerat. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-föraren kom inte runt tillräckligt bra för att smita upp i ledning, fick en tryckare bakifrån och tvingades in i joker-slingan redan på första varvet.
- Jag missade i växlingen så jag kunde inte ta mig in på huvudspåret och fick därför ombestämma mig.

Därifrån tog han upp jakten på ledande Enzo Ide och med bra fart i sin Volkswagen Polo GTI RX KMS löste han den uppgiften.
- Jag insåg att det var långt fram till Enzo och att det skulle bli svårt, men jag gjorde ett väldigt bra varv. Det räckte precis.

När Ide tog sin joker övertog Johan ledningen och säkrade därmed pole position även i finalen.
- Vi hade inte riktigt bilen där vi ville ha den i början av dagen, men efter en hel del ändringar blev den mer som jag ville.

Examen för det förbättringsarbetet kom i finalen, där allt satt som det skulle.
- En väldigt bra start, fullträff med växlarna och perfekt ända fram till första svängen, summerar Johan.

Med Mattias Ekström bakom sig fanns det ändå inget utrymme för lugn och ro. Ekström valde jokern tidigare och tog upp jakten. Johans spotter, pappa Tommy, gav ett förslag över radion.
- Det skiljde 3,7 sekunder efter det och jag fick “joker option”, alltså att jag fick välja att gå in direkt, men jag ville att vi skulle köra ett ordentligt race om det, så jag väntade ett varv till.

Ekström knaprade in några tiondelar, men det var inte tillräckligt för att störa den fyrfaldige världsmästaren från Värmland, tillika stolt dubbelsegrare i Höljes.
- Så himla nöjd med allt jobb vi har gjort på vår gamla bil. Mattias körde ändå den bil jag vann VM med förra året och vi matchar den.

Trots all den rutin Kristoffersson besitter så summerar han en mycket nyttig “träningshelg” inför VM.
- Jag har sagt det tidigare, att det tar ett tag innan man kommer in i det. Under lördagen gjorde jag en del misstag och fattade fel beslut. Nu stämde det bättre.

Och även om det mest handlade om att öva inför det stora mästerskapet, så är ändå teamet fyllt av tävlingsmänniskor och vinnarskallar. Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson intygar:
- Visst det är en viktig förberedelse för VM, men när man är på plats så vill man ändå vinna. Och det är dessutom viktigt för mentaliteten i hela teamet. Vi har kämpat på hela helgen som om vi haft kniven på strupen. Mekanikerna har jobbat “flat out” varje kväll. Jag är verkligen supernöjd med hur alla har gått all-in.

Supercar-debuterande Gustav Bergström skötte sig också enligt planen i teamets andrabil. Som sextonde man kvalade han in till semifinalen där han startade från bakre ledet. Mot vassa och betydligt mer rutinerade konkurrenter kunde han inte göra mycket, utan styrde i mål som sexa.
- Jag tog mig till semi. Det får väl vara godkänt. Nu behöver jag träna, träna och träna, särskilt på starter, men i det stora hela känns det bra, summerar Bergström, som får beröm från Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-chefen:
- Jag är stolt och nöjd med Gustav och även Nils som körde lördagstävlingen. De tar steg för steg och sätter en del bra varv. Bilen är hel nu efteråt och de har inte gjort några konstigheter, säger Tommy.

Johan Kristoffersson instämmer:
- Både Gustav och Nils har kört moget och väl avvägt, precis som man ska när det är “se och lära” som gäller.

Och man kan förstås inte undgå att lyfta fram Johans egen betydelse för teamet.
- Johan är bäst med kniven på strupen. När säcken ska knytas ihop är han alltid där. Han är väl värd framgången den här helgen, med tanke på hur delaktig han har varit i allt jobb som har gjorts fram till nu. Han har utvecklat bilen och plockat ihop ett bra gäng med go’ stämning, konstaterar pappa Tommy.

För Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS väntar härnäst andra omgången av RallyX, om två veckor i finska Kouvola.

22-05-15 Högt tempo men uteblivna finaler för Jimmie i RallyX-premiären efter sabbatsåret
Torsbysonen Jimmie Walfridson är tillbaka på rallycrossbanan efter ett sabbatsår. Tillsammans med JC Raceteknik är det full säsong i det nordiska mästerskapet RallyX som gäller för hans del.

I helgen kördes de två första deltävlingarna i värmländska Höljes. Jimmie visade direkt att han har tempot i kroppen i sin Supercar Lites-bil och vill vara med och slåss uppe i toppen

Både under lördagens- och söndagens deltävling bjöd han på topptider, men lyckades inte riktigt hålla ihop det hela vägen och fick nöja sig med två åttondeplatser.
– Den här helgen har verkligen varit upp och ner. Det har varit otroligt roligt att vara tillbaka på banan igen och jag har verkligen känt att vi haft farten. I semifinalerna har det tyvärr varit lite stolpe ut för min del båda dagarna. Det känns verkligen tråkigt att inte få köra final, vilket är min målsättning, säger Jimmie.

Båda dagarna inledde han starkt med topptider, men det hela kunde inte knytas ihop riktigt.
– Under lördagens sista omgång fick jag en punktering på vänster bak och krökte ett stag på andra sidan: Och i söndagens andra omgång hade jag en fin ledning när jag tyvärr landade för hårt i ett hopp och slog sönder bilen både fram och bak, säger Jimmie.

I semifinalerna startade han båda dagarna i andra led. Under lördagen hamnade han i lite trafik och slutade sexa. I dagens semifinal blev han första förare utanför final efter lite uppvaktning av en annan förare. .

Nästa två deltävlingar körs i Finland 28-29 maj
– .Det var verkligen kul att komma igång igen och köra tillsammans med JC Raceteknik. Nu ska jag jobba lite på att finslipa formen och känner mig rejält taggad inför Finland - där tar vi nya tag, avslutar Jimmie.

RallyX deltävling 2, Höljes
1. Oliver Eriksson 27 p
2. Martin Enlund 24 p
3. Kevin Eriksson 24 p
4. Ole Henry Steinsholt 19 p
5. Simon Olofsson 11 p
6. Casper Jansson 11 p
7. George Megennis 18 p
8. Jimmie Walfridson 15 p

RallyX, deltävling 1, Höljes
1. Kevin Eriksson (Swe) 30 p
2. Simon Olofsson (Swe) 24 p
3. Martin Enlund (Swe) 19 p
4. Martin Jonsson (Swe) 24 p
5. Casper Jansson (Swe) 20 p
6. Emil Persson (Swe) 13 p
7. Ole Henry Steinsholt (Nor) 15 p
8. Jimmie Walfridson (Swe) 11 p

Mer info hittar du på www.walfridson.com där vi följt tävlingen heat för heat.

22-05-14 Johan vann dramatisk Rally X-premiär
Finalen i RallyX i Höljes bjöd på en riktig rackarrysare. Till slut stod ändå Johan Kristoffersson överst på prispallen, som så många gånger förut.
- Jag tror inte någon behövde klaga på underhållningen i alla fall, konstaterar Kristoffersson efter en svettig final med drama både i början och slutet.

Lördagens tävling började annars med ett svängigt kval för de båda Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-förarna. Kristoffersson inledde med en stabil andratid i första kvalomgången bakom Niclas Grönholm. I den andra omgången jagade han nämnde Grönholm och försökte ta sig förbi. Sammanstötningen drabbade Johan som tvingades bryta omgående.
- Jag ville och jag försökte, men det gick inte. Helt och hållet mitt eget fel, kommenterar Kristoffersson.

I tredje och sista kvalomgången tog han en gruvlig revansch. Kristoffersson tog starten med sin Volkswagen Polo GTI Supercar KMS och formligen flög fram, inte bara till heatseger utan också till snabbaste tiden i omgången med en marginal av drygt tre sekunder! Det betydde ett skutt uppåt i totalställningen och en slutlig fjärdeplats i kvalet, trots missödet i andra omgången.

Nils Anderssons debutdag i Supercar blev också aningen svängig. I första omgången kom han bara ett och ett halvt varv. I en duell med Philip Gehrman skadades höger del av framvagnen. I andra kvalet kom han i mål, men hade även där en del problem att brottas med. I sista kvalet hamnade Andersson i ett svårt läge i starten, men kämpade på.
- Kom inte riktigt rätt till att börja med, men sedan var varvtiderna bra, säger Andersson, som ändå tog sig vidare till semifinal.

Tre semifinaler följde och Kristoffersson startade i den första - och som han gjorde det. Med en näst intill perfekt start flög han förbi Niclas Grönholm.
- Det är sånt som behövs om man ska kunna vara med och slåss om det, konstaterar Johan.

