Rallycross 2024

24-11-14 ‘The Hansen Brothers Podcast’ is out NOW
‘Did we make the right decision in the Battle of Technologies?’

That’s the question at the top of the pile for the Hansen World RX Team following the finale of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross season.

The only championship to race internal combustion engine (ICE) versus electric cars saw the KMS team take the top step overall in Türkiye last weekend, but does that mean that the Hansen team chose wrong?

Kevin and Timmy Hansen — ‘The Hansen Brothers’ — don’t think so and used their new podcast to make a compelling argument for why electric is king.

Available across all major podcast platforms, the new Hansen Brothers Podcast will cover several topics dissecting the world of rallycross, giving you your fix as we enter the off-season and look ahead at 2025.

Kicking things off on the front foot, the debut episode gets stuck into the thrilling World RX finale in Türkiye. Marvelling at returning star Juha Rytkönen’s Round 10 winning performance on Sunday, debating split-second strategic decisions, and how the ‘Battle of Technologies’ — newly introduced for 2024 — added another layer to the close competition.

Developing the podcast series, the Hansen brothers aspire to make the podcast both insightful and entertaining, mixing technical insight with personal memories from a lifetime in the paddock.

Watch the debut podcast on YouTube here or listen on Spotify here.

24-11-13 Beyond limits, beyond borders, RallyX unveils expansion plans
A few weeks after announcing their intention to expand into other markets, RX Promotion and RallyX have revealed their plans. From the 2025 season onwards, RallyX will continue its development on the European continent as well as in the Americas.

RallyX North
As always, the RallyX championship will be the benchmark series with RallyX North organised around ten races on five of the most spectacular Rallycross tracks. Riga in Latvia will host the first round of the championship on the 9th and 10th of May.

At the end of June, RallyX will return to the iconic Alvsbyn circuit in Sweden. The third event of the championship and rounds 5 and 6 in July will be announced shortly.

Rounds 7 and 8 will be held at the spectacular Nysum circuit in Denmark. The season 2025 will end with a big final in August at Estering, Germany.

As usual, RallyX North will bring together Open 4WD with the new FC2 cars, Supercar Lites and Open 2WD categories, as well as the Crosscar Senior and Crosscar Junior classes.

9-10 May, Latvia Riga
28-29 June, Älsvbyn, Sweden
TBC July
2-3 August, Denmark, Nysum
9-10 August, Germany, Buxtehude

RallyX South
RallyX South will develop from 2025 with a total of four events and 8 races with a calendar that will kick off at the end of March in Portugal, Montalegre.

A week later, the RallyX South drivers will enjoy a second round on a venue to be announced shortly before heading to the historic Valkenswaard circuit in the Netherlands on 26th and 27th of April.

Finally, RallyX South will end its tour in Germany, at the Estering on 9 and 10 August for a Super Final that will award the titles of RallyX South and RallyX North and crown a RallyX Euro Champion.

For RallyX south, RX Promotion has chosen to retain the Open 4WD together with the new FC2 cars, Supercar Lites, CrossCar Senior and CrossCar Junior categories, while the Open 2WD drive category will be adapted to the specific regional characteristics of the Rallycross market.

29-30 March Montalegre, Portugal
5-6 April TBE
26-27 April Holland, Valkenswaard
9-10 August, Germany, Buxtehude

RallyX Euro
As part of its expansion plans, RX Promotion and RallyX will also offer a RallyX Euro League, which will bring together all the events of RallyX North and South.

A total of 16 races, spread over eight tracks, will be used to determine the RallyX Euro Champion during a super final that will be held on August 9th and 10th at Estering in Germany.

29-30 March Montalegre, Portugal
5-6 April TBE
26-27 April Holland, Valkenswaard
9-10 May, Latvia Riga
28-29 June, Älsvbyn, Sweden
TBC July
2-3 August, Denmark Nysum
9-10 August, Germany, Buxtehude

RallyX Global
RX Promotion will launch its Global League in February 2025, with the first promotional event taking place in the United States, before moving to Europe by joining forces with some of the existing RallyX events.

A Global Grand Final will be held in North America in early September 2025 and will reveal the identity of the world stars of RallyX.

February North America
TBC
28-29 June, Älsvbyn, Sweden
2-3 August, Denmark Nysum
September, Norh America

RallyX Americas
Finally, from October 2025, we will tackle the Americas market with a calendar of five to six events at the rate of one race per month until March 2026.

Here, the categories selected will be adapted to the specifics of the local market, with FC1, FC2 and FC3 vehicles, while other classes from RallyX such as Open 2WD, CrossCar Senior and CrossCar Junior together with guest classes will offer the perfect combination of motorsport.

October, TBC
November, TBC
December, TBC
Januari 2026, TBC
Februrary 2026, TBC
March 2026, TBC

RallyX, a brand at the forefront of innovation, technology and sustainable development
RallyX continues to be a pioneer in the sustainable development of motorsport, having used non-fossil fuels for almost five years, RallyX and RX Promotion have established themselves as a global benchmark in sustainability.

Electric motorsport accelerates the shift from fossil fuels while delivering high-performance racing worldwide, highlighting the future of exciting, eco-friendly motorsport. Recycling is at the heart of our commitment to environmental stewardship.

We don’t stop at household recycling: we take it further by ensuring waste recycling and eco-friendly chemical disposal at all our events for the teams involved.

This approach demonstrates our dedication to sustainable practices and our effort to reduce environmental impact in every part of our operations.

RallyX was the first championship to use the brand new remote Grass Valley technology to process all the TV broadcasts remotely together with its broadcast partner DMC Production.

This technology allows RallyX to continue its commitment to sustainable development, with over 60% fewer staff required for each event.

Beyond limits and beyond borders, RallyX is set to take sport into a whole new dimension.

24-11-11 Juha Rytkönen takes PGRX into the history books of World Rallycross at Istanbul Park
After winning back-to-back French championship titles with Davy Jeanney and Steven Bossard in 2023 and 2024, PGRX made World Rallycross history by becoming the first private French team to win at this level of the sport in Turkey on Sunday.
This final round at Istanbul Park will definitely go down in the books of international and French rallycross. In the last event of the 2024 FIA World Championship season, French runner-up Juha Rytkönen put in a stratospheric performance to take victory on Sunday at the Istanbul Park F1 circuit ahead of seven-time World Champion Johan Kristoffersson and 2019 World Champion Timmy Hansen.

After being knocked out of Saturday's semi-final in the first race of the weekend, Juha Rytkönen took his revenge on Sunday. Already a podium finisher behind Johan Kristoffersson at Kouvola in 2020, the PGRX driver defied the odds by winning his semi-final and then his final.

Steven Bossard may not have had the success he was hoping for, but the Frenchman from Toulouse proved that he has what it takes to compete with the best drivers in the world by setting the absolute fastest time in Q2 on Saturday. In Race 2 on Sunday, the 2024 French Rallycross Champion also came close to booking his ticket to the final race of the 2024 season.

Juha Rytkönen - Hyundai i20 #18 PGRX
'Winning a World Rallycross Championship event for the first time is a difficult feeling to describe. It's hard to find the words and I have to admit that I'm the first to be surprised at the idea of having achieved such a performance. On Saturday, in the first race of the weekend, we had a few problems. It was difficult to find my bearings behind the wheel, but Sunday went much better. I felt really comfortable with the car and that allowed me to drive at my own pace.

'Inevitably, the wet track conditions also worked in my favour, as the second half of the season in the French championship has mostly been marked by rain. In other words, I had some obvious reference points on how to use the car in limited grip conditions.'

'I'd like to thank the PGRX team for the confidence they have shown in me throughout the season. On Sunday I had the speed to go for the win and that's what I did. In the end I don't know what to say except that I'm very happy. Being up against the best drivers in the world could only push me out of my comfort zone. I had to push myself to the limit and I'm really proud to have won ahead of the last two reigning champions, Johan Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen. To be honest, I hope to be back in the FIA World Championship as soon as possible.'

Steven Bossard - Hyundai i20 #22 PGRX
'First of all, I'd like to congratulate Juha on his win. We've seen this year how impressive he can be in challenging track conditions, but knowing my team-mate's potential, I wasn't really surprised by his performance. Juha's strength is clearly his ability to adapt very quickly to the evolution of the track.'

'In any case, even if I would have preferred a better overall result, the weekend was more than positive. Before this weekend in Turkey I'd never had the chance to compete in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. This trip to Istanbul Park will go down as a great experience in the sense that I was able to measure myself against the best drivers in the world and the fact that I was able to set the absolute fastest time in Q2 can only help to reassure me of my potential".

'In Race 1 on Saturday I had everything I needed to qualify for the final, but the different race strategies used by our rivals didn't make our task any easier. Nevertheless, our pace throughout the weekend was excellent. The conditions on Sunday weren't easy with the rain coming down and we had to get out in front in the first corner to have a chance, but I think we showed that the PGRX team is capable of competing with the best teams in the World Championship.'

Patrick Guillerme - PGRX Team Principal
'From a sporting point of view, this is definitely the best day of my life. Juha's success is also the result of the culture we've tried to instil in the team since its creation, surrounding ourselves with great people who have allowed us to form a real group, as united as it is determined to make our craziest dreams come true.'

'We have been able to turn our team into a real family, while at the same time working with technical partners such as SADEV, BOS SUSPENSION and PIPO, all of whom are renowned for their expertise and skill. It was an exceptional weekend and I'd also like to pay tribute to the warm welcome we received from our competitors at Istanbul Park. Some of them were very helpful, starting with Patrick O'Donovan's team, and they all came to congratulate us after the race. It really warms our hearts, as we are rallycross enthusiasts first and foremost, and it is certain that after such a performance by our two drivers, the off-season promises to be more than busy for PGRX.'

24-11-10 CE Dealer Team secures FIA World RX bronze with season finale podium in Türkiye
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment celebrated its third consecutive FIA World Rallycross Championship team medal as the 2024 season ended in Türkiye this weekend. Niclas Grönholm capped off the year with a podium finish while Klara Andersson secured her best overall finish.

CE Dealer Team, the only gender equal FIA World RX team, entered the Türkiye double-header fighting for the championship medals, competing as an all-electric team against sustainably-fueled ICE cars in the final stage of the inaugural "Battle of Technologies" season.

The team took to the newly refreshed rallycross circuit at Istanbul Park which has been thoroughly upgraded, prepared and maintained by Volvo Construction Equipment with its cutting-edge machinery - following more than a decade of no events at the Turkish venue.

Eight-time FIA World RX race winner Niclas Grönholm entered the weekend in a fierce battle for bronze in the driver standings. The Finnish star started strong, claiming second place and his fourth podium of the season on Saturday, while scoring more points than any other driver.

Sunday brought tougher conditions, with Niclas pushing hard on the wet track to finish fifth in the championship, just 13 points shy of the overall podium.

"Overall, it’s been a tough season and a challenging final weekend. We didn’t have the pace we needed to compete for podium positions in the championship. There have been a lot of ups and downs this year, and that’s just not enough if you want to contend for the title. Still, I’m happy to have made it back on the podium and to give something back to the team and our partners who’ve worked so hard throughout the season," said Niclas Grönholm.

Swedish rallycross ace Klara Andersson achieved her best-ever overall finish in an FIA World RX season, securing sixth place in the standings with two podiums during the year and narrowly missed the final on both days in Türkiye.

”Last night, we found a technical issue with the car. Today in the dry, the speed was really good, but in the wet, we just didn’t have enough pace to compete for the top. It’s been a tough season that started incredibly well in Sweden and Hungary, but ended on a tough note. I’m really disappointed now, but we’ll regroup and hopefully come back stronger next year. Thanks to everyone in the team for their hard work this year,” said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team wraps up its third FIA World RX season, pushing sustainable motorsport and showcasing the excitement of an electric future. The team secured its third consecutive teams' championship medal, finishing third overall after six podium finishes, including one win in 2024.

”The final weekend is done and like so many times before, a solid start but not the ending we hoped for. I’m happy for Niclas' podium yesterday, especially after tough races in Belgium and Portugal, it was great to be back on pace. Klara struggled yesterday, but we made some adjustments and picked up good speed. Today in the dry, we were really strong, and it looked like things were going our way. But then the weather turned, and we couldn’t match the pace of the ICE cars in the wet,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

”We have never scored so many podiums in one season before, but It’s been a tough year with ups and unfortunately too many downs. But that’s racing for you. This first season with the 'Battle of Technologies' showed great potential and we’ll keep working to make it all come together. We will never give up and we will keep pushing forward.”

Results and standings after the FIA World RX of Türkiye finale.

24-11-10 Full utdelning - uppdrag utfört!
Säsongen 2024 är i mål och KMS - HORSE Powertrain kan summera ett succéår: VM-titel till Johan Kristoffersson, bronsplats för Ole Christian Veiby och seger i teammästerskapet.
- Vi kom hit för att ordna tre saker och det gjorde vi. Mer kan man inte begära, säger Johan Kristoffersson.

Efter lördagens tävling stod det klart att Johan Kristoffersson redan hade säkrat sin sjunde VM-titel i rallycross. För Ole Christian Veiby handlade det om att försvara tredjeplatsen i mästerskapet och kanske kunna utmana Kevin Hansen om andraplatsen efter att ha säkrat karriärens första seger i lördagstävlingen.

Efter de två kvalomgångarna hade Veiby plockat in två av sju poäng gentemot Kevin Hansen och samtidigt ökat avståndet till Timmy Hansen och Niclas Grönholm.

I semifinalen teamkörde Veiby och Kristoffersson exemplariskt för att säkra segern åt norrmannen och skaffa bästa utgångsläget i finalen. Tack vare detta plockade han ytterligare två poäng och hade i det läget bara fyra poäng kvar att hämta in i finalen. VM-bronset var därmed också säkrat.

Så långt gick allt enligt planen, men i finalen fick Veiby motorstopp på startplattan.
- Vi gamblade där. Det var lite do or die. Bronset var säkrat och jag visste att jag troligen behövde vinna för att ta andraplatsen, säger Ole Christian.

Segern gick nu istället till tillfällige VM-åkaren Juha Rytkönen före Johan Kristoffersson, som inte lyckades rå på finländaren, trots det blöta favoritunderlaget.
- Sikten var förstås begränsad bakom honom, men han var snabb och körde väldigt bra, så jag lyckades inte sätta honom under press, säger Kristoffersson berömmande.

Därmed fick Johan nöja sig med fem segrar på tio deltävlingar, medan övriga har fördelats mellan fem olika förare. Totalt tog Johan hem mästerskapet på 240 poäng, 43 före tvåan Kevin Hansen.
- Vi har gjort en fantastisk säsong, menar Johan. Vi kom till start med nybyggda bilar. Det var många parametrar vi inte visste, men vi lärde oss snabbt, har inte haft några stora problem och har gjort få misstag. Dessutom var vi snabbast med att förstå oss på det nya däcket.

Ole Christian Veiby var totalt bäste poängplockare på Istanbul Park och plockade in fyra poäng på Kevin, men slutade trea på 190 poäng, nio före Timmy.
- Uppdrag utfört! Det är ett steg upp jämfört med förra året. Jag tycker att jag har blivit mer jämn i mina prestationer och har ofta snabba varvtider, så jag kan inte vara annat än nöjd, säger Ole Christian.

Eftersom Johan var näst bäste poängplockare under helgen var det inte heller något snack om saken i teammästerskapet. Där tog KMS - HORSE Powertrain hem titeln med god marginal, 52 poäng före Hansen-teamet.
- Det är ett bevis för att det lönar sig att jobba hårt, säger team-VD:n Tommy Kristoffersson, som inte är sen att skicka en tacksamhetens tanke till de aktörer som också gör satsningen möjlig.
- Vi är lyckligt lottade med alla som tror på oss och ställer upp med ekonomiska resurser, trots tuffa tider i världen: Aurobay, Horse Powertrain, Red Bull, Bauhaus och Volkswagen med flera. De ger oss förutsättningarna och vi är ödmjukt tacksamma för detta. Därför känns det förstås extra bra att kunna leverera resultat tillbaka till våra samarbetspartner. Vi har haft stor press på oss, men vi har lyckats prestera på topp.

Och inom teamet finns en sammanhållning som saknar motstycke.
- Vi har en otrolig kompetensnivå genom hela ledet och dessutom är det raka rör och öppna kanaler överallt. Därtill fungerar samarbetet mellan Johan och Ole Christian optimalt. Det är extra glädjande att Ole nu också får kliva upp på pallen i mästerskapet.

Pappa Kristoffersson kan förstås inte heller han låta bli att imponeras av Johan som alltså tar sin sjunde VM-titel.
- Han har visat att han kunnat anpassa sig och vinna i olika typer av bilar. Dessutom är han teamlojal och deltar alltid i grovarbetet. Han ska också ha cred för att ha varit en viktig aktör i utvecklingen av de nya bilarna.

Det är inte utan att det är en nöjd VD som tar med sig sina båda förare till FIA:s stora prisgala i Rwanda vid luciatid.

24-11-10 Kevin Hansen defends silver as Timmy Hansen secures podium for Hansen World RX Team
Kevin Hansen successfully defended his runner-up status in the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship in a nail-biting final round in Türkiye (10 November).

Fourth place in the Round 10 Final was enough for the Swede to secure the silver medal, having handed third place to team-mate and brother Timmy Hansen to secure fourth in the championship standings and an eighth podium for the Hansen squad this year.

The Swedish squad entered Round 10 off the back of a third-place finish for Kevin in Saturday’s Round 9 (9 November). This marked the Swede’s fifth podium in a row in his fight to protect his runner-up spot in the championship standings.

A win in Round 9 for OC Veiby in the rival KMS combustion car, however, tightened the margins at the top of the leaderboard, giving Kevin a buffer of only seven points heading into Sunday’s racing.

As the first-ever 'Battle of Technologies' season came to its conclusion at Istanbul Park, the electric and ICE cars wrestled against not only each other but also the wet conditions in an action-packed final day of the season.

The tide seemed to be in favour of the Hansen outfit in Heat 1, as Kevin surged forward to second place in the opening corners and Veiby took the joker lap behind Timmy in fourth. A comfortable race for the younger Hansen brother resulted in a P2 finish, while Timmy weathered multiple incidents with Veiby, crossing the line fifth with a puncture.

The rain began to fall for Heat 2. Despite the greater disadvantage for the electric car in the wet, Timmy was able to cross the line in second. Kevin had aced his launch to initially take the lead ahead of Johan Kristoffersson, before contact from the seven-time World RX Champion put Kevin down to fourth in the race, dealing a considerable blow to his hopes of championship silver.

Rain continued to fall as the drivers lined up for Semi-Final 2, with both Hansen brothers on the back row of the four-car race. Kevin slotted into second as Timmy took an early joker lap behind Klara Andersson, but the #21 Hansen driver soon passed his fellow Swede to take third place.

This allowed Kevin to joker and come out behind his team-mate. The drivers swapped, giving Kevin two extra championship points to make the gap down to Veiby – who inherited the Semi-Final 1 win from team-mate Kristoffersson - four points heading into the Final.

With Veiby lining up on the front row in the Final, the Hansen team were on the back foot as the lights turned green, but the Norwegian made a mistake off the line. Kevin seized the opportunity and took the joker on his first lap ahead of his closest championship rival.

Great work from the Hansens’ spotters allowed Timmy to joker and come out between Kevin and Veiby, providing his younger brother with crucial breathing room to finish ahead of Veiby.

As the Hansen cars approached the closing stages of the race, the team instructed the brothers to swap places, promoting Timmy to third in Round 10 and fourth in the 2024 championship standings.

The Hansen World RX Team will be returning to action in just over two months’ time, kickstarting their 2025 World RX Championship charge in Canada with a blockbuster ice race in January (24-25).

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "We have finished the last race of the season and, overall, we are very happy as a team. We had difficult conditions today, as we had rain and so it was extra slippery, and you could really see the difference in the technologies in these conditions - the grip was just not there for us in the electric cars.

"We managed to keep Kevin in second place in the championship and we also had Timmy on the podium today, so the entire team is happy. We had hoped that Timmy could get to third place in the standings today, but we’re still pleased he managed to keep fourth. We had some new team members with us this weekend on the engineering side, so we have learnt a lot this weekend that we will take into next season."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver and 2024 World RX runner-up, said: “It is great to be coming away from Türkiye as the runner-up in the World Championship, especially knowing that we began this season unable to get within half a second of the KMS combustion cars.

“It has been a really challenging year, in terms of the ‘Battle of Technologies’, so to come away with second in the championship, and also to win last time out in Portugal, is really special. This weekend has been tough as the track really did not suit our electric cars, but we battled all the way through, and I think it was very entertaining to watch on TV which is fantastic for the fans.

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “We know that Türkiye does not have a long history of supporting rallycross but the fans were so enthusiastic here and I think we put on a great show. I also want to say congratulations to Juha [Rytkönen] for his win today. He drove fantastically in his first World Rallycross event, and it is great to have been on the podium with him today.

“When you’re lining up in the final of a rallycross race you know that you must be prepared for anything and to take every gap. I knew that I had to keep OC [Veiby] behind me today, to make sure that Kevin came away with second in the championship, and I was able to do that - even when the conditions this afternoon did not favour our car.

“We had some cool battles this weekend and it has been enjoyable being a part of those. I let Kevin past me in the Semi-Final, to help make sure he could get silver overall, so it was nice to see him return the favour today in the Final. We are brothers and that is what we do best as a team.”

24-11-09 Sjunde VM-titeln för Johan och Ole Christians första seger
Sjunde VM-titeln för Johan Kristoffersson och första VM-segern för Ole Christian Veiby. Det blev en magnifik dag för KMS - HORSE Powertrain på Istanbul Park när den nionde deltävlingen i rallycross-VM kördes.
- Det här visar vilken enormt hög nivå vi har i hela teamet, säger stallchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

För Johan Kristoffersson var förutsättningarna minst sagt gynnsamma inför sista tävlingshelgen. Några få poäng skulle bärgas, förutsatt att också Kevin Hansen plockade full pott. När så Kevin Hansen slutade sist i heat 1 så var vägen öppen för att säkra VM-titeln redan i andra kvalomgången. Men Kristoffersson nöjde sig inte med att klara den uppgiften. Han briljerade med en uppvisning på den himmelska nivå han befinner sig. Efter att ha skuggat Kevin in i jokerspåret manövrerade han sig sedan förbi titelutmanaren och tog sedan upp jakten på Niclas Grönholm och Timmy Hansen.
- Det var tight mot Niclas och Timmy, en bra fight, riktigt kul racing, menar Johan.
- Bästa racet på år och dag, ett skolboksexempel på rallycross, fyller Tommy i.

Efter ytterligare ett par mästerliga aktioner var Kristoffersson uppe i ledning och defilerade i mål - som sjufaldig världsmästare! Nu är han alltså på samma nivå i VM-titlar som Michael Schumacher och Lewis Hamilton. Legendariskt!
- De tre musketörerna, säger Johan med ett skratt och fortsätter:
- Det är svårt att jämföra olika sporter, men man kan inte göra annat att leva sitt liv för att vara en ännu bättre chaufför dagen efter och besegra alla man tävlar mot.

Det tog dock ett tag innan Johan blev medveten om att titelracet var över redan där.
- Nej, jag hade faktiskt ingen koll på det förrän jag blev intervjuad. Jag hade bara fokus på att få ihop de fjorton poäng jag behövde.

Men eftersom Kevin Hansen också hade tappat poäng i det läget så var allt klappat och klart.

Därefter övergick Kristoffersson till teamkörning, med uppdrag att hjälpa stallkompisen Ole Christian Veiby upp på pallplats i mästerskapet. I semifinalen uppehöll Johan konkurrenterna såpass att Veiby, med ett tidigt jokervarv, kunde köra sig upp på andra plats. När Johan så öppnade dörren för teamkompisen låg vägen öppen till seger.
- Dagen började inte bra för mig, framför allt dåliga starter, men i semifinalen var den bättre. Jag fick fritt in i jokern och kunde köra ikapp de andra. Sedan var det förstås väldigt bra att få hjälp av Johan också, säger Ole Christian, som säkrade en plats i första ledet i finalen.

Där skötte Veiby jobbet helt själv. En magnifik start tog honom förbi Kevin Hansen, trots dennes elbilsfördel över startrakan.
- Jag hade räknat med att lägga mig bakom Kevin in i första kurvan, men fick en fantastiskt bra start. Sedan var det bara att cruisa till mål.

Från ledning var Ole Christian aldrig hotad fram till sin första VM-seger någonsin. Många gånger har han varit nära. Den här gången kunde inget hejda Ole Christian Veiby.
- Underbart! Äntligen! Vi var nära i Portugal och har haft bästa varvtid många gånger under året.

I och med segern stärkte KMS - HORSE Powertrain-föraren sin tredjeplats i mästerskapet, nu åtta före Timmy Hansen och bara sju efter Kevin Hansen på andra plats.
- Det blir viktigt att vara smart. Topp tre är förstås viktigast, men det är inte omöjligt att nå andraplatsen heller.

Tommy Kristoffersson var imponerad över Veibys insats.
- Starkt av Ole att komma igen efter en dålig start på dagen. Han knöt näven i fickan och fick äntligen vinna.

Känslostormarna över denna bedrift fick Tommy att glömma bort att skicka in Johan i jokern.
- Jag var så exalterad att jag missade det, lite smolk i glädjebägaren, erkänner Tommy.

Och Johan själv hade för ovanlighetens skull inte heller koll.
- Jag brukar ha ordning på varvräkningen men jag var mitt i flera fighter, så vi missade lite båda två där.

Se där en liten fadäs för ett annars mästerligt team. Imorgon avslutas rallycross-VM med säsongens tionde race.

24-11-09 Kevin Hansen closes in on championship silver with podium finish in Türkiye
Kevin Hansen took third place in Round 9 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship today (9 November), as he charges towards the runner-up spot in the 2024 standings with a fifth consecutive podium.

The Hansen World RX Team entered the season finale at Istanbul Park in strong form, with brothers Kevin and Timmy Hansen taking three podiums between them at the penultimate double-header in Portugal. The solid points haul included a victory for Kevin – his first behind the wheel of the electric Peugeot 208 RX1e.

Add into the mix Timmy’s victory at Istanbul Park when the circuit last featured on the World RX calendar in 2015, and the Hansen squad had the confidence and experience needed to challenge for more podiums in the closing stages of the 2024 season.

A difficult Qualifying for Kevin was followed by an amazing recovery. The 26-year-old progressed from the back of the grid in his Semi-Final race to take both the win and pole position for the Final, and his revived form continued into Saturday’s main event.

Slotting into second place in the opening corners, the Swede defended well against reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson. Putting in the lap times needed to take third as he exited the joker, Kevin’s podium puts the team’s 2024 silverware tally up to seven.
Following a third-place finish in Heat 1, Timmy’s knowledge of the track came to the fore in a rollercoaster second Heat. A perfect launch put the 2019 World RX Champion into the lead, which he held on to with a bold exit from his joker lap.

Despite an impressive defensive display to hold off Kristoffersson, Timmy ended his Heat 2 race in second place. The Hansen driver then converted second row in Semi-Final 1 into third place and a spot in the Final, where he took fourth ahead of Patrick O’Donovan and Kristoffersson, with the latter failing to complete a joker lap.

Podiums in Round 9 for Ole Christian Veiby and Niclas Grönholm has narrowed the standings at the top of the 2024 World RX leaderboard.

As Kevin fights to cement the runner-up spot, a strong performance from Timmy in Round 10 could see both brothers finish in the top three when the championship concludes tomorrow (10 November).
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “Coming to this circuit, we expected the grip levels to be a little different, but this meant our set-up of the cars this morning was not quite right at the start. We improved step by step through the sessions and came back stronger for the end of the day, which was a great success.

“Kevin won his Semi-Final race and Timmy finished his in third, so we had both cars in the Final. Unfortunately, Kevin did not have a good start, which cost him a little. However, I would not say that we really had the winning pace today anyway. We need to go away tonight and look at how we can improve for tomorrow, for the final round of the season.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “Big congratulations to Johan today for his championship win and also to Ole Christian for his first race win too. It’s a great achievement for the whole team.

“My day has not been as straightforward. The beginning was tough and in the electric cars - with the extra weight - we really struggled with the low grip. Our pace was not there this morning, but we made some good changes and in the Semi-Final and Final I enjoyed the driving much more.

“In the Final, unfortunately, I did not have a good launch and dropped back to second. I knew from there it was going to be a hectic race. We still have another race to go and we know that everyone here is hungry for the win, so we need to look at everything tonight and take our best fight to the race track tomorrow.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “It was quite a solid first day for us here in Istanbul. We are nowhere near the combustion engine cars at this circuit pace-wise, but I think as a team we had very good race execution today. Kevin started on pole for the Final, which was incredible, and we were up there fighting for a podium.

“Tomorrow will be a difficult day again. Veiby pulled away from me a bit in the championship today, making it more challenging to secure third overall in the standings this year, but we’ll give it everything we’ve got.”

24-11-08 Where East meets West: World RX warriors ready for launch in Istanbul
‘Battle of Technologies’ set for spectacular finale in Türkiye
Four of the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s leading lights took a trip across the Bosphorus today (8 November), as they prepare for one final dance in 2024 at World RX of Türkiye.

Istanbul Park Circuit is preparing to welcome international rallycross’ top-flight for the first time in almost a decade, having staged some sensational action back in the world championship’s early years.

Before the competitive action gets underway, Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team), Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment), Ole Christian Veiby (KMS - HORSE Powertrain) and Patrick O’Donovan (Team RX Racing) joined Turkish DTM driver and Red Bull athlete Ayhancan Güven for a photo opportunity at Ortaköy Mosque, overlooking the Bosphorus Strait that separates Europe from Asia.

‘’I’m really happy to see the return of World RX to Istanbul, not just as a racer but also as a fan!” enthused Güven. “I tested an RX Lites car back in 2016, and since then, I’ve been interested in rallycross. It always produces great action, so I’m looking forward to watching this weekend’s event trackside.’’

Indeed, there could scarcely be a better choice than Türkiye to conclude the current campaign. As the boundary between two continents, Istanbul is a meeting-point of two distinct cultures – a clear synergy with World RX’s inaugural ‘Battle of Technologies’, which for the first time sees cutting-edge electric rallycross cars go directly up against their sustainably-fuelled internal combustion-engined rivals.

“I’m very excited for the weekend and I enjoyed the track when I drove it in RX Lites,” commented Hansen, who heads into the weekend sitting second in the Drivers’ standings, 46 points shy of world championship leader, Johan Kristoffersson. “Türkiye is a big motorsport-loving country, so it’s great to be here and for the event to be open to the public.

“With so many corners, we may struggle with the extra weight of the electric car at this track, and with three quick new drivers in the field – all with nothing to lose and hungry to come away with a good result – it will be a tough challenge, but it will also provide great entertainment!”

“It’s going to be a really fun and exciting weekend,” echoed Veiby, one spot behind Hansen in third in the title table. “It’s my first time in Istanbul whereas some of the other guys have been here before, but equally, that was many years ago so it’s going to be interesting.

“Second in the championship is definitely up for grabs, and I think this circuit could suit us quite well. The slippery surface should play to our advantage and it would obviously be nice to score my first World RX win. Maybe I will get some help from Johan [Kristoffersson – team-mate] since he is relatively secure in the championship. One thing is for sure – it’s going to be spectacular!”

All of the non-stop thrills will be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.

For more information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry list, click here.

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

24-11-06 Legendstatus nära för Johan
Johan Kristoffersson åker till Turkiet för att säkra sin sjunde världsmästartitel. KMS - HORSE Powertrain-föraren har 46 poängs ledning och därmed en jättechans att ta sig upp på samma nivå i antal VM-titlar som Michael Schumacher och Lewis Hamilton.
- Inget är klart förrän det är klart, men jag ska försöka göra som vanligt, säger Johan.

Det är den nionde och tionde deltävlingen som väntar under den femte tävlingshelgen. VM-säsongen i rallycross går i mål på en nyuppväckt bana, Istanbul Park som senast var mästerskapsarena 2015. Kristoffersson var på plats då också.
- Som jag minns det var det trångt i starten och väldigt halkigt på gruset.

Värmlänningen slutade trea den gången, långt ifrån hans bästa resultat i karriären, men den här helgen skulle en tredjeplats duga gott. Totalt behöver Johan bärga fjorton poäng ytterligare.
- Jag ska hålla mig kall, ha tålamod och försöka hålla mig undan problem, men förutom mitt eget resultat ska vi också försöka få upp Ole Christian på pallen.

Stallkamraten Veiby ligger trea i mästerskapet, elva poäng efter Kevin Hansen, men två före Timmy Hansen. Striden om pallplatserna bakom Johan är stentuff.
- Målet är att behålla medaljpositionen, men med lite stolpe in är det fullt möjligt att sluta tvåa också, säger Ole Christian, som väntar på sin första VM-seger.
- Det vore förstås kul att avsluta på högsta nivån, att få vinna ett lopp också som omväxling.

Veiby har inte tävlat i Istanbul tidigare, men har goda aningar.
- Jag tror den här banan kan passa ganska bra. Det halkiga underlaget kan vara en fördel för oss.

Till sista tävlingshelgen dyker det upp några nya konkurrenter, av hög klass dessutom. Europamästaren Patrick O’Donovan, vasse finländaren Juha Rytkönen och franske mästaren Steven Bossard ansluter till startfältet i World RX.
- Konkurrenskraftiga chaufförer, fler som kämpar om poängen. Det kan vara positivt, menar Veiby.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson konstaterar att det inte bara är Johans förartitel och Ole Christians pallplats som står på spel, utan också titeln i teammästerskapet, där KMS - HORSE Powertrain leder med 48 poäng inför avslutningen.
- Vi har tre viktiga mål att paketera den här helgen. Det är oerhört mycket som står på spel för vår del, påpekar Tommy.

Men att för den sakens skull lägga upp någon speciell taktik är inte aktuellt.
- Det bästa tycker jag är att åka dit och köra vårt race och ta det som vilken tävling som helst.

Helgen bjuder alltså i vanlig ordning på en dubbeltävling, med ett race på lördag och sedan avslutas säsongen med den tionde guldglittrande deltävlingen på söndag.

24-11-06 World champion to be crowned in Turkish title showdown
Johan Kristoffersson in pole position to claim incredible seventh title
The FIA World Rallycross Championship is ready to race one last time in 2024, with Türkiye’s Istanbul Park Circuit set to bring down the curtain on a thrilling first season of the ‘Battle of Technologies’ this weekend (9-10 November).

Ahead of the forthcoming double-header finale, Johan Kristoffersson stands on the brink an extraordinary seventh title. This year, however, the Swede has had to face a new challenge, with the ‘Battle of Technologies’ pitting sustainably-fuelled, internal combustion-engined cars such as Kristoffersson’s directly against electric machinery – each boasting their own advantages and disadvantages.

Having triumphed in five of the opening eight rounds in 2024, Kristoffersson travels to Türkiye with his ICE Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX holding a commanding 46-point margin at the summit of the standings. It would take a fair degree of drama to deny the KMS - HORSE Powertrain star the coveted crown, but in rallycross, nothing can ever be taken for granted.

The Swede’s main rival – countryman Kevin Hansen – is the leader of the EV brigade and a gritty competitor who never lies down without a fight. After getting the better of Kristoffersson to tally his first win of the campaign at Montalegre, Portugal in in September, the 2023 runner-up hopes the 1.35km Istanbul Park Circuit will enable him to stretch the legs of his Hansen World RX Team Peugeot 208 RX1e once again.

One driver who is particularly hyped to be going to Istanbul is Kevin's older brother Timmy, who victored on the same track back in 2015 when the championship last visited. "I think with the differences in performance between the cars this year, around a circuit where passing is definitely possible, the ‘Battle of Technologies’ in Istanbul will be very exciting...”

Hansen went on to win that day – the Swede’s fourth career victory in the series – and like his younger sibling, he has reached the top step of the podium already this season and will be bidding to reproduce Peugeot’s 2015 success in Türkiye.

Elsewhere in the high-calibre field, Kristoffersson’s team-mate Ole Christian Veiby has been a regular front-runner in 2024, and CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson are expected to be pushing for podium finishes.

To add a layer of intrigue, finally, there are three talented ‘jokers’ in the pack. Reigning European and British champion Patrick O’Donovan is fired-up to replicate the podium result he achieved on his world championship debut in Hong Kong 12 months ago, while Juha Rytkönen and recently-crowned French title-winner Steven Bossard line up for PGRX, as the latter joins rallycross’ elite for the first time.

All of the non-stop thrills will be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.

For more information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry list, click here. Fans can purchase tickets here.

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

24-11-06 CE Dealer Team chases medals in thrilling FIA World RX of Türkiye season finale
CE Dealer Team chases medals in thrilling FIA World RX of Türkiye season finale

The 100% electric CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment heads to Istanbul Park in Türkiye for the 2024 FIA World RX season finale, concluding the team’s third season of thrilling and sustainable motorsport as the fight for the medals remain wide open.

The season finale features an action-packed double-header, taking place at the legendary F1 circuit Istanbul Park, marking Türkiye's return to the FIA World RX for the first time since 2015 and replaces the originally scheduled finale in China.

Volvo Construction Equipment has spent the last month working on preparing and upgrading the Turkish circuit regarding safety barriers, drainage, areas and more - as the track has been unused for over a decade.

Eight-time race winner Niclas Grönholm heads to Istanbul placed fifth in the drivers’ championship, just ten points shy of third place in the fight for his fourth consecutive FIA World RX medal.

“Our goal in Türkiye is to get back to the strong performance we showed at the start of the season. A third-place finish in the drivers' championship is still within reach, so I'll be pushing hard for that and of course the teams’ championship. The track is new to me, so there will probably be a learning curve throughout the weekend, but we're determined to end the season on a high note,” said Niclas Grönholm.

24-year-old Swedish rallycross star Klara Andersson is on track for her best-ever finish in the FIA World RX, currently holding sixth place in the driver standings as she heads into the final weekend of the season. The PWR RX1e driver also has a shot at a podium finish, trailing her team-mate by just 17 points in the championship race.

“I am excited to be back racing again. It's my first time in Türkiye, and a new track for me, which is a thrilling new challenge. Our goals and ambitions are high, we want to finish the season on top and score as many points as possible. Of course, it’s tough with a larger field and many fast drivers. Hopefully, we’ve learned from the past two weekends and can show the true potential of this groundbreaking team,” said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team, the only championship team with a gender-equal driver line-up, is set to conclude its third year in the sustainable FIA World RX. As the inaugural ‘Battle of Technology’ season wraps up in Türkiye, the team aims for a third consecutive teams' championship medal and to break into the top two.

“Istanbul Park brings back great memories, the FIA World RX was here ten years ago, and it was a nice, challenging track back then. Now we’re back for a double-header season finale with a lot on the line. Following a break after Portugal and some schedule changes, the team is excited and ready to finish the season on a high,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

“The team’s preparation meetings have shown just how motivated everyone is to step up. Recent races haven’t been easy, but the pace was there if you look beyond the results. Now it’s all about pulling it together, staying focused and hungry. I’m looking forward to an exciting event with new competitors in the mix, aiming to end the season better than we have so far."

The World RX of Türkiye finale weekend starts on Saturday with round nine of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by the season closing round ten on Sunday.

The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.

Schedule for the World RX of Türkiye weekend.

24-11-04 Hansen World RX Team set for showstopping season finale in Türkiye
After eight rounds of the 2024 FIA World RX Championship, the Hansen World RX Team heads to Türkiye (9-10 November) for the final two rounds of the season following a standout performance in Montalegre.

At the penultimate double-header in Portugal, the team scored an incredible three podiums across the two days of action, including Kevin Hansen’s stellar first victory behind the wheel of an electric Peugeot 208 RX1e.

Extracting the full potential of the electric powertrain in the World RX ‘Battle of Technologies’, the Peugeot 208 RX1e package is as strong as ever, and both drivers are confident in the machinery at their disposal this weekend.

Istanbul Park, the host circuit for the season finale, has been absent from the World RX calendar since 2015, when Timmy Hansen took his third victory of that season, propelling the Swede to a second-place finish in the standings that year.

Currently lying second in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship, Kevin Hansen is prioritising a strong points haul in Türkiye to cement his position in the championship standings.

Sitting only thirteen points behind his brother Kevin, Timmy is currently fourth. A good result in Istanbul could see both Hansen brothers finish in the top three when the championship concludes on Sunday, potentially challenging for overall honours in the Constructors' Championship.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal of Hansen World RX Team, said: “I think Istanbul Park will be a really good track and produce some interesting battles. A big part is the Formula 1 track, so it’s quite wide and makes it possible to take different lines, which will be good for overtaking. The gravel might be quite slippery in some parts, leading to some mistakes and exciting races. We're also looking forward to finishing this year’s World Championship at Istanbul Park with the addition of some new drivers. It will be a good show!”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, added: “It is the final race of the season, and it feels like we’re on good form. At the last two events this year both Kevin and I have won a race each, and the car is feeling great. I’ve always enjoyed the track in Istanbul. I took pole position in both Finals the two times we have been there and went on to take the win in 2015. I’m very excited to go back. Hopefully, we can dial everything in and secure two podium finishes in the championship.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, noted: “I’m very excited for Türkiye and I enjoyed the track when I drove it in RX2. Türkiye is a big motorsport-loving country, so it’s great to have the World Championship there and open to the public. A great run last time out in Portugal in September means we’re extremely positive, but we may struggle with the extra weight of the electric car at this track. With three good drivers joining I also think it will be great entertainment. Hopefully, we can leave with a double win and at least second place in the championship standings."

24-10-31 PGRX and its Bossard/Rytkönen duo take on World RX
After dominating the 2024 season of the French Rallycross Championship, with Steven Bossard taking the title and Juha Rytkönen the runner-up spot, the PGRX team has decided to travel to Turkey for the final round of the World Rallycross Championship, which will take place at Istanbul Park on 9th and 10th November.

Winner of the 2014 edition of the European Championship at Lohéac, Steven Bossard has managed to confound the predictions throughout the 2024 season.

French Super1600 champion in 2010, with eight wins in the first eight races of the competition, the driver from Toulouse achieved the feat of winning the French Supercar title with PGRX in 2024 after a ten-year break from rallycross.

With seven consecutive podium finishes, including two wins, in the nine events of the 2024 season, Steven Bossard took over from Davy Jeanney in the French Rallycross Championship and enabled the PGRX team to win a second consecutive national title.

For his part, Juha Rytkönen was expected to be the overwhelming favourite in 2024, but the Finn struggled with a chronic lack of success in the first half of the season before turning things around in the last five rounds of the championship with two wins and a total of three podium finishes to finish second overall behind team-mate Steven Bossard.

Following his stunning performance in the 2020 season, when Juha finished second on the podium behind Johan Kristoffersson at Kouvola, the Finn finished ninth overall a year later during his partial World RX campaign at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Supercar.

From now on, at the Istanbul Park circuit, the two drivers will try to finish the 2024 season in style by taking part in the final round of the FIA World RX.

Steven Bossard - Hyundai i20 PGRX
"Just a few days after winning my first French Supercar Championship title, the opportunity to compete in the final round of the FIA World RX is huge. We've been working hard for more than two weeks now to finalise the budget, so I'm really looking forward to it. Although I've competed in Euro RX several times, this will be my first World Championship race, so it will be a special moment," says Steven Bossard.

"I'll be the most inexperienced driver on the grid as all my rivals have been competing internationally for several seasons. For my part, I won the French title this year after a break of more than ten years, so I'm well aware that my task will be far from easy."

Juha Rytkönen - Hyundai i20 PGRX
"I am very excited to be back in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. I've been hoping for an opportunity like this for a long time," says Juha Rytkönen.

"I have been lucky enough to get some good results in World RX in the past and I have some great memories of those events. I feel mentally ready for this challenge. I spent most of my season in France, where nothing is granted for free, but it allowed me to maintain a certain routine in terms of driving, as the rhythm was very intense in the Supercar category."

"Now we'll have to get used to the specifics of World RX with different tyres and fuel. One thing is for sure, these new tyres will be our biggest challenge. I've already had a chance to test them and it's nothing like what we're used to. There will be a lot of adjustments to make, both in terms of set-up and driving, but I have full confidence in the PGRX team. They have real know-how and a desire to succeed, so anything is possible"

24-10-23 Jumping into action: Hansen brothers take on epic Red Bull stunt with David Coulthard
What would you do with an F1 car for a day? This was the question posed to Timmy and Kevin Hansen by our friends over at Red Bull Sweden, and their imaginations went wild.

The pitch? David Coulthard would be taking a road trip through Scandinavia in his Oracle Red Bull Racing RB7, making a pit stop in the Hansen’s backyard along the way. It didn’t take long for Kevin and Timmy to hatch an exciting plan.

Kevin Hansen said: “It was pitched to us that the F1 car could be in Sweden and that Red Bull would like the Hansens to join in on the Scandinavian trip. We knew almost straight away that we wanted to showcase what rallycross is capable of. That is where the gap jump came in, and we wanted to take that to another level.”

Timmy Hansen said: “Red Bull Sweden asked if we had anything cool to bring to the table and I had this idea to jump in opposite directions over the RB7. A lot of people have jumped over an F1 car, but this was a new take on it, so we ended up going for it.

“Kevin and I designed the jump, and we discovered that it is terrifying to test jump something that we had built ourselves. I had done it before in Nitrocross with Travis Pastrana, but it was always Travis that tested the jumps.”

Kevin added: “At first, we wanted to do an even bigger jump where one rallycross car jumped over the F1 car, and then the second rallycross car jumped over both of those cars. That got a bit too risky for a lot of reasons, but we were still able to pull off an amazing stunt.

“We used the design of the jump from our 2021 Wings for Life World Run video and turned that tabletop jump into two gap jumps. In the end we only had the day before the shoot to test and refine the jumps which meant the pressure was on.”

So, the plan was to simultaneously jump over Coulthard’s F1 car from opposite directions, timing it just right so that both rallycross cars crossed over the middle of the RB7. No big deal…

Add onto that challenge a short run up of less than 30 metres for Timmy’s jump, and you have got yourself a stunt of epic proportions.

Timmy explained: “The day before the shoot, I came up short on my second attempt, landing with the edge of the jump under my car. I had only just made it the first time, and when I went around to do it again the gravel had come loose, so I got too much wheel spin on the take off and barely made it.

“We had to redesign the jump overnight and I barely slept because I didn’t want to do it again. It was a huge relief to clear it the first time the next morning. I had to be flat out from the treeline to the take off and I was still worried about the gravel, but we got that amazing shot with me and Kevin in opposite directions with the noses of our cars above the F1 car.”

Kevin added: “The shoot itself was tricky because we had rain in the area, and we couldn’t jump when it was slippery. Luckily, the weather sided with us in the end, but we still had to hit the perfect jump from both directions at the same time. All we had was a radio with someone saying ‘3,2,1, go’ so we just had to keep adjusting our starting positions and try to get it right. We did about 6 jumps in the end, and it was actually on the second attempt that we pulled off the money shot. We didn’t manage it again in those next four jumps because it was that tricky to do.”

The stunt acted as a dramatic finale to the Hansen cameo in Coulthard’s trip. The build-up was a chase scene filmed on a closed forest road, and the picturesque view of the rallycross cars flanking the RB7 in the remote Swedish wilderness was a perfect first impression.

Timmy said: “I’m very proud that we did it. Also, to mention, we had to use the RX2e cars because this was recorded shortly after the fire at Lydden Hill. So, there were many obstacles to overcome - the fire was a challenge in many ways – but we came through it, created an amazing product, and everyone went home smiling. It’s a great video and a great story overall.

“I hope we get to do something with Red Bull again soon, and maybe I will come up with a less wild idea for the stunt so that Kevin and I don’t have to build gap jumps ourselves.”

Kevin concluded: “I think everybody’s jaw dropped when they saw what rallycross cars can do. The final video was amazing and to race with an F1 car was such a cool experience. Timmy and I love a project, especially if it is with Red Bull. This was actually our second shoot with an F1 car, and we hope it’s not the last.”

Head over to the Hansen Motorsport YouTube channel for a full behind the scenes experience of our two-day shoot with Red Bull.

24-10-18 RallyX moves up a gear with a global league!
While the 2024 RallyX championship season came to an end just two months ago in Buxtehude, Germany, RX Promotion AB, the promoter of RallyX spares no effort to ensure the future of the sport.

In addition to creating a southern league for countries outside Scandinavia, RX Promotion is aiming to expand into the North American market as soon as possible, with a view to an international final featuring the best from each region

RX Promotion would like to encourage everyone involved in rallycross to work together to lay the foundations for a solid future.

While RallyX 2024 brought together no less than 14 different nationalities, RX Promotion is now looking to take the sport to the next level.

We have a dream and we are more determined than ever to make it happen. Our priorities haven't changed since the creation of RallyX. Our original idea has always been to give drivers and teams a future by encouraging them to invest in a sport whose incredible potential we all know and for them to be able to gain back in what they invest in

RallyX is a friendly championship for everyone involved. From the teams to the media to the fans, we are one big family and community pushing to keep rallycross in the spotlight.

In practice, this should not change too much in the current RallyX organisation.

In our minds, the idea is to continue and strengthen what we've always done in RallyX, the only difference being that we'd like to add a 'southern' division that would allow tracks and teams outside the Scandinavian region to join our calendar. Everyone who has invested in rallycross needs a solid prospects at the moment and the RallyX brand has to take its responsibility by playing its part at this very specific level.

Thus, these 'North' and 'South' divisions could then award two separate titles for the European region, as well as gaining qualifying places for a Super Final that would bring together the best performers from both divisions.

Any expansion that RX Promotion AB and RallyX propose does not need to be limited just to Europe.

We have more than ten years of success and experience and we know how to bring teams and drivers together for a common adventure. Our media coverage is already known worldwide. We know the North American market perfectly well and we have the contacts and the organisation to develop the RallyX brand in this geographical area with immediate effect.

However, the RallyX brand knows the rallycross market inside out at all levels, from promotion, technical development and team management, so has no intention of creating more difficulties for the various competitors.

Our idea is to adapt to different markets and different technical regulations. This idea of developing RallyX beyond our traditional borders is not new, but something that our working group has been working for a long time. We want to make things easier for all competitors

It would be an exciting platform for all our competitors who, in addition to their respective regional championships, would have an additional target to qualify for a world final. Our dream has always been to promote the emergence of ONE sport, where everyone can speak the same language when it comes to rallycross, and that's the dream we're pursuing today

To achieve this goal, it is necessary that all stakeholders in our sport are able and willing to combine their efforts and work together to make this goal a reality. In particular, we will continue to work closely with all other organisations, locally and internationally, to find the best balance and the most appropriate strategies. We want all the driving forces of our sport to feel fully involved in this adventure. We invite all those who want to be part of this dream to join us and help us make history together.

// The RallyX Team

24-10-17 New concepts and venues highlight 2025 World RX Calendar
A return to North America for a maiden ice race, a street race in Great Britain and aninaugural Australian race weekend highlight an eight-country 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar.

The 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar was confirmed by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today (17 October) and includes a thrilling mix of venues both old and new.

The season will begin in Canada from 23 - 25 January as the battle between electric and sustainably-fuelled combustion engine cars takes to ice for the first time in World RX history.

2025 is bookended by another first as World RX travels to Australia from 21 - 23 November for the final round of the season in Rallycross Promoter’s first step towards securing a permanent foothold in Oceania.

Another highlight is the return of the incredibly popular street circuit format, this time on the streets of the United Kingdom from 30 May to 1 June.

FIA championship rallycross returns to Lousada, Portugal (2 - 4 May) for the first time since 2008, presenting a new challenge for the current crop of World RX drivers whilst Kymiring in Finland is promising to be ‘best in class’ with an all-new track being developed for the 13-15 June event.

There is, of course, plenty of familiarity on the 2025 calendar. From 11 - 13 April, Nyirád’s famous ‘Red Cauldron’ in Hungary will additionally host the opening round of the European season; Sweden’s famous ‘Magic Weekend’ is once more an unmissable event at the height of the Scandinavian summer from 4 - 6 July; whilst Türkiye, which is currently gearing up to host the final round of the 2024 season, will welcome drivers to Istanbul Park for the penultimate event of 2025 (25 - 27 July).

“We are incredibly happy with the diversity of this calendar,” expressed World Rallycross Promoter Managing Director Arne Dirks. “To have a mix of traditional events, as well as all-new stops mixed in with brand-new concepts was always the aim for us as the Promoter. If we are to look at the 2025 calendar, we can confidently say we are close to achieving the perfect blend.”

The full calendar is as follows:
23-25 January World RX of Canada
11-13 April World RX of Hungary
02-04 May World RX of Portugal
30 May – 01 June World RX of Great Britain*
13-15 June World RX of Finland
04-06 July World RX of Sweden
25-27 July World RX of Türkiye*
21-23 November World RX of Australia

*Subject to ASN Application on the FIA International Calendar

24-10-08 16 Bakkerud fights off illness to score Uta Nitrocross double group E wins in DRR Monster Energy Dodge hornet R/T FC1-X
Bakkerud, Larsson Finish 1-2 in Both Group E Races at Series’ Most Challenging Track
– Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Andreas Bakkerud and Robin Larsson scored 1-2 finishes this weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus in the ‘Busch Light Race to the Mountains” Nitrocross Series doubleheader with their DRR/JC Monster Energy Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X electric-powered race cars.

Bakkerud, fighting a strep throat diagnosis and 104-degree fever prior to the weekend’s racing action, drove to a spectacular “clean sweep” by taking his heat race, semifinals and finals on both Saturday and Sunday for his first feature win in over a year in the popular Nitrocross racing series.

Bakkerud’s two main event wins were the second and third triumphs for the new Dodge brand in the 2024-25 Nitrocross series, as the national tour competed on the most challenging pavement and dirt circuit, which featured a 100-foot gap jump and high-banked turns.

Bakkerud opened out the weekend by setting the fastest lap and then capturing his heat race, semifinal and final on Saturday at the wheel of his No. 13 Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X machine, as the personable Norway native took with one-second victory over his DRR/JC teammate Robin Larsson.

On Sunday, Bakkerud duplicated his Saturday performance with wins in the preliminary rounds and jumped to the lead in the finale from his front row starting position. He drove his DRR/JC Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race car to the lead in turn one and never looked back. Andreas went on to a two-second advantage over Larsson at the checkered flag to complete a “clean sweep” doubleheader.

“It’s been tough times, and this year was all about getting back and having fun again,” said Bakkerud. “In the first Nitrocross weekend, I was having some bad luck in the finals. I was ready for Utah. But I caught strep throat on Thursday and a 104-degree fever. I was shaking, my hands, fingers, toes and everything, then getting Penicillin and resting. I tried to do as little running as possible on Friday and Saturday in the final, we had the ‘holeshot’ into turn one and it felt good from there., The sun was so low that it was tough to see in the last few corners.

“In the Sunday race, I got a good run from the second starting position. It had more grip, and I was able to get by Robin into turn one. But it was a difficult race with the tight corners, and the racing was very close on this track. I’m just really happy to get back in the winner’s circle this weekend.”

Larsson’s two second place finishes vaulted him back into the Group E points lead as the series heads to Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz., for rounds five and six on Nov. 15-16.

“Overall, those were such tough finals to drive, with the position of the sun,” said Larsson, Group E round one final winner last month at Richmond, Va. “It was terrible, but I just followed Bakkerud, and he really enjoyed that win.

It was a one-two for the team, and I’m just chasing that consistency like I did in the last two years. P2 is good. You always want to win, but, for the championship, a P2 is really nice. Good points. A solid day for the team and for me.”

In addition to the Bakkerud and Larson’s 1-2 performances, their DRR Dodge teammates Fraser McConnell of Jamaica and local star Lia Block scored top five final finishes this weekend with McConnell fourth on Saturday and Block fifth on Sunday.

DRR team owner Dennis Reinbold couldn’t have asked for a superior 1-2 weekend with Bakkerud and Larsson dominating the Group E action, and his younger drivers put in strong showings as well at a challenge circuit.

“We knew that the Utah track is the most demanding course we run during the Nitrocross season,” Reinbold said. “To be honest, we weren’t sure how Andreas would perform with his illness. But he fought off that sickness as well as the on-track competition this weekend. He hasn’t had the best luck in the past year and the whole DRR team feels so good for him to get the wins here in Utah. Robin was his usual strong runner and took over the point lead, and Fraser and Lia continue to show their talent and potential here. We are looking forward to the next two rounds in Phoenix next month now.”

Block, competing at her home state racing facility, continues her Nitrocross Group E learning experience and competed in a wild Sunday finale.

“That was the craziest final for me on Sunday,” said Block, who resides in nearby Park City, Utah. “It ended very chaotic for me, and I got spun around. But I wanted to get to finish line. I’m glad to get a top five finish for DRR and Dodge.”

24-10-01 Historic ice race confirmed for 2025 World RX calendar
FIA World Rallycross championship set to break new territory in 2025 with ice race in Canada set to herald in new season*

The FIA World Rallycross Championship will break all-new ground in 2025 with the announcement of the series’ inaugural ice event set for Canada in January.

The 2025 ‘Battle of Technologies’, which pits electric against renewable fuel-powered combustion vehicles, goes back to Trois-Rivières for the first time since 2019 to take on a Volvo CE-prepared ice track within at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) circuit."We are incredibly excited to be returning to Canada for the first time since 2019 for an event that will look like nothing we have ever seen on the calendar before,” enthused Rallycross Promoter Managing Director Arne Dirks. “We are of course familiar with Trois-Rivières, but seeing it on snow is going to add an all-new incredibly spectacular element to our calendar.

“We cannot think of a better way to kick off the 2025 season.”

Located between Montreal and Quebec City, fans attending will be kept warm in heated glass-enclosed grandstands with temperatures outside expected to be well below freezing. The provisional date for the event is set for 24 – 25 January.

Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières previously featured on FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar from 2014 to 2019 with previous winners including Johan Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen.

“World RX drivers have always loved coming to Trois-Rivières,” stressed GP3R General Manager Dominic Fugère. “The switch to ice, in the middle of a Quebec winter, will not cool their ardent eagerness to race here.”

The full 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar will be announced in the coming weeks.

*Subject to FIA World Motor Sport council approval

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

24-09-19 FIA World Rallycross set to return to Finland for first time since 2020
The FIA World Rallycross Championship will return to Finland in 2025, with Kymiring securing a long-term agreement to host the Finnish round*.

Announced today (Thursday, 18 September) in Finland’s capital Helsinki at a media event attended by World RX regular Niclas Grönholm, the return marks the first occasion World RX will take place in the Nordic country since 2020.

Located close to the city of Kouvola, 150km north-east of Helsinki, Kymiring will be used in the world championship for the first time as part of an ambitious project spearheaded by TRP Hungary in alignment with the Finnish ASN, AKK.

The agreement puts Kymiring on the World RX calendar for at least the next three seasons, giving Finnish fans a first-hand experience of the thrilling Battle of Technologies.

Kymiring CEO Kornél Ory said of the announcement: “Our vision is to develop and operate the leading sports and entertainment centre in the Nordic and the Baltic region, with the FIA World Rallycross Championship playing a major role.

“Sustainability and environmental responsibility are of paramount importance to us, and the inclusion of World RX carries symbolic significance in this regard.”

The announcement was enthusiastically welcomed by Arne Dirks, Managing Director of Rallycross Promoter GmbH. He said: “Finland has a world-renowned motorsport culture and a proud history in our sport specifically, adding more significance to us returning there for the first time since 2020.

“Just as importantly, we are going there with a partner we know well and have full confidence in delivering a spectacular new addition to the calendar.”

Finland has a strong history in rallycross, the country having produced a number of FIA European Champions and with Grönholm a leading contender in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in recent years.

*Subject to World Motor Sport Council approval

: fiaworldrallycross.com

24-09-17 Lousada to host World RX of Portugal from 2025
Classic rallycross circuit returns to international stage for first time in 17 years.

Lousada, the spiritual home of rallycross in Portugal, will join the FIA World Rallycross Championship for the first time in a new three-year agreement, with the popular Portuguese venue taking up an early-season slot on the series’ 2025 calendar*.

Located 50km from Porto, the Circuito Automóvel de Lousada was established in 1984, and has since become the hub of the Portuguese rallycross community. Lousada welcomed the FIA European Rallycross Championship from 1991 until 2008. Following a 17-year absence from the international rallycross scene, the track will return to the spotlight next season. The event will be run by the Clube Automóvel de Lousada (CAL) – the organisation responsible for introducing rallycross to Portugal.

Lousada has also been a regular feature in the FIA World Rally Championship, with Rally de Portugal visiting the circuit for a crowd-pleasing super-special stage every year since 2015.

Ahead of World RX’s maiden appearance, the circuit will undergo the first phase of a comprehensive redevelopment programme. Planned in two parts to be fully completed before the 2026 event, the initiative will retain the character and style of the original track while lifting the venue to World Championship level and includes an extension at turn three, a new joker lap and a new paddock alongside upgraded facilities.

The 2025 World RX event at Lousada is provisionally scheduled to take place on 2-4 May.

Arne Dirks, Managing Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the Clube Automóvel de Lousada for at least the next three seasons. We have seen first-hand how much passion there is for motorsport in the Lousada region, and a lot of hard work has gone into putting this deal together. That work will continue ahead of the first World RX event at the circuit in 2025, with significant investment into the infrastructure in and around the track aimed at creating a first-class experience for competitors and fans alike.”

Luís Marinho, President, Clube Automóvel de Lousada (CAL), said:
“2024 will be remembered in Lousada as a historic milestone in motorsport. The Municipality’s acquisition of the land occupied by the track and its surroundings will allow for the modernisation and expansion of the facility, as well as the construction of a new paddock, and here we are announcing that Lousada is to host international rallycross events again. It is the realisation of a dream that few believed possible.”

Pedro Machado, Mayor of Lousada, said:
“Motorsport in Lousada has a long history, and with its extraordinary capacity for organising sporting events, CAL has played a fundamental role in the development of the sport in the Municipality, bringing the track to both national and international recognition. The Circuito Automóvel de Lousada has become an important landmark, not just as a venue for competition, but as a symbol of identity and pride for the community.