För Nils tog dagen slut i och med semifinalen. En stabil insats slutade med en femteplats och en första dos erfarenhet av supercar att lägga i bagaget.
- Jag var här för att samla rutin och det har jag gjort också. Sedan är jag lite besviken ändå, hade hoppats på lite mer, men när jag går och lägger mig ikväll kommer jag att tycka att jag hade en rolig dag. Nu är debuten gjord och det var fränt.

Till finalen fick Andersson nöja sig med en plats på läktaren, men han kunde där njuta av underhållningen från stallkompisen Kristoffersson.

Den fyrfaldige världsmästaren fick en riktigt bra start och såg ut att ta täten.
- Men jag missade ett par växlar och tappade lite mark, vilket bjöd in de andra igen.

Sondre Evjen fick en tryckare och tryckte i sin tur ut Johan en bit i sandfållan, men Kristoffersson orkade hålla emot och var ändå först ut genom en kaotisk förstasväng.

Och värre skulle det bli. Visserligen såg Johan ut att gå mot en bekväm seger, men bakifrån närmade sig Anton Marklund, en Marklund som hade tagit jokerslingan redan på första varvet.
- Men det fick inte jag reda på. Jag hörde att jag hade fyra sekunder till godo på närmaste som hade varit inne i jokern. Det visade sig att det var mycket mindre, berättar Johan.

Den som ska hålla koll på sådant är spottern - och teamchefen - Tommy Kristoffersson. Han förklarar:
- Det dammade så fruktansvärt, så från vår position och med all kalabalik som blev i första sväng så kunde vi helt enkelt inte se vem som hade jokrat. Därför fick inte Johan den information han skulle ha.

När Kristoffersson gav sig in i jokern på sista varvet trodde han att han skulle komma ut i ledning.
- Jag laddade normalt in i jokern och tänkte att det skulle vara lugnt, men på väg ut fick jag höra att det var tight. Det var en överraskning.

Marklund tog sig förbi och såg ut att hålla undan - ända fram till sista hoppet och målsvängen.
- Då såg jag att hans styrarm gick sönder i landningen och tänkte att jag fick prova en attack på insidan. Det var inte mycket marginal till banmarkeringen, men det gick, berättar Johan som smet förbi och tog segern med några tiondelars marginal.

Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS-chefen summerar första tävlingsdagen för säsongen:
- Det märktes på många att det var första tävlingen. Tiderna pendlade upp och ner, men det är precis därför vi ska vara ute på en sån här tävling. Att köra test är en sak, att tävla något helt annat. All-in-all en bra dag för oss där Johan visar att han är som bäst när det drar ihop sig till avgörande. Nils gör en absolut godkänd insats. Själv har han högre mål och det ska han ha, men jag hade inga högre förväntningar än så här på hans första tävling i en supercar, säger Tommy Kristoffersson avslutningsvis.

RallyX fortsätter med andra rundan under söndagen.

22-05-12 Megennis embarks on rallycross pilgramage with #Yellowsquad
Rising American rallycross star George Megennis embarks on a rallycross pilgrimage this week as he joins #YellowSquad to race in the opening two rounds of the RallyX campaign at the legendary Holjes circuit in Sweden.

17-year-old Megennis entered the rallycross world with a bang last year, first making his debut at Arvika in Sweden, the final round of the 2021 RallyX season, and immediately impressing with his pace in the Supercar Lites division.

Then, together with #YellowSquad, he undertook a full assault on the inaugural Nitro Rallycross Championship in America, competing in the NRX Next category.

Despite facing competitors with far more experience on a range of new and challenging circuits, New Yorker Megennis was straight on the pace and won the second race in the first Nitro RX weekend at the Utah Motor Sport Campus. In a season of highs and lows, the young driver finished on the podium a further four times across the 10 rounds, to be fourth overall in the competitive series.

With his full 2022 plans yet to be confirmed, Megennis, a self-confessed rallycross nerd, is returning to the #YellowSquad fold for the opening RallyX weekend, held at one of the most prestigious rallycross venues on the entire planet.

As part of the #YellowSquad line-up, Megennis will continue to race under the leadership of Team Principal Kevin Hansen and Team Manager Eric Färén.

George Megennis
#YellowSquad SuperCar Lites Driver
“It’s amazing to work with #YellowSquad and the Hansen family again. They’re a fantastic family, the whole team is knowledgeable and so good at what they do.

I chose to run Holjes because it’s a legendary track and it’s always been a dream of mine to race there. It looks very fun with all the crests and big curbs. You have to be very sendy but under control to be quick, so I hope this track will play to my strengths. As a rallycross nerd I have always fantasised about racing at Holjes – I have watched hundreds of hours of race video, onboards and broadcasts so hopefully that will help me get up to speed.

My goal for this weekend is to finish every race and get as much track time and experience as I can. Many of my competitors have grown up in Sweden and have been driving Holjes for years, so I know I'm coming in on the back foot, but I'm not going to let that disparage my hopes. It just means I have to work harder and try to get up to speed more quickly than everyone else. This will be one of the biggest challenges of my racing career and I’m really looking forward to it. I’d like to thank Dirtfish, #YellowSquad and the entire Hansen Motorsport family for their support.”

Eric Färén
#YellowSquad Team manager
“It’s very exciting for the whole team to have George back in the car for Holjes, and also to be coming back over here to Europe. Last year he was really impressive in his first taste of the classic Nordic rallycross tracks when he made his debut in Arvika, and we had a great season in America too. Holjes is always a special race and I’m sure George will enjoy driving there. He puts in a lot of work, so he is ready for the fight, and we will continue to help him as much as we can. The whole team can’t wait for the season to get started!”

22-05-10 CE Dealer Team announces world-first gender equal World RX line-up with Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm
For the first time in FIA World Rallycross Championship history, a gender equal full-season driver line-up will be represented on the 2022 grid by Construction Equipment Dealer Team.

The talented duo of Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm will drive for the Swedish team in the world's most exciting electric motorsport category - a team headed by the experienced Team Manager Jussi Pinomäki.

"CE Dealer Team and its partners strive for gender equality and our programme is a key part in driving this shift via our talented drivers Klara and Niclas," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

"The duo complement each other well in terms of raw talent and experience. We are confident that we have a robust setup that will enable our long-term goal of fighting for the FIA World Rallycross Championship titles.

"With that said, the competition in World RX is extremely tough and we are humble to the task ahead of us in this new challenge, we will work calmly and methodically towards our goals."

The 25-year-old Niclas Grönholm, son to two-time World Rally champion Marcus, is an experienced rallycross driver. The Finn made his World RX debut in 2015 and finished third overall last year - scoring three victories.

"I am honoured and extremely inspired by getting this opportunity with CE Dealer Team and I think we have strong conditions to fight for the very top," said Niclas Grönholm.

"We need to work very hard for each round and while the team is a new set-up, we have a lot of combined experience and I think we can pull some surprises this year. I'm delighted to race together with Klara, I'm really pumped to get this new and ground-breaking journey going together."

Klara Andersson - who is a member of the Sweden Junior National Team of Motorsport - made her rallycross debut in 2018 and claimed the Swedish Rallycross 2150 title, as well as making her FIA RX2e Championship debut last year.

The 22-year-old will be the only female driver in the top-tier of an FIA World Championship in 2022.

"I am very proud to become the first female full-season World RX driver; this is by far the most inspiring thing I have done in my life. I have a lot to learn, but my long-term goal is to become the first female World Rallycross champion," said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team is currently in the final stages of completing the 100% electric rallycross cars that accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than two seconds - quicker than a Formula 1 car.

"I have an unconditional love for rallycross, it's so intense and unpredictable, and I can't wait to get behind the wheel of our cars for the pre-season testing," said Klara Andersson.

"While I have rallycross experience, World RX and the awesome 680hp electric beasts that we will race are new to me. None of us are expecting to get anything for free, we have plenty of hard work ahead of us to establish ourselves at the top."

The 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship season will start with an official launch at iconic Swedish circuit Höljes on July 2-3, followed by the first race weekend at the legendary Nürburgring in Germany on July 30-31.

Visit www.cedealerteam.com for further information.

22-05-08 Rallycross på Högstabanan
Lördagen den 7 maj arrangerade Haninge
Motorklubb andra deltävlingen i Supercupen. Supercupens målsättning är att utöka och säkerställa återväxten inom Svensk rallycross. Under 2022 körs sex deltävlingar med final i Götene den 10 september. Drygt 300 personer trotsade det ruggiga vädret och fick se en spännande tävling.

Rallycross på Högstabanan
Lördagen den 7 maj arrangerade Haninge Motorklubb andra deltävlingen i Supercupen. Supercupens målsättning är att utöka och säkerställa återväxten inom Svensk rallycross. Under 2022 körs sex deltävlingar med final i Götene den 10 september. Drygt 300 personer trotsade det ruggiga vädret och fick se en spännande tävling.

Om tävlingen
I tävlingen deltog fyra klasser: 2400, 2150, Juniorer 2150 och RCH, Historisk Rallycross. Crosskartings värstingklass – Extreme – deltog också i tävlingen.