The World Rallycross Championship is indisputably one of the best series around, and to have reached a multi-year agreement with Rallycross Promoter is testament to a lot of hard work, willpower, persistence, professionalism and the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the Municipality and CAL. 2025 will represent the start of a new, very promising era that will inspire future generations!”

24-09-13 A top-class international entry inaugurates the new FC2 era of the NEXT Evo category
The first round of the 2024-2025 Nitrocross in Richmond this past weekend saw the successful debut of the First Corner FC2 product in the revised NEXT EVO class.

Over the off-season, First Corner, working with its technical partner OMSE, successfully completed the development program, which led to the on-time delivery of the unique Lites to FC2 upgrade packages. In total, seventeen complete upgrade kits have been delivered to clients globally, with twelve allocated to teams within the Nitrocross series.

For the first round of the series, First Corner and OMSE worked closely with the teams on final preparations, including a full shakedown of the cars prior to moving to the event in Richmond. A further two days of preliminary running were organized by the series before the event got fully underway.

From the initial running of the cars, it was clear to see that the FC2 is a major step forward in performance and drivability and was welcomed by each of the drivers taking part, as they expressed their enthusiasm for the new car and the potential of this revised series.

At the event itself, the First Corner technical team was on hand to oversee the running of the cars. All vehicles successfully completed the two days of competition, with only accident damage and minor issues being noted by the teams.

In conclusion, the debut of the FC2 and the NEXT EVO class into the Nitrocross series, which generated some intense and exciting racing action over the weekend, has been seen as a major success and a significant trigger for the FC2 to become an even greater success than its SuperCar Lites predecessor.

ANDREAS ERIKSSON - OMSE and FIRST CORNER CEO
"The introduction of the FC2 has been a very intense time for all of us at OMSE and our partners over the past twelve months, but we are extremely proud of what we have achieved in such a short time frame. It is a testament that, if you put your mind to something and work with the right people, anything can be achieved."

KEVIN MORRIS - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, FIRST CORNER
"What can I say, the original concept of FC2 and NEXT EVO was seen by all as a major step forward for the series. The success that we have seen over the course of this weekend with the debut of FC2 in the series has proved that and, in real terms, that can only make my job easier! All joking aside, the response we have received from drivers and teams has been amazing, and already we are seeing further interest growing from other areas, which, of course, we will look to explore over the coming weeks."

For anyone looking for further information on FC2, please contact Kevin Morris at the details below.

24-09-10 Oliver Eriksson and Team OMSE already in the lead
With the first two Nitrocross races taking place at the Richmond circuit last weekend, Oliver Eriksson and Team OMSE took full advantage of the opportunity to make their mark.

After finishing second to two-time defending champion Robin Larsson at the end of Race 1, Oliver Eriksson went one better the following day, taking advantage of a scramble at the entrance to Turn 3 to take the top step of the podium from Fraser McConnell.

Oliver Eriksson, who scored his third career win in Nitrocross since the introduction of FC1, will head into the next round in Salt Lake City on 5th and 6th October as the overall leader, with an 11 and 15 point lead over Fraser McConnell and Robin Larsson respectively.

"It was a really intense weekend," said Oliver.

"We got the season off to a good start with good speed in Race 1, but things didn't go as planned in qualifying. I tried to do my best but luck wasn't on our side. Nevertheless, we managed to finish second in the final, just behind Robin Larsson.”

"We got back into the swing of things before Race 2 with another good performance in terms of pure speed, which gave us a very good starting position for the final with a front row grid position. As we approached the third corner I suddenly found myself at the front of the race. I didn't understand what was happening, but we had some damage to the car. It was pushing so hard at the back that I couldn't avoid Fraser McConnell. I still feel sorry for Fraser because it shouldn't have happened. Still, I was lucky to have done so well with all the contact in Turn 3. We've scored some good points and it's a great start to the new season."

"It's not the first time I'm leading a championship, but it's the first for me in Nitrocross. My goal for the new season was to become more consistent by scoring points in every race. The first round was successful, but it's a very tough championship and things can change very quickly. We'll try to keep the momentum going and give it our all at every race.”

During qualifying for Race 1, Kevin Eriksson was forced to withdraw from the race after a heavy impact in the gap jump landing zone. He was taken to hospital for tests and the medical staff advised him not to continue his weekend in order not to aggravate any possible injuries.

"Unfortunately it wasn't the start to the championship I was expecting for the start of season 3 of Nitrocross. We had a car that was more than competitive, but unfortunately I paid a high price for a slight miscalculation on the gap jump and landed in a very unusual way. That jump on the Richmond track was very different to what we're used to in Nitrocross. Obviously it's a huge disappointment to be out of contention for the title before the season has even really started, but I'm going to do everything I can to help Team OMSE achieve its goals. We're here to win races and the championship and we're going to work hard to do that.”

Tanner Foust, on the other hand, qualified twice for the final, with a fifth-place finish in Race 2 being his best result.

Finally, Casper Jansson also proved his speed in the inaugural race of the new NEXT Evo category, which features cars from the FC2 range.

Eighth in Race 1, Casper Jansson made the most of Race 2 to claim his first podium, following in the footsteps of Tommi Hallman and Mitchell De Jong - a performance that puts him third in the standings after the first round at Richmond.

Although Kevin Eriksson didn't have the chance to fight for victory, the OMSE team principal was more than happy with the performance of the Swedish squad's drivers.

"Overall, I'd say the team has really started the season on a high, and the fact that we're currently leading the championship after the first round is clear proof of that. All three of our Group E cars have shown their speed and Oliver has managed to get results in line with our expectations. Tanner, for his part, has also shown that he's in the game with a very interesting pace and I'm convinced that he'll be fighting for the top step of the podium in the very near future. For me, of course, it's a huge disappointment to have ended my weekend so quickly. It's not what we wanted, but the physical integrity of our drivers remains a priority. I still have enough races left to turn things around."

24-09-10 Sjökvist claims RX2e runner-up spot with podium in Montalegre
Swedish talent Isak Sjökvist and the #YellowSquad team entered the FIA RX2e series finale at the iconic Montalegre track with the title within reach. The all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship support category reached an exciting conclusion, and a brilliant second place from Sjökvist in Portugal secured the runner-up spot in the championship.

Second in the series standings by just 11 points as the drivers entered the fourth and final event of 2024, Sjökvist delivered strong performances throughout the weekend. Finishing in the Top 3 across all four of his Qualifying races – including a win in Heat 2 – put the #YellowSquad driver in a good position heading into the Semi-Finals.

A dominant performance to take the win in Semi-Final 2, despite never having raced at Montalegre before the Saturday, secured Sjökvist a spot on the front row of the Final. In the last race of the RX2e season, Sjökvist would chase down fellow Swede Nils Andersson, before contact with Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky would set him back and seal his fate in second place.

In the running for the title ever since his podium at Nyirád in Hungary – another unfamiliar track - Sjökvist just missed out on the championship title but took home the silver medal to accompany his three podium finishes from the year’s four events.

Racing the sister #YellowSquad machine, Australian star Molly Taylor returned to RX2e for a second event thank to the support of E.ON and Veloce. Demonstrating the importance of seat time, Taylor stormed to her first ever Heat win in her first race. Securing a spot in the main event with third in Semi-Final 2, Taylor would go on to finish in fifth but gained valuable experience along the way.

In Euro RX1, Patrick O’Donovan arrived at the season finale with a comfortable lead in the championship standings. Having won all three of the events leading up to Montalegre, O’Donovan secured the European Rallycross title with a win in the Semi-Finals in just his second season of competing in the category. While the young British driver fell just short of a clean sweep of wins, third place in Portugal marked a podium at every event and a dominant performance from O’Donovan all season.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow. We knew it was going to be a big mountain to climb at the weekend, but we did everything that we could, and the team delivered a superb car. P2 in the championship is great but naturally I want more.

“We will take some time to reset and go through the whole season to see where we can improve for next time. It has been so great being with the #YellowSquad team and I want to thank all of them for their support and their hard work. We keep on working and we never give up.”

Molly Taylor, #YellowSquad driver, said: “P5 in Portugal! It was an amazing weekend, and I reached a few rallycross milestones with a first Heat win, a fastest overall time of a Heat, and a fastest lap in our Semi-Final.

"In the Final I tried to go around the outside in Turn 1 and it didn’t work out so well, but the progress and pace over the weekend was positive and I’m feeling very satisfied with what we have achieved. I can’t thank E.ON, Veloce, and the #YellowSquad crew enough for making this all happen. Let’s do some more!"

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, added: “It’s great to get another RX2e championship medal but it wasn’t what we all hoped for. We pushed hard to get the title this year, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nils Andersson was very strong. Isak had some ups and downs, but he fought through it well and we put up a great fight. A huge thank you to all the team for their hard work, we'll come back even stronger next year."

24-09-08 Niclas Grönholm claims vital FIA World RX podium and points for CE Dealer Team in Portugal
Construction Equipment Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment stays in the hunt for the 2024 FIA World RX medals, as Niclas Grönholm secured his third podium of the season in the second to last double-header weekend at Montalegre in Portugal.

Niclas Grönholm bounced back after a challenging round in Belgium, with the Finnish rallycross star claiming two heat wins on his way to Saturday’s final, where he finished second after an action-packed race.

On Sunday, Grönholm once again made it to the final, ultimately finishing sixth after a puncture. The eight-time World RX winner remains in the fight for silver in the drivers’ standings, currently sitting fifth, just 21 points from second place.

“The feeling is good after yesterday’s podium, today was a struggle, also with the puncture in the final. One positive from the weekend is that we had really good starts, so we'll take that with us. I’ll take some time off now to come back ready to work hard and improve for the finale where we will fight to finish as high up as possible,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson heads into the final round of the championship in China holding sixth in the standings, 17 points behind her team-mate. After an incident-filled Sunday, the Swedish racer fought back strongly to finish a solid fourth in the final.

“This was the toughest weekend I’ve had in a while. It’s a shame because I love this track and know we can be fast here. We had a bit of bad luck, and I just didn’t feel comfortable in the car. We tried a lot, but now it’s time to dig deep, analyze, and do the homework for the next race” said Klara Andersson.

“It was great to see the full grandstands and the love for rallycross this weekend. We’ll be back stronger in the next race, ready to put on another great show - showcasing the thrills of sustainable motorsport."

CE Dealer Team continues its fight for the FIA World RX team medals, heading into the season finale ranked third overall.

"Mixed emotions from the weekend. Niclas had good pace on Saturday and was in the fight for the win but ran out of tires in the final. He was close, but not quite there. Klara had a tough start but showed great improvement on Sunday. Overall, we’re not fully satisfied with the weekend. We need to learn from this and come back stronger in the season finale where our goal is still firmly set high," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

CE Dealer Team hosted more than 150 guests from several countries in Europe throughout the weekend from hosting dealer Ascendum, as well as from team partners Parker Hannifin and CTEK.

Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and showcased its electric product range and innovative services at Montalegre while maintaining the circuit in excellent condition.

The final round of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship is set for China on October 19-20.

Results and standings after the FIA World RX of Portugal available here.

24-09-08 Hansen holds off Kristoffersson in epic Portuguese duel
Swedish stars put on a spectacular show at Montalegre
The stars of the FIA World Rallycross Championship treated fans to some epic entertainment at Montalegre in Portugal today (8 September), as Kevin Hansen got the better of reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson to claim his first victory of the season.

Montalegre never fails to produce sensational racing, and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, the ‘Battle of Technologies’ delivered in style, truly showcasing the respective strengths of World RX’s electric and sustainably-fuelled internal combustion cars with spectacular sends and awe-inspiring overtakes.

It was the elder rather than the younger of the Hansen siblings who set the pace during the heats, as 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen won both of his races behind the wheel of his electric Peugeot 208 RX1e to top the intermediate Ranking, but Kevin Hansen then got the jump on his brother at the start of the pair’s semi-final and remained in front throughout to secure pole position for the final.

Timmy Hansen subsequently repaid the favour by sweeping around the outside into the lead from the second row of the grid, as his Hansen World RX Team stablemate darted immediately into the joker, followed by championship leader Kristoffersson, who had exited Turn One down in sixth place. Their tactics would prove to be inspired.

While Timmy Hansen and Ole Christian Veiby went at it hammer-and-tongs at the front of the field – trading places on multiple occasions – their spirited duel cost them time to the early jokers, who were inexorably hunting them down. The top two dived into the joker themselves on the last lap, but by then, the damage was done, as Kevin Hansen and Kristoffersson blasted past.

All that then remained was for the Peugeot driver to fend off his Volkswagen rival to the chequered flag, which he did with razor-sharp precision to cement his fourth career victory and first of the 2024 campaign.

“The team has done a great job this weekend,” Hansen enthused. “This is my first win in the electric Peugeot – it’s taken a while! The car was flying and I had so much confidence, and we had a great strategy in the final.

“I had to try to defend against Johan [Kristoffersson], but at the same time, I knew I couldn’t afford to defend too much as then we wouldn’t have caught the guys ahead. We’ve received amazing support from the fans here at Montalegre, which has been wonderful to see. I think a lot of them remember my father’s successes in Portugal in the past. They’ve brought so much energy all weekend, and that has really fuelled us.”

After his hard-fought victory 24 hours earlier, Kristoffersson had to settle for the runner-up spoils on Sunday – the Swede’s 61st podium finish from 95 appearances in rallycross’ top-flight. Piloting his sustainably-fuelled Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, the KMS - HORSE Powertrain ace missed out on glory by less than three tenths-of-a-second, meaning he must wait a little longer in his quest to clinch an extraordinary seventh world championship crown.

Timmy Hansen rounded out the rostrum in third as he prevailed in his crowd-pleasing scrap with Veiby, with the Norwegian briefly nosing ahead again on the last lap before contact between the pair sent him into the wall. That elevated Klara Andersson to fourth – the CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment ace a late addition to the final following a track limits penalty for JDM Raptor Racing’s Anthony Pelfrene – with the delayed Veiby fifth and Niclas Grönholm failing to finish after picking up a puncture.

In the supporting series, there were title triumphs for defending champion Nils Andersson in RX2e, two-time British champion Patrick O’Donovan in Euro RX1 and Nils Volland in Euro RX3 – the latter sealing the deal in a dramatic final won by his chief competitor and home hero João Ribeiro.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) 5 laps
2. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 0.271s
3. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 2.045s
4. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 7.447s
5. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 26.272s
DNF Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 1 lap

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-09-08 Kevin Hansen takes victory in double-podium for Hansen World RX Team at Montalegre
The Hansen World RX Team added two more podiums to its tally today (8 September) as Kevin Hansen took victory in Round 8 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship ahead of Timmy Hansen in third. Setting off from pole in the Final, Kevin secured his fourth podium of the season, while Timmy added a sixth piece of silverware to the team's 2024 collection.

A rollercoaster Saturday saw both Hansen brothers in the Final, albeit with Timmy on the back row and Kevin eyeing up the long start straight from the front of the grid. A confident run from Timmy ended in the wall as the Swede lost visibility as he entered the start straight, while Kevin pushed to close the gap to the front, getting ahead of OC Veiby to take bronze in Round 7 and second in the championship standings.

Quickest out of the blocks in today's action was Timmy, taking the win in his Heat 1 race to mark a great recovery for the team after the damage caused in Saturday's Final. The 2019 World RX Champion then rode that momentum into the following Heat, taking another win to finish as Top Qualifier. Kevin recovered from a difficult Heat 1 race to take the win and lock out Heat 2 for the Hansen squad.

In the first of the Semi-Finals, Timmy lined up on pole alongside Kevin, and the pair worked together to shut the door on CE Dealer Team's Klara Andersson behind. As the cars exited the first corner, Kevin took the lead on the outside with Timmy slotting into second and the Hansen drivers pulled away from the pack to hold track position.

Setting off from pole, Kevin surged down the start straight with Timmy alongside him after a strong launch from the second row. As the teammates rounded Turn 1 it was Timmy in the lead, and Kevin entered the joker early from second with Johan Kristoffersson hot on his heels.

A dramatic showdown ensued between Timmy and OC Veiby, with each gaining the lead throughout the race. It was Timmy out in front as he entered the joker and Kevin came through to take the lead after an impressive defensive display ahead of Kristoffersson. While Kevin neared victory at the finish line, Timmy had to react quickly to an overtake by Veiby, and the Swede was able to regain third in the final corners.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "We had a much better day today. We were in the game yesterday, but today we were really fighting for the win. Kevin showed that it is possible to beat the combustions here. I must say it was fantastic rallycross. There were a lot of overtakes and a lot of entertainment - this is when rallycross is at its best. Timmy on the podium and Kevin first...you can't ask for much more than that."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "Finally my first win with an electric Peugeot. I had a really good car all weekend, we didn't have to change much, and for sure we had some strengths down to Turn 1 so we just tried to maximise the opportunity.

"There was a lot of guessing and a lot of being completely blind in that Final, and we had to defend but couldn't defend too much if we were going to catch up to the leaders. A tricky Final but that just makes the win feel even better."

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "The weekend here ended fantastically for the team. Three podiums across the two days with Kevin's third place yesterday. Today's Final was a brilliant rallycross race with loads of action loads of passes. I had the lead in the Final but there was a big battle with OC Veiby so I lost quite a time in that. Luckily it was Kevin behind as he had taken the joker early.

"A massive thanks to the team, the car was so good this weekend. All of the struggles from early in the season are now gone. The car is well balanced, good grip, just an overall amazing package. I'm very happy about this result and it puts us in a good position now heading into the final double-header of the season."

24-09-08 Utökad VM-ledning för Kristoffersson
Säsongens tuffaste utmaning, men Johan Kristoffersson lämnar ändå Montalegre med en utökad VM-ledning efter en seger och en andraplats under helgen.
- Att plocka flest poäng utan att vara först i en enda start. Då får man ändå säga att det är en lyckad helg, säger Johan.

Precis som väntat blev det en uppvisning i förarskicklighet från Kristoffersson sida när han tvingades jaga bakifrån. Elbilarna hade ett klart övertag på den långa startsträckan i de portugisiska bergen, men därmed blev det också underhållande racing när Johan och hans teamkompis Ole Christian Veiby försökte hitta vägar framåt med sina VW Polo KMS 601 RX.

Johan Kristoffersson följde upp lördagens övertygande seger med en andraplats under söndagen. Den svenske världsmästaren kvalade bra och hade pole position i sin semifinal, men fick där se sig slagen av teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby.
- En bra semi för min del, fick lite hjälp från Johan och tog mig till främsta ledet i finalen, säger Ole Christian.

Kristoffersson fick inta andra ledet. Som väntat var det trafikstockning in i första kurvan, där framför allt Johan fick avvakta långt bak medan Ole Christian hittade bättre öppningar.
- Det fanns ingen väg fram och var dessutom väldigt dammigt, säger Johan som följde Kevin Hansen in i joker-spåret på första varvet.

Veiby tog sig å sin sida ända upp i ledning före Timmy Hansen. Kevin och Johan jagade ikapp bakifrån och gick förbi i en frustande kamp om segern medan Timmy och Ole Christian gjorde upp i en lika intensiv duell om tredjeplatsen. Kevin höll undan till seger före Johan medan Ole Christian haltade i mål som femma med stukad bil efter en sista duell med Timmy.
- Han körde om mig, jag tog mig förbi igen på sista varvet, men då körde han in i mitt framhjul så drivaxeln rök. Jag hade bara bakhjulsdrift på slutet. Det var synd. Tycker jag förtjänade mer idag och hade kunnat fightas om segern bara jag hade kommit loss direkt.

Allt som allt blev ändå en riktigt bra helg för KMS - HORSE Powertrain. Kristoffersson utökade sin VM-ledning och har nu 46 poängs försprång på Kevin Hansen och ett klart grepp om guldet. Veiby tappade visserligen andraplatsen, men är ändå mitt i ett getingbo av förare som slåss om övriga medaljer.
- Vi måste vara extremt nöjda. Vi har maximerat utfallet och är det team som tar flest poäng den här helgen, konstaterar nöjde teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

I teammästerskapet har KMS - HORSE Powertrain nu ett övertag på 48 poäng mot team Hansen.

VM-avslutningen är tänkt till Shanghai 19-20 oktober, men med reservation för att det kan bli ändring på den planen.
- Oavsett var det blir så har vi ett riktigt bra läge inför avslutningen, säger Tommy Kristoffersson.

24-09-08 Nils Andersson Europamästare i Rallycross igen!
Efter en fantastisk säsong för helvärmländska Team E lyckades Arvika föraren Nils Andersson upprepa fjolårets EM-guld när finalen avgjordes idag i Portugal. Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky slutade 4:a efter att ha varit uppe och nosat på silvermedaljen under säsongen.

Nils vann tre av sina fyra kvalheat och när han sedan vann semifinalen var guldet klart och han kunde köra finalen som mästare i kavaj.

Väl i finalen var det inget snack, Nils tog starten och ledde från start till mål.
”En fantastisk säsong är slut, jag är både stolt och lycklig. Efter att förra året vunnit mästerskapet utan att ta en enda delseger var målet i år att vinna så mycket som möjligt. Med seger i Höljes, Ungern och nu i Portugal så blev det precis så bra som jag hoppats. Det är en riktig teamseger, och jag kan inte nog lyfta min teamkompis som verkligen gjort ett fantastiskt jobb”, säger Nils Andersson.

Mikaela kommenterar helgen:
”Den här helgen började verkligen starkt, där jag ledde totalt efter första dagen. Tyvärr blev det en lite knackigare söndag där jag trots att jag gick till final inte lyckades försvara fjolårets tredjeplats. Målsättningen med min rallycross-satsning har varit att lära mig köra fort på grus, och det har jag verkligen gjort”, säger en trots framgångarna lite besviken Mikaela.

I mästerskapstabellen ligger Nils fortfarande på 1:a plats, medans Mikaela ligger 4:e med endast 2 poäng upp till pallplatsen.

Inför finaltävlingen i mästerskapet ligger de båda värmlänningarna etta och fyra i mästerskapet,

Mästerskapstabellen:
1. Nils Andersson (SWE) 126p
2. Isac Sjöqvist (SWE) 110p
3. Marko Muru (EST) 92p
4. Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky (SWE) 84p

24-09-08 Kristoffersson beats the odds for masterful Montalegre triumph
Super Swede takes another step closer to seventh career crown in Portugal.
On paper, Johan Kristoffersson’s 45th FIA World Rallycross Championship victory at Montalegre today (7 September) should not have been possible, so heavily did the odds look to be stacked against him – but the word ‘impossible’ is rarely in the Swede’s vocabulary.

Conventional wisdom said that Montalegre – located 1,000 metres above sea-level in the Vila Real mountains and with the longest main straight on the World RX calendar – would be EV territory, when Kristoffersson drives a sustainably-fuelled, combustion-engined Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX. No matter – he won both of his heat races anyway.

The odds seemed to be stacked against him again when contact in his semi-final resulted in suspension damage that threatened to rule the Arvika native out of the final – but neither Kristoffersson, nor his KMS - HORSE Powertrain team have ever been the kind to lay down without a fight.

Following a herculean repair effort by his crew, the 35-year-old lined up in third position and held his ground around the outside of the first corner to climb to second. He proceeded to hound Niclas Grönholm throughout, prior to undercutting his rival with a pristine penultimate lap joker to which the Finn had no answer. What’s more, his fifth triumph from seven rounds in 2024 has carried Kristoffersson to within touching-distance of an extraordinary seventh career crown.

“This is a real team victory after an amazing job to get my car back onto the grid for the final,” the reigning world champion reflected. “Montalegre is such an enjoyable circuit to drive and the Volkswagen has always suited the track well, and we spent the past few weeks looking at everything we could do to be as fast as possible. Niclas [Grönholm] had great pace in the final, but I just managed to make the difference when it mattered.”

Having similarly kept a clean sheet during the heats, pole-sitter Grönholm was disappointed to wind up second, missing out on the top step of the podium by less than four tenths-of-a-second – the vast majority of which he lost in the joker.

The CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment star could nonetheless take some encouragement from posting the fastest lap of the day – half-a-second quicker than anybody else was able to muster – as World RX’s innovative ‘Battle of Technologies’ delivered its closest duel so far.

Kevin Hansen rounded out the rostrum with a third consecutive top three finish behind the wheel of his electric Peugeot 208 RX1e, having at one stage appeared to be on-course for victory himself. The Swede lost some time overtaking Ole Christian Veiby and also avoiding a tyre stack dragged onto the racing line by Hansen World RX Team stablemate Timmy Hansen, whose challenge came unstuck when he ploughed spectacularly into the wall at the end of the opening tour.

Despite a sluggish start, Veiby took the chequered flag fourth for KMS - HORSE Powertrain, with René Münnich securing a season-high fifth in his ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport-run SEAT Ibiza. Fellow ICE competitor Anthony Pelfrene, meanwhile, was arguably the unluckiest driver of the day, unleashing an impressive turn-of-speed in his Peugeot 208 WRX and looking set to reach the final for the first time until contact with Kristoffersson towards the end of the pair’s semi-final sent him into a spin.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky leads the way in RX2e, with title protagonists Isak Sjökvist and Nils Andersson equal-second. There is a three-way tie for the top spot in Euro RX1 between Julien Fébreau, Damian Litwinowicz and champion-elect Patrick O’Donovan. Home hero Joaquim Machado is the pace-setter in Euro RX3, as Nils Volland seized the early initiative over João Ribeiro in the hunt for championship glory.

The action continues tomorrow (Sunday, 8 September) with the remaining heats, semi-finals and finals in the support series and round eight of the 2024 World RX campaign.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 0.398s
3. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 2.895s
4. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 5.654s
5. René MÜNNICH (DEU) ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport (ICE) + 12.374s
DNF Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 4 laps
Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-09-07 Mästerlig uppvisning av Johan
En formidabel uppvisning av den bäste. Johan Kristoffersson visade med all önskvärd tydlighet vem som regerar i rallycrossvärlden när han tog sin femte seger av sju möjliga för säsongen i Montalegre.
- Det är ju otroligt bra, säger Johan.

KMS - HORSE Powertrain kom - för ovanlighetens skull - till VM-tävlingen i Portugal lite grann som underdogs. Den tunna luften och den långa startrakan - med cirka 180 hästkrafters övertag för elbilarna - talade för motståndarna.
- Men jag har hela tiden haft inställningen att vi ska kliva in med högt huvud, inte se oss slagna på förhand och hålla oss till vår egen gameplan, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Förbättringar på detaljnivå har gjorts in i det sista på teamets VW Polo KMS 601 RX.
- Vi har gjort allt i vår makt och optimerat bilarna för den långa raksträckan, lovar KMS - HORSE Powertrain-chefen.

Ute på banan visade sedan Johan Kristoffersson varför han är sexfaldig världsmästare, med god chans till en sjunde VM-titel. Efter att ha förlorat starterna till elbilarna manövrerade sig Johan upp i topp i såväl första som andra kvalomgången. Det var körning på extremt finkänslig och kreativ nivå.
- Det här är när Johan är som bäst! Idag var det världsmästartakter när han tog sig an svåra situationer, med split vision och en förmåga att se möjligheter. Jag är väldigt stolt över den insatsen, säger pappa Tommy.

Johan hade sin största utmaning i semifinalen, där en trasig fälg gav punktering och havererad bromsskiva. Trots detta lyckades Arvika-föraren ta sig i mål som tvåa.
- Enda dåliga idag var väl semifinalen. Jag gjorde lite misstag där och blev straffad. Dessutom såg jag absolut ingenting, men det är något jag har lärt mig på senare år att anpassa mig till situationerna och kunna halta i mål på något vis, även om det ser besvärligt ut.

Mekanikerna gjorde sedan ett heroiskt jobb på kort tid för att få bilen körduglig till finalen.
- De är helt råa och älskar verkligen att vara med i fighten. De har ordning på allt och bara kastar sig över bilen för att byta grejer. Därför är det så kul att kunna betala tillbaka med en bra final.

Där kom Johan ut bakom Niclas Grönholm men jobbade sig närmare och med hjälp av dagens snabbaste joker-passage tog han sig ända upp i topp.
- Det löste sig bra när jag lyckades ta mig förbi Timmy i första sväng, Kevin tog jokern och jag kunde följa efter Niclas. Bästa scenariot för mig, säger Kristoffersson.

Johan tog därmed 28 poäng under dagen och utökade sin ledning i mästerskapet till 48 poäng till nya tvåan Kevin Hansen.

Ole Christian Veiby tappade sin andraplats i mästerskapet efter en tuff dag, där han ändå till slut lyckades ta en fjärdeplats.
- Det var svårt i heaten. Jag hade farten, men kom fel till i en del situationer.

I semifinalen gjorde han dock sin starkaste insats och la grunden för ett trots allt okej resultat. Där jagade han ikapp och tog sig förbi Timmy Hansen och slutade därmed tvåa, vilket innebar andra startled i finalen bredvid Johan. Tyvärr gick bilen i källaren och Ole Christian fick jaga från sista plats.
- Jag hade lite problem med kopplingen i starten, berättar Veiby.

En pallplats var trots detta inte långt borta och dagen kunde ha slutat värre när han fick väja för en snurrande Timmy Hansen.
- Oooh, det var riktigt nära där och så fick jag en däcktrave över huven också.

Totalt gav dagen alltså ett bra resultat för teamet.
- En första och en fjärde plats. Det hade jag lätt tagit på förhand. Och att Ole Christian trots problemen lyckades ta sig upp till fjärde plats gav oss viktiga poäng i teammästerskapet. En riktigt bra dag för oss, tycker Tommy Kristoffersson.

I teammästerskapet leder nu KMS - HORSE Powertrain med 55 poäng före team Hansen.

Imorgon rullar VM vidare med den åttonde deltävlingen för säsongen.

24-09-07 Kevin Hansen extends podium streak for Hansen World RX Team in Portugal
The Hansen World RX Team's podium run continued today (7 September) as Kevin Hansen took third in Round 7 of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship in Montalegre, Portugal. Setting off from the front row in the Final, Kevin secured his third podium appearance in a row as the Swedish squad collected its fourth piece of silverware so far this year.

The Hansen outfit arrived at the seventh round of the 2024 World RX season in high spirits after back-to back podiums for Kevin at the previous double-header in Mettet, Belgium, and a long-awaited race win for brother and team-mate Timmy Hansen in Round 5.

A rollercoaster Qualifying saw the Hansen brothers on equal points after a second and third place finish each across the two Heats. Lining up on the front row of Semi-Final 1, Kevin's Peugeot 208 was the only electric car on the grid. Having taken the lead into the first corner, the young Hansen driver kept his cool and kept the lead all the way to the finish line despite pressure from Johan Kristoffersson in second.

In the other Semi-Final race, Timmy recovered from a difficult start with an early joker lap. The strategy paid off, and the Swede was in second place before running wide and opening the door just enough for OC Veiby to make the overtake. Third place in the Semi-Finals was enough to see Timmy through to the main event on the back row, while Kevin eyed up the long start straight from the front of the pack.