Klass 2400
1 Daniel Wall MSK Kvarnvingarna Volvo 240
2 Niclas Härdevik Norström MSK Hammaren Ford Escort RS
3 Anders Johansson Team Mikro BMW E87

Finalen blev spännande. Daniel Wall tog ledningen efter starten. Niclas Härdevik Norström var tätt bakom under alla fem varven, men lyckades inte ta sig förbi och slutade som tvåa.

Rallycross på Högstabanan
Lördagen den 7 maj arrangerade Haninge
Motorklubb andra deltävlingen i Supercupen.
Supercupens målsättning är att utöka och säkerställa återväxten inom Svensk
rallycross. Under 2022 körs sex deltävlingar med final i Götene den 10 september.
Drygt 300 personer trotsade det ruggiga vädret och fick se en spännande tävling.
Om tävlingen
I tävlingen deltog fyra klasser: 2400, 2150, Juniorer 2150 och RCH, Historisk Rallycross.
Crosskartings värstingklass – Extreme – deltog också i tävlingen.
Klass 2400
1 Daniel Wall MSK Kvarnvingarna Volvo 240
2 Niclas Härdevik Norström MSK Hammaren Ford Escort RS
3 Anders Johansson Team Mikro BMW E87
Finalen blev spännande. Daniel Wall tog ledningen efter starten. Niclas Härdevik
Norström var tätt bakom under alla fem varven, men lyckades inte ta sig förbi och
slutade som tvåa.

Klass 2150
1 Kim Andersson Orust MS BMW E36 325
2 Anton Eriksson Therus MK Team Westom BMW E36 318
3 Mats Engström SMK Motala Bil Volvo 242

Starten i finalen blev mycket jämn, men till slut lyckades Anton Eriksson Therus ta ledningen. Den behöll han i några varv, men blev till slut omkörd av Kim Andersson.

Klass 2150 Junior
1 Oskar Hellström Strängnäs AMS BMW E30
2 Dag Gilberg Gestrike Racing Team Saab 9000
3 Eric Nilsson Kristianstad KK BMW E36

Oskar Hellström hade en lyckad dag på Högstabanan. Hans tider i kvalomgången varsnabbast i hela 2150-klassen, dvs bättre än alla seniorers. Finalen vann han på ett enkelt och elegant sätt.

Historisk Rallycrossklass, RCH
1 Peter Fransson Vimmerby MS VW 1303
2 Mats Kjellin Ljusdals MS Volvo 142
3 Mattias Härnered Enköpings MK Volvo PV

I den här klassen blev finalen mycket spännande. Peter Fransson tog ledningen efter starten, men blev omkörd av Mattias Härnered som ledde i flera varv. Mot slutet av finalen tog Mattias i lite för mycket, snurrade runt och hamnade sist. Han lyckades dock att göra en imponerande uppkörning och hamnade på en hedrande tredjeplats.

Crosskart Extreme
1 Jimmy Bergander Haninge MK Speedcar
2 Algot Hammarqvist Åtvidaberg MK Speedcar
3 Linus Andersen Haninge MK Speedcar

Finalen blev dramatisk. På tredje varvet gjorde Jimmy Kujanpää från Haninge MK en brutal rullning. Jimmy klarade sig bra, men finalen fick avbrytas. Efter omstart blev det stort manfall bland kartarna, bara två kom i mål med Jimmy Bergander från hemmaklubben som segrare.

Crosskart Extreme Junior
1 Loke Pettersson Haninge MK Casmat
2 Alfred Åhlander Haninge MK Speedcar
3 Kalle Björk Haninge MK Speedcar

Klubbtillhörigheterna visar att Haninge MK är en av landets största Crosskartklubbar.

Historisk Rallycrossklass, RCH
1 Peter Fransson Vimmerby MS VW 1303
2 Mats Kjellin Ljusdals MS Volvo 142
3 Mattias Härnered Enköpings MK Volvo PV
I den här klassen blev finalen mycket spännande. Peter Fransson tog ledningen efter
starten, men blev omkörd av Mattias Härnered som ledde i flera varv. Mot slutet av
finalen tog Mattias i lite för mycket, snurrade runt och hamnade sist. Han lyckades
dock att göra en imponerande uppkörning och hamnade på en hedrande tredjeplats.
Crosskart Extreme
1 Jimmy Bergander Haninge MK Speedcar
2 Algot Hammarqvist Åtvidaberg MK Speedcar
3 Linus Andersen Haninge MK Speedcar
Finalen blev dramatisk. På tredje varvet gjorde Jimmy Kujanpää från Haninge MK
en brutal rullning. Jimmy klarade sig bra, men finalen fick avbrytas. Efter omstart
blev det stort manfall bland kartarna, bara två kom i mål med Jimmy Bergander från
hemmaklubben som segrare.
Crosskart Extreme Junior
1 Loke Pettersson Haninge MK Casmat
2 Alfred Åhlander Haninge MK Speedcar
3 Kalle Björk Haninge MK Speedcar

Klubbtillhörigheterna visar att Haninge MK är en av landets största Crosskartklubbar.

En veteran tävlade för klubben
Lars Rosendahl, snart 70 år, deltog i tävlingen. Han har sysslat med bilsport hela sitt liv, Rallycross har han kört sedan början av 80-talet. Lars tävlade i den historiska klassen med en Volvo PV, en bilmodell som slutade tillverkas 1965. Tyvärr kroknade hans gamla bil redan i första heatet så Lars tvingades avbryta tävlingen.

Klubbens hemsida www.haningemotorklubb.se innehåller mycket information om klubben och vår verksamhet.
Information om Rallycross finns på Svenska Bilsportförbundets hemsida www.sbf.se
Allt om Supercupen finns på www.supercupenirallycross.se

22-05-04 Construction Equipment Dealer Team announces multi-year electric FIA World Rallycross Championship entry
In cooperation with leading construction equipment distributors and industrial partners, the Construction Equipment Dealer Team (CE Dealer Team) announces its entry to the electric FIA World Rallycross Championship. Through its participation, the team aims to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers.

The team will join the Championship as it adopts an all-electric format from 2022, marking a major shift for the sport.

Greater sustainability, on track and off
The Nordic-based team is supported by several independent dealers of Volvo Construction Equipment, including ASCENDUM, SMT and Swecon, along with backing from prestigious industrial partners, including Engcon and SSAB, who together share a commitment to leading a sustainable future, both on track and off.

"We are pleased to announce our entry to World RX, which is a perfect fit for the CE Dealer Team and our push for a more sustainable future with our partners," said Emil Axelsson, Sporting and Commercial Director of CE Dealer Team.

"The World RX programme provides us with an excellent activation platform, one where our partners can showcase their innovative products and solutions through the world's most exciting electric motorsport category."

Making motorsport more inclusive and diverse
The CE Dealer Team is being operated by PWR RX, a sister company of the successful Swedish motorsport team PWR Racing. The team is entering a pair of 680hp electric rallycross cars for two soon-to-be revealed driving talents to contest the Championship.

"While World RX is new to us, building and developing fast electric race cars are not," said Daniel Haglöf, Co-Founder of CE Dealer Team. "Our extensive racing experience coupled with the vast technical expertise of our industrial partners give us confidence that our long-term goal of fighting for the FIA World Rallycross Championship titles will be ultimately successful.

"An important additional element of our programme is to drive a change that will see motorsport become more inclusive and diverse. We look forward to announcing further exciting details surrounding these elements soon."

The 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship season starts with an official launch at the iconic Swedish circuit Höljes on July 2-3, followed by the first race weekend at the legendary Nürburgring in Germany on July 30-31. Full race calendar available here.

The countdown for the reveal of CE Dealer Team's driver pairing has begun and will take place at 10:00 CEST on May 10th: www.cedealerteam.com

22-05-03 VM-stjärnan Ole Christian Veiby satsar på rallycross – kör RallyX med JC Raceteknik
Norske VM-rallyföraren tar steget tillbaka in i rallycrossen. Tillsammans med JC Raceteknik siktar de på medalj i den nordiska serien RallyX.
– Förutsättningarna ser bra ut för en lyckad säsong, säger teamchef Joel Christoffersson.

JC Raceteknik har tidigare presenterat sin satsning i RallyX som består av Philip Gehrman och Sondre Evjen i Supercar, Jimmie Walfridson i Supercar Lites, Alex Gustafsson i Crosscar samt Juniorteamets Crosscar Junior-förare Lukas Andersson och Erik Nilsson. Nu ansluter en sjunde förare till teamet: rallystjärnan Ole Christian Veiby.

25-årige Ole Christian Veiby har ett starkt CV inom rally, med bland annat silver i junior-VM, guld och silver i norska mästerskapet och en WRC2-seger under Rally Sweden. Han körde även rallycross 2015, där han imponerade med en tredjeplats i FIA European Rallycross Championship (rallycross-EM). Han har sedan dess velat återvända till rallycrossen, men eftersom det krockat med hans andra åtaganden har chansen inte funnits. Men i år kom möjligheten att kombinera rallycrossen med sin ordinarie motorsportkarriär. Därmed återvänder han till rallycrossen, och är redo för en full RallyX-säsong i en av JC Racetekniks Audi S1-Supercars. Målet är att fightas i toppen och avsluta på pallen i mästerskapet.

RallyX körs under sju deltävlingar i Sverige, Finland och Lettland. Premiären går av stapeln i Höljes 13-15 maj.

Joel Christoffersson, teamchef JC Raceteknik:
”Det känns kul att ha Ole Christian Veiby i teamet. Vi vet att han är en jätteduktig chaufför och snabb i skogen, med många stora meriter inom rally. Han har även kört rallycross för flera år sedan, och visade bra tempo även där. Så det blir spännande att ha honom tillbaka i en rallycrossbil igen. Det ska bli riktigt kul att samarbeta honom, och se hur han jobbar. Vi går in i säsongen med målet att jaga en pallplats i mästerskapet. Under testet vi gjorde i Höljes tidigare satte han snabba tider och presterade bra bakom ratten, så förutsättningarna ser bra ut för en lyckad säsong.”

Ole Christian Veiby, Supercar:
”Det känns väldigt bra att köra rallycross igen. Jag kommer självklart till start för att vara med i toppen, det är det ingen tvivel om. Samtidigt var det många år sedan jag tävlade i rallycross sist, och det finns många förare med mer erfarenhet än vad jag har. Men det ska bli kul att köra en så snabb bil och lite riktiga race igen.

Att tävla för JC Raceteknik känns riktigt bra. Jag känner Joel [Christoffersson] och flera i teamet sedan tidigare och vårt samarbete fungerar bra. Audin är helt ny för mig, men jag tycker att vi tacklade de utmaningarna fort och fick två bra testdagar från Höljes med oss. Om vi tittar på varvtiderna från testet ser det bra ut. Det känns som att vi kommer väl förberedda till första tävlingen. Sedan får vi se hur långt det räcker i resultatet, men vi har absolut kapaciteten att fightas i toppen.”

22-05-02 Viktiga förberedelser i RallyX
Uppladdningen inför rallycross-VM går via RallyX. Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS kommer till start med två bilar vid premiären i Höljes 14-15 maj.
- Det ska verkligen bli roligt att komma igång med tävlingsmomenten igen, och mot ett bra startfält dessutom, säger Johan Kristoffersson som får hela arton konkurrenter i Supercar-klassen.

Huvudfokuset för Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS är förstås nya världsmästerskapet med elbilar, men där ligger premiären några månader bort. Många saker behöver komma på plats innan dess och allt går inte att göra hemma i verkstaden eller vid skrivbordet.
- Vi behöver få igång vår infrastruktur för hela teamet och dessutom testa en del komponenter som är samma för de gamla bilarna och för de nya elbilarna, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson och fortsätter:
- Vi har byggt tävlingsbilar i många år, men den här gången står vi inför helt nya utmaningar och eftersom möjligheterna att testa med de nya elbilarna är mycket begränsade så behöver vi ta alla möjligheter att komma ut på tävlingsbanorna.
- Dessutom vet vi av erfarenhet att RallyX är en utmanande serie, med duktiga arrangörer och bra startfält.

I VM kommer det värmländska teamet köra med tre bilar, där än så länge fyrfaldige världsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson är den ende som har annonserats som förare. I RallyX blir det två bilar till start i Höljes. Regerande mästaren Johan kommer att köra båda dagarna i den gamla egenbyggda VW Polon medan en nyinköpt supercar av samma märke kommer att delas mellan unga förmågorna Nils Andersson och Gustav Bergström.

Andersson tog hem SM-guldet i Lites förra året och slutade tvåa i RallyX Nordic, numera med namnet RallyX. Nu får han chansen i värstingklassen, men ligger lågt med sina resultatmässiga ambitioner.
- Härligt att få testa en supercar. För mig handlar det om att samla rutin och lära mig så mycket som möjligt inför kommande uppgifter, vad det nu än blir. Och att få köra på den bana jag kan allra bäst och har lyckats bra på är extra kul, säger Andersson, som kommer att ta hand om lördagens tävling medan Bergström kör söndagsracet.

Gustav debuterade i rallycross i Lites-klassen förra året och kommer i år att köra Carrera Cup Scandinavia för Kristoffersson Motorsport. I Höljes blir det debut i rallycrossens toppdivision och testat har han gjort på samma bana. En viss skillnad i effekt noterades.
- Det kan man lugnt säga. Men testet kändes ändå väldigt bra. Bilen är mer lättkörd och följsam än Lites-bilen, tycker Bergström, som även han är försiktig med sina förhoppningar inför RallyX-premiären.
- Det blir mer som en träning, inga större förväntningar.

Tommy Kristoffersson förklarar nyttan med att ha mer än en bil igång under tävlingshelgen i rallycrossmetropolen:
- Det är mycket personal som ska trimmas ihop inför VM och till stor del är det samma mekaniker och ingenjörer vi har med oss på den här resan.

RallyX bjuder på ett grandiost startfält i Supercar. Hela nitton ekipage är anmälda till premiären. Johan Kristoffersson tycker att det stora intresset är förståeligt.
- Det är en bra serie, med fina arrangemang. Dessutom ligger tävlingarna rätt i tid och erbjuder mycket körning.

Johan menar också att det är ett utmärkt tillfälle att testa detaljer som inte enbart har med själva tävlandet att göra.
- Det är mycket som ska fungera, med trailer, tält och en massa utrustning. Det låter som en enkel sak att testa på hemmaplan, men det är först när man kommer ut på tävling som man får klart för sig vad man borde ha packat ner eller vad som inte funkar. Tävlar man mycket blir man bra på att tävla!

22-04-28 Solberg till EM med Hedströms - Oliver gör Anders Michalak sällskap i Höljes
Det blir mer Värmländskt i på EM och VM i Höljes i sommar. Peter Hedström knyter Oliver Solberg till sitt Torsbybaserade team för att sätta guldkant på den Nordvärmländska magiska helgen i början av Juli. Bilen blir den Hyundai i20 Supercar som bland annat Peter själv körde förra säsongen.

Sist det begav sig för Oliver Solberg i Rallycross var just på Höljesbanan under All Star Magic Weekend 2020, där han i den avslutande finalen pressade pappa Petters beprövade Citroen DS3 Supercar till en tredjeplats i finalen. Nu är förutsättningarna än bättre för Oliver, som tillsammans med Hedströms Motorsport och PSRX tekniker uppdaterar teamets Hyundai i20 Supercar till max inför årets rallycrosshändelse i Sverige, alla kategorier. Det magiska veckoslutet i Höljes.
- Det här ska bli riktigt kul, vi har nu gjort mycket jobb med detaljer på bilen efter vår egen filosofi vi haft från PSRX-bilarna, det tillsammans med Peter och hans teams erfarenhet kring bilen kommer bli riktigt bra, berättar Oliver Solberg.

Det var för ett par veckor sedan som det stod klart att Anton Marklund valde ett annat spår efter många om och men, istället för att fortsätta hos Hedströms. Detta öppnade upp för annan chaufför till EM i Höljes.
- Det slog mig att Oliver skulle passa perfekt för Hyundaien i Höljes, jag ringde och han nappade direkt, sen gick allt fort och tillsammans med Petters mekaniker har vi tagit bilen ytterligare ett stort steg framåt i utvecklingen, berättar Peter Hedström.
Både teamet och Oliver har siktet inställt på seger och vägen dit går genom ett omfattande tvådagarstest på just Höljesbanan redan i skrivande stund.
- Vi kommer testa nu idag och i morgon, det är seger som gäller, det kommer bli tufft, men vi kommer med en bra bil till tävlingen, intygar Oliver.
Det sparas inte på krutet och motorn har redan varit till motorbyggaren Pipo Moteurs i Frankrike för grundlig genomgång.

Olivers teamkamrat hos Hedströms Motorsport i Höljes blir den Uppländska raketen Anders Michalak, som kör en av teamets VW Polo Supercar.

22-04-28 JC Raceteknik till RallyX med starkt startfält – Evjen, Gehrman och Walfridson
Ytterligare tre förare kommer till start i RallyX tillsammans med JC Raceteknik. Sondre Evjen och Philip Gehrman gör en full satsning i Supercar, medan Jimmie Walfridson ansluter i Supercar Lites.
– Vi har en spännande säsong framför oss, med målet att köra hem mästerskapsmedaljer, säger teamchef Joel Christoffersson.I tisdags presenterades JC Raceteknik Juniorteam med de två förarna Lukas Andersson och Erik Nilsson. Nu är det klart att de får starkt sällskap i depån. JC Raceteknik kommer nämligen till start med ytterligare tre förare i RallyX. Sondre Evjen, Philip Gehrman och Jimmie Walfridson.