Taking second place into the first corner, Kevin then entered the joker lap early, while Timmy surged into third through the opening laps before losing visibility into the straight and ended up in the wall. As Kevin pushed to close the gap to the front he got ahead of OC Veiby at the end of the straight to take third in the race and second in the championship standings.

The Hansen World RX Team will be looking to add further podiums to its tally tomorrow as World RX returns with Round 8 in Montalegre.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "The first race day in Portugal is done. I think we had good speed but it was difficult to choose the right tyre. We did a good job with what we had and I think we were on the way to getting both cars on the podium. It was unlucky for Timmy with the dust that kicked up, and Kevin lost some time in the traffic. Overall though there were plenty of positives and we'll take those into tomorrow."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "Not the best start from me in the Final but we took the joker at the beginning and tried to push from there. I had to dodge a big cloud of dust and tires on the straight which cost me a bit of time, and then I had to complete the overtake on Veiby after he made a mistake in Turn 9 which put me back further. I did overshoot a little bit as I hurried to catch up, so I think overall we could have been a lot closer to a win. A lot of ups and downs today and the track was so different each race, but we learnt a lot from the day and we'll take those lessons into the next round."

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "Today we had quite good pace and it was overall a pretty positive day for the team, but it ended in the wall for me. I had a good run coming on Kristoffersson out of the last corner but there was a big dust cloud in front. Kevin also had a good run to challenge for the win but he got a bit held up in the Final. For me a positive is that I drop to fifth in the championship, which means I will be on an easier route through Qualifying tomorrow. We saw how quickly Grönholm was able to catch up from there today. We'll go for the win again tomorrow. It's very possible with the form that we are in."

24-09-05 CE Dealer Team heads to decisive FIA World RX round in Portugal
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment heads to the legendary Montalegre circuit in Portugal for the second to last double-header round of the 2024 season, continuing its pursuit of the FIA World RX titles and push for sustainable motorsport.

CE Dealer Team secured its first win and podiums in 2022 at Montalegre and heads to the Portuguese circuit with its 100% electric PWR RX1e race cars following a challenging previous round in Belgium. Despite that, the team salvaged crucial points to stay in contention for the 2024 FIA World RX titles with just two race weekends left.

"It's been a tough few races in a row, and our clear goal for Portugal is to bounce back and score strong points in both events. With only a few races left, it's crucial that we make these count to ensure we're in a good position heading into the final in China and we are ready for it!" said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson made FIA World RX history in Portugal in 2022 as the first-ever female driver to reach the podium. The 24-year-old Swede heads to one of her favorite tracks, sitting sixth in the championship, just four points behind team-mate Niclas Grönholm in the only gender-equal driver line-up of the FIA World RX.

"I'm really excited to return to Portugal, where we have great memories from our first historic podium finish. I love the track, especially the final sector which is one of the best in the world. After a tough weekend in Belgium, our focus is on collecting points and getting back into the title fight - continuing to show the thrills of sustainable motorsport," said Klara Andersson.

The 100% electric CE Dealer Team remains in the hunt for the FIA World RX Teams’ title as well, currently holding third place in the standings.

"Montalegre is a special track where drivers need to switch between two states of mind within a single lap. The first part requires calmness and precision, while the second demands full-on aggression. The team and our partners are motivated to bounce back after the challenges in Mettet and it's great to return to racing so soon after the last event. We expect a big crowd this weekend, making it a strong event for our activations and we promise to put on a good show," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

CE Dealer Team will have more than 100 guests from Portugal, Spain and Turkey on site this weekend from hosting dealer Ascendum, as well as from team partners Parker Hannifin and CTEK.

Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Montalegre to showcase its electric product range and innovative services - while maintaining the circuit in excellent condition.

“We at Volvo CE are delighted to start yet another exciting FIA World RX round in Portugal this weekend together with CE Dealer Team. 2024 has so far delivered a thrilling mix of on-track action and cutting edge sustainable technology - providing a unique platform to activate brands. All of our guests that we have brought to the World RX races have fallen in love with the sport and this weekend should be no exception,” said Arvid Rinaldo, Head of Partnership and Operational Involvement in World RX for Volvo CE.

The World RX of Portugal weekend starts on Saturday with round seven of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by round eight on Sunday.

The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.
World RX of Portugal schedule

24-09-04 Spännande utmaning i Montalegre
KMS - HORSE Powertrain leder både förar- och teammästerskap i rallycross-VM. Men på 1 000 meters höjd i Montalegre väntar säsongens tuffaste utmaning.
- Vi vet vad hög höjd innebär för våra motorer, men det är bara att förhålla sig till det. Vi har haft det med i vår kalkyl hela tiden, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

“Battle of Technologies” har hittills bjudit på flera dramatiska och intensiva uppgörelser i Sverige, Ungern och Belgien. KMS - HORSE Powertrain har gått segrande ur striden i de flesta med sina VW Polo KMS 601 RX med förbränningsmotorer. Johan Kristoffersson toppar mästerskapstabellen före stallkamraten Ole Christian Veiby, vilket också medför ledning i teammästerskapet. Men nu har teamen med elbilar en rejäl chans att plocka poäng i den tunnare luften i portugisiska bergen.
- Svåraste utmaningen hittills för oss. Kan vi hålla avståndet till de andra får vi vara nöjda. Det blir tufft, men i vilket fall är det en väldigt kul bana vi kommer till. Jag gläder mig åt att få köra där, säger Ole Christian Veiby och får medhåll från stallkompisen.
- Det är en väldigt kul upplevelse att köra supercar på den banan, säger Johan Kristoffersson.

Rallycrossmetropolen i norra Portugal har en särskild aura runt sig. Det var där den första VM-deltävlingen någonsin kördes 2014 och det har varit ett antal episka tävlingar inklusive förra årets säsongspremiär. Då vann Johan Kristoffersson rubbet: superpole, kval, semifinal och final i sin eldrivna bil.

Även vädermässigt brukar Montalegre bjuda på överraskningar. Snö har förekommit och förra året var det översvämning i bygden några dagar före tävling.
- Utmanande väder och snabba omslag. Det kan man räkna med, påpekar Johan.

En publikfest lär det bli oavsett väder. Rallycrossintresset är genuint.
- Det är alltid en god och välkomnande atmosfär i Montalegre. Där har vi många fanatiska fans som kommunicerar med oss året runt, säger Tommy Kristoffersson, som åkte direkt till Portugal från en annan härlig tävlingsupplevelse, Lohéac i Frankrike.
- Det var en riktig boost för hela teamet. En fantastisk rallycrossupplevelse, menar Tommy.

För Johan var det också en bra uppladdning inför vad som förväntas under den kommande VM-helgen, eftersom han fick kämpa sig upp i fältet gång på gång.
- Vi vet att vi kommer att vara efter i starten i Montalegre, men kanske har vissa partier ute på banan där vi kan vara snabba. Så sett var Lohéac en bra uppladdning.

Med tanke på att Johan är hela 39 poäng före Veiby i totalställningen och ytterligare fyra före trean Kevin Hansen är ändå det viktigaste att fortsätta plocka poäng, så att ledningen består inför VM-avslutningen i Kina.
- Både jag och Ole Christian har också två reprimander, så det gäller att inte ge sig in i alla situationer och riskera straff.

Veiby å sin sida hoppas kunna försvara sin andraplats, trots knapp marginal neråt.
- Jag hade gärna haft lite fler poäng och större avstånd till de bakom, men det ska inte vara omöjligt att hålla sig kvar där uppe. Det är ju också en doubleheader, så det finns många poäng att tävla om.

Precis som övriga VM-helger blir det två tävlingar, en på lördag och en på söndag.

24-09-04 A "dream team" for TEAM OMSE
At the end of a 2023/2024 season in which he finished third in the overall standings, Kevin Eriksson will be back at the wheel of his FC1 in a bid to end Robin Larsson's run of back-to-back titles. In addition to the return of Oliver Eriksson, who took advantage of last season to claim his second career victory in the Nitrocross championship, Team OMSE will also be able to count on the return of the experienced Tanner Foust.

With Season 3 of the Nitrocross series set to kick off at Richmond, Virginia on 7-8 September, Team OMSE is preparing to present a team more than ready to challenge for top honors throughout the championship.

Finishing third overall last season, Kevin Eriksson was long in contention for the title last year thanks to a total of five podium finishes in the first seven races of the championship.

Back at his best after a 2022/2023 campaign in which a leg injury forced him to miss the opening rounds of the championship, Kevin Eriksson will return to the Nitrocross series in early September with high ambitions.

Oliver Eriksson, who has won the Supercar Lites category several times and the RallyX Supercar championship in 2019, had a difficult season in Nitrocross last year. Despite his top-class speed, the Swede had to wait until the sixth round of the season to claim his first podium with a win at Glen Helen.

Fifth in the overall standings for 2023/2024, Oliver Eriksson will certainly be out for revenge.

As the first American driver to triumph in both the European and FIA World Rallycross Championships, Tanner Foust needs no introduction. A four-time X-Games gold medalist and two-time Global Rallycross Championship champion, Tanner Foust returns to Nitrocross full-time after a two-year absence.

Last year, his two races in Salt Lake City ended with a first career podium at the wheel of the FC1. Tanner Foust, now with Team OMSE and the Kevin Eriksson/Oliver Eriksson duo, will also be among the favorites for the title.

#16 Oliver Eriksson - Sweden
“Last season was a bit complicated in the sense that we always had the speed to fight for the podium. However, things didn't go as well as we had hoped after qualifying. It was a bit of a mix between a lack of success and some miss judgements on my part. It's true that I managed to get a win, but this year I'm determined to be more consistent. Sometimes it's good to remember that second isn't such a bad result when you're fighting for a championship. The good thing is that we know our cars are performing well. The important thing now is to make sure that we're ready and that we can be decisive in the most important moments of the weekend”

#23 Kevin Eriksson - Sweden
“We achieved some great things last season, with some excellent performances. Generally speaking, the more gravel there was on the tracks and the more the drivers had to do behind the wheel, the better I did. Maybe I didn't get any wins, but I did get a good run of five podiums. Whether it was tracks like Utah or Phoenix, I felt I had the speed to go for the win, while the cancellation of the Calgary Ice Race was a disappointment because I know I could have been on the top step of the podium. Nevertheless, it's a new season that starts with a revised calendar and tracks that leave more room for tarmac. It's not what I prefer, but you have to make compromises. I also know that I'll be back at tracks like Phoenix and Utah where I really feel in my element, so I'm not worried."

#34 Tanner Foust - USA
“Not many people know that it was Andreas who first introduced me to Rallycross back in 2010. He played a pivotal role in bringing the sport to the United States and has led teams in every major Rallycross championship around the globe. We were once teammates, and now it's an honor to call him my team owner. I remember his two sons running around the racetrack, covered in mud—the quintessential racing kids. Today, they'll be my teammates in the Group E Nitrocross championship, which is another great honor. I’m thrilled by how far the sport has come and can’t wait to see where it goes next. I'm just proud to be part of the journey."

24-09-03 ‘Battle of Technologies’ poised for pulsating Portuguese bout
High altitude and even higher stakes in the mountains of Montalegre

The FIA World Rallycross Championship heads south to Montalegre in Portugal this weekend (7-8 September), as the track that hosted the very first World RX event ten years ago prepares to stage the fourth intriguing instalment in the series’ new ‘Battle of Technologies’.

Inaugurated in 1999 – making this year its 25th anniversary – the Circuito Internacional de Montalegre’s undulating layout and unpredictable weather have generated countless crowd-pleasing moments.

Located high up in the Vila Real mountains – some 1,000m above sea level – its power-sapping altitude is a key consideration. Factor in the longest main straight on the calendar, and conventional wisdom says the pendulum could swing in favour of the electric brigade in Portugal, following four triumphs out of six for sustainably-fuelled combustion cars so far in 2024.

All of those ICE successes have been claimed by Johan Kristoffersson, who will travel to Montalegre – where he is four times a previous winner – with a commanding 39-point advantage at the summit of the standings in his quest to clinch an extraordinary seventh career crown at the highest level. The Swede, of course, has never held much regard for conventional wisdom, and he will be bidding to overturn the odds once again this weekend.

Kristoffersson’s closest challenger is his KMS - HORSE Powertrain team-mate Ole Christian Veiby, who arrives off the back of five consecutive podium finishes at the international pinnacle of the sport – but still in search of his breakthrough victory.

Hansen brothers Kevin and Timmy are in hot pursuit, separated by just one point in third and fourth positions respectively. Buoyed by the latter’s first win in almost two years last time out at Mettet, Hansen World RX Team believes the forthcoming event represents its best chance of the season to-date, with its pair of electric Peugeot 208 RX1e cars expected to be among the pace-setters in Portugal.

Much the same applies to fellow electric protagonist CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment. Kristoffersson aside, Niclas Grönholm is the only current driver to have won at the track – in both 2021 and 2022 – while it was at Montalegre that Klara Andersson made history two years ago as the first female ever to reach the rostrum in top-flight international rallycross.

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport’s René Münnich and JDM Raptor Racing ace Anthony Pelfrene – who spends much of his time in Portugal – complete the World RX entry list in sustainably-fuelled combustion machinery, with more than 50 competitors in the field in total including support categories RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3, all of which will crown their champions this weekend.

Swedes Nils Andersson and Isak Sjökvist will duel it out for glory in RX2e, as Patrick O’Donovan aims to fend off Yury Belevskiy in Euro RX1. The lion’s share of local interest, however, will be reserved for Euro RX3, after João Ribeiro cut the gap to fellow Audi driver Nils Volland at the top of the table to a single point when he prevailed in Belgium last month. The Baltar native is one of a record-breaking 13 home heroes set to take to the track during World RX of Portugal.

All of the non-stop thrills will be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.

For more information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry lists for all four categories, see here. Tickets can be purchased either in advance or on the gate.

24-09-03 Sjökvist seeks RX2e title at Montalegre finale
This weekend (7-8 September) #Yellowsquad driver Isak Sjökvist will head to the RX2e season finale in Montalegre, Portugal, hoping to claim the title for the first time.

Sjökvist’s consistency across the season has placed the Swedish driver second in the overall standings, just 11 points behind current championship leader Nils Andersson.

If Sjökvist does surmount the gap, this would be his first RX2e title after finishing as the runner-up last season.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “The final round is coming up and I couldn’t be more excited to race at a completely new track! Montalegre seems super fun and we have a great chance to reach the top of the podium. I’m going to enjoy every second in the car and just have loads of fun.”

Returning to #Yellowsquad for the finale after missing Nyirád and Mettet, Molly Taylor will be competing in the sister #Yellowsquad car.

Although Taylor has missed a couple of rounds, the Australian driver hasn’t been out of action entirely. Most recently, Taylor took back-to-back victories alongside #Yellowsquad Founder Kevin Hansen at Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix double-header in Scotland.

Taylor’s return to the RX2e paddock could give Sjökvist the competitive edge needed to secure the title as the pair work together to steal championship points from their rivals.

Molly Taylor, #YellowSquad driver, said: “I can’t wait to get back out in RX2e. I know I’m still at the very beginning of my rallycross journey, but I feel like last time out in Höljes we made really good progress and I’m looking forward to picking up where we left off.

“These events are all about maximising every chance I have in the car, and we are ready to do that! I’m very grateful for the continued support from EON Next, Veloce Racing, and #YellowSquad to make this happen.”

In Euro RX1, #Yellowsquad member Patrick O’Donovan heads into the season finale in control of the championship standings. Leading the standings from the first round, O’Donovan arrives in Portugal with a healthy 15-point lead.

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “It is great to have two cars again with Molly coming back for her second race of the season. For Molly she’s back to try to get that podium she nearly got in Sweden, and to keep progressing her rallycross skills.

“For Isak he took a strong haul of points in Belgium so now he is within reach of the top of the leaderboard. He’ll have no choice but to go flat out and see if he can get that championship title. The team will give it everything we’ve got for both drivers.”

A classic event on the World RX calendar, Montalegre hosted the very first World RX event when the championship was formed in 2014.

A challenging circuit combined with unpredictable weather has made Montalegre a crowd favourite over the years, and #Yellowsquad will have to use all its experience to ensure its drivers have the best chance of achieving silverware this weekend.

The action begins this Saturday, 7th September, and continues into Sunday, when we’ll find out the RX2e and Euro RX1 champions.

Make sure to keep up with #Yellowsquad across all our social media channels to see if Sjökvist and O’Donovan can do the double.

24-09-03 Titelfighten hårdnar när Rallycross EM ska avgöras för Nils och Mikaela
Årets Rallycross EM avgörs kommande helg i Portugisiska Montalegre, 15 mil nordost om Porto. De värmländska rallycrossförarna Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky, åker till Portugal med siktet inställt på prispallen.

Efter att ha dominerat inledningen på årets EM-serie så hade både Nils och Mikaela en besvärlig tävling senast i Belgien. Nils hade problem med att båda axlarna hoppade ur led, en tidigare skada som slogs upp av den sönderkörda banan. Den trasiga banan orsakade även totalt 4st punkteringar för Nils. Mikaela straffades även hon med 4 punkteringar samt med trasig framvagn på bilen i finalen.

Inför den avgörande finaltävlingen leder Nils mästerskapet med 11 poäng och Mikaela ligger fyra med endast 2 poäng upp till bronsmedaljen.

Pista Automóvel de Montalegre, som är banans verkliga namn, är ny bekantskap för värmlänningarna. En snabb och utmanade bana som ligger på ca 1000 meters höjd bjuder på snabba raksträckor och knixiga gruspartier, något som värmlänningarna tror ska passa bra.

”Även om jag har en bra ledning inför finalen så är det många poäng kvar att köra om och det går inte att köra på säkerhet om man vill vinna mästerskapet. Senast i Belgien tappade jag nio värdefulla poäng, så inget är klart förrän efter finalen. Jag har tagit hjälp av min fysioterapeut med mina trilskande axlar, så de ska förhoppningsvis inte störa mig mer. Nu ser jag bara fram mot helgen och att få göra upp om de sista poängen i mästerskapet”, säger en förväntansfull Nils som redan är på plats i Portugal och förbereder sig för tävlingen.

Mikaela som slutade trea förra året har endast 2 poäng upp till bronsmedaljen och 10 poäng till silvret.
”Det ska bli riktigt kul att komma till Portugal och få tävla på ännu en klassisk Rallycrossbana. Snabba banor brukar passa mig bra, och här finns allt som behövs för en spännande avslutning på årets mästerskap. Jag åker till Montalegre med ambitionen att återta en pallplats i EM ” kommenterar den värmländska motorstjärnan.

Inför finaltävlingen i mästerskapet ligger de båda värmlänningarna etta och fyra i mästerskapet,

Mästerskapstabellen:
1. Nils Andersson (SWE) 88p
2. Isac Sjöqvist (SWE) 77p
3. Marko Muru (EST) 69p
4. Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky (SWE) 67p

24-09-02 Hansen World RX Team on the hunt for more podiums in Portugal
Returning to Montalegre this week for the penultimate double-header of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship (7-8 September), the most historic outfit in rallycross will be looking to secure a strong performance at the Portuguese venue.

A steadfast feature in the World RX calendar, the long straight of Montalegre could prove an advantage for the Hansen squad’s electric Peugeot 208 beasts. The last time the team, part of the wider Hansen Motorsport organisation, visited the circuit Kevin Hansen kickstarted his 2023 campaign with second place.

Both Kevin and team-mate Timmy Hansen enter the fray in Portugal this weekend fresh off the back of podium success in Belgium. The Swedish outfit produced a tactical masterclass in the Round 5 Final in Mettet, where a full team effort saw Kevin keep the chasing pack at bay while Timmy pulled ahead to take his first World RX win since the 2022 World RX of Catalunya.

Timmy’s fourteenth World RX victory has promoted the Swede to fourth in the 2024 championship standings, just five points adrift of OC Veiby in second and only one point behind Kevin, with four rounds remaining.

Back-to-back podiums in Rounds 5 and 6 puts Kevin in a strong position heading into the penultimate event of 2024. Third in Mettet on the Saturday was followed by second place on Sunday, and the 26-year-old will be looking to ride that momentum into the upcoming rounds in Portugal.

The Hansen team will be on the hunt for more podiums in this weekend’s action. Keep up to date with the racing on Rally.TV, via the World RX website, and on the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "It’s time for Rounds 7 and 8 and we’re really looking forward to going back to Portugal. The track at Montalegre is a very nice one with a long straight but also a gravel section where it feels fantastic to be sideways and trying to overtake.

"We have worked a little on the car so hopefully that can help take us forward. Of course, what we are targeting is both drivers in the top three, and we feel that is possible. It is so close between second, third, and fourth in the standings, so let’s see if we have a good weekend."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "I think finally we can say we have reached a track where we might have a little bit of an advantage. That long straight should suit our electric cars, and it’s going to be great to look at that from the start line knowing that we have more power. Hopefully we can nail our starts and be first heading into the first corner.

"I’m really looking forward to being back in Portugal. We have a lot of Hansen fans there thanks to our dad's success in the past, so I can’t wait to be back sending it round the big curbs and gravel section and hopefully getting my first win of the season!"

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "The results in Belgium were just what the team needed and we’re going to be riding that momentum into these next rounds in Portugal. The track at Montalegre is one that both Kevin and I enjoy, and our family have had some success here before, so we’ll be channelling that and everything we have learned so far this season into this weekend’s races.

"The testing that we did after Hungary really paid off and the car is feeling so much better. Thanks to that and some amazing teamwork we are still in the fight and the team are feeling great. We will keep giving it everything we’ve got and if we keep playing the game right maybe we can steal some more wins."

24-09-01 Johan levererade i Frankrike
Johan Kristoffersson drog mycket uppmärksamhet till sig såväl på banan som i depån när rallycrossfesten i franska Lohéac avgjordes. Och visst levererade världsmästaren en triumf!
- En fantastisk helg och en fantastisk tävling. Hatten av för fransk rallycross, säger Johan efter sin fjärde seger i Lohéac.

Kristoffersson blev specialinbjuden av arrangören i det franska rallycrossmästerskapet och betalade tillbaka genom att bjuda på högklassig uppvisning i världsmästarklass. Johan toppade totalt efter de fyra kvalomgångarna och i semifinalen vann han i utklassningsstil med sin VW Polo KMS 601 RX.

Men det var sannerligen ingen enkel eriksgata fram till högsta steget på prispallen. Starterna satt inte riktigt som de skulle och Kristoffersson fick köra sig till framgång i det regniga vädret.
- Det har varit svåra förutsättningar. Vi har fått testa en massa olika saker med de här däcken och vår bil som fortfarande är ganska ny för oss, säger Johan och skickar en tacksamhetens tanke till personalen i KMS - HORSE Powertrain.

Även i finalen blev det en hård kamp sida mot sida. Johan tog sig från tredje plats förbi likaledes gästande finländaren Juha Rytkönen och till slut upp i topp genom att passera fransmannen David Vincent.
- Det är superhög nivå här med många tuffa konkurrenter, menar Johan.

Precis som vanligt var det folkfest runt banan i Bretagne, trots regnet. Intresset för rallycross är enormt i Frankrike.
- Det här vädret och ändå så mycket folk! Det är en fantastisk organisation här och jag ser fram emot att komma tillbaka hit. Vi bjöd på en fin show för alla som var här och även för de som tittade på hemifrån.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson var lyrisk över den franska motorfesten.
- Extremt proffsigt arrangemang och en riktig boost för ett gammalt rallycrosshjärta. Vi får se och lära för att föra över de här godbitarna på VM-serien. Det tror jag är framtiden och absolut genomförbart.

Efter det tillfälliga inhoppet i den franska rallycrosserien är det nu tillbaka till VM för Kristoffersson och KMS - HORSE Powertrain. Redan kommande helg är det dags igen i Portugal, där Johan ska försöka försvara sin VM-ledning under den fjärde helgen i årets mästerskap.

24-08-27 Johan jagar ny seger i Lohéac
Det är rallycross-vecka för Johan Kristoffersson, men inte i VM, utan i franska Lohéac dit han har blivit särskilt inbjuden. Ett kärt ömsesidigt återseende får man förmoda.
- Jag har många roliga minnen därifrån, säger den trefaldige vinnaren på banan i Bretagne.

Sexfaldige världsmästaren från Arvika får finna sig i att vara favorit i sin Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, men han utmanas av flera kända namn. Det främsta hotet bör komma från VM-kollegan Niclas Grönholm, som lämnar sin elbil hemma och här startar i en Hyundai i20 WRX. Ännu en finländare med VM-erfarenhet är Juha Rytkönen som gjorde framgångsrika inhopp för några år sedan. I övrigt är det många fransmän i det 28 bilar starka supercar-fältet, däribland Anthony Pelfrène som också finns med i VM-serien.

En folkfest är att vänta, som vanligt på den legendariska banan i västra Frankrike.
- Det kommer att bli mycket folk, brukar vara väldigt bra drag där, säger Johan, som kan välja och vraka bland minnesvärda händelser i rallycrossmetropolen.
- Svårt att utse det allra bästa minnet, men det får nog ändå bli finalen 2018.

Då tog Kristoffersson sin sjunde raka seger i VM-serien under den makalösa rekordsäsongen där han vann elva av tolv tävlingar. Triumfen kom efter en perfekt laginsats och vältajmad jokerstrategi. Något liknande kan behövas för att bärga den fjärde segern i Frankrike.

Tävlingsupplägget liknar det som gällde tidigare i VM. En träning på fredag kväll, två träningar på lördag förmiddag och därefter två kvalomgångar. På söndag följer Q3 och Q4 innan det är dags för semifinal och final.
- Skillnaden här är att det är 16 bilar som går vidare från grundomgången och åtta stycken till final, där det blir samma startuppställning som i crosscar, 3-2-3, berättar Johan, som förstås har gjort hemläxan med många filmer från Lohéac.
- Det blev en sen kväll igår. Inte bara för att det är lärorikt utan också för att det finns så många roliga minnen att välja bland. Det var svårt att sluta…

Teamchefen i KMS - HORSE Powertrain tycker det känns fint att teamet finns representerat på stortävlingen i Frankrike.
- Vi känner oss hedrade att få en inbjudan till Lohéac, en av världens bästa rallycrossbanor, i ett av världens största rallycrossländer, säger Tommy Kristoffersson.

24-08-20 Silverware for Sjökvist as RX2e approaches exciting showdown
Isak Sjökvist took his second podium of 2024 in spectacular fashion at the penultimate round of the season in Mettet, Belgium, as the FIA RX2e Championship title battle approaches a nail-biting conclusion.

The third round of RX2e got underway at the weekend (17-18 August) with the #YellowSquad crew entering the event off the back of a solid second place in Nyirád, Hungary, at the end of July.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, Sjökvist continues to improve. Taking the win in Mettet this time around, having struggled at the track in difficult conditions just last season, shines a light on the development of the Hansen Motorsport junior driver.

Determined to not let the momentum gained from Hungary go to waste, Sjökvist took two race wins out of the four Qualifying Heats in Belgium.

For the first, in Heat 2, Sjökvist was leading the race until contact from behind sent him into a spin. The #YellowSquad star recovered to cross the line in second, but was then promoted to the top spot following a penalty for his opponent in the aforementioned incident. Sjökvist carried his dominant pace into his next race, and the Swede took a comfortable win which would secure him second in the Qualifying rankings.

Lining up on the front row for the main event, it was crucial that Sjökvist replicated the quick race starts he achieved in the Heats. Launching to the front of the pack, Sjökvist looked in a strong position through the opening laps. A freshly watered track proved challenging for the whole field, but putting into practice all he has learned, Sjökvist managed to cross the line in second place.

More silverware for Sjökvist in the third event of the season puts him second in the RX2e championship standings, 11 points adrift of the top spot, and in an assertive position heading into the last event of the campaign.

The RX2e finale will take place as part of the FIA World Rallycross Championship event in Montalegre, Portugal, on 7-8 September.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “It feels great to have such a strong comeback from last year where we struggled with this track. I had a great launch in the Final and I think that moment alone highlighted our potential throughout the weekend. It was a bit of a rollercoaster with some pushing and crashing, but I tried to manage those situations as best as I could. It was a completely different track in the Final due to the watering, but I gave it everything I could.”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “I think we had a good event. Isak was on it from the beginning, which was impressive when he wasn’t too comfortable here last time. He has clearly learnt a lot and was often the fastest on track. Even though he got pushed and had some trouble in the Heats he managed to qualify on the front row. We’re happy with second and scored a lot of points to close the gap to the top of the standings, so overall it was a very good weekend.”

24-08-18 CE Dealer Team keeps title fight alive despite challenging FIA World RX round in Belgium
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment fought hard in the third round of the FIA World RX season in Belgium, salvaging crucial points to keep in the fight for the 2024 world titles.

“We prepared well and gave it our best, but ended up with almost nothing in return. Niclas faced some issues with his car on Saturday. Once it was resolved, he showed his pace with two heat wins and a semi-final win today,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

“Klara also demonstrated good speed and made it through to the final, marking the first time both cars reached the final this season. We need to move on and come back stronger next time. Portugal is a track that suits us and the drivers, and we’ll aim to bounce back - continuing our quest to showcase sustainable, inclusive and thrilling motorsport.”

Niclas Grönholm made a strong comeback after a tough first day at Mettet, where the Finnish rallycross driver was hampered by technical issues. On Sunday, he fought his way to the final and challenged for the podium right up to the finish line, ultimately securing fourth place.

The 28-year-old World RX star is currently fifth in the driver standings, staying firmly in contention for the championship medals.

"I want to thank the team for fixing my car so I could race today, we worked hard together as always. I won the heats and the semi-final, earning maximum points up to that stage. I had a strong start in the final, but the first turn was chaotic, and I got hit. It's frustrating because we know we had the speed this weekend to achieve a better result, but that's rallycross for you. We just need to keep working hard and come back stronger in Portugal, we all know we have the package to keep in the world title fight and that’s what we are here for," said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson also faced a challenging weekend in Mettet, battling multiple punctures. Despite the setbacks, the Swedish rallycross ace reached the final on both days in her 100% electric PWR RX1e, finishing fifth and sixth.

In the championship standings, she is right behind her team-mate Niclas Grönholm in sixth place.

"We got both cars to the final, which is a positive. Unfortunately, I took a big hit, and that ruined the final for me today. But even though it wasn't our best weekend, I'm really happy and grateful for the support from all our partners and fans who were here, supporting us through the good and the bad. I'm looking forward to Portugal and returning to a track where we have great memories," said Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team had more 100 guests on site in Belgium from hosting dealer SMT, as well as from team partners Parker and Engcon - featuring on a large activation site at the Mettet circuit.

Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and showcased its product range and innovative services throughout the Belgian round - keeping the Mettet circuit in perfect condition.

Currently holding third in the standings, CE Dealer Team will continue its all-electric journey for the next round in Portugal in three weeks.

Full results and standings after the FIA World RX of Benelux weekend.

24-08-18 Kevin Hansen secures back-to-back podiums in strong comeback for Hansen World RX Team
Hansen made it two podiums in as many races today (18 August) with second place in Round 6 of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship. The podium marked his second of the weekend, after third in the first instalment of the Belgian double-header, and rounded out a successful event for the Hansen World RX Team in Mettet.