I Supercar ansluter en ny förare till teamet. Philip Gehrman, Lindesberg, har en framgångsrik rallycrosskarriär i bagaget, med bland annat EM- och SM-brons i Touringcar, samt en tredjeplats i Supercar-SM. I fjol körde han en deltävling i RallyX med JCs Audi, och visade direkt högt tempo med bland annat en omgångsseger. I år är han redo för en full säsong tillsammans med teamet.

Till skillnad från Gehrman har norrmannen Sondre Evjen tävlat för JC Raceteknik sedan 2016. Även i fjol körde han Supercar för teamet, och avslutade säsongen med en tredjeplats i mästerskapet RallyX. I år har han siktet inställt på ytterligare en mästerskapsmedalj. Även Jimmie Walfridson, Torsby, kommer återigen till start för JC. Han återvänder för full satsning i klassen Supercar Lites, efter ett sabbatsår under pandemin. I bagaget har han bland annat två SM-brons tillsammans med teamet.

RallyX (tidigare RallyX Nordic) är ett mästerskap som består av sju deltävlingar i Höljes, Strängnäs, finska Kouvola och Lettiska Riga. Säsongen drar igång 13 maj på Höljesbanan.

Joel Christoffersson, teamchef JC Raceteknik:
”I år kommer RallyX vara vårt huvudfokus med bensinbilarna och vi har en väldigt stark line-up med fyra Supercars och en förare i Supercar Lites. Vi har en spännande säsong framför oss, med målet att köra hem mästerskapsmedaljer. I Supercar fortsätter vi samarbetet med Sondre [Evjen] och vi siktar högt resultatmässigt. I fjol gjorde vi en full RallyX-säsong, och slutade trea. I år kommer vi till start ännu bättre förberedda och siktar på ett högre resultat i mästerskapet.

Philip [Gehrman] körde en tävling med Audin i fjol. Så i år utvecklar vi det samarbetet ytterligare och satsar på en full säsong i RallyX tillsammans. Han har gjort bra resultat i rallycross tidigare, och vi märkte i Arvika att han är riktigt snabb i den här bilen. Så vi ser fram emot att ha honom i teamet och se vad han kan lyckas med.

Jimmie [Walfridson] har haft ett litet sabbatsår från rallycrossen, men är nu tillbaka igen. Vi i teamet är redo att satsa vidare och göra det absolut bästa av säsongen, och jag tror även att Jimmie är hungrig på bra resultat i Supercar Lites. Hela teamet är riktigt taggade på säsongen, och ser fram emot premiären i Höljes.”

Philip Gehrman, Supercar:
”Det känns som att jag kommer få en ärlig chans att visa vad jag går för, så känslan inför säsongen är riktigt bra. Såklart är rallycross alltid rallycross och allt kan hända, men så mycket bättre förutsättningar än såhär kan det inte bli. Joel har full koll på vad han gör och JC är trots allt ett världsmästarteam. Samtidigt är Audin en tålig och snabb bil, byggd för att vinna mästerskap och hålla en säsong utan strul. Det är en av de bästa rallycrossbilarna enligt mig, så det ska bli fruktansvärt kul att köra med JC i år.

I fjol var det ju mer eller mindre VM-nivå på RallyX, så konkurrensen lär vara hård även i år. Men jag vet att jag som chaufför har kapaciteten att komma på pallen i tävlingar, och förhoppningsvis även säkra en medalj i mästerskapet. Trots att mycket är nytt går jag in med höga förhoppningar inför säsongen, tävlingen i Arvika i fjol gav verkligen blodad tand. Så jag är väldigt tacksam att kunna komma till start i Supercar i år, med tanke på allt som hänt i världen de senaste åren. Så tack till alla trogna samarbetspartners.”

Sondre Evjen, Supercar:
”Den här säsongen kommer bli riktigt kul. Vi har en bra grund med oss från i fjol, både med setup och för mig som förare, och vi kommer bygga vidare på det för att höja nivån ytterligare. Konkurrensen är alltid stentuff i RallyX och jag är säker på att det blir många spännande fighter på banorna.

I fjol hade vi en bra högstanivå, med snabba tider och hög fart. Men en del oflyt gjorde att vi tillslut tappade andraplatsen med bara en poäng. Både Johan [Kristoffersson] och Fraser [McConnell] var riktigt snabba, men jag hade verkligen velat ta andraplatsen. Så målet i år är att göra ett bättre resultat i mästerskapet och vinna tävlingar, helt klart.”

Jimmie Walfridson, Supercar Lites:
”Det ska bli kul att komma igång igen och jag ser fram emot att samarbeta med JC Raceteknik även i år. Jag har haft ett litet uppehåll under pandemin, och verkligen saknat att tävla. Det här uppehållet har gjort mig jättetaggad och min målsättning under säsongen är självklart att försöka nå pallen i tävlingarna.

I år är det fyra roliga banor i mästerskapet. Höljes är alltid Höljes, så att inleda säsongen på hemmaplan känns bra för oss. Riga har jag tävlat i förut och i Kouvola kom jag tvåa 2018. Strängnäs är ny i min tävlingskalender, och jag har hittills bara testat där tidigare. Så det blir spännande att avsluta säsongen på en helt ny bana.”

22-04-27 Baumanis joins #Yellowsquad to race for Euro RX gold
Latvian star Janis Baumanis has joined #YellowSquad to race for championship gold in the FIA European Rallycross Championship this year with a Peugeot 208 RX1.

Baumanis won the Euro RX3 title in 2015 and in the same year stepped up to the Euro RX1 [then called Supercar] within the Hansen Talent Development team, racing a 208 WRX in three rounds of the 2015 campaign, which included finishing on the podium at Hell in Norway.

The 29-year-old has since raced in the World and European Rallycross Championships, scoring World RX podiums in Norway and Canada in 2019, and Euro RX1 race wins and podiums in 2021 (in Latvia and Belgium) on his way to P3 in the overall standings.

#YellowSquad is expanding its operations for 2022 into the FIA European Rallycross Championship alongside it’ programmes with junior drivers, following in the footsteps of Hansen Motorsport, which won 20 Euro RX titles between 1989 and 2016 with Kenneth Hansen, Susann Hansen, Timur Timerzyanov and Kevin Hansen.

With #YellowSquad run within the wider Hansen Motorsport umbrella, for Baumanis 2022 is as good as homecoming. The 2022 Euro RX1 season will take place over to six events in Hungary (Nyirad, May 21-22), Sweden (Holjes, July 2-3), Norway (Hell, August 13-14), Latvia (Riga, September 3-4), Portugal (Montalegre, September 17-18), Belgium (Spa, October 8-9).

#YellowSquad is operated by World Rallycross Championship event-winner Kevin Hansen as Team Principal, and former World RX racer Eric Faren, with Faren set to lead the squad for Euro RX events this season.

Janis Baumanis
#YellowSquad Euro RX1 Driver
“I’m very, very happy to drive with #YellowSquad this year. I started my Supercar career with the Hansen team back in 2015 and I’m very happy that I am back in the most famous team in the rallycross world. We’re doing the full Euro RX championship. Last year it was a very nice championship with very good drivers, and I believe it will be even more interesting with even more good names and cars this year. I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun and fighting for the top places in the championship.”

Kevin Hansen
Team Principal
“It’s fantastic to expand #YellowSquad operations into the next step of our journey. This has always been the goal, the vision for the brand has always been to have multiple positions on the ladder in rallycross, and now we are there with #YellowSquad in Euro RX. Within the Hansen organisation we now have every step covered from Crosscar all the way to the top in rallycross. It’s super cool to have Janis back in the team after he drove for Hansen Talent Development a few years ago. He’s come here to fight for European gold, he’s been very much in the battle in recent years and now with this car and team we have a really good chance to make some really good results.”

Eric Färén
#Team manager
“It’s really exciting for the whole #YellowSquad team to grow like this, and take the step up to Euro RX1, especially given the history that #YellowSquad’s parent team Hansen Motorsport has in the European Championship. Signing a deal with an event-winner and proven front-runner like Janis is a great achievement for us. I have known Janis for many years and I’m sure he will be incredibly strong in the 208 WRX. This season. We have a great package and I can’t wait to get the season started.”

22-04-26 SET Promotion signs Anton Marklund for 2022 Euro RX1 title-challenge
Two-time FIA European Rallycross Champion and World Rallycross Championship podium-finisher Anton Marklund will race a Hyundai i20 RX1 for SET Promotion in the 2022 Euro RX series.

Swedish driver Marklund has competed in European and World Rallycross Championship events since 2011, and has claimed two titles, in the TouringCar category in 2012 and the headline Euro RX1 division in 2017.

SET Promotion first entered Euro RX events in 2003, and has scored nine titles, over 50 wins and more than 100 podiums as part of its rich history in the series.

In various guises, SET and Marklund have competed directly against each other in both Euro RX and World RX campaigns in recent seasons, and have now joined forces for 2022, with the goal of challenging for the Euro RX crown.

The Euro RX1 series will run over six rounds in 2022, five events accompanying rounds of the World Rallycross Championship and the first round run as a standalone event at the historic Nyirad Circuit in Hungary, next month.

Marklund tested the SET Hyundai i20 RX1 (formerly Supercar) in Finland recently, while more running is planned ahead of the Euro RX season getting underway.

Anton Marklund (SWE) #92:
“Since even before I started racing in rallycross myself, I have seen SET Promotion always competing at the top of the category they are in. From the outside, SET has always looked very professional. We started to discuss what we could do this year at the end of last season, and finally have decided to work together this year. There will be a lot of cars and drivers at a very high level in the European Championship so it will be far from easy, but the target for this season is to challenge for the title. I’ve driven the car in a small test already and I have to say I was quite surprised with how good it was on the gravel. In general, the car and team share the same philosophy that I have had myself for the last couple of years, so it feels very good and hopefully we can continue that preparation all the way to the first race. I’m really looking forward to Holjes as my home event, and the round in Norway as it is pure fun to drive there. I’m also looking forward to going back to Hungary, I raced there in 2013 and it’s an amazing track. Kicking off the season at an old-school circuit will be great.”

Aleksi Koskinen, SET Promotion Euro RX1 Team Manager:
“It’s a very exciting year that we have ahead of us. This is a new role for me as Team Manager, and a new position for Anton as he returns to a full European Championship season with our Hyundai. Anton and I worked together in 2014 and 2015 in the World Rallycross Championship with Marklund Motorsport, and it’s been great to see his development as a driver through the years. We’ve put a really strong team together for this year, full of experienced people and we have one goal. Without doubt that is to fight for another championship title for both Anton and SET Promotion. The level will be high in Euro RX this year and I’m looking forward to some great battles.”

Jussi Pinomäki, SET Promotion Team Principal:
“SET Promotion feels very at home in the European Rallycross Championship. As a team we have enjoyed many years of very good competition in the championship, and much success. We don’t ever take that for granted however and a lot of hard work has gone into preparing for this season with Anton. Aleksi will oversee the Euro RX campaign as Team Manager, he has been a big part of SET for a number of years and has a lot of experience. The level will be high in Euro RX, but when you combine the experience of the team together with Anton’s clear ability and experience as a driver at the highest level in rallycross, I think we can expect to enjoy a lot of close racing.”

FIA Euro RX1 2022 Calendar
R1 – Nyirad, Hungary – May 21/22
R2 – Holjes, Sweden – July 2/3
R3 – Hell, Norway – August 13/14
R4 – Riga, Latvia – September 3/4
R5 – Montalegre, Portugal – September 17/18
R6 – Spa, Belgium – October 8/9

Find full Euro RX information can be found on the FIA World Rallycross Championship website: https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/

22-04-26 Michalak först ut! - Full fart in i ny säsong för teamchef Peter Hedström
Om drygt två veckor är det premiärtävling i RallyX på Hedströms Motorsports hemmabana Höljes Motorstadion. Teamet lyfter fram Anders Michalak som först ut att presenteras i årets laguppställning.

Slutet av April brukar innebära bråda tider hos Hedströms Motorsport och 2022 är inget undantag. Finputsen på årets tävlingsbilar är på gång i skrivande stund. Årets tävlingskalender i teamet inleds faktiskt med Asfaltsrally i Hässleholm nu på 1:a Maj.
Förra årets Bronsmedaljör i Asfalt-SM:s 4WD-klass, Stenungsundsentreprenören Mattias Olsson gör ny satsning mot det SM-guld som hägrar i klassen.
- Han är hungrig efter förra årets rävspel i klassen, vi kan räkna med en supertaggad Mattias i Hässleholm, intygar Peter Hedström.

På rallycross-sidan har det varit full rusch när snön försvann bland intresserade förare till teamet. Först ut att presenteras är som nämnt den alltid hypersnabbe Upplänningen Anders Michalak från Almunge, en bit utanför Uppsala. Det är ett späckat schema inledningsvis. Michalak kommer inleda med att köra de första två dubbelhelgerna Höljes och Kouvola i Rally X samt de första två EM-deltävlingarna.
- Det blir tre helger i rad nu först, 400 mil på fjorton dagar, det kommer bli tuffa veckor för teamet, berättar Peter Hedström.
Efter EM-deltävling nummer två i Höljes kommer sedan Michalak att välja väg.
- Vi kom överens efter lite dialog att inleda båda serierna och sen fullfölja den som det gått bäst i, avslöjar Hedström.

Peter Hedström är ännu lite förtegen om övriga laguppställningen, men en och annan överraskning är att vänta.
- Det är klart med minst fyra förare som kommer göra inhopp i de olika serierna, men mer kommer jag avslöja senare i veckan, säger Peter Hedström.
Om årets RallyX och EM-serien, säger han så här.
- RallyX kommer bli seriens bästa någonsin, både förarmässigt och med de banor som ingår. EM kommer bli brutalt bra i år, speciellt Höljes om det blir som det sägs, med fritt antal bilar i klassen, spår Hedström.

Teamet backar även upp unga talanger på väg in i sporten. Hampus Hagström och Elias Nilsson är förarna som kör under Hedströms Motorsports flagg.
- Det är viktigt att se till att unga lovande förare får blomma ut, Hampus kommer i år göra några inhopp i RallyX Crosscar Junior och kör hela 85 cc Cup, medan Elias satsar på en första säsong i SM med en Casmat Extreme, avslutar Peter.

22-04-14 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing & JC Raceteknik To Campaign Four FC1-X Cars for the 2022-23 Nitro Rallycross Series
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik today announced a continued partnership that will feature four FC1-X Group E cars to be run in the global Nitro Rallycross Series.

JC Raceteknik (JC) and Dreyer & Reinbold (DRR) previously partnered in 2021, competing in the Supercar Class of Nitro Rallycross. JC Raceteknik has seen success across the globe, winning the 2021 Drivers Championship of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and the 2019 FIA European Rallycross Drivers Championship. JC Raceteknik, based in Sweden, will allow DRR & JC Raceteknik to tackle the global championship that Nitro Rallycross offers with six rounds in North America and four overseas.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Joel Christoffersson and his entire team for our FC1-X program moving forward. Joel and his team are a perfect fit for our organization and goals within Nitro Rallycross, as we share the same vision, goals and objectives for our team and our growth within this new era of global Nitro Rallycross competition,” said Dennis Reinbold, team owner of the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “We partnered with Joel and his organization in 2021, and have continued through the offseason and have hit the ground running. We’re looking forward to a successful season both on- and off-track!”

“I’m very excited about the partnership with DRR, Group E, and the electric era that is coming to Nitro Rallycross. I feel we will have a very strong team together with DRR. We are aiming high and trying to reach the highest amount of success possible,” said Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik team owner. “I believe this will make Nitro Rallycross even more exciting with cars that are the same for every driver. It is up to the team and the driver to achieve the best results.”

In 2021, DRR and JC previously partnered to field two Supercars in the Nitro Rallycross Series. Additionally, the DRR organization fielded a combined five drivers, including Sage Karam, Lane Vacala, and Conner Martell in the 2021 Nitro Rallycross Series NRX NEXT division. They combined for twelve podiums, with Sage Karam scoring five wins and finishing second in the Championship standings.

The 2022-23 Nitro Rallycross (Nitro RX) series kicks off at Lydden Hill Race Circuit in England on June 18-19, as part of its ten-round global calendar.

About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was founded in 1999 by Indianapolis car dealer Dennis Reinbold. The legacy of the Dreyer and Reinbold family dates back to the 1920s with Reinbold’s grandfather, the legendary Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, a former factory motorcycle racer. Dreyer served as a crewman and mechanic on the famed Duesenberg driven by Benny Shoaff and Babe Stapp in the 1927 Indy 500. Dreyer went on to build Indy 500 cars in the 1930s which many started on the front row. In addition, Dreyer constructed championship-winning sprint cars and midgets as well as quarter midgets called Dreyerettes. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing captured its first win in 2000 with driver Robbie Buhl at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla., and has fielded a variety of drivers including Buhl, Buddy Lazier, Sarah Fisher, Buddy Rice,

Al Unser Jr., Sage Karam, and J.R. Hildebrand. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has successfully qualified all 42 drivers for the Indy 500 in its history. DRR, who competed in Rallycross for the first time in 2015, captured the 2016 Lites rallycross championship. In 2021, the team campaigned Tanner Foust and Cabot Bigham in the Supercar division of Nitro Rallycross. Additionally, the team ran a selection of lites cars that included drivers such as Sage Karam, Conner Martell, and Lane Vacala.