The Hansen team entered the sixth round of this year’s World RX campaign off the back of a double podium triumph in Saturday’s action. 2019 World RX Champion Timmy Hansen returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory, working together with Kevin to secure the Swedish squad’s first silverware of the season.

Now just over the halfway point of the season, the three podiums in Mettet has launched the Hansen drivers and team up the championship standings. Kevin now sits third in the standings on 109 points - just four points adrift of the runner-up spot - with Timmy one point behind in fourth, as the Hansen World RX Team strengthens its second place spot on the championship leaderboard.

Picking up where they left off, both Timmy and Kevin had a strong start in the opening Qualifying session of the day. Taking a wide line into the first corner, Kevin charged into the lead of the race as Timmy took third behind KMS’ Johan Kristoffersson. An early joker for Timmy proved the right decision come the closing stages of the race, as he jumped into second place ahead of Kevin in third.

The Peugeot 208 RX1e cars of the Hansen team lined up on the inside of the KMS cars for Heat 2, and Kevin muscled his way to the front of the pack once more. It was déjà vu for Timmy as well, finding himself in third and opting for another early joker strategy. This time it would not pay off, as the #21 Hansen driver found himself stuck behind KMS’ OC Veiby, eventually crossing the line third behind Kevin in second.

In Semi-Final 1, another good launch from Timmy allowed him to leap into second place but, struggling on the dry tyres, the Swede would eventually end up stuck behind Veiby once again to finish in third and sneak through to the Final.

Following a quick tyre change on the pre-grid, Kevin got his elbows out for the start of the next Semi-Final to claim third on track, before inheriting a place when Andersson took her joker lap. Extending his advantage just enough in the remaining laps, Kevin retained second to take a spot on the second row in the Final.

Both drivers did well to make it through the opening corners in a chaotic start to the Round 6 Final, with Kevin claiming second and Timmy recovering from contact at the back of the field.

With a smoking rear tyre Kevin pushed his #71 car to the limit to extend his advantage over the chasing pack and, as he exited the joker, slotted into third behind Timmy. In pursuit of another double podium for the team, an impressive defensive display from Kevin bought Timmy some time for his joker, but in the end it was only enough to help his brother into fifth place.

The Hansen World RX Team will be on the hunt for more podiums and points at the next rounds of World RX as the championship heads to Montalegre, Portugal, for its penultimate double-header of the 2024 season (7-8 September).
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “We had both cars in the Final once again, with Kevin starting in third and Timmy in sixth. It is a very challenging first corner and Kevin got some damage there, but he managed to hold onto second in the end and Timmy was in the mix.

“Overall we have had a very good weekend. We have found some more speed and we feel that we are more involved in the game now. We need to play the game as best as we can, but we’ve seen now that if we do play our cards right it is possible to get a win.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “I think we did well to get onto the second row of the Final today as we felt a little on the backfoot compared to yesterday. I had some contact from behind in the opening corner and thought that might be the end of the weekend for me, but I managed to land on four wheels and get back on the throttle. Then it was just a case of managing the rear tyre against overheating, but we pushed when it mattered, and it feels great to come away with two podiums from the weekend.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “Yesterday we played the team game and came away with a double podium that included a win, and today we managed to get back on the podium with Kevin in second, so the team are feeling good after a positive weekend here in Belgium. Overall, we have made a huge improvement, but the car is very different now and working a lot better so we are right up there with the CE Dealer Team’s electric cars. That is where are fight is for now because the KMS cars have that weight advantage, but if we can play the game right maybe we can steal some more wins.”

24-08-18 Kristoffersson races clear of rivals with Mettet masterclass
Super Swede dominates latest instalment in ‘Battle of Technologies’

Johan Kristoffersson produced a peerless performance to secure a 44th career triumph in the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Mettet in Belgium today (18 August), as the multiple world champion sped further clear of his adversaries in the inaugural ‘Battle of Technologies’.

Following Saturday’s disappointment – when a late puncture denied him a podium finish around the Circuit Jules Tacheny – Kristoffersson entered the second day of World RX of Benelux eager to bounce back. Behind the wheel of his sustainably-fuelled, combustion-engined Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, he did so in style.

Having prevailed in both of his heat races – despite not exiting Turn One in front on either occasion – the KMS - HORSE Powertrain star duly lined up on pole position for the opening semi-final, which he controlled from lights-to-flag.

The Swede subsequently produced a repeat display in the final, fending off a fast-starting Niclas Grönholm into the first corner and thereafter never looking back as he crossed the finish line almost five seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. His fourth win from six rounds in 2024 increases his advantage at the summit of the Drivers’ standings to 39 points.

“I must say a big ‘thank you’ to the team,” Kristoffersson reflected. “They gave us a great car and we were consistently quick, and today, we managed to pull everything together. I’m very happy, and it was nice to have OC [Veiby – team-mate] on the podium as well collecting more important points towards the championship. That said, our competitors are doing a good job too and the times got increasingly tight, so we have to keep pushing.”

If Kristoffersson’s path to the highest step of the podium was relatively untroubled, the fight behind the championship leader was fierce. Kevin Hansen emerged on top of that particular tussle to reach the rostrum for the second time this weekend, despite finding the rear of his electric Peugeot 208 RX1e lifted up into the air in Turn One by Veiby’s VW, which had itself been briefly airborne shortly after the start.

The battle-scarred Hansen narrowly pipped Veiby to the runner-up spoils, the Swede responding to the Norwegian’s lap two joker by following suit next time around and chopping across the nose of his rival on the blast towards the first corner to cement second place.

Veiby wound up barely half-a-second further back in third – posting the race’s fastest lap, as he had done 24 hours earlier – with Grönholm and Saturday winner Timmy Hansen similarly in hot pursuit, the quartet blanketed by less than three-quarters-of-a-second at the chequered flag in a breathless finish.

Klara Andersson completed the finalists in sixth in the second CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment entry, while the support series saw victories for home hero Kobe Pauwels in RX2e – on the Belgian’s rallycross return – championship leader Patrick O’Donovan in Euro RX1 and João Ribeiro in Euro RX3.

World RX’s ‘Battle of Technologies’ will continue at Montalegre in Portugal on 7-8 September.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX

1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON?(SWE)?KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE)?5 laps
2. Kevin HANSEN?(SWE)?Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 4.712s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY?(NOR)?KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE)?+ 4.969s
4. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN)?CE Dealer Team (EV)?+ 5.266s
5. Timmy HANSEN?(SWE)?Hansen World RX Team (EV)?+ 5.451s
6. Klara ANDERSSON?(SWE)?CE Dealer Team (EV)?+ 10.121s

Full results for all categories can be found at: www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-08-18 Fjärde VM-segern för Johan
Johan Kristoffersson tog sin fjärde seger på sex tävlingar när VM-helgen i Mettet, Belgien avslutades.
- Vi maximerade allt vi kunde, säger Johan efter fullpoängaren.

Kristoffersson fick sällskap på prispallen av teamkompisen i KMS - HORSE Powertrain, Ole Christian Veiby på tredje plats.

Efter lördagens struliga final, där Johan slutade femma var förstås rallycrossgiganten från Arvika sugen på att åter placera skåpet där det ska stå. Och som han gjorde det!

Två heatsegrar i kvalet, en övertygande semifinal och sedan ledning från start till mål i finalen. Ohotad och maximala 30 poäng in på kontot.
- Det är lite svårare att lyckas med när man inte tar starterna utan får fightas bakifrån, påpekar Johan som var snabbast ute på banan och därmed kunde arbeta sig uppåt under heaten.

Totalt plockade Kristoffersson därmed 52 poäng under helgen, flest av alla och han utökade följaktligen sin ledning i VM-tabellen. Johan har nu 153 poäng, mot 114 för tvåan Veiby och 110 för trean Kevin Hansen.

Bakom den överlägsne regerande världsmästaren var det en tuff uppgörelse om övriga pallplatser. Ole Christian Veiby startade från bakersta ledet och fick sig en rejäl smäll i första kurvan, men kom ner på hjulen och kunde starta jakten.
- En race incident, men jag hade inte något hjul i backen där ett tag, säger Veiby.

Med hjälp av finalens snabbaste varv tog han sig sedan ända upp till tredje plats, efter Kevin Hansen, men före Niclas Grönholm.
- Svårt från det utgångsläget, men eftersom jag har riktigt bra fart så kan jag avancera. Andraplatsen var väldigt nära.

Det var Veibys femte pallplats på raken, en imponerande stabilitet.

Fortfarande saknas dock fullträffen på översta steget av prispallen för norrmannen.

I teammästerskapet ökade KMS - HORSE Powertrain sin ledning, med en totalpoäng på 267 mot 219 för Team Hansen på andra plats.
- En bra dag på jobbet. Det blev riktigt bra det här. Inte minst viktigt att vi befäster vår ledning i mästerskapet inför Portugal. Det här ger oss en trygghet när vi åker ner dit, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Efter tre tävlingshelger med bra utdelning för teamet väntar härnäst säsongens svåraste utmaning när nästa deltävling körs i Montalegre, Portugal. På hög höjd förväntas elbilarna få ett övertag mot ICE-bilarna.
- Det kommer att bli tufft, men vi ger inte upp utan ska göra vårt bästa för att hålla ifrån, säger Johan Kristoffersson.

24-08-18 Stökig helg för ledarduon som slutade 5a och 6a i Belgien
Det blev en tuff helg för ledarduon i Rallycross EM när tredje deltävlingen avgjordes i Belgiska Mettet, 9 mil söder om Bryssel. En sönderkörd bana där det mer gick ut på att undvika punkteringar än att köra så fort som möjligt innebar att de båda värmländska Rallycrossförarna Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky öppnade försiktigt första dagen. Under söndagens kvalheat ökades tempot, men i tredje kvalet slog Nils upp en gammal axelskada då båda axlarna hoppade ur led redan på andra varvet. Efter det blev det tre plågsamma varv innan han trots det kunde köra i mål som tvåa i heatet. I det tredje heatet blev det ännu en punktering, den 4:e för helgen, samtidigt som axeln hoppade ur led igen på första varvet. I finalen startade de båda teamkompisarna 4:a respektive 5:a, men båda bilarna skadades i första sväng och de båda Team E förarna slutade 5:a och 6:a i finalen.
”Jag är nöjd med att fortsatt vara i ledning i mästerskapet inför finalen om 3 veckor. Nu ska jag hem och läka axlarna lite innan det är dags att ladda om för den avgörande finalen i Portugal”, säger Nils Andersson

Mikaela kommenterar helgen:
”Denna helg ville det sig inte riktigt. Jag hittade farten på banan, men punkteringar förstörde mina möjligheter att kvala till en bra startposition. I finalen blev det en tuff första sväng där min framvagn blev trasig och bilen omöjlig att köra”, säger Mikaela som haltade i mål på en 6:e plats.

I mästerskapstabellen ligger Nils fortfarande på 1:a plats, medans Mikaela ligger 4:e med endast 2 poäng upp till pallplatsen.

Inför finaltävlingen i mästerskapet ligger de båda värmlänningarna etta och fyra i mästerskapet, Mästerskapstabellen:
1. Nils Andersson (SWE) 88p
2. Isac Sjöqvist (SWE) 77p
3. Marko Muru (EST) 69p
4.Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky (SWE) 67p

24-08-17 Timmy Hansen returns to the top step in double podium triumph for Hansen World RX Team
2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen returned to winning ways today (17 August) with an emphatic victory in Round 5 of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship. Working together with team-mate Kevin Hansen, who finished the race in third place, the brothers secured the Swedish squad’s first silverware of the season.

The multiple World Championship-winning team entered the fifth round of this year’s campaign off the back of difficult double-headers in Sweden and Hungary. Despite both cars taking race wins and entering all four Finals of the season so far, the Hansen team failed to convert its pace into podiums.

The start of the World RX of Benelux 1 did not reflect the result, as both Timmy and Kevin suffered damage in Heat 1 of Qualifying, hitting a deep rut at Turn 2. While Timmy was able to bring the Peugeot 208 RX1e home in second, Kevin was forced to retire from the race. Heat 2 marked a change in fortunes for Kevin, who crossed the line in first place to complete a 1-2 for the Hansen World RX Team.

Combined with his result from the opening session, Kevin found himself on the second row for his Semi-Final race, lining up against both KMS drivers and CE Dealer Team’s Klara Andersson. Riding the momentum of his Heat 2 win, Kevin launched into second place and carried that pace through the opening section to take the lead from Andersson.

An early joker from Kevin saw him stay ahead, and a great defensive display followed as the Swede fended off Johan Kristoffersson all the way to the finish line. A confident win in the other Semi-Final race for Timmy put him on pole for the Final and completed a front row lockout for the Hansen team.

In the main event, Timmy led from start to finish, taking the checkered flag and his fourteenth career victory – his first since the 2022 World RX of Catalunya and his first ever win in Mettet.

The Hansen Motorsport outfit was fully focussed on securing a strong points haul, and Kevin’s race management reflected that team spirit. A sensible start saw him slot into second, where he supported Timmy’s push to extend his advantage over a charging Kristoffersson.

Showing impressive pace himself, Kevin was able to keep the KMS drivers within reach following his joker lap, until a puncture for Kristoffersson opened the door for Kevin to take third place by 0.029 seconds in a dramatic photo finish.

The Hansen World RX Team will be looking to add to its podium tally in similar fashion tomorrow as World RX returns to action with the second part of its Belgian double-header in Mettet.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "The day did not start the way that we were hoping, with a quite a bit of damage to both cars in the rough conditions. After that we managed to get it all together, and we focussed on the right details to take the win in both Semi-Final races. We knew we had a fantastic possibility for the Final, and we needed to approach that as a team as well. For the moment, we don't have the top speed or the quickest lap times, but as we all know that doesn't always get you the win in rallycross. We managed the Final very well, and we were able to win the race. It's a great success for the team - we really, really wanted this - and it helps us going into tomorrow."

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "It has been a tricky start to the year for the team but they have been working so hard to turn it around and it feels great to be able to pay them back with a race win. Kevin did a fantastic job backing up the field in the Final to help me build enough of a lead, and I'm happy he ended the race on the podium as well. It was a huge team effort all round but now we need to focus on doing the same tomorrow."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "It was important for us as a team to not take any risks in this Final. We have been unlucky not to get on the podium sooner this year, but that makes today's result even sweeter. It felt like I had a couple of overtaking opportunities on that last lap but in the end it went right down to the wire and I managed to pip Johan [Kristoffersson] on the line. This is an amazing result for the team and well deserved after so much hard work. There is still an imbalance between us and the KMS ICE cars but we'll keep pushing. Let's see if we can get a couple more podiums tomorrow!"

24-08-17 Hansen ends winless run with brilliant Belgian victory
Former world champion thrills fans with Mettet masterclass
Arriving at Mettet, Timmy Hansen had gone almost two years without standing on the top step of the FIA World Rallycross Championship podium. Today (17 August), he put an emphatic end to his winless run with a superb 14th career victory at World RX of Benelux – as the sport’s ‘Battle of Technologies’ continues to captivate.

Hansen’s day did not get off to the most auspicious of starts when an off-track moment in heat one caused damage that slowed his Peugeot 208 RX1e, and he had to give best to younger brother Kevin Hansen in heat two – but the 2019 world champion’s trademark consistency secured him second in the intermediate ranking, earning him pole position for the second semi-final, which he duly dominated.

With Kevin Hansen artfully pipping earlier pace-setter Johan Kristoffersson to the top spot in the other semi-final following a sluggish getaway for the championship leader, the Hansen World RX Team duo proceeded to lock out the front row of the grid for the six-car final.

Exploiting their electric acceleration, the pair successfully covered Kristoffersson off at the start, and then produced a masterclass in teamwork to keep their countryman behind. As Kevin Hansen deployed his defensive skills to stave off his fellow Swede, Timmy Hansen was able to establish an advantage at the head of the field, going on to triumph by more than two seconds to cap a peerless performance.

“This feels fantastic!” the 32-year-old enthused. “We knew it wasn’t possible to win here on pure pace against KMS, but we’ve been working so hard and the car feels the best it has all year. Today’s result was 100 per cent down to an incredible team effort. We knew what we needed to do, and Kevin sacrificed his own race by backing the field up. I love my brother, and I’m so proud of this team and my family.”

Behind Hansen, a tremendous tussle raged for the runner-up spoils. Ole Christian Veiby ultimately came through to claim second place for KMS - HORSE Powertrain – the Norwegian’s 11th career podium at the highest level – despite finding himself almost at a standstill at the hairpin on the opening lap of the final following contact from behind.

A scant 0.029 seconds separated Kevin Hansen and Kristoffersson in the duel for the last spot on the podium. After backing his Volkswagen rival up to enable his brother to escape, Hansen emerged from the joker down in fourth place, but a late puncture for Kristoffersson left the championship leader vulnerable to attack, and he conceded third position right at the line – sealing a double podium finish for a team that prior to this weekend, had yet to reach the rostrum at all in 2024.

Klara Andersson wound up a distant fifth on a difficult day for CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment, with stablemate Niclas Grönholm persistently plagued by technical issues. René Münnich completed the finalists in his sustainably-fuelled ICE SEAT Ibiza, while Frenchman Anthony Pelfrene was desperately unlucky to be knocked out by an engine problem at the semi-final stage following what was by some margin his finest display in World RX to-date.

Home hero Kobe Pauwels tops the table in RX2e on his rallycross return, with Yury Belevskiy in charge in Euro RX1 as he bids to close the gap to Patrick O’Donovan in the championship standings. João Ribeiro is the overnight leader in Euro RX3.

The action continues tomorrow (Sunday, 18 August) with the remaining heats, semi-finals and finals in the support series and round six of the 2024 World RX campaign.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) 5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 2.214s
3. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 5.006s
4. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 5.035s
5. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 9.748s
6. René MÜNNICH (DEU) ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport (ICE) + 13.142s

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-08-17 Ny pallplats för Veiby
Ole Christian Veiby grejade sin tredje raka andraplats i rallycross-VM när helgens första tävling i belgiska Mettet kördes.
- Lite upp och ner under dagen, men det löste sig bra i finalen,säger KMS - HORSE Powertrain-föraren.

Det blev en punkteringstät dag på Jules Tacheny Circuit. Ole Christian Veiby hade sin beskärda del under kvalheaten medan mästerskapsledande Johan Kristoffersson fick sin första i finalen, vilket ödelade hans chanser till en pallplats.
- Lite grann mitt eget fel, medger Johan som var väl medveten om risken för punktering på den gropiga banan.

Kristoffersson var dock omutlig i kvalomgångarna och plockade - trots fjärdeplatsen i finalen - 22 fina poäng till totalen.
- Inte så illa. Jag tar de poäng jag får och utökade ändå ledningen i mästerskapet.

Ole Christian Veiby hade en tuffare väg fram till finalen, men väl där föll saker på plats på ett bra sätt och han kunde kämpa sig in på andra plats. 20 poäng till norrmannen som därmed behåller sin andraplats i mästerskapet bakom Johan.
- På pallen i fyra av fem tävlingar. Det får man vara nöjd med. Och farten var bra idag. Jag hade de två snabbaste varven i finalen, påpekar Ole Christian.

Tommy Kristoffersson, teamchef i KMS - HORSE Powertrain, var särskilt tillfreds med Veibys insats.
- Jättenöjd med Oles tredje raka andraplats och att han därmed befäster sin andraplats i mästerskapet.

Ännu bättre utdelning för teamet fanns också inom räckhåll, tycker Tommy.
- Vi var nära att komma ut tvåa med Johan i finalen. Om vi hade lyckats med det hade vi haft segern inom räckhåll, men nu blev det för svårt med två teamkompisar i ledning.

I förarmästerskapet har Johan 27 poängs försprång till teamkompisen medan dagens segrare Timmy Hansen är 29 poäng efter på tredje plats.

I teammästerskapet har KMS - HORSE Powertrain ett stabilt grepp om förstaplatsen. 38 poäng är försprånget till Team Hansen som är ny tvåa.
- En klar ledning i teammästerskapet. Det är jätteviktigt för oss, säger Tommy Kristoffersson och fortsätter:
- Nu ska vi analysera lite ikväll och lägga upp en smart strategi för morgondagen så att vi kan fortsätta plocka poäng.

24-08-15 100% electric CE Dealer Team hunts crucial points for FIA World RX title fight in Belgium
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment heads to Belgium this weekend to continue its quest for the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship titles at the iconic Mettet circuit - racing the all-electric PWR RX1e race cars against sustainably fuelled combustion-engine cars.

Finnish ace Niclas Grönholm heads to Belgium fresh off securing CE Dealer Team's first win of the season in Hungary.

The now eight-time World RX winner enters the weekend at Mettet – which returns to the calendar for the first time since 2019 – in third place of the drivers' standings.

“It is great to return to Mettet after a long time and showcase electric and sustainable motorsport to our Belgian fans and partners. I believe our car is well-suited to this track. Now it is all about having a strong weekend overall. We need solid results on both days to stay in the fight for the championship,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Leading the first-ever gender-equal driver line-up in FIA World RX history, Sweden's Klara Andersson shares third place in the driver standings with her team-mate Niclas Grönholm following two podium finishes with her 100% electric PWR RX1e.

“Sharing third place in the standings with Niclas is fantastic. We are determined to fight for the title as a team. This year, we have been able to leverage each other's strengths to develop both the cars and ourselves. I believe we are the strongest team in the championship, with the most potential of all," said Klara Andersson.

“I am incredibly excited to head to Belgium. It is my first time on this track. It will be challenging, but I am looking forward to it. This weekend is all about delivering and gathering points, but it is going to be tough as always.”

CE Dealer Team is off to its best-ever start in a FIA World RX season, solidly in the run for both the teams’ and drivers’ world championships.

“Another track returns to the FIA World RX calendar after a few years. It is technical, with rough curbs and a tricky first corner. It will definitely be interesting,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

“We are looking to build on our experiences from the last two race weekends and elevate our overall performance. Both drivers have shown good speed, but we need more consistency to achieve better results as a team. That's our number one goal for Belgium.”

CE Dealer Team will have more than 100 guests on site in Belgium from hosting dealer SMT, as well as from team partners Parker and Engcon - featuring on a large activation site at the Mettet circuit.

Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Mettet to showcase its product range and innovative services - as well as keeping the circuit in top condition.

The World RX of Benelux weekend starts on Saturday with round five of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by round six on Sunday.

The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.

The full World RX of Benelux schedule is available here.

24-08-14 Viktig helg i VM-kampen
I och med tävlingarna i Mettet, Belgien, passerar VM-säsongen i rallycross mittlinjen.
- En extremt viktig helg för att befästa vår position i toppen och på så vis ge oss bra förutsättningar för att ta hem båda mästerskapen, säger Tommy Kristoffersson, teamchef i KMS - HORSE Powertrain.

Det Arvika-baserade teamet har haft bra utdelning under de två första tävlingshelgerna i svenska Höljes och ungerska Nyirád. Johan Kristoffersson har bärgat tre segrar medan stallkamraten Ole Christian Veiby också har varit en flitig besökare på prispallen.
- Tre av fyra på pallen så här långt. Det är väl inte så illa, men nu gäller det att ladda på för en ny helg och plocka fler poäng, säger Veiby, den nyblivne pappan som efter Ungern har fått ett par välbehövliga semesterveckor på hemmaplan med nyfödda dottern och resten av familjen.

Men nu är det dags att ge sig in i hetluften igen, något det fanns gott om i Ungern, både bildligt och bokstavligt. Det var tuffa närkamper och fullt upp för domarna under en sommarsvettig helg i Nyirád. Temperaturmässigt verkar det bli något svalare i Mettet. Återstår att se om förarnas känslor kommer att svalla lika heta som senast.
- Det gäller att hålla sig undan de värsta närkamperna i starten. Första svängen ser lite likadan ut den här gången. Vi måste tänka på mästerskapet också, resonerar Veiby som kapade åt sig två andraplatser i Ungern.

För Johan Kristoffersson blev det en femteplats under den dramatiska lördagen innan VM-ledaren körde till sig segern på söndagen. Bra utdelning, men inte en felfri helg.
- Det var några saker jag inte var nöjd med där. Jag gav mig in i situationer där jag blev sårbar och utsatt. Det duger inte. Jag måste agera smartare och vara knivskarp.

Perfektion är alltid målet för den sexfaldige världsmästaren, som toppar förarmästerskapet på 101 poäng före stallkamraten Veiby på 76. Niclas Grönholm och Klara Andersson jagar KMS - HORSE Powertrain-duon med 67 poäng vardera.

Skådeplatsen för den femte och sjätte deltävlingen av tio i årets mästerskap är Jules Tacheny Circuit i Vallonien, några mil söder om Bryssel. Kristoffersson vann där förra året, då i en RX2e-bil, eftersom World RX hade pausats till följd av branden på Lydden Hill. Nu får Kristoffersson släppa loss sin potenta VW Polo KMS 601 RX.

Hur passar banan för bilar med förbränningsmotorer kontra elmotorer?
- Jag tror den är okej för oss, inte lika bra som den i Ungern, men bättre än Portugal som väntar nästa gång. Här är det två långa accelerationer, men också tekniska delar. Det gäller att hela teamet gör ett bra jobb och att vi inte får något tekniskt strul.

Teamchefen Kristoffersson menar att teamet har gjort förberedelser och förbättringar som ska ge de bästa förutsättningarna för en framgångsrik helg.
- Vi har bra information om banan, har lärt oss mer om bilarna och har en stor och stark stab med hög kompetens. Det ger oss trygghet. Farten har vi - där är jag inte orolig - men det handlar som alltid om små marginaler. Det gäller att vi gör allt rätt, säger Tommy, som har sitt team i ledning även i teammästerskapet med 177 poäng, 33 poäng före tvåan CE Dealerteam.

24-08-14 ‘Battle of Technologies’ Belgium-bound for Mettet double-header
Captivating contest awaits between electric and sustainably-fuelled ICE beasts
The FIA World Rallycross Championship’s thrilling new ‘Battle of Technologies’ is Belgium-bound this weekend (17-18 August) for World RX of Benelux, with another dramatic double-header in prospect around Mettet’s historic Circuit Jules Tacheny.

Mettet formed part of the inaugural World RX schedule back in 2014, and ten years on, it will play host to rounds five and six of the 2024 campaign in international rallycross’ top-flight.

Johan Kristoffersson will travel to Belgium at the summit of the standings, as he ramps up his quest for an extraordinary seventh career crown at the highest level. Behind the wheel of his sustainably-fuelled Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, the Swede has won three times out of four this season – with just a contentious first corner collision with Kevin Hansen last time out in Hungary denying him a clean sweep.

Moreover, Kristoffersson is the only driver in the current World RX pack to have previously triumphed at Mettet – on the way to the first of his world championship titles back in 2017.

His KMS - HORSE Powertrain team-mate Ole Christian Veiby arrives sitting second in the overall classification, 25 points in arrears and eager to make up ground. The Norwegian reached the rostrum at Mettet in the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2015, and he holds the record for the most podium finishes in World RX without a victory – a tag he will be aiming to shake off this weekend.

Tied for third in the title table are CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson. The Finn profited from Kristoffersson’s misfortune to prevail in Hungary – claiming the first win for electric power in 2024 in his PWR RX1e – with his Swedish stablemate coming within a whisker of triumphing for the first time in the Höljes curtain-raiser, before adding another rostrum result to her increasingly impressive CV at Nyirád.

Hansen World RX Team siblings Timmy and Kevin Hansen are similarly closely-matched in fifth and sixth positions. 2019 world champion Timmy is a three-time podium-finisher at Mettet in World RX, while younger brother Kevin dramatically barrel-rolled out of contention there in 2017. The pair are still searching for the squad’s first top three finish of the season, which they hope to achieve this weekend.

The field is completed by experienced campaigner René Münnich (ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport) and Frenchman Anthony Pelfrene in his brightly-livered JDM Raptor Racing Peugeot 208, both piloting combustion-powered cars.

In addition to the unmissable world championship action, World RX of Benelux will stage the penultimate instalment in the 2024 RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 campaigns, with repeat winners in each category to-date in the shape of Nils Andersson, Patrick O’Donovan and Nils Volland. Former Euro RX3 champion Kobe Pauwels is a last-minute ‘wild card’ entry in RX2e, as the talented Belgian teenager returns to rallycross for the first time in almost two years at his home track.

All of the non-stop thrills will be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.

For more information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry lists for all four categories, see here. Tickets can be purchased either in advance here or on the gate.

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: fiaworldrallycross.com

24-08-14 Larsson, Ohman and Svedlund claim stunning victories with JC Raceteknik at legendary Estering
Swedish team JC Raceteknik claimed a trio of victories in the ninth and penultimate round of the RallyX series at Estering in Northern Germany, as Robin Larsson, Mats Ohman and Carl Svedlund reached the top step of the podium.

It was an 11th-hour call-up for double European Rallycross Champion and two-time Nitrocross champion Larsson, following an injury for JC Supercar racer Stefan Kristensson. Arranged just 36 hours before the event got underway, Larsson was immediately on the pace, driving the very same Audi S1 quattro with which he won the Euro RX and RallyX Nordic titles in 2019 to take a clean sweep through qualifying, the semi-final and then the final, despite stiff competition and a super-close finish, to claim a fantastic victory in style.

Round ten on Sunday didn’t go quiet as well, despite again setting the pace, as Larsson suffered a broken wheel in the heats, then tried an around-the-outside move in the first corner of the final that didn’t pay off. He finished fifth – including setting the fastest lap.

In the Open 4WD Pro Am category, fan-favourite Mats Ohman claimed a stunning victory with his hand-control operated Audi S1 Supercar in round nine. Having set the best time in Q2, Ohman used good pace and a strong joker strategy to beat two of the rising stars of the championship in the final and cross the finish line first. Fifth place in the final on Sunday secured Ohman third in the standings.

One of JC’s rising stars, Carl Svedlund, delivered a stunning performance throughout the final double-header of the Junior CrossCar season, setting the pace through the opening day to top qualifying, win the first semi-final and the final from the front to claim a maiden RallyX victory and take maximum points. Svedlund continued to set the pace on Sunday, and ultimately finished the final third to climb to fourth in the overall standings. Team mate Arvid Carlsson was fifth on Saturday and 16th on Sunday to finish ninth in the standings.

In Supercar Lites, Lukas Andersson entered the season-finale in the championship hunt, but getting stuck in not-ideal grid positions, traffic through the qualifying races and contact with other drivers made it a difficult weekend for the 16-year-old. Entering the very last semi-finals and final of the season on Sunday afternoon, Andersson still had a shot of the championship crown, but by not making the final, he would ultimately finish second. In his second Supercar Lites weekend with the team, Viktor Kristensson finished 11th and then fifth to conclude a strong end to the year.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Wins are always the target, but the three wins we had on Saturday were all special. It’s over a year since Robin raced a Supercar with us but he was stunning on Saturday and delivered a great result for himself and the team ahead of his Nitrocross season getting underway in Richmond, USA in a few weeks. It’s not often everyone in the paddock is pleased for a single person to win, but that was the case with Mats and it is never not a special experience for us to work and achieve with him. And for Carl, he was brilliant this weekend, and very much deserved his first victory. Not only that, but he followed up on Sunday with another strong performance. Lukas had a difficult couple of weekends in Nysum and Estering, he is so fast and has a lot of talent, but needs some more experience and weekends like these do very much help you to become a complete driver. He learned a lot this season and that will only help him for the future.”

24-08-14 Nils och Mikaela till Belgien i mästerskapsledning
När Rallycross EM drar vidare till årets tredje deltävling i Belgiska Mettet, 9 mil söder om Bryssel, så gör Värmländska Team E, med Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky, det som etta och tvåa i mästerskapstabellen.

Senast Rallycross EM besökte Mettet förra året placerade sig Mikaela i topp bland EM åkarna medan Nils haltade i mål i finalen med en trasig bil efter hårda sammanstötningar i första sväng.

Så här långt har det mesta gått Nils väg i årets Rallycross serie. Med två tävlingar körda har han inte blivit besegrad i ett enda kvalheat. Förra året kantades den belgiska deltävlingen av en hel del påkörningar med trasig hjulupphängning och punkteringar som resultat.
”Jag ser verkligen fram mot att komma tillbaka till Mettet. Förra året hade jag ett toppresultat inom räckhåll, men hjulupphängningen gav upp efter några varv så jag fick inrikta mig på att ta mig i mål. I år siktar jag på att ta så mycket poäng som möjligt. Första hälften av årets EM-serie har verkligen funkat perfekt, men med årets poängberäkningssystem kan det fort ändra sig så inget är klart förrän finalen körs i Portugal i september”, säger Nils Andersson.

Mikaela åker till Belgien med en bra känsla från förra årets framgångar på banan, samtidigt som senaste tävlingen i Ungern kanske var hennes bästa körning hittills i Rallycross. Senast stördes Mikaela av ett tekniskt problem i starten på finalen efter att hon kvalat in som tvåa då teamkamraterna dominerade kvalet tillsammans.

Tvåan i mästerskapet, Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky
”Som alltid i Rallycross är starten det viktigaste momentet, och banan i Mettet är inget undantag. Det gäller att ta sig igenom första kurvan med hel bil för att sedan kunna ha möjlighet att ta sig högst upp på prispallen. Förra året gick det riktigt bra på den här banan och ambitionen denna gång är inte mindre,” kommenterar den värmländska motorstjärnan.

Efter deltävling 2 ligger de båda värmlänningarna fortsatt etta och tvåa i mästerskapet.

Mästerskapstabellen:
Nils Andersson (SWE) 70p
Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky (SWE) 54p
Isac Sjöqvist (SWE) 51p
Marko Muru (EST) 47p

24-08-12 #Yellowsquad aim to take podium momentum to Belgium
After storming to a strong second place in Hungary’s Nyirád (27/28 July), frontrunner Isak Sjökvist is looking to go one place better in Mettet, Belgium, to take home #Yellowsquad’s first victory of the season in RX2e.

Sjökvist finished in the runner-up spot in last year’s standings and laid down a statement of intent with his podium in Nyirád, showing that he is in the hunt for top honours in the championship.

After a difficult opening weekend (6/7 July) at his home event in Höljes, Sjökvist will be hoping to carry the momentum to the weekend and take control of the Championship lead.

The round in Mettet (17/18 August) is the penultimate of the four-round series, therefore a good result is critical for the Swedish driver’s title fight.

He currently sits third in the Championship standings, just 19 points behind the overall leader. With plenty of points up for grabs in Belgium, there could still be a dramatic swing in favour of the #Yellowsquad driver.

Isak Sjökvist, #Yellowsquad Driver, said: “Time for Mettet! A really challenging track but with a great amount of different combinations will make it a fun one. Eager to see what the weekend has in store for us and I’ll do the best I can to reach the top of the podium!”

Eric Färén, #Yellowsquad Team Principal, added: “Isak [Sjökvist] improved a lot in Hungary so we’re on a good momentum going into this weekend. He didn’t have the easiest race in Mettet last year but he knows what he needs to change this year and how to attack it. We had a big step forward between Sweden and Hungary hopefully we will keep going and get a win here and restart our championship fight.”

The RX2e racing kicks off on Saturday, 17 August, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled on the #Yellowsquad social media for the latest updates and results.

24-08-12 Hansen World RX Team target big points haul in Belgium
After a dramatic double-header in Nyirád, Hungary, for Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2024 World RX Championship the Hansen World RX Team has vowed to return from Belgium with a great haul of points.

The Belgian municipality of Mettet is set to host the classic event that finally returns to the World RX calendar after a six-year hiatus. This highly anticipated event will see teams battle it out over a double-header weekend for Rounds 5 and 6 of the World RX Championship.

Reflecting on the team’s last outing, Kevin Hansen who showed good pace throughout, was unlucky to not come away with a better result in Nyirád, following a dramatic clash with Johan Kristoffersson in Saturday’s final that denied him a shot at victory.

Finishing both second and third previously at Mettet, Timmy Hansen aspires to climb to the top of the podium this weekend. Similarly, Team Principal Kenneth Hansen is also no stranger to success in Belgium which puts the team on the best foot for the weekend.

Hansen World RX team will head into the upcoming rounds with supreme confidence that they can deliver a strong result to reignite their charge in the Championship standings.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “The team is looking forward to Belgium, it’s a slightly different circuit to normal with some rough gravel sections and some fast straights. We’re of course targeting the podium; we haven’t quite reached it this year so, hopefully, we can manage that this weekend. With the battle of the technologies, it’s not one hundred percent in our favour because we are carrying a lot of weight compared to the combustion cars which will affect the grip and the braking but we will do the best we can. We have made some improvements since Hungary so that combined with some clever strategy we will be aiming for the top spots.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team Driver, said: “We looked strong in Hungary but never ended up on the podium which we were hoping for. We stayed there testing after the race and made some good progress and I think we can bring that into Belgium. We are starting to understand how the tyres are working and how we need to approach setting up the car which we’re excited to put into practice this weekend. Despite no podiums, we have still reached every final which highlights our consistency and aids our championship fight. Kevin and I will give it everything we’ve got for the rest of the season and hopefully we can get both cars on the podium this weekend.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team Driver, said: “We are looking forward to Belgium and it’s nice to be back with full power as last year we had to race with our RX2e cars. Unfortunately, the race doesn’t start with a longer straight, which would favour our electric car, however there are some later on in the circuit which will allow us to stretch our legs and maximise our car’s full potential. The test after Hungary really helped us understand the car better so hopefully this will make us a little more comfortable and quicker so we can challenge in Belgium.”

The event will begin this Saturday, 17 August, so make sure you stay tuned on all the Hansen Motorsport channels to stay up to date with all of the action.

24-08-12 Hedström värst i RallyX-finalen! - Lurade Larsson i första kurvan
Peter Hedström dök upp som gubben i lådan igen, kastade in en sen anmälan till rallyX-finalen och sopar där mattan med konkurenterna. Nu har han fått nytt namn av Live-kommentatorerna på RallyX.

The Swedish Nitroman myntades under helgen som namnet på Hedström av herrar av Ridge och Coley på RallyX Live-TV, efter att han dyker upp som gubben i lådan igen och fullkomligt exploderar av fart efter kortare och ibland lite länge uppehåll från Supercar-ratten.

Lördagens deltävling var duell in på mållinjen mellan Hedström och inhoppande Robin Larsson, där det blev ”målfoto” och 8 tusendelar skiljde dem åt till Larssons fördel. Söndagens final skull visa sig bli en upprepning, men med den stora skillnaden att Hedström nästan lurade Larsson upp på läktaren. Larsson försökte sig på en kopia på Erikssons ytterrökare på Esterring som även många andra försökt sig på. Men Peter var med på noterna.
- Jag såg honom i sidorutan att han provade, men jag tänkte att det här får han inte lyckas med å lade ut mig lite extra i svängen, berättar Hedström.
Robin klappade Audin i räcket och sen kunde Hedström börja attackera mot segern, som han tog före Linneman och Martinsson.
- Härligt att kunna visa att speeden finns där, trots att jag inte kör så ofta nu mer, säger Peter Hedström.

Filip Thorén i teamets VW Polo Supercar går från klarhet till klarhet och Peter är imponerad av hans utveckling under säsongen. I tredje kvalet var han kvalfemma och visade att farten finns där när allt stämmer.
- Jag är riktigt stolt över honom, han gör det riktigt bra och presterar bra med tanke på de förare som hoppade in i finalen, nu ska vi tillsammans få till helheten och jobba med detaljerna, berättar Hedström.

Crosscar-junioren Hampus Hagström körde in på första plats i finalen och säkrade mästerskapstiteln i RallyX för juniorer.
- Ett stort grattis till Hampus, men även en eloge till våra andra unga förare i teamet som kör under året.

Det har även varit Crosskart-SM på hemmaplan och teamets SM-förare i Crosskart Extrem Elias Nilsson visade framfötterna igen genom andraplats och toppar fortfarande SM-tabellen inför finalen på Högstabanan i September.

24-08-09 Nitrocross, Euro RX & RallyX champion Larsson to deputise for Kristensson at RallyX Estering
Reigning and double Nitrocross Champion Robin Larsson will make a shock return to the RallyX series for the season-finale double-header at the legendary Estering Circuit in Buxtehude, Germany this weekend.

Larsson, who is also a two-time Euro RX champion and former RallyX title-winner, hasn’t raced in the RallyX series since the opening rounds of the 2020 campaign at Holjes, Sweden, in which he claimed a victory and second-place finish. He also hasn’t raced an internal combustion engine Audi S1 RX quattro Supercar since the Swedish round of the European Rallycross Championship last year, where he finished second.

A double champion in the headline Nitrocross Group E series for all-electric cars with the DRR JC team, Larsson will make a surprise return to RallyX in Germany standing in for compatriot Stefan Kristensson. The Swede made his first RallyX within the JC squad last weekend in Denmark, but has since sustained an injury, and has been forced to sit out the final weekend.

Larsson will use the event to prepare for the 2024-2025 Nitrocross campaign that begins in Richmond, USA, in just a few weeks, while also working to claim the best results possible for the JC team. As usual, JC will field cars in Open 4WD, Supercar Lites and Crosscar Junior this weekend.

The event will be broadcast live on YouTube, keep an eye on the JC Raceteknik and RallyX social media channels for updates.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Firstly, we wish Stefan a very speedy recovery. It was a pleasure to have him driving one of our cars last weekend in Denmark, and it will be great to get him behind the wheel again as soon as possible. We still have his son Viktor as part of our line-up in Supercar Lites this weekend. It is always a pleasure to have Robin in our cars. He has previously won both the Euro RX and RallyX titles in one of our Audi S1 Supercars, and of course back-to-back Nitrocross championships – this will be great preparation for the new Nitrocross season. We have a lot to race for this weekend, especially with Lukas [Andersson] fighting for the title in Supercar Lites so make sure to watch!”

Robin Larsson (SWE):
“This was really spontaneous – Joel [Christoffersson] asked me on Thursday morning if I was available to come and drive, so of course I said yes. I really like Buxtehude and it’s always fun to drive a Supercar. My main aim is to get into the rhythm for the Nitrocross season opener, and it is always good to drive in competition! I think the first day is going to be hard, it takes time to get into the car and especially when you don’t drive these kinds of cars regularly anymore, so the plan is to just focus on the starts and pick up the speed from there.

As always, I want to win, but it’s going to be hard to be bang on it in the practice and first heat. I have always liked the RallyX series, the paddock is more chill than some others and the overall atmosphere is great, so I will take this weekend as a fun and competitive test for the season opener of Nitrocross.”

24-08-06 Carlsson, Ohman and Kristensson claim Nysum podiums with JC Raceteknik in Denmark
One of the next generation of star rallycross drivers, Arvid Carlsson, claimed a dream maiden podium in the RallyX Junior Cross Car series at Nysum in Denmark, while fan-favourite Mats Ohman and JC newcomer Stefan Kristensson visited the rostrum in the Open 4WD AM category with JC Raceteknik.

It was Kristensson, making his second-ever start in the JC Audi S1 quattro Supercar, who got the best result of the team’s drivers in round seven of the championship on Saturday, finishing second in the Open 4WD Pro Am final at the amazing Nysum venue, before Ohman claimed his third podium of the year in the category during round eight on Sunday, in the sister Supercar machine.

However, the drive of the weekend for JC Raceteknik belonged to Carlsson. Entering the event after a challenging double-header at Alvsbyn in Northern Sweden for rounds five and six, Carlsson was classified ninth on day one in Nysum, then in incredibly difficult conditions, failed to finish the opening heat of round eight on Sunday morning.

But third fastest in Q3 lifted the young Swede into the semi-finals, before an amazing drive from the back of the grid in semi-final two got him into the final with a race win. In the last race of the weekend for the Junior drivers, Carlsson drove with pace and maturity beyond his years, in his first RallyX final, to claim second place at the finish, finishing just over a second behind the dominant championship leader of 2024. Team mate Carl Svedlund finished seventh and then fourth across the two days.

In the Supercar Lites division, championship leader Lukas Andersson twice qualified for the final, but endured a difficult weekend and didn’t appear on the podium. Andersson continues to head the standings with just the final double-header of the season in Germany to go next weekend. Former Junior Cross Car driver Viktor Kristensson had a strong debut Supercar Lites weekend and just missed out on a podium in round eight, finishing fourth.

The final rounds of RallyX 2024 take place at the legendary Estering Circuit in Buxtehude, Germany next weekend. Keep up with the JC Raceteknik social media channels to see how the weekend unfolds.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“What an amazing performance and result for Arvid on Sunday afternoon. We are so happy for him to finally get into final and onto the podium – that has been his goal all season. It is always nice of course to be on the podium in Open 4WD too, especially with Mats who is such a big part of this team, and it was also nice to welcome Stefan into his first RallyX weekend with us by finishing on the podium too. In Supercar Lites, Lukas had a difficult weekend. As usual he had some good pace, but also got unlucky a few times and made some mistakes too, but every time he is on track he is learning. He still holds the championship lead and we need to refocus now on the last race of the season. For Viktor, he learned quickly after our pre-event test and deserved his strong result on Sunday.”

24-08-02 CE Dealer Team and FIA World RX star Klara Andersson joins JACK'S Racing Day 2024
FIA World RX title candidates CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment will feature on the 2024 JACK'S Racing Day at Assen in the Netherlands this weekend, August 3-4.

Star driver Klara Andersson and Dutch rally ace Kevin Abbring will perform demonstration runs on track with the 100% electric 680hp PWR RX1e rallycross car during the event which is expected to attract more than 80 000 spectators.

“We’re delighted to join JACK’S Racing Day and showcase the exciting, sustainable and inclusive future that electrified motorsport offers,” said Arvid Rinaldo, Head of Partnership and Operational Involvement in World RX for Volvo CE.

“We are working together with the redesign.life foundation which is the social partner of this event, supporting sustainable mobility and zero emission motorsport - which the FIA World RX is a perfect example of. We will showcase the sport in the Netherlands via this event as a precursor to a possible future Dutch race.”

The team will perform spectacular demonstration runs during the two days of JACK’S Racing Day, sharing track with Grand Prix winner David Coulthard who will drive his RB7 Formula 1 car.

CE Dealer Team is currently fighting for the 2024 FIA World RX titles, kicking off the season with a victory and three podium finishes courtesy drivers Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team wrote history in 2022 with the first-ever gender equal full-season driver line-up in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The team has since then secured one World RX silver medal and two bronze medals, setting its sights for the gold in 2024.

The team's goal is to drive the change in society on diversity and sustainability through showing what you can achieve with a dedicated team of professionals.

The all-electric PWR RX1e rallycross car will not only be on display during the JACK’S Racing Day, but also perform spectacular demonstration runs.

The PWR RX1e delivers 680 hp from its electric twin motors and is complemented by 880Nm of instant torque, while the battery has been specifically designed for optimum weight distribution.

The car sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 1.8 seconds - quicker than a Formula 1 car.

Make sure to visit CE Dealer Team during JACK'S Racing Day where Klara Andersson and Kevin Abbring will be on site for autographs and interviews.

Kevin Abbring is a Dutch former World Rally Championship driver with more than 13 seasons in the championship and won his first Junior World Rally Championship event in 2009.

Learn more about JACK'S Racing Day

24-07-30 Isak Sjökvist kickstarts his RX2e season with a podium in Hungary
Isak Sjökvist stormed to second place in Nyirád, Hungary, marking a podium in his maiden event at the circuit and kickstarting his 2024 FIA RX2e Championship title challenge.

The second round of RX2e got underway at the weekend (27-28 July) with the #YellowSquad crew taking on the rest of the field at the Nyirád Racing Centre in Hungary.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, Sjökvist arrived in Hungary determined to reignite his 2024 title challenge after missing out on a podium at the season-opener in Höljes, Sweden.

Sjökvist got off to a difficult start with third place in this Heat 1 race, and the Swede needed to turn things around in Heat 2 if he was going to secure a good grid spot in the all-important Final.

A strong launch put Sjökvist in contention for an early lead, before contact from behind sent the young #YellowSquad driver into a spin. A further touch from one of his competitors, however, turned the Swede full circle, allowing him to get on the throttle and get ahead. Managing damage throughout the five laps, an amazing drive from Sjökvist ensured the win in Heat 2.

Two second-place finishes in the remaining Heats saw Sjökvist qualify third in the Ranking stages, putting him on the second row for the Final.

A great reaction off the line elevated Sjökvist to second place, as he passed Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky on the inside going into Turn 1. Closing in on Nils Andersson, Sjökvist was on the hunt for his first victory of 2024, but after great racing from both drivers they held track position until the finish line.

Silverware for Sjökvist in the second event of the season puts him third in the RX2e championship standings, just three points adrift of Åhlin-Kottulinksy in second and 19 away from current leader Andersson.

The third round of RX2e will take place as part of the FIA World Rallycross Championship event in Mettet, Belgium, on August 17-18.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “I can honestly say that this weekend has been the most rollercoaster weekend that I’ve been through.

“One of the highlights were for sure Heat 2 where I managed to get a win after a 360 spin in the first corner. I gave it everything I had on Sunday and clinched a P3 after the Heats which gave us the second row in the Final. Had a super start in the final and climbed up to P2 which is where we finished. The team and I have been working flat out to reach the golden step, but Nils was the stronger one this time.

“Still plenty to play for, but I’m feeling confident that we will give a great fight until the very end. This podium was for the whole #YellowSquad and Hansen Motorsport team and there’s more to come!”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “We’re very happy to be back on the podium. It wasn’t the easiest start to the weekend - we didn’t have the best starting spot on the grid. On Sunday though Isak came back stronger, and we got closer to the pace. In the Final we were there but hats off to Nils [Andersson], he was just that bit quicker. All in all, it was a good weekend and Isak drove well. Hopefully we can take that into Belgium and go one better in the Final.”

24-07-30 Claryfying statment from KMS
"We are all competent people and should take our own responsibility for what happens on the track. That was not the case yesterday, and does not only apply to the situations we were involved in.

In yesterday’s press release, it sounds like we blame the stewards for the upcoming situation.

We must underline that we totally agree that it is not the stewards to blame, our meaning was that the level of the driving on the track was something that we cannot accept."

/Tommy Kristoffersson, Team Principal, Kristoffersson Motorsport

24-07-30 Kristoffersson bounces back to dominate day two in Hungary
Huge crowd laps up World RX’s ‘Battle of Technologies’ in rallycross’ ‘Red Cauldron’

Spurred on by the disappointment of the previous day, Johan Kristoffersson battled back to record his 43rd career triumph in the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Nyirád in Hungary today (28 July), leaving his rivals eating his dust with a blistering performance in the sport’s ‘Red Cauldron’.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Kristoffersson’s challenge had ended in the Turn One tyre barriers after an acrimonious clash with countryman Kevin Hansen. The six-time world champion found himself in similar strife in Sunday’s second heat following a squeeze with Timmy Hansen and Niclas Grönholm, but even with a damaged car, he still managed to set fastest lap – and in both the semi-final and final, he led from lights-to-flag.

Kristoffersson’s margin of victory at the end of the final was a crushing 10.8sec over his closest pursuer, KMS – HORSE Powertrain team-mate Ole Christian Veiby, as he spearheaded a sustainably-fuelled combustion-engine one-two in the fourth instalment of World RX’s new ‘Battle of Technologies’.

“Yesterday wasn’t a great day, but today was much better!” the 35-year-old acknowledged. “Big thanks to the team. They worked extremely hard last night to make repairs and gave me a very fast car.

“It’s been a great first experience here in Hungary and it’s been nice to see so many fans. I got a good start in the final and could then control the race from there – I wasn’t pushing hard. I just tried to drive smoothly and avoid making any mistakes. If I’d needed a real ‘killer’ lap, I’m pretty sure I could have gone quicker...”

Veiby deployed an opening lap joker in the final to undercut several of his competitors and complete a perfect result for the Kristoffersson Motorsport-run outfit, with Klara Andersson best-placed of the electric brigade in third in her CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment PWR RX1e. The Swede took a gamble by bolting on wet-weather tyres for the last race of the weekend, and her reward for a gritty display in fending off the two Hansen siblings was a second podium finish of the campaign.

Timmy Hansen hassled Andersson throughout the final, but the former world champion was ultimately unable to find a way past and had to settle for fourth ahead of younger brother Kevin, meaning the rostrum continues to elude Hansen World RX Team in 2024.

René Münnich wound up sixth after progressing to the final for the first time this year, but there was frustration for Saturday winner Niclas Grönholm, whose bid was curtailed when he retired from the semi-final. There was similarly no podium repeat for home hero Janko Wieszt, who secured second place in the intermediate ranking only to subsequently make heavy contact with the wall.

In the support series, there was a sense of déjà-vu, as Nils Andersson (RX2e), Patrick O’Donovan (Euro RX1) and Nils Volland (Euro RX3) all replicated their success from the Höljes curtain-raiser three weeks earlier. Volland crossed the finish line second, before being elevated to first by a post-race penalty for on-the-road winner João Ribeiro.

The World RX season continues with another double-header duel at Mettet in Belgium on 17-18 August.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) 5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 10.809s
3. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 13.342s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 13.765s
5. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 14.765s
6. René MÜNNICH (DEU) ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport (ICE) + 19.384s

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-07-30 Niclas Grönholm claims World RX win for CE Dealer Team in Hungary as Klara Andersson nets back-to-back podiums
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment continued its strong performance as the FIA World RX raced in Hungary for round two.

Niclas Grönholm secured the team's first win of the season, while Klara Andersson landed her second consecutive podium finish, further solidifying CE Dealer Team as a title contender.

Niclas Grönholm claimed victory in the first of the double-header races at the Nyirád race track, which made its FIA World RX debut this weekend. In an eventful final, the now eight-time World RX winner skillfully navigated his 100% electric PWR RX1e through the field in turn one to secure his second win for CE Dealer Team.

The Finnish rallycross ace became the first FIA World RX winner of the season driving an electric car, and holds third in the championship as he leaves Hungary for Belgium in a few week’s time.

“I am proud of everyone in the team, they have been working hard and now when we get the results it is amazing. We are here to win and do good, so it is a good reward to everyone and a testament to our core philosophy of equal and sustainable motorsport,” said Niclas Grönholm.

Klara Andersson bounced back strongly during the final day after missing the final on Saturday. The Swedish star emerged as the top qualifier on Sunday with consecutive heat wins and secured her second podium of 2024 with a hard-fought third place finish in the final.

Klara Andersson now shares third place in the drivers’ standings with team-mate Niclas Grönholm.
“It was a tough weekend, but I’m really happy to finish on the podium today. The car felt great, and winning two heats was a big highlight. A big decision today was switching to rain tires for the final, and it paid off as we secured third place. Standing on the podium and earning good points felt amazing. Sharing third place in the championship with Niclas is a great comeback from yesterday, but I know there’s more potential to unlock,” said Klara Andersson.

"Being part of the first gender-equal line-up in FIA World RX history, and driving the push for electrification with all of our partners, is truly inspiring. I am incredibly happy and grateful to be living my childhood dream."

The inaugural World RX of Hungary delivered plenty of action and incidents in its notorious first corner, catching out several drivers over the weekend.

Despite the clashes, the CE Dealer Team drivers secured valuable championship points with two podium finishes, keeping the team firmly in second place in the standings and in the hunt for the world championship with electric power.

"It was a decent weekend with a win yesterday and a podium today, but not having both cars in the finals is not ideal. The new format is challenging, and we need to improve our performance. We are second in the team championship, but with only 40% of the season done, there's still a long way to go and we are close. Our pace here and in Höljes gives us confidence. We will continue to work hard and aim to be more competitive in Belgium and close the gap on the leaders," said Team Manager Jussi Pinomäki.

Alongside the thrilling track action was the key work of the Volvo Construction Equipment machines from local dealer Ascendum, keeping the circuit in top condition between the spectacular heats.

Team key partner Parker Hannifin featured in Hungary and invited regional customers to experience electric rallycross on the highest level, as well as taking part in business seminars.

The intense FIA World RX season continues in just three weeks with the FIA World RX of Benelux, held at Mettet on August 17-18.

Full results and standings after the FIA World RX of Hungary weekend: https://bit.ly/3ZJzbDL

24-07-30 Fortsatt succé för Team E i Rallycross EM
För andra tävlingen i rad lyckades Team E helt dominera Rallycross EM i RX2e när EM-serien besökte Ungerska Nyirad, strax väster om Budapest. De båda värmlänningarna Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky visade direkt vart skåpet skulle stå då de i överlägsen stil dominerade kvalomgångarna.

Nils Andersson gick åter igen helt obesegrad genom tävlingen då han var etta i samtliga kvalheat under helgen. Mikaela var 2:a, 2:a, 1:a och 1:a och gjorde sin kanske hittills bästa rallycrosstävling hittills då hon även satte snabbaste varvtid i några av kvalheaten.

Efter kvalet, och inför söndagens avgörande final låg Nils 1:a och Mikalea 2:a, och placerade sig i första startled i finalen. När starten gick gjorde Nils vad han gjort hela helgen, var snabbast iväg och kontrollerade loppet därifrån.
- ”Det känns extra kul att kunna bevisa att efter att förra året ha vunnit mästerskapet på min jämnhet, nu lyckats flytta fram positionerna och fightas om segern i varje kvalheat. Det är en riktig teaminsats där all bidrar och gör sitt yttersta för att vinna2, säger en strålande glad ”Jössehäring”.

Mikaela drabbades av ett tekniskt fel på bilen precis innan start, och kom inte iväg ordentligt. Efter att starten hade gått fungerade bilen igen, men då hade redan topptrion fått ett försprång.
- ”Jag har haft en stark helg fram tills finalen, där det blev ”pannkaka” i starten som jag sen inte kunde hämta hem, men ”thats Rallycross”. Jag är glad för Team E och KMS framgångar och blickar framåt”, säger en något besviken Mikaela.

Efter deltävling 2 ligger de båda värmlänningarna fortsatt etta och tvåa i mästerskapet, där Nils har en betryggande ledning inför nästa tävlingen som körs i Belgien om två veckor.

Mästerskapstabellen:
1. Nils Andersson (SWE) 70p
2. Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky (SWE) 54p
3. Isac Sjöstedt (SWE) 51p
4. Marko Muru (EST) 47p

24-07-30 Dubbelseger och dubbelt i topp
VM-rallycrossen i Ungern slutade med dubbelseger för KMS - HORSE Powertrain. Johan Kristoffersson vann och nyblivne pappan Ole Christian Veiby tog sin andra pallplats för helgen.
- Perfekt. Imponerande av Ole Christian att med de förberedelserna komma hit och leverera så bra, säger Johan, som toppar mästerskapet före stallkompisen.

Efter lördagens tråkiga avslutning ville Johan Kristoffersson tillbaka upp på toppen när den andra deltävlingen för helgen kördes på Nyirád Racing Center. Och det började bra. Johan vann första omgången lätt. I den andra blev det däremot en snurr i första kurvan efter kontakt med Niclas Grönholm.
- Det var dumt. Jag skulle inte ha placerat mig där ute, för hög risk, konstaterar Kristoffersson.

Med en förstaplats och en femte landade Johan på samma poäng som flera andra förare, men hade bäst placering från sämsta startposition, vilket gav honom en plats längst fram i semifinalen. Där tog han starten och seglade ifrån till enkel seger.

Finalen blev en ren uppvisning från Johans sida. Från pole position var han först in i första sväng och därefter tittade han aldrig bakåt. Tre ruggigt snabba varv i inledningen var ett rejält statement från den sexfaldige världsmästaren som till sist vann med hela tio sekunders marginal.
- Det är en ny bana för de allra flesta och på första träningen var vi inte snabbare än de andra teamen, men vi jobbar oss uppåt, anpassar oss till banan och gör ett bättre jobb helt enkelt. Ett stort tack till teamet. Jag är så tacksam att få jobba i det här projektet där vi har fantastisk personal på precis varenda position.

Bakom Johan gjorde Ole Christian Veiby en stark körning och tog sig in som tvåa, hans andra andraplats för helgen.
- P2 två gånger är väl absolut godkänt. Upp på andra plats i mästerskapet också och många teampoäng. Det kan inte bli bättre, säger Veiby.

Norrmannen har upplevt en av sina bästa veckor i livet. I onsdags blev han pappa till en dotter och ovanpå det två succétävlingar.
- Det har varit mycket känslor under veckan. Som tur är kom hon i tid så jag hann vara med henne och Caroline i några timmar. Väl här nere har det varit upp och ner, hård racing, inte minst i första svängen som bjuder in till fight.

Efter fyra rundor har Kristoffersson 101 poäng mot 76 för Veiby och 67 för treorna Niclas Grönholm och Klara Andersson.

I teammästerskapet leder KMS - HORSE Powertrain stort, till glädje inte minst för stallchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.
- Perfekt med en 1-2 idag och en fantastisk prestation av Ole den här helgen med två andraplatser. Det har varit en tuff helg med många utmaningar i 35 graders värme. Våra mekaniker har verkligen inte behövt undra över vad de ska fördriva tiden med.

KMS leder teammästerskapet med 177 poäng mot 134 för CE Dealerteam inför de två kommande rundorna i Belgien i mitten av augusti.

24-07-30 Grönholm emerges from the chaos for first win of season in Hungary
Flying Finn triumphs at Nyirád as Swedish rivals come to blows

Niclas Grönholm emerged on top of a bruising FIA World Rallycross Championship final on the opening day of action at Nyirád in Hungary today (27 July), as Kevin Hansen and Johan Kristoffersson dramatically came to blows at the first corner.

On a scorching hot day in rallycross’ ‘Red Cauldron’ – so-called due to the distinctive colour of its unsealed sections, having been built on the site of a disused bauxite quarry – the racing kept the large and enthusiastic crowd entertained from the first green light to the final chequered flag.

As the ‘Battle of Technologies’ resumed following a sensational season curtain-raiser in Sweden three weeks ago, it was advantage Kevin Hansen in his electric Peugeot 208 RX1e at the end of the heats, with the Hansen World RX Team ace keeping a completely clean sheet. His closest challengers were surprise packages René Münnich and home hero Janko Wieszt, both in sustainably-fuelled combustion-engined cars and the latter making his World RX debut.

Championship leader Kristoffersson uncharacteristically found himself down in sixth, having dominated his first heat race but then been forced out of the next one by a technical issue. It is not for nothing, however, that the Swede is a six-time world champion, and he subsequently survived a first corner crunch in the semi-final before overhauling Grönholm after the joker laps – the pair running briefly side-by-side – to book a front row grid slot for the final.

Alongside him on pole position was heats pace-setter Hansen, but it was Kristoffersson who got the better launch in his internal combustion Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, and with neither of the pair willing to concede as the field barrelled into Turn One for the first time, contact was inevitable, sending both cars backwards into the barriers.

Hansen was stranded on the spot and was later disqualified, while Kristoffersson was able to continue, but nursing damaged suspension. In the immediate aftermath of their coming-together, Grönholm and Timmy Hansen in the other Peugeot similarly clashed at Turn Two, pitching the Swede into a spin – and elevating the Finn into a lead he would not relinquish.

Grönholm went on to take the chequered flag more than five seconds clear of Kristoffersson’s team-mate Ole Christian Veiby, as the CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment ace celebrated his eighth career triumph – the first for electric power in World RX’s new dual-technology era.

“It’s been an up-and-down day, but I’m happy to end on top when it matters,” Grönholm reflected. “This track is not easy to drive but it’s very cool – definitely a nice addition to the calendar. It’s been a good start to the season overall – it’s pretty clear to see we’ve taken a step forward. There’s been a lot of hard work since 2022, and we’re slowly but surely getting to where we want to be.”

New father Veiby navigated through the carnage of the first few corners to seal second place in his battle-scarred VW, with Wieszt delighting the thousands of trackside fans by reaching the rostrum in third ahead of the delayed Timmy Hansen and Kristoffersson.

Klara Andersson showed strong speed in the second CE Dealer Team car – winning her heat two race following Kristoffersson’s misfortune – but the Höljes star came unstuck at the semi-final stage when she swiped the wall in the joker.

Defending champion Nils Andersson tops the table in RX2e, with Yury Belevskiy leading the way in Euro RX1 and Dominik Senegacnik in charge in Euro RX3.

The Nyirád action continues tomorrow (Sunday, 28 July) with the remaining heats, semi-finals and finals in the support series and round four of the 2024 World RX campaign.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV) 5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 5.364s
3. Janko WIESZT (HUN) Impossible RX Team (ICE) + 7.722s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 9.193s
DNF Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 1 lap
DSQ Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV)

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-07-30 Stökig final men Veiby på pallen
Tredje rundan i rallycross-VM bjöd på en stökig final, med många och långa diskussioner efteråt. En som tjänade på duellerna var Ole Christian Veiby som tog hem en andraplats till KMS - HORSE Powertrain.
- Gott att få ha lite tur för en gångs skull och bra poäng i mästerskapet, säger Veiby.

I finalen på Nyirád Racing Center stod Ole Christian i sista startrutan, men i kalabaliken som uppstod framför tog han sig ända upp till andra plats bakom ledande och sedermera segrande Niclas Grönholm.

Platsen på prispallen blev en fin belöning efter en dag som var ganska problemfylld.
- Det var mycket som hände. Jag tror knappt jag har kört ett helt varv där ratten har stått rätt. Hjulen har pekat i alla riktningar. Därför blev det inte många poäng i heaten, men slutresultatet blev ju bra.

Lika lyckosam var inte Johan Kristoffersson. Från ruta två fick han en kanonstart och var före Kevin Hansen som stod i pole. Hansen valde dock att fortsätta rakt i första kurvan och tryckte Johan in i räcket, en förseelse han blev diskvalificerad för medan Johan å sin sida fick en reprimand.

Kristoffersson haltade i mål som femma, långt ifrån den seger han hade i sin hand ut från startplattan.

Det blev många och långa diskussioner i domarrummet och först drygt fyra timmar senare kom det officiella resultatet.

Teamchefen i KMS - HORSE Powertrain, Tommy Kristoffersson, var mycket nöjd för Ole Christians skull, men starkt kritisk till domarnas bedömningar under dagen.
- Vi är väldigt glada över Oles pallplats och fina poäng i teammästerskapet. Extremt bra.
- Men när det gäller de incidenter som inträffade under dagen behöver vi ha en ordentlig diskussion om vilka regler som ska gälla. Det måste finnas kompetenta personer som gör bedömningar av det som sker på banan. Så var inte fallet idag och det gäller inte bara de situationer vi var inblandade i.

Dramatiken i Ungern fortsätter under söndagen med fjärde rundan i årets VM.

24-07-24 ‘Battle of Technologies’ ready to resume in rallycross’ ‘Red Cauldron’
Red-hot racing anticipated on Hungary’s World Championship debut

Following a sensational season-opener in Sweden, the all-action FIA World Rallycross Championship is headed for Hungary this weekend (27-28 July), as Nyirád’s famous ‘Red Cauldron’ prepares to stage the second intriguing instalment in the new ‘Battle of Technologies’.

Five-time world champion Johan Kristoffersson leads the standings after launching his quest for an extraordinary sixth career crown with a commanding double triumph in the curtain-raising contest at Höljes.

The Swede is setting the pace for the sustainably-fuelled combustion contingent behind the wheel of his KMS – HORSE Powertrain-run Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, but he has never raced at Nyirád before, and has a number of electric-powered rivals in hot pursuit.

CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment duo Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm are tied for second place in the points table after claiming a runner-up finish apiece in Sweden. The former was particularly impressive as she came within a whisker of pipping Kristoffersson to victory on the opening day, registering her finest result to-date in World RX in the process.

Andersson and Grönholm tested at Nyirád in the FIA RX2e Championship’s ZEROID X1 car earlier this year, and will be hoping to translate that recent experience into a successful weekend.

Kristoffersson’s team-mate Ole Christian Veiby is right behind the CE Dealer Team pairing in fourth, having battled back from a stall at the start of Sunday’s final at Höljes to ascend the podium for the eighth time in his career at the highest level – though the Norwegian remains in search of his first win.

Hansen World RX Team endured a disappointing weekend on home soil in Sweden, with neither Timmy nor Kevin Hansen reaching the rostrum in the Peugeot 208 RX1e, but the brothers – like their father, 14-time European Champion Kenneth Hansen – have both prevailed at Nyirád in the past, and are eager to do so again.

Former Hungarian Rallycross Champion Jankó Wieszt is a new addition to the grid, racing an ex-GCK Renault Mégane RS RX – a car not seen in the World Championship since 2021. The 29-year-old will be aiming to exploit his local knowledge around an old-school circuit that is unique on the calendar, with its ‘Red Cauldron’ nickname stemming from the distinctive colour of its unsealed surfaces, having been built on the site of a disused bauxite quarry.

Characterised by technical curves and dramatic elevation changes, Nyirád welcomed the FIA European Rallycross Championship from 2006 to 2013 before rejoining the Euro RX schedule in 2022 following a near decade-long absence. This weekend marks Hungary’s World Championship debut.

In addition to a double-header of unmissable World RX action, Kárai Trans World RX of Hungary will play host to the second round of the 2024 RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 campaigns, with no fewer than 18 homegrown heroes entered across the board and the non-stop thrills set to be broadcast live on the pioneering Rally.TV platform.

For more information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry lists for all four categories,

24-07-24 CE Dealer Team chases FIA World RX points lead in Hungary
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment continues its title challenge in the FIA World RX this weekend, as Hungary joins the World Rallycross Championship for the first time as the iconic Nyirád track will host a double header.

Known for being one of Europe’s longest and most traditional rallycross circuits, the "old-school" Nyirád Racing Center is situated in Transdanubia, just 25 kilometers from the renowned Lake Balaton.

CE Dealer Team heads to Hungary following a strong double podium finish on home soil in Sweden earlier this month. Swedish star Klara Andersson achieved a career-best result by securing second place in the first of the double header races, placing her second in the overall standings.

“I’m really excited to head to Hungary and continue the season. It’s great to arrive with positive momentum and good points in both championships after Höljes. I’ve never raced in Hungary before, but the track looks like a lot of fun. An old-school circuit with plenty of elevation changes and high speed. It’s going to be tough, as always, but we’re motivated to keep up the speed and grab more points for the championship,” said Klara Andersson.

Finnish FIA World RX ace Niclas Grönholm is tied for second place with his team-mate Klara Andersson in the driver standings following the Swedish premiere.

“It's going to be a very interesting race on such an iconic track. Although I’ve never raced at Nyirád before, I’m really looking forward to it. We will continue to work hard to build on the pace we had in Höljes, and keep challenging at the front,” said Niclas Grönholm.

The FIA World RX opener in Höljes featured the debut of the new Battle of Technologies format, where CE Dealer Team’s 100% electric PWR RX1e went head-to-head with sustainably fueled combustion-powered cars.

The team got off to a strong start in its challenge for the teams’ championship, entering the Hungarian round ranked second in the standings.

“I’m really looking forward to the race in Hungary. It’s a new track for the championship and hasn’t been part of World RX before. It’s a fantastic circuit, technical, with some elevation changes and blind corners. I’m expecting some exciting racing,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

“Everyone is still getting used to the new race format and tires, so it’s difficult to predict who will have the advantage, if anyone. We were quite happy with our speed in Sweden, but we need to improve our overall performance. We need to be more consistent and react more efficiently to changing conditions. The forecast predicts quite warm weather, so we need to stay on top of that as well.”

One of the team’s key partners Parker Hannifin will feature in Hungary and have invited regional customers to experience electric world rallycross, as well as take part in business seminars.

Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Nyirád to showcase its product range and innovative services.

The World RX of Hungary weekend starts on Saturday with round three of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by round four on Sunday.

The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.

The full World RX of Hungary schedule is available here.

24-07-23 Kristoffersson gillar nästa utmaning
Nyirád Racing Center är platsen där KMS - HORSE Powertrain ska jaga nya segrar under den andra tävlingshelgen i rallycross-VM.
- En teknisk och trixig bana som jag tror ska passa oss väldigt bra, säger mästerskapsledande Johan Kristoffersson.

Premiären i Höljes gick helt enligt planerna för Kristoffersson, som vann dubbelt och toppar VM-tabellen på 58 poäng, 22 före delade tvåorna Niclas Grönholm och Klara Andersson. På fjärde plats ligger den andre KMS - HORSE Powertrain-föraren, Ole Christian Veiby.

“The Battle of Technologies” blev precis så intressant som det var tänkt under helgen i Höljes. Johan toppade med sin VW Polo KMS 601 RX med förbränningsmotor, följd av två elbilar och därefter ytterligare en ICE-Polo med Veiby.
- Jag tror det kommer att bli stora skillnader mellan de båda teknologierna beroende på vilken bana vi kommer till, menar Kristoffersson och fortsätter:
- Därför var det så viktigt för oss att få en bra start och plocka våra poäng i Höljes, på en bana som passade våra bilar ganska bra. Däremot när vi kommer till Portugal på hög höjd tror jag vi kommer att vara långt efter elbilarna.

Den klassiska “old school”-banan i Nyirád i västra Ungern är ny för de flesta förarna i VM-fältet, även för Kristoffersson, men han har förstås rekognoserat efter bästa förmåga.
- Jag har sett en del onboard-film och det är mycket sväng-i-sväng, tekniskt krävande och inte så mycket full gas.

Premiärens smolk i glädjebägaren var annars starterna, som inte alltid satt som de skulle. KMS-teamet stannade därför kvar i Höljes för att jobba på den viktiga detaljen. I synnerhet Ole Christian Veiby var missnöjd med sina starter.

Gav testdagen något resultat?
- Absolut! Vi har fått till mycket jämnare starter. Det var viktigt att få testa mer; det bygger självförtroende, säger Veiby.

För Ole Christian är det annars en del annat att tänka på också. Han ska bli pappa alldeles nu i dagarna. Beräknat datum gick ut i lördags.
- Vi får hoppas det sker något innan jag åker, men det vet man inte. Det kommer när det kommer.

I vilket fall kommer Veiby att vara på plats i Nyirád och slåss om poängen, inte minst i teammästerskapet där KMS - HORSE Powertrain leder på 93 poäng, mot 72 för tvåan CE Dealerteam. Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson har goda förhoppningar.
- Vi åker till Ungern med gott mod. Vi fick de svar vi ville ha i Höljes och den här banan ska passa oss bra.

I premiären tävlade teamet med fyra bilar, två med förbränningsmotorer och två elbilar, styrda av Gustav Bergström och Sondre Evjen. Den här gången blir det bara de två ICE-bilarna.
- Det har varit mycket att ta ställning till på sistone, så vi har fått se om vårt eget hus och koncentrera oss på de två förarna i teammästerskapet.

Bortsett från Bergström och Evjen finns övriga åtta förare med i startlistan, plus en hemmaförare, Janko Wieszt.
- Vet inte mycket om honom, medger Tommy, men det är säkert en duktig förare som har koll på hemmabanan och han verkar sitta i en bra bil.

Hett om öronen blir det för honom och övriga förare - bokstavligt. Efter det avslutande gyttjebadet i Höljes väntar nu en solig helg med över trettio grader enligt prognoserna.
- Det blir varmt, men det blir bra. Nu siktar vi på en 1-2 för teamet, menar Ole Christian Veiby.

Även denna helg väntar dubbeltävling, säsongens tredje rond på lördag och den fjärde på söndag.

24-07-22 #Yellowsquad heads to Hungary for one of the toughest challenges in rallycross
• Following a promising performance in the opening round at Höljes, #Yellowsquad now faces a new challenge for Round 2 of the RX2e championship.

This weekend (27-28 July) the RX2e circus heads to Nyirád, Hungary, to take on one of rallycross's longest and most traditional tracks on the calendar. The twisting nature of the circuit, mixed with the unsealed surface, makes it one of the most spectacular events in rallycross.

#Yellowsquad have one entrant for this event, Isak Sjökvist, who is looking to cement his championship charge after a strong haul of points in the opening round.

Sjökvists teammate in Höljes, Molly Taylor, will rejoin #Yellowsquad for the final round of the RX2e championship in Montalegre, Portugal, 07-08 September.

Eric Fären, #Yellowsquad Team Principal, said: “I’m very excited to go to Hungary, it’s a very unique track, some people call it the Monaco of rallycross because there’s no run-off area and it’s quite a hard track to learn.”

“Now we only have Isak at this round, we can focus all of our effort on him and make sure he’s learning the track as best as possible. Most of the RX2e field hasn’t been there so we must get up to speed quickly and hopefully have a good result.”

Sjökvist looked quick throughout the opening weekend in Höljes. The home favourite secured second in the overall standings after the heats and comfortably won the semi-final by over eight seconds.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Sjökvist was hoping to repeat this success in the final but contact in turn 1 would deny this and the #Yellowsquad driver would have to settle for third.

Isak Sjökvist, #Yellowsquad driver, added: “A new country and a new track is always a great challenge. I’m excited to see what the weekend has in store and I’m ready to bounce back and get my revenge after Höljes.”

“I’m still humble about the task ahead. New race weekend means it’s like a new hockey game: 0-0 and everything to play for.”

As the Nyirád countdown begins, #Yellowsquad are in full preparation mode ahead of this weekend’s racing action.

24-07-22 Hansen World RX Team to take Höljes learnings to Hungary
Hansen World RX Team are touching down in Hungary for the second instalment of the World Rallycross Championship following a tricky weekend at Höljes, the season opener.

Despite both cars making it to the finals, the home team narrowly missed out on a podium step. However, the Hansen brothers are determined to move forward and take the top spots in Hungary.

Nicknamed the ‘Red Cauldron’ due to the distinctive colour of its unsealed surfaces, the Hungarian circuit joins the World RX calendar for the first time in 2024. Kenneth, Kevin and Timmy have all claimed victory in Hungary previously in various championships and look to continue their string of success this weekend.

Höljes marked the beginning of the ‘Battle of the Technologies’, where ICE motors running on sustainable fuel were pitched up against electric machinery, to fight it out on track. Hansen World RX will be looking to restore order in Nyirád and take the first electric victory of the season.

With the racing kicking off 27-28 of July, you can watch the action unfold on Rally.TV, via the World RX website, and on the Hansen team’s social media channels.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “We are looking forward to being back on track after the Swedish double-header. We were able to have both cars in the final for both races but unfortunately didn’t make it to the podium which is our target this time. Hungary is a very different circuit compared to Sweden, it is a challenging track with no room for mistakes so hopefully our preparation will convert to strong results.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, added: “I’m looking forward to Hungary, it’s the first time I’ve been back since 2019 and last time out I had a race win in another series. It’s one of the more exciting tracks as it’s super narrow and quick – you could say it’s the Monaco track of Rallycross as it is so narrow between the walls. Hopefully, this track suits our technology a bit better but we are well prepared and working hard to improve all the time. There are obviously restraints on how much we can improve our car over a season due to the regulations however we are doing our best to figure out a way forward to improve from Höljes.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, noted: “Höljes was a bit more challenging than we hoped for, it seems like we’ve got to do a lot of work to understand the new tyre but as always there’s great motivation within the team. We’re pushing forward with new ideas so I’m excited to come to Hungary. We want to fight for one step higher in the results than we were in Sweden. Hungary is where I got my first ever win in Supercars back in 2013 and it’s the first time since then the championship returns so there is lots to look forward to.”

24-07-12 New FIA World RX double-header season finale revealed
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment will head to a new double header season finale in Asia, as the FIA World RX championship organisation has unveiled China as the end to the exciting 2024 calendar on October 19-20.

“It was revealed earlier this year that discussions were underway to add an event in Asia to the calendar in the autumn. Rallycross Promoter GmbH is happy to confirm that those discussions have now reached a positive conclusion, and that China will stage the season finale,” read the statement from the FIA World RX organisation.

This builds upon the tremendous success of World RX’s debut in the Asia-Pacific region in Hong Kong last November – the championship’s first-ever city-centre event.

The precise location to be used in China will be announced in due course and Volvo Construction Equipment will be a part of constructing the circuit in its role as the Official Track Build Partner to the championship - as well as Engcon with its innovative tiltrotator.

The Chinese round replaces Australia which was originally scheduled for the first weekend in December.

“The Rallycross Promoter is continuing to work closely and proactively with the local organiser there [Australia] with a view to adding an event to the schedule in 2025,” read the statement from the FIA World RX organisation.

CE Dealer Team kicked off the 2024 season in style last weekend at the legendary Höljes circuit in Sweden where star drivers Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm claimed one podium finish each, with the team placed second overall in its fight for the 2024 crown.

The next FIA World RX round takes place in Hungary on July 27-28, learn more!

24-07-07 Hansen World RX Team takes on its first 'Battle of Technologies' in Höljes
The Hansen World RX Team leaves the ‘Magic Weekend’ double-header in Höljes, Sweden, having narrowly missed out on a podium appearance, as the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship kicked off in dramatic fashion.

The newly introduced 'Battle of Technologies' did not disappoint, as electric and ICE cars battled against each other and the ever-changing elements in an action-packed start to the season. Other changes included the new Hoosier Racing Tires and a revised format, with the drivers now competing for position rather than time and championship points to be gained in every race.

With a career-best finish of second in last year's championship standings, Kevin Hansen showed no signs of slowing down as he progressed into both Finals alongside team-mate and brother Timmy Hansen, who after a difficult 2023 campaign is looking for the performances that secured him the World Rallycross title in 2019. This time around the podium eluded both Hansen drivers, who finish the first event of 2024 with a fourth and sixth-place finish each across the weekend.

Saturday
The multiple World Championship-winning Hansen outfit entered the opening double-header of the campaign in its trusted all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e cars, but the Ferratum World RX of Sweden 1 was full of high and lows for the Hansen World RX Team.

Both Heats saw Kevin in the gravel at Turn 1, putting him to the back of the grid for his Semi-Final race, where a strong launch allowed him to overtake Niclas Grönholm as the pair entered the joker on the first lap. Kevin went on to cross the line in third, marking a strong comeback to enter the Final alongside Timmy, who had finished in second.

The Hansen squad entered Saturday's main event with momentum on their side, but Timmy and Kevin were unable to hunt down the pack following an early joker, and finished P4 and P6, respectively.

Sunday
A tricky day on Saturday was followed by tricky conditions on Sunday, as the rain started and unfamiliar Hoosier wet tyres were fitted to the cars.

Despite the adverse conditions at the Höljes circuit, Kevin hit the ground running with a win in his first Heat race, storming into the lead from pole position and building a comfortable advantage throughout his stint. Third place for Timmy in the other Heat 1 race put the Hansen brothers in a promising position heading into Heat 2, but the pair struggled in their respective races, finishing fourth and fifth.

Conditions worsened as the drivers took to the start-line for Semi-Final 1, and having jumped into third place from the back of the grid Timmy went sliding off-track along with two of his competitors. Crucially, he was able to rejoin the fray, where he retained third place and a spot in the Final. The rain continued to pour as the other Semi-Final race began, and a good start from Kevin saw him hunting down Grönholm from P2, where he would finish and progress into the Final.

In the Final, an early joker put Kevin in fifth place behind Timmy, as the pair pushed hard to close the gap to the front three. Following his own joker lap, Timmy found himself in P6 behind OC Veiby, as Kevin gained on Gustav Bergström. The pair battled for third, until a late charge from Veiby saw him leapfrog them both in the closing stages to take the final step on the podium, with Kevin getting ahead of Bergström for fourth place.

World RX returns with a double-header at the 'Red Cauldron' in Nyirád, Hungary, later this month (27-28 July).
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: "We have done our first event of the season and we had one very day day of racing and one with very wet conditions. We have succeeded in that we managed to get both cars into both Finals, but we are certainly not happy with the weekend without getting on the podium. We need to figure out more about the new tyres and about how to get more out of the car."

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "It was a frustrating weekend for us. We were looking really good for a podium but just struggled a bit with the car in the wet. We weren't able to hold it through the whole race. I made a small mistake in the Final which I think lost me third place today, but we try to bounce back from that. We didn't expect this to be our strongest track, we need some longer straights for the electric cars to show their power and torque. I'm really looking forward to Hungary. It's a great track, like the Monaco of rallycross with quick and narrow sections, and I can't wait for us to bring the 'Battle of Technologies' there.

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: "That's the first weekend of the season done and I think the 'Battle of Technologies' turned out to be super exciting. There were definitely strengths on both sides and the races were close. We didn't really have the performance this weekend, but I think still we got the maximum points that we could have. A lot of work to be done, especially around getting to know the new tyres, and around how to get more performance out of our package."

24-07-07 CE Dealer Team nets historic double FIA World RX podium in Höljes premiere
Construction Equipment Dealer Team by Volvo CE had its best start ever to a FIA World Rallycross Championship season in the 2024 Höljes double header opener, with Klara Andersson and Niclas Grönholm claiming consecutive podiums - placing the team second overall in the standings.

The Höljes curtain-raiser marked the premiere of the new 'Battle of Technologies' concept, where all-electric RX1e cars competed head-to-head with sustainably-fueled combustion-powered vehicles.

More than 25 500 spectators watched the action on site at Höljes where Volvo Construction Equipment - the Official Track Building Partner to the championship - also showcased its latest electric products and services.

Swedish rallycross star Klara Andersson wrote history back in 2022 when the CE Dealer Team driver became the first female to stand on the podium in the FIA World RX. The 24-year-old once wrote history again in 2024 at her home race in Höljes with a second-place finish in Saturday's premiere, marking the so far best-ever result for a female driver.

"It has been a fun, rewarding and educative season opener. I'm incredibly proud of yesterday, I've never felt this strong in the world championship. Everything just came together in the car and I felt quick right from the first practice. I lacked a bit of experience in the wet today in order to fight for the top. But I am still pleased overall and especially over the team's performance. It looks like we are in for a very tough and exciting season,” said Klara Andersson.

Finnish World RX event winner Niclas Grönholm showed strong pace on the opening day, but was prevented from reaching the final due to unlucky circumstances. On Sunday, the Finnish ace got his revenge by claiming his first podium of the season with a second-place finish.
“Of course yesterday was disappointing since the speed was there to fight for the win and things that happened were out of my control. Today’s second place was the best we could wish for, no chance to fight for the win, so I’m happy with the points. We are a little bit on the backfoot in the points now, but it’s early days and we’ll try to close that gap step by step,” said Niclas Grönholm.

In the drivers’ standings, Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson share second place.

Before a large crowd on home soil, including more than 350 guests from hosting dealer Swecon, as well as team partners Parker, SSAB, and Engcon, the CE Dealer Team demonstrated its ambitions to challenge for the 2024 title with double podiums, placing the team second in the standings as they leave Höljes.

"This season start was really heading into the unknown with a new race format, new tyres, the Battle Of Technologies and totally different weather conditions between the two days. But Klara performed amazingly yesterday and Niclas today. We had decent performance in total and we have some ideas on what to improve for the coming rounds. We'll continue to push hard to improve further for Hungary," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The intense FIA World RX season continues with the return of World RX of Hungary, held in Nyirád June 27-28.

Results and standings after the FIA World RX of Sweden premiere: https://bit.ly/3ZJzbDL

24-07-07 Ännu en finalplats för Bergström
Gustav Bergström följde upp sin pallplats under lördagens tävling med ytterligare en finalplats i rallycross-VM. I den andra rundan slutade han femma - ännu ett övertygande resultat.
- Jag kom hit för att ta mig till final båda dagarna och det gjorde jag, säger Bergström.

Även Kristoffersson Motorsports andre elbilsförare, Sondre Evjen, gjorde en stark insats.
Bergström övertygade stort när han styrde in som trea i VM-premiären. Under söndagen var det tuffare förutsättningar, med stundtals extrem blöta.
- Det var hemskt. Det gick inte att se något alls i finalen, men jag var inte så långt bakom ändå.

Bergström skuggade fyran Kevin Hansen in mot mållinjen och summerade därmed en helg med beröm godkänt.
- Lördagen, tuff start, men ett bra slut. Söndagen, tuffa utmaningar hela dagen, men ett okej resultat.

Om det blir en fortsättning på VM-säsongen för Gustav återstår att se.
- Jag säger ja till allt om det går att lösa och det inte krockar med andra tävlingar.

Sondre Evjen rattade den andra elbilen och fick ett dramatiskt slut i semifinalen.
- Brandsläckaren gick igång. Jag ville inte vara kvar i bilen ifall batteriet var överhettat, säger Evjen som fick bråttom ut, men någon större fara var det inte med RX1e-bilen.

Innan dess hade norrmannen hunnit imponera rejält, med en raceseger i andra kvalomgången.
- Jag hade bra pace i Q2 och på det varvet jag hann köra i semifinalen var det väl bara Johan som var snabbare än mig. Det kändes naturligt och enkelt att komma in i elbilen. Och ännu lättare blir det med så fantastiskt folk i teamet som hjälper en framåt.

Goda råd fick han också från stallkompisen Johan Kristoffersson.
- Det finns en person som höjer sig över resten här. Det finns bra hjälp att få där.

Även Evjen vill förstås köra mer när han nu har fått smak på fartmonstren.
- Jo, självklart, men det är mycket som måste lösas då. Det kostar förstås.

KMS-chefen gav tummen upp för sina båda inhoppande förare

24-07-07 ‘Rainmaster’ Kristoffersson does the double at rallycross’ Magic Weekend
‘Battle of Technologies’ proves spectacular success first time out

Johan Kristoffersson conquered the conditions to record a 42nd career victory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship today (7 July), as the Swede comprehensively outpaced his rivals on home soil at Höljes.

The sport’s ‘Magic Weekend’ attracted more than 25,000 enthusiastic spectators, and they were treated to a sensational show of wheel-to-wheel action as World RX’s ‘Battle of Technologies’ between electric (EV) and sustainably-fuelled internal combustion (ICE) cars began in earnest.

In contrast to Saturday’s sunny skies, Sunday was characterised by heavy rain – but not even the weather could knock Kristoffersson off his stride. Leading the ICE charge, the KMS - HORSE Powertrain star – who is chasing a seventh career crown at the highest level this year – won his first heat race at a canter and then battled back from a slow start to similarly prevail in heat two.

The rain intensified before the semi-finals, but that only seemed to play further into Kristoffersson’s hands as he dominated by more than 12 seconds – an eternity in rallycross terms. From pole position in the all-important final, he similarly sped clear of the chasing pack, completing a perfect score to build a commanding 22-point championship lead.

“I’m so proud today,” the 35-year-old commented. “The conditions were extremely tricky, as were the launches. I had a little bit too much wheelspin in the final, but I managed to calm myself down and got a very good exit coming off the asphalt onto the gravel which enabled me to come back at Niclas [Grönholm]. This car is a dream to drive in the rain. I’m very happy.”

Grönholm bounced back from missing out on a spot in Saturday’s final by claiming the runner-up trophy 24 hours later for CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment. The Finn briefly looked like posing a threat in the last race of the day, but was ultimately obliged to settle for second in his electric PWE RX1e.

Ole Christian Veiby overcame a stall in the final to carve his way through to third and join stablemate Kristoffersson on the podium, with Hansen World RX Team brothers Kevin and Timmy Hansen sandwiching Gustav Bergström (Kristoffersson Motorsport) in fourth, fifth and sixth – the trio all driving electric cars. Following her starring performance on Saturday, Klara Andersson narrowly failed to advance to the final but remains second in the overall standings.

In the supporting FIA RX2e Championship, reigning title-winner Nils Andersson – competing for KMS ‘junior’ outfit Team E – belatedly celebrated his breakthrough triumph in the all-electric single-spec series, as Patrick O’Donovan repeated his ‘Magic Weekend’ success from 2023 in Euro RX1 and pre-season favourite Nils Volland raced to victory in Euro RX3.

The 2024 World RX campaign continues with another double-header weekend at Nyirád in Hungary – rallycross’ legendary ‘Red Cauldron’ – in three weeks’ time (27-28 July).

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) 5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 6.451s
3. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 8.193s
4. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 10.194s
5. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport (EV)?+ 11.301s
6. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 13.920s

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-07-07 Peter fick skulden! - Över två timmar efter tävlingen flyttas Peter ner till sista plats i finalen.
Årets magiska helg i Höljes är till ända och teamet kan blicka tillbaka på ett veckoslut med mycket action, hela vägen i mål. Filip Thorén levererade fin körning under helgen och var snubblande nära att gå vidare till finalen. Peter Hedström hade siktet inställt på pallen och lyckades komma vidare till finalen som blev en både blöt och utdragen historia. Det tog domarna över två timmar att komma fram till ett beslut efter finalerna körts.

Filip Thorén som kör teamets VW Polo i RallyX gjorde ett strålande inhopp i EM och var snubblande nära finalkörning. Thorén som hade en tung lördag med mycket stolpe ut, laddade om på söndagens regndränkta bana och plockade precis poängen som behövdes för att komma vidare till semifinal. Väl där satte han en kanonstart och när han sedan dök in i jokern och kom ut som trea från den insåg han att det var något stort på gång. Det luktade final lång väg för Filip med teamchef Peter Hedström tätt i hasorna. Hedström fick inte till starten alls och fick jaga bakom Filip i samma semifinal. Det var små marginaler när det gällde körningen, banan likade mest FlumeRide på Liseberg och det fanns ett spår att hålla sig i.
- Jag gjorde ett misstag på sista varvet, ingången i kurvan inför hoppet var bra, men flöt ut med bakänden till slut och snurrade runt, återger Filip som dock tog bilen i mål på en femteplats.

Filips snurrning öppnade upp för Peter Hedström, som gjorde en dålig start, men kunde ärva Filips tredjeplats i semin och ta sig vidare till final.
- Jag gjorde en riktigt dålig start i semin, startspåret flöt i vatten och sen slogs jag fram och tillbaka i första kurvan, men det gick ju vägen ändå, säger Peter Hedström.

Finalen i EM för Supercar blev inte mycket torrare, regnet höll i sig och starten blev hård för Schweizaren Belevskiy, som kom på tvären framför Peter Hedström och Irländaren Patrick O´Donovan. Först över mållinjen efter sex hala varv var O´Donovan. Peter halkade i mål som fyra, alldeles utanför pallen i en hyfsat svårkörd bil.
- Det var som att vara passagerare, den gick inte hantera alls, diffarna var alldeles för hårda för det här blöta föret. Jag önskade ju regn i går, men kanske inte så här mycket, ler Peter uppgivet.
Men det var inte slut här, loppet fortsatte ett race genom domarjuryn efter Belevskiy-incidenten i starten. Detta lopp pågick i över två timmar, innan juryn till slut ger Peter skulden till händelsen, trots att han gör allt för att styra undan.
- De skulle väl ha en syndabock och då ger de sig på mig som inte ska köra hela EM-serien och släpper O´Donovan som tryckte fram Belevskiy framför mig, det känns riktigt surt, avslutar Peter Hedström.

24-07-07 Kristoffersson dominerade i Höljes
Johan Kristoffersson dominerade fullständigt under den andra deltävlingen i rallycross-VM. En rak segerrad ända fram till översta steget på prispallen och därmed en dubbelseger under helgen inför 25 000 åskådare i Höljes.
- 28 poäng i första, 30 idag, två poäng från full pott. Det är nästan så perfekt det kan bli, säger KMS - HORSE Powertrain-föraren som fick sällskap av teamkompisen Ole Christian Veiby på pallen.

Väderprognosen signalerade att Kristoffersson skulle bli svårslagen under söndagens VM-runda. Regn, regn och mera regn var att vänta - lovande förutsättningar för “Kungen av regn”.
- Det gillar jag, men det här var bland det mest extrema jag har varit med om. Man flöt fram på banan.

Trots ett par mindre bra starter dominerade Johan kvalheaten. När han så satte en perfekt start i semifinalen var förstås den också avgjord.
- Kanske den bästa starten jag någonsin har gjort med en bensinbil på blött underlag. Jag försökte kopiera den i finalen, men det gick inte riktigt. Det är så oerhört små marginaler och många parametrar som spelar in.

I finalen fick Johan sällskap fram mot första kurvan av Niclas Grönholm.
- Starten var nog bra för att jag skulle kunna ta mig in framför Niclas i nästa skede, tack vare en suverän bil. Ett jättetack till teamet som har gjort ett fantastiskt jobb hela helgen.

Kristoffersson betalade tillbaka genom att ta bilen i mål i överlägsen stil. Grönholm slutade tvåa följd av Ole Christian Veiby, vars finalrace genomgick en förvandling från helvete till himmel. Han var nära parkeringsböter när bilen stannade i starten.
- Då var det långt till pallen. Detta blir svårt, tänkte jag, men det var bara att starta om och ge sig iväg.

I de kaotiska förhållandena tråcklade sig Veiby fram i fältet och halkade in som trea.
- Det blev lite payback. I den första tävlingen förtjänade vi mer, men det är starterna som inte har fungerat alls. Där måste jag hitta något.

KMS - HORSE Powertrain-chefen Tommy Kristoffersson kunde pusta ut efter en helg med mycket press och många bollar att hålla i luften.
- En stor helg för oss. För det första var det premiärhelg här hemma i Höljes, för det andra var vår nya partner på plats och för det tredje var det första tävlingen i det nya konceptet med “battle of technologies”. Att i det läget lyckas bärga en dubbelseger och dessutom två ytterligare pallplatser genom Gustav och Ole Christian är extremt bra. En eloge också till vårt sidoteam som gör rent hus. Outstanding.

Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky vann dubbelt i RX2e och förstärkte därmed KMS-dominansen.
- Jag tycker det är välförtjänt. Vi har gjort ett så gediget jobb i våra förberedelser. Under testdagarna och sedan även under första deltävlingen fick vi självförtroende och trygghet att gå vidare. Vi vet vad vi är duktiga på.

Samtidigt vet Tommy att det finns mer att göra.
- Vi ska fira den här framgången, men vara ödmjuka. Det kommer att bli tuffare. Vi kommer till banor framöver där vi inte kan dominera, men vi måste jobba med vår utvecklingspotential.

I VM-sammandraget har Johan ryckt iväg till en ledning med 22 poäng, 58 mot 36 för Niclas Grönholm och Klara Andersson på delad andra plats. Ole Christian är fyra på 35 poäng.

Nästa deltävling går i Ungern om tre veckor.

24-07-06 Kristoffersson denies Andersson fairytale finish on stellar Saturday in Sweden
‘Battle of Technologies’ lives up to its billing at Höljes’ ‘Magic Weekend’

The 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign has raced into life in breathtaking fashion as the ‘Battle of Technologies’ got underway at Ferratum World RX of Sweden today (6 July), delivering outstanding on-track action and so very nearly a fairytale finish for home hero Klara Andersson.

Andersson has made rapid progress since stepping up to World Championship level from the national scene two years ago, demonstrating her potential by ascending the podium in Portugal in 2022 and then topping a heat session in the 2023 season finale in Hong Kong.

After winning both of her heat races at Höljes behind the wheel of her electric PWR RX1e, the CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment star defeated 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen in the pair’s semi-final to earn pole position for the first time for the all-important final.

The only cloud on her horizon was the fact that pulling up alongside her on the grid in his sustainably-fuelled, combustion-powered VW Polo KMS 601 RX was Johan Kristoffersson – the most successful driver in World RX history with no fewer than 55 victories and six titles to his name. Make that 56 wins now, as the Swede out-dragged Andersson away from the start-line and thereafter edged away to triumph by a shade over two seconds.

Kristoffersson’s run to the final had not been entirely without drama. He benefitted from a late technical issue for Niclas Grönholm to score maximum points in heat one, and took the chequered flag first again in heat two only to subsequently be demoted to third due to contact with Grönholm that sent the Finn into a spectacular 360-degree spin.

From there on, however, the KMS - Horse Powertrain ace was flawless, and after snatching the advantage away from Andersson when the lights went out in the final, he punched in five perfect laps to get his quest for a seventh career crown off to a superb start.
“I’m very happy,” acknowledged Kristoffersson. “When it came down to the wire, I got a very good launch and in clear air, the VW is really fast. I felt very comfortable, had a good rhythm and made no mistakes. Big thanks to the team – everybody has put in a huge effort to get this car to the grid.”

Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a dream result, Andersson was justifiably delighted with the runner-up spoils – her finest result in World RX to-date, leaving her tied at the summit of the championship standings with Kristoffersson.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved,” the 24-year-old enthused. “The team worked incredibly hard over the winter to put together an amazing package and I felt confident from free practice. I tried to stay with Johan in the final, but he’s champion for a reason. I didn’t quite have it all today, but I’m super happy anyway.”

Gustav Bergström rounded out the rostrum in third for Kristoffersson Motorsport, with Hansen World RX Team’s Timmy Hansen fending off Ole Christian Veiby (KMS - Horse Powertrain) and younger brother Kevin Hansen for fourth, as heats pace-setter Grönholm narrowly failed to progress to the final.

Nils Andersson holds the overnight lead in RX2e, with Patrick O’Donovan and João Ribeiro topping the table in Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 respectively.

The ‘Magic Weekend’ continues on Sunday with round two of the World RX campaign and the conclusion of the support series battles. The racing will be broadcast live on Rally.TV from 10:15 CEST.

FINAL RESULT: WORLD RX
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) 5 laps
2. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Dealer Team (EV) + 2.159s
3. Gustav BERGSTRÖM (SWE) Kristoffersson Motorsport (EV) + 3.428s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 4.170s
5. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS - Horse Powertrain (ICE) + 5.032s
6. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV) + 4.815s*
* +1 place penalty

Full results for all categories can be found at www.fiaworldrallycross.com

24-07-06 Bergström på pallen i VM-comebacken
Gustav Bergström levererade en tredjeplats till Kristoffersson Motorsport i VM-premiären i Höljes efter att ha rattat en av teamets elbilar på ett förnämligt sätt.
- Jag hade inte förväntat mig att få stå på pallen idag, säger en glad men överraskad Gustav.

Förutom Johan Kristoffersson och Ole Christian Veiby i de nybyggda ICE-bilarna så mönstrade KMS två elbilar med Sondre Evjen och Gustav Bergström i förarbesättningen.

Båda grabbarna hittade farten snabbt på den legendariska banan i norra Värmland. I slutänden var det Bergström som noterade den bästa placeringen när han följde upp en stark kvalificering med att köra hem tredjeplatsen i finalen.
- Jag hade en knackig warmup, men sedan gick det bättre och bättre. I finalen såg jag inte så mycket vad som hände i starten, men plötsligt var jag trea.

Därifrån tittade han aldrig bakåt mot jagande bröderna Hansen utan drygade istället ut avståndet.
- Jag hade mest fokus framåt och att försöka komma närmare Johan.

En övertygande insats i rallycrosscomebacken!
- Senast jag körde bilen var för precis ett år sedan här i Höljes, påminner Gustav.

Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson var imponerad och kanske lite överraskad, fast ändå inte.
- Jag har ju sagt hela tiden att det passar honom att köra rallycross. Idag körde han verkligen till sig en tredjeplats. Han fick den inte på grund av att andra gjorde misstag, utan han förtjänade sin position på startplattan genom ett bra kval och han förtjänade sin plats på pallen efter en kontrollerad och mogen körning i finalen.

För Sondre Evjen tog lördagens äventyr slut i semifinalen, men även han visade positiva tendenser.
- Jag är ändå nöjd med insatsen. Det var några små grejer som gick fel och som fick ett stort utslag, men tempot var bra.

En oturlig punktering försvårade kvalinsatsen och i semifinalen blev det lite handhavandefel med torkare och spolning, vilket gjorde att rutan la igen.
- Jag fick på torkarna, men inte vattnet, så jag såg ingenting nerför backen.

Evjen hoppas få bättre ordning på starterna under söndagen för att därmed kunna hävda sig.
- Det ser ut att bli regn, så det blir spännande, menar en förhoppningsfull Evjen.

24-07-05 Johan Kristoffersson skrev rallycrosshistoria än en gång!
Den sexfaldige världsmästaren vann den första VM-deltävlingen i “Battle of Technologies”. Seger direkt för nya teamet KMS - HORSE Powertrain.
- Jag är så glad att vi lyckades vinna med vår nya partner på plats här i Höljes och efter den otroliga arbetsinsats teamet har gjort.

Förbränningsmotorn vann alltså över elbilen i det första slaget mellan de olika teknologierna, men det var oerhört jämnt mellan de båda koncepten under första tävlingsdagen. Den avgörande detaljen var den superstart som Kristoffersson levererade i finalen.
- Den var go’! När det väl gällde som mest så var den riktigt bra.

Som så ofta när det gäller världens mest framgångsrike rallycrossförare genom tiderna. Teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson hade nerverna utanpå under premiärdagen, men var ganska lugn när det var dags för final med Johan i första startledet.
- Jag kände mig trygg när han styrde fram till ruta två, inte bara för att jag vet att Johan alltid levererar när det gäller som mest, men också för att hans meritlista påverkar de andra runt omkring.

Just startmomentet var den förmodade svaga punkten för ICE-bilarna jämfört med EV-ditona. Det syntes också under dagen, men Kristoffersson junior hittade allt bättre detaljer för att optimera sina möjligheter.
- Vi vågade och vann i finalen, säger Johan, som hade en liten störning på vägen fram mot segern.

Efter att ha vunnit första racet så var han också först till mållinjen i andra kvalomgången, men fick en bestraffning på två positioner efter att ha touchat Niclas Grönholm över hoppet. En liten beröring i luften som fick Grönholm att snurra.
- Det är svårt att bromsa i luften, men man är ansvarig för sin bil, medger Johan, som ändå fick ruta 1 i semifinalen, där han vann före teamkamraterna Ole Christian Veiby och Gustav Bergström.

För Veiby blev det ruta 4 i semifinalen, inte det optimala.
- Det beryktade fjärdespåret. Jag visste att det skulle komma att bli trångt in i första sväng, säger Ole Christian, som fick en jobbig resa efter att ha varit ute i sandfållan.
- Jag tappade massvis där.

Veiby fick nöja sig med en sjätteplats i finalen.
- Klart att jag hade hoppats på mer men det är som det är.

I täten defilerade Kristoffersson hem segern före Klara Andersson och stallkamraten Gustav Bergström.
- Vi måste vara otroligt nöjda med det här. För några månader sedan parkerade vi de kanske bästa rallycrossbilarna någonsin - våra elbilar - och gick över till förbränning. Istället skulle vi ställa om våra helt nybyggda bilar med förbränningsmotorer till att bli VM-bilar. En stor eloge till teamet som har orkat med det här och gjort det så framgångsrikt.

Teamchef Tommy instämmer i den hyllningskören.
- Vi var satta under press, men hanterade det på rätt sätt. Vi följde upp de indikationer vi fick på testet och fattade bra beslut. Idag utnyttjade vi materialet till max.

En indikation om att det förstås fortfarande finns mycket jobb att göra.
- Det finns saker att jobba på - absolut.

Redan under söndagens race - VM-runda nr 2 - blir förutsättningarna ändrade, med förväntat regn över Höljes.
- En helt annan väderlek väntas, men regn brukar också passa oss bra, säger Johan Kristoffersson, som ligger i delad VM-ledning med Klara Andersson efter första dagen. I teammästerskapet leder KMS - HORSE Powertrain på 43 poäng före CE Dealerteam på 38.

Det nya formatet med poängräkningen var annars en diskussionsfråga under dagen. Samma förare möts återkommande i kvalomgångarna och bara placeringar räknas, inga tider.
- Jag är inte helt säker på att jag gillar det nya systemet. Det kan finnas anledning att se över det, menar Tommy Kristoffersson avslutningsvis.

24-07-04 Nya designen klar - Nu kör vi! - Hela fem bilar till start i årets folkfest i Höljes för Hedströms Motorsport
Här är årets design på bilen. Det är dags! Rallycrossens Svenska mecka börjar fyllas på. Lilla byn Höljes med Peter Hedströms hemmaklubb Finnskoga MK börjar befolkas. Hela teamet är på väg mot ännu en Magisk Weekend. Välfyllt blir det i Hedströms Motorsports tält, med inte mindre än fem bilar totalt som drivs av teamet i helgens tävlingar. Årets Svenska rallycrossfest kan starta.

Som vi tidigare berättat så är det Peter Hedström och Filip Thorén som båda kommer bjuda på action under lördagens och söndagens EM-deltävling. Årets rookie i teamet, 22-årige Filip Thorén, har gått från klarhet till klarhet under årets inledande sex deltävlingar i RallyX. Han känner sig nu mogen för nya utmaningar. I fjol stod han på Höljes startlinje i elbilsklassen RX2e. I år är det tyngre artilleri som gäller för den coola Hallsbergsbon som nu gör EM-debut i Supercar.

Ändringen i EM-reglerna till att köra på placering istället för på tid, som i Folkrace, är de båda spända på att få uppleva. Både Peter och Filip började sin karriär i just Folkrace och är van vid hårda tag. Första kurvan kommer bli en utmaning.
- Jag släpper inte i första taget i alla fall, slår Filip Thorén fast.
Att sedan Peter Hedström kommer släppa en placering i första kurvan, det finns ju inte ens på kartan.
- Det kommer bli hårdare tag helt klart, men det passar mig som handsken, menar Hedström.
Under Hedströms Motorsports flagg ställs även två rallybilar till start under fredagens Magiska Rallysprint. Peters far Anders Hedström rattar Kenneth Thomassons vinnarbil från Rally Sweden Historic, en fyrhjulsdriven Mazda 323 GTR. Uppvärmningen blev kort, några sladdar runt verkstan, sedan var Anders helt klar över bilens duglighet och är riktigt segersugen. Peter citerar sin far efter testrundan.
- Det kommer bli som att knycka godis från småbarnen att vinna i den här.
Rallybil nummer två blir också en Historisk bil med ingen mindre än Volvo-esset och Youtube-stjärnan Tim Liljegren. Givetvis i en Volvo 242, som Anders Rådströms Trailertransport ställer upp med till sprinttävlingen i Höljes.
- Jag vill rikta en stor eloge till Kenneth och Anders för att de ställer sina bilar till förfogande, säger Peter Hedström.

Sist men inte minst årets joker i leken hos Hedströms. Vi pratar om förre driftingstjärnan Johan Lundgren, far till teamets Crosscar Junior-rookie Hugo Lundgren. Pappa Johan har inte kört en meter rallycross tidigare och gör sin rallycrossdebut på Höljesbanan i Supercar Lites. Detta efter ett handslag över en middag på Finlandsfärjan hem från RallyX i Kouvola. Rallycrosslicensen är rykande färsk, endast någon dag gammal.
- Johan har försökt backa ur, men ett handslag är ett handslag, ler Peter med glimten i ögat.
Någon dununge på att ratta bil är dock inte Lundgren, som tidigare framgångsrikt tävlat i drifting på hög nivå i en Volvo-motoriserad bakhjulsdriven Saab 9-3 Sport Combi.

Teamet är på tå och redo för årets magiska helg i Höljes startar nu i morgon fredag med Rallysprint och SM i Supercar Lites och Crosscar XC, för att sedan fortsätta under lördag och söndag med EM och VM-klasserna i Rallycross.

24-07-04 FC2s shine at Älvsbyn
After a first foray into the RallyX championship at the opening stage of the 2024 season at Tierp in early May, the FC2 concept cars returned to action at Älvsbyn last weekend, the OMSE developed cars made quite an impression, to say the least.

With two cars in the hands of Oliver and Kevin Eriksson, the FC2s, still very much within their scheduled development phase, made the most of the initial days racing of the weekend's two races to claim their maiden podium positions in their first real appearance in official competition.

Seventh in the intermediate standings on Saturday, Oliver Eriksson's best performance came in Q2, when he posted the fourth-fastest time in the category. Consistent throughout Race 1, Oliver even managed to set the third fastest lap of Q1, while never leaving the top five in terms of pure speed.

His efficiency was confirmed in the final when he crossed the line in second place, just ahead of team-mate Kevin Eriksson, who took the opportunity to complete the overall podium of the weekend.

However, with the pace that Kevin Eriksson was setting during the course of the day, he would have hoped for a better result than third place at the end of the day. His more than impressive qualification pace against the Supercars, which resulted in the second fastest absolute time in Q2, he also set the second fastest lap of the race in Q3, while maintaining his position in the top three in terms of pure speed in both the semi-final and final.

With the second day looming, and further development changes being made to the cars overnight, the second day’s proceedings for the team were bought to an abrupt halt. Kevin Eriksson was forced to retire following a first corner race incident in Q1 which resulted in a red flag to recover the cars. Whilst the crashed FC2 was able to continue, the team took the decision to focus its attention on Oliver Eriksson confirming the current form of the FC2 cars.

Consistent in qualification, with three runs ending in the top five of the category on each occasion, Oliver Eriksson only just missing out on a second consecutive podium finish for the FC2 in the second final of the weekend with a fourth-place finish, but significantly made his mark on the statistics by setting the fourth fastest lap of the event.

These overall performances of the weekend were not to the displeasure of Olsbergs-MSE and of course to FirstCorner who are responsible for the sale of FC2 here in Europe and NEXT EVO in the USA.

Designed and developed to match the performance levels of classic Supercars, Kevin and Oliver Eriksson perfectly fulfilled the mission entrusted to them by Olsbergs-MSE within this continuing development programme.

Andreas Eriksson // CEO of Olsbergs-MSE
“We obviously needed to put our cars through their paces in official racing to analyse where we were effective and where we needed to make progress. We now have a more accurate picture of our product, which will enable us to continue our development work"
“Our goal for this first weekend was obviously to collect as much data as possible. We were able to take advantage of having two cars to move forward more quickly and test different things to get as much information as possible. In particular, we tried different engine maps to see how we could adjust our 'push to pass' and what reference power we should use next September when our FC2s will make their first official appearance in the Nitrocross Championship.”

“The data we collected showed us that we could have placed both cars on the top two steps of the podium in Race 1, which is a real achievement. However, the most important thing for us was to see the interest in our FC2 concept in the paddock. It's great to see how our new FC2 platform is proving to be the ideal solution for many young drivers, who see it as the best way to become the future stars of rallycross.”

Kevin Morris // Sales Director of FIRST Corner
“We have stated from the very start of this programme that participation within this series formed a major part of the FC2 development programme as we work towards a fully developed car for the US Nitrocross series starting in September and a full out attack against the Supercars in this series next year.”

“We have come a long way in such a short period of time. Some would say its not good to carryout your development in public, but we disagree with that. Being in this series with the levels of competitiveness of the current Supercars provides us with the exact approach of development we need in the time scales we have available.”

“We are extremely happy with the results we have achieved this weekend, and we know there is more to come, but most significantly, is the interest that the FC2 car is continuing to generate within the paddock”

24-07-04 Kampen om VM-guld börjar i Höljes
Höljes-helg, The Magic Weekend, och äntligen VM-premiär i rallycross! Dessutom med “The battle of technologies”, den nya kampen mellan förbränningsmotorer och eldrift.
- Intressant med en hel racehelg som kanske sätter tonen för resten av säsongen, en fingervisning om vad vi kan förvänta oss, säger regerande världsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson i KMS - HORSE Powertrain.

En första indikation gav två dagars test på Höljes-banan under måndag och tisdag. Snabbast? Johan Kristoffersson - precis som vanligt alltså, trots extra vikt i den nybyggda VW Polo KMS 601 RX.
- Jag är väldigt förvånad att vi var så snabba. Det är så många nya saker att jobba med på våra nybyggda bilar men vi är längre fram än jag trodde att vi skulle vara redan.

Totalt sett var det mycket jämna resultat under testvarven, vilket ger en signal om att det kommer att bli tät och tuff racing under kommande helg.
- Vi tävlar med en ny typ av däck i år och det gäller att förstå sig på det så fort som möjligt. Även om jag var snabbast de här dagarna så tror jag att de andra har stor potential för utveckling.

Ett viktigt moment blir förstås - precis som alltid i rallycross - starterna, där elbilarna spås ha en viss fördel. Det momentet har inte testats bil-mot-bil ännu.
- Det är med skräckblandad förtjusning man ställer sig på startlinjen för den första starten. Det är så många andra faktorer än att bara vara snabb på ett enskilt varv som kommer till under en racehelg. Förutom starterna så är det också tillbaka till den viktiga jokerstrategin och mycket annat, påpekar Johan Kristoffersson.

Teamkamraten Ole Christian Veiby imponerade också under testdagarna. Under tisdagen var Johan snabbast med Ole Christian som tvåa. Positiva signaler under många störningsfria rundor.
- Det blev en antal varv, även om jag gärna hade kört några till. Men vi har fått en hel del bra svar och har koll på det mesta. Det finns potential i bilen, säger Veiby.

Även Ole Christian är överraskad över teamets tidiga leverans.
- Det var väl inte riktigt det vi förväntade oss, men test är test. Nu ska vi starta vid sidan av elbilen också. Då får vi se hur det går.

Tommy Kristoffersson, teamchef i KMS - HORSE Powertrain, instämmer i den positiva kören från testdagarna.
- Över förväntan. Jag är överraskad, trodde inte vi skulle vara så bra med, men sedan får vi se hur det blir när aspekten med starterna kommer med. Där är jag lite orolig för vår del.

Imponerad är också Tommy över att teamet kommer till start med fyra bilar i Höljes. Förutom Johan och Ole Christian i ICE-bilarna, även Sondre Evjen och Gustav Bergström i teamets elbilar Volkswagen RX1e, tävlande i Kristoffersson Motorsports namn.
- Snudd på världsrekord att lyckas få fyra bilar till start på så kort tid. Det är en heroisk insats av teamet, ett outstanding jobb av alla inblandade. Jag är otroligt stolt, säger Tommy.

Och faktiskt har teamet också med sig en femte bil. Johan och Ole Christian ska redan under fredagen köra Rally Magic med VW Polo GTI R5-bilen på en specialdesignad bana runt tävlingsområdet.

Under lördag och söndag blir det sedan två separata tävlingar i World RX, de två första av tio i årets mästerskap.

Regerande mästarteamet inleder härmed sin jakt på att försvara såväl förar- som teammästerskap, hemma i Höljes.

24-07-04 CE Dealer Team aims high for third FIA World RX season with pioneering 'Battle of Technologies'
Construction Equipment Dealer Team by Volvo CE is aiming high as it embarks on its third season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) at Höljes in Sweden this weekend.

This new Battle of Technologies format will see all-electric RX1e cars of CE Dealer Team competing head-to-head with sustainably-fueled combustion-powered vehicles, marking a new era of world rallycross.

“We are feeling determined ahead of the season start, setting our goals higher than ever. The 2024 season will no doubt be the toughest so far with a lot of new changes, but we are nonetheless ready to compete for the top honours in both the drivers’ and teams’ championship,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

“Our team and partners have worked tirelessly throughout the winter to improve every aspect of our performance, especially as there are other new key changes such as the ‘Battle of Technologies’, new tyres and a different race format.”

There will be a brand new Equivalence of Technology system (EoT) in play to equalise the differences in performance between the electric and ICE race cars, a system which will evolve and improve throughout the season to ensure a level playing field.

“This will obviously be a key aspect to the credibility and competitiveness of the championship and we have full confidence that this will be handled professionally throughout the season by the organisers,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

The historic premiere of the new and innovative formula will take place on home soil in Sweden during the “Magic Weekend” double header curtain-raiser in Höljes.

CE Dealer Team enters the season after claiming the teams’ championship silver medal and seven-time FIA World RX event winner Niclas Grönholm the drivers' bronze last year.

The Finnish star aims to end his streak of three consecutive bronze medal finishes in the championship as he chases the highly sought-after FIA World Rallycross world title.

“It has been a long break before this season. Fortunately, I've been able to do some driving here in Finland, which has helped me feel quite prepared,” said Niclas Grönholm.

“I'm excited to be back racing the RX1e cars and it’s going to be interesting to see how the 'Battle of Technologies' plays out. There are also a lot of new aspects, like the new format and new tires to get used to. There are still a few unknowns, but I believe we will be well-prepared to race in Höljes, and I'm confident we're going to have a great season. Our goal is firmly set as high as possible.”

24-year-old Swede Klara Andersson enters her third season of top-level world rallycross, having finished seventh in the championship for the past two seasons.

"I am incredibly excited to finally kick off this season, especially with my home race in Höljes. Our expectations for the season are high, with many changes, including the 'Battle of Technologies' that everyone is looking forward to, and brand new tires I think will change things a lot,” said Klara Andersson.

“This is my third year with CE Dealer Team, and I am more ready than ever to start the season with the team, our partners, and Volvo CE. Niclas and I will do everything we can to fight for the title, but it is a world championship, so it will for sure be tough."

The 'Battle of Technologies' World RX season premiere will feature the all-electric CE Dealer Team facing experienced opponents, including reigning World Champion Johan Kristoffersson, now driving a sustainably-fueled combustion car, and last year’s runner-up Kevin Hansen, racing an electric car.

Other key changes for the 2024 season include new tyres from Hoosier and a new race format.

“The race format will be something totally new, before we used to race against the time until we got to the semi final stage. But now it’s all about position, so I think we will see rallycross in all of its beauty,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.

CE Dealer Team will once again line up with its pair of fully electric PWR RX1e, featuring the sports first gender-equal driver line-up of Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson – a key part of the team and its partners’ ambition to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers.

The double header premiere World RX of Sweden, known as the "Magic Weekend", takes place at the Höljes track in north Värmland, near the Norway border. This major event draws over 50,000 spectators to a village of just over 100 inhabitants.

CE Dealer Team will have more than 350 guests on site in Höljes from hosting dealer Swecon, as well as from team partners Parker, SSAB and Engcon.

Volvo Construction Equipment continues as the official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Höljes to showcase its so far biggest range of electric wheel loaders during a race weekend, including the new L90 Electric and L120 Electric, as well as its innovative services.

The World RX of Sweden weekend starts on Saturday with practice, followed by round one of the championship and round two on Sunday.

The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.

The full World RX of Sweden schedule is available here.

24-07-04 JC Raceteknik Höljes Euro RX Announcement
JC Raceteknik har dragit tillbaka Jens Hvaal, Audi S1 #12 och Mats Ohman, Audi S1 #54 från FIA European Rallycross Championship (RX1) tävlingen i Höljes denna helgen, samt alla återstående deltävlingar i 2024 års mästerskap.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Teamchef:
"Vi kommer inte att delta i Euro RX i Höljes denna helg. Vi har haft många diskussioner fram och tillbaka med Adaptions Working Group (AWG) från FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission om Mats deltagande. Eftersom de har beslutat att inte utfärda ett Anpassningscertifikat (CoA) för att Mats ska kunna köra, kommer vi inte att delta med båda bilarna.

Vi har arbetat i många år tillsammans med FIA för att försöka hitta bra lösningar för Mats att tävla, med förändringar av buren, skydd för det hydrauliska systemet och andra saker. Vi känner att det FIA nu vill att vi ska göra med bilen inte är säkert för Mats.

Det är sant att vi kunde ha gjort några av de ändringar som FIA begärde, men vi känner också att saker kunde ha varit mer flexibla för att tillåta Mats att köra, som han gör i många serier, inklusive att vara en av de snabbaste förarna i RallyX förra helgen. Han har många gånger bevisat sin förmåga och bilen har visat sig vara säker från de raceincidenter han har haft.

Som ett team har vi dragit tillbaka våra planer att tävla i Euro RX i år, både för Mats och Jens Hvaal. Vi kommer istället att fokusera på vårt deltagande i serierna RallyX och Nitrocross.

Men vi kommer fortsätta att stödja Finskoga MK och bjuda på en show för åskådarna i Höljes på fredag denna vecka under The Magic Weekend med två Supercar Lites och två rallybilar."

Mats Ohman:
"Jag känner att jag än en gång blir berövad det jag verkligen älskar, det bästa för mig är att vara i en tävlingsbil, speciellt i Höljes. Vidare känner jag att FIA inte har förståelsen för mitt handikapp. Vi vet vad de vill att vi ska ändra, men vi känner fortfarande att de ändringarna inte gör det säkert för mig i bilen."

24-07-02 Säsongspremiär i Höljes för Team E, med Nils och Mikaela
Värmländska Team E föddes 2023, en hållbar motorsportsatsning med förarna Nils Andersson och Mikaela Åhlin Kottulinsky. Premiäråret slutade över förväntan med EM-guld och EM-brons, och med ett års erfarenhet i bagaget så har inte förväntningarna skruvats ner.

Resultaten gav mersmak då värmlänningarna visade att de är med för att kriga om segrarna