About the JC Raceteknik
JC Raceteknik is a professional rallycross team based in Sweden. They have competed across the world such as Nitro Rallycross, World Rallycross, European Rallycross, and RallyX Nordic. They have won titles across different seasons including the FIA European Rallycross Drivers Championship in 2019 with Robin Larsson and FIA World Rallycross Drivers Championship in 2021 with Johan Kristoffersson.

22-03-24 Hansen aligns with The Berry to deliver increased digital innovation in World RX
Reigning FIA World Rallycross Championship-winning team Hansen Motorsport is excited to announce an exhilarating new partnership with UK firm The Berry as both parties collaborate on an innovative future.

The Hansen team claimed its third World RX team’s title in 2021, to add to over 20 international drivers’ titles from it’s over 30-year history. For 2022 Hansen Motorsport has made its biggest ever investment in its rallycross programmes, committing to a multi-year programme in the discipline’s new all-electric era. Former World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen and World RX race-winner Kevin Hansen will drive for the team.

Not only has the Hansen outfit been at the forefront of rallycross on track for over three decades, but off track too. Last year, the team joined the United Nations Sports For Climate Action Framework and then became the first in rallycross to achieve an FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation.

Now a new partnership with The Berry has been formed to deliver innovative and exciting content, emphasising the transition into a new era for motor racing and the automotive industry, while also highlighting the ever-increasing need for planet earth to focus on sustainability.

Based in London, UK, The Berry is a collaborative team of story-shaping creators, that produces memorable, action-packed videos, across digital platforms, social media, live productions and more. The Berry develops and builds award-winning creatives that combine live action, 3D and visual effects, to bring stand-out ideas and concepts to life.

The Berry was responsible for the 2022 Hansen Motorsport World RX launch video last month, and will continue to work with the Swedish team through the forthcoming season to give an innovative insight into the team and its rallycross endeavours.

Ryan Burnham
Managing Director and Co-founder, The Berry
“Pushing the potential of creative content and building a brand new, fresh audience to reflect and engage with the huge, exciting electric racing changes within rallycross is a huge motivator for us at The Berry. Delivering high-spec, action packed content for on and off season will run parallel with the success (past and present) of the Hansen Motorsport team. We’re super excited to see what the Hansen’s can achieve in the coming years through electric racing and hopefully our Berry logo will help them to go even faster!”

Luke Robson
Creative Director and Co-founder, The Berry
“Pushing the potential of creative content and building a brand new, fresh audience to reflect and engage with the huge, exciting electric racing changes within rallycross is a huge motivator for us at The Berry. Delivering high-spec, action packed content for on and off season will run parallel with the success (past and present) of the Hansen Motorsport team. We’re super excited to see what the Hansen’s can achieve in the coming years through electric racing and hopefully our Berry logo will help them to go even faster!”

Kevin Hansen
Hansen Motorsport
“We had a really inspiring conversation with The Berry when we first met, with a shared ambition to properly announce our electric commitment in a cool way. Our actual race cars are not ready yet, so The Berry came up with the idea of making a virtual world and racing a version of the car in that space. It blew our minds when we first saw the video and I think it was the same for all of the Hansen fans out there as well. This partnership came very naturally, and going forward we have some exciting content lined up. You will know when The Berry has worked their magic on our channels!

“To be working in such a modern way of graphics and animation is really cool. It’s never been seen before in rallycross, and what The Berry are able to create is very nice and authentic, even if it is animation. I think the most exciting thing is that there isn’t a limit on what we are able to do together. We have a lot of plans for the season, but The Berry’s ability to create new content off-site is really positive for us too, as we won’t have any logistical environmental impacts. We will help and advice The Berry on how to improve their environmental impact as much as possible with our experience too, something we are actively working on with all of our partners.”

22-03-21 Updated calendar issued for 2022 World RX campaign
Munich, 21 March 2022 – Rallycross Promoter GmbH has issued a revised calendar for the 2022 FIA World Rallycross
Championship, as ratified by last weekend’s FIA World Motor Sport Council reunion.

Following the eagerly-anticipated FIA European Rallycross Championship curtain-raiser at Nyirád in Hungary in May, the new era, all-electric World Championship will be officially launched at iconic Swedish circuit Höljes over the course of the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ at the beginning of July, alongside racing action from Euro RX1, Euro RX3 and the FIA RX2e Championship.

The event will offer fans attending trackside and watching at home a privileged first glimpse of the thrilling cars that will do battle for World Championship glory in 2022 – each of them underpinned by Kreisel Electric’s cutting-edge RX1e powertrain – in their eye-catching colour schemes.

Germany’s famous Nürburgring will then play host to World RX, RX2e and Euro RX3 at the end of July, before Hell in Norway marks a welcome return in mid-August, with the addition of Euro RX1 making for a full house of flat-out, dual-surface entertainment at the Lånkebanen track.

A trio of action-packed double-headers follow at Riga’s Bikernieku trase in Latvia, Portugal’s Circuito Internacional de Montalegre and Belgium’s Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The campaign will conclude at an as-yet undisclosed venue.

Provisional 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship Calendar
July 2-3 Höljes, Sweden (Season Launch)
July 30-31 Nürburgring, Germany
August 13-14 Hell, Norway *
September 3-4 Riga, Latvia
September 17-18 Montalegre, Portugal *
October 8-9 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
TBC TBC

Provisional 2022 FIA RX2e Championship Calendar
July 2-3 Höljes, Sweden
July 30-31 Nürburgring, Germany
August 13-14 Hell, Norway *
September 3-4 Riga, Latvia
October 8-9 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

Provisional 2022 FIA European Championship (Euro RX1) Calendar
May 21-22 Nyirád, Hungary *
July 2-3 Höljes, Sweden
August 13-14 Hell, Norway *
September 3-4 Riga, Latvia
September 17-18 Montalegre, Portugal *
October 8-9 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

Provisional 2022 FIA European Championship (Euro RX3) Calendar
May 21-22 Nyirád, Hungary *
July 2-3 Höljes, Sweden
July 30-31 Nürburgring, Germany
August 13-14 Hell, Norway *
September 17-18 Montalegre, Portugal *

22-02-09 Hansen Motorsport commits to multi-year future in World RX’s electric era
‘This is the biggest thing we have ever done,’ says Team Principal, Kenneth Hansen
High level of competition and ‘fresh energy’ spark Swedish outfit’s motivation
Kevin Hansen tips electrification to make World RX ‘greater than people can imagine’

Defending Teams’ World Champion Hansen Motorsport has announced a ‘multiple-year’ commitment to the FIA World Rallycross Championship, with the Swedish squad hailing a ‘huge investment’ as the pioneering series embarks upon its exciting electric era in 2022.

One of the most decorated teams in rallycross history, Hansen Motorsport has been at the forefront of the dual-surface discipline’s top-flight since founder and Team Principal Kenneth Hansen claimed the first of his record 14 European Rallycross Championship titles in 1989, prior to graduating to the headlining category four years later.

Three Teams’ World Championship trophies are testament to the calibre of the eponymously-named outfit – the most recent of those coming last season, when Timmy Hansen waged a hard-fought duel with countryman Johan Kristoffersson that culminated with the pair tied on points at the summit of the Drivers’ standings, the 2019 champion ultimately missing out on a second career crown on countback.

The 29-year-old returns for the forthcoming campaign, partnered once again by younger brother and fellow World RX event-winner Kevin Hansen. The Swedish siblings will be behind the wheel of new-look electric cars, based upon the previously used Peugeot 208 platform but re-engineered to adopt a homologated powertrain from Austrian firm Kreisel Electric, generating 500kW – equivalent to 680bhp – and 880Nm of instant torque.

Underscoring its sustainability credentials, last year, Hansen Motorsport joined the United Nations Sports For Climate Action Framework, subsequently becoming the first team in rallycross to achieve FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation. With its commitment to World RX’s bright electric future, 2022 marks the next step in its drive to increase environmental awareness.

The cars – presented in their launch livery today – are currently being designed and developed in-house at Hansen Motorsport’s Götene workshop. The race livery – along with other exciting news – will be revealed ahead of the start of the season.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal, Hansen Motorsport, said:
“This is a huge investment that we are making in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, with a plan for multiple years – it’s the biggest thing we have ever done. It’s very new and very exciting for all of us, and it feels a little like when we entered four wheel-drive rallycross for the first time in 1993. We didn’t know many things then, and with the switch to electric technology there are many things we are learning about from scratch now, too.

“It’s very refreshing to be focussing on something so new, with some people we have worked with for many years and some new faces inspiring us as well. There really is a lot of fresh energy here to push forward. The group of drivers at the top in World Rallycross are among the best in the world, and that mine and Susann’s sons, Timmy and Kevin, are part of that group and choose to drive with our team is very special.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen Motorsport, said:
“It’s a super-exciting time for our company and team to embrace this new electric era. This is the biggest commitment we have made to the sport since the company began over 30 years ago, so it’s an incredible moment to have this big project in-house and really be looking to the future.

“Since 2018, we have spoken about electric rallycross in the World Championship and finally it’s going to happen. The electric powertrain kits will be arriving at Hansen Motorsport soon and for me to be part of this World Championship-winning team – with a great philosophy for what the car and everything around us should be – I couldn’t be prouder. It’s an amazing package for rallycross on the technical side from the FIA and the Promoter – I think it’s going to be even greater than people can imagine.”

Timmy Hansen, Driver, Hansen Motorsport, said:
“So much of my passion is about trying to become World Rallycross Champion – I love the sport and I wish the best for it. World RX is where I’ve built my career and it’s given me some amazing opportunities. The level of competition in World RX is the very best, but that’s what drives us to push ourselves further. I believe we will have a very strong package going into the new season, which I’m very excited about.

“It’s second nature to our family to look for solutions to be as competitive as possible, especially in rallycross; it’s just what we do, and we are all extremely motivated for 2022. This is a big step in a new direction that I’m super-happy to be part of, racing extremely fast cars on great circuits against the best drivers and teams in the world. There really isn’t anything better.”

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to confirm Hansen Motorsport’s return to the grid in 2022. For a team of this stature and success in the sport to commit to a multi-year future in our championship demonstrates tremendous belief in the direction in which we are driving World RX with the upcoming electric switch.

“Like we are as Promoter, Hansen Motorsport is firmly focussed on being more sustainable in every area, and we warmly applaud the FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation that the team achieved last year, which was richly deserved. On-track, Timmy and Kevin are always fierce competitors, and I have no doubt that both will be front-runners and title contenders once again right from the outset.”

22-01-13 På jakt efter femte VM-titeln
Johan Kristoffersson vann den sista VM-titeln med den gamla generationens rallycrossbilar. Nu siktar han på att ta hem första mästerskapet med elbilar.
- Det känns inspirerande att vara med och utveckla det nya konceptet, säger den fyrfaldige världsmästaren.

Kristoffersson Motorsport kommer att äntra det nya världsmästerskapet under namnet Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS.
- Det här blir det största projektet i KMS’ historia, med tre nya bilar byggda efter ett nytt koncept. Ett litet familjeföretag som ska utmana om VM-titeln, konstaterar teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Han räknar med att ställa tre bilar på startlinjen vid VM-premiären i Höljes första helgen i juli. En av förarna är alltså redan klar och det är förstås inte vem som helst utan VM-historiens mest framgångsrike.
- Senast vi gjorde ett liknande projekt som det här var 2014, då vi också byggde nya bilar utifrån eget huvud. Den stora skillnaden är att jag då var helt oerfaren inom rallycross. Det är förstås ett helt annat läge med fyra VM-guld i bagaget, säger Johan Kristoffersson.

Stallchefen lyfter också fram teamets erfarenhet:
- Det är fantastiskt att vi får köra ett VM i egen regi igen - vi vann ju 2020 - och ta med oss alla lärdomar som vi har samlat på oss genom alla år, säger Tommy.

Han konstaterar också ödmjukt:
- När man är på den här nivån inser man att ju mer man lär sig, desto mer förstår man hur lite man vet. Men det är ett stort privilegium att få jobba i den omgivning vi nu befinner oss, med oerhört kompetent personal.

Kunskapen kommer både från Tyskland och från den egna verkstaden i värmländska Arvika.
- Det här projektet liknar när vi byggde egna STCC-bilar inför 2003, men den här gången har vi ännu större eget ansvar och gör allt utvecklingsjobb själva, med stöd från erfarna tyska konsulter.

Kristoffersson Motorsports trogna partner Bauhaus stöttar projektet:
- Vi har ett långt och framgångsrik samarbete med Johan. Övergången till elbilar ligger rätt i tiden och vi ser med spänning fram emot jakten på nya titlar, säger Bauhaus-chefen Johan Saxne.

Volkswagen Sveriges chef Sten Forsberg är glad över KMS-satsningen och kommenterar:
- Johan Kristoffersson är en av de största motorsportsprofilerna vi har haft i Sverige. Med fyra VM-guld i rallycross är han att betrakta som helt outstanding. Vi önskar honom all lycka nu när han tar steget över till att köra eldrivet och tycker att det är extra roligt att det sitter ett Volkswagen-emblem i fronten på hans bil.

Efter två VM-titlar med PSRX Volkswagen Sweden 2017-18, en titel med egna teamet 2020 - samtliga dessa segrar med den Volkswagen Motorsport-byggda Polon - samt 2021 triumfen med Audi i EKS/JC så är det nu dags för ännu en ny utmaning.
- Det är förstås lite extra nerv när det är så mycket nytt. De senaste åren har alla kört enligt beprövade koncept och därför har det varit små steg i utvecklingen. Nu finns större utvecklingspotential med de nya bilarna. Det är tjusningen med motorsport, att man är med och driver utvecklingen. El är framtiden inom bilbranschen. Nu ska det bli spännande att göra hemläxan för att även ta motorsporten in i framtiden, säger Johan och avslutar:
- Jag förväntar mig en otroligt jämn och tuff VM-serie.

På jakt efter femte VM-titeln
Johan Kristoffersson vann den sista VM-titeln med den gamla generationens rallycrossbilar. Nu siktar han på att ta hem första mästerskapet med elbilar.
- Det känns inspirerande att vara med och utveckla det nya konceptet, säger den fyrfaldige världsmästaren.

Kristoffersson Motorsport kommer att äntra det nya världsmästerskapet under namnet Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS.
- Det här blir det största projektet i KMS’ historia, med tre nya bilar byggda efter ett nytt koncept. Ett litet familjeföretag som ska utmana om VM-titeln, konstaterar teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Han räknar med att ställa tre bilar på startlinjen vid VM-premiären i Höljes första helgen i juli. En av förarna är alltså redan klar och det är förstås inte vem som helst utan VM-historiens mest framgångsrike.
- Senast vi gjorde ett liknande projekt som det här var 2014, då vi också byggde nya bilar utifrån eget huvud. Den stora skillnaden är att jag då var helt oerfaren inom rallycross. Det är förstås ett helt annat läge med fyra VM-guld i bagaget, säger Johan Kristoffersson.

Stallchefen lyfter också fram teamets erfarenhet:
- Det är fantastiskt att vi får köra ett VM i egen regi igen - vi vann ju 2020 - och ta med oss alla lärdomar som vi har samlat på oss genom alla år, säger Tommy.

Han konstaterar också ödmjukt:
- När man är på den här nivån inser man att ju mer man lär sig, desto mer förstår man hur lite man vet. Men det är ett stort privilegium att få jobba i den omgivning vi nu befinner oss, med oerhört kompetent personal.

Kunskapen kommer både från Tyskland och från den egna verkstaden i värmländska Arvika.
- Det här projektet liknar när vi byggde egna STCC-bilar inför 2003, men den här gången har vi ännu större eget ansvar och gör allt utvecklingsjobb själva, med stöd från erfarna tyska konsulter.

Kristoffersson Motorsports trogna partner Bauhaus stöttar projektet:
- Vi har ett långt och framgångsrik samarbete med Johan. Övergången till elbilar ligger rätt i tiden och vi ser med spänning fram emot jakten på nya titlar, säger Bauhaus-chefen Johan Saxne.

Volkswagen Sveriges chef Sten Forsberg är glad över KMS-satsningen och kommenterar:
- Johan Kristoffersson är en av de största motorsportsprofilerna vi har haft i Sverige. Med fyra VM-guld i rallycross är han att betrakta som helt outstanding. Vi önskar honom all lycka nu när han tar steget över till att köra eldrivet och tycker att det är extra roligt att det sitter ett Volkswagen-emblem i fronten på hans bil.

Efter två VM-titlar med PSRX Volkswagen Sweden 2017-18, en titel med egna teamet 2020 - samtliga dessa segrar med den Volkswagen Motorsport-byggda Polon - samt 2021 triumfen med Audi i EKS/JC så är det nu dags för ännu en ny utmaning.
- Det är förstås lite extra nerv när det är så mycket nytt. De senaste åren har alla kört enligt beprövade koncept och därför har det varit små steg i utvecklingen. Nu finns större utvecklingspotential med de nya bilarna. Det är tjusningen med motorsport, att man är med och driver utvecklingen. El är framtiden inom bilbranschen. Nu ska det bli spännande att göra hemläxan för att även ta motorsporten in i framtiden, säger Johan och avslutar:
- Jag förväntar mig en otroligt jämn och tuff VM-serie.

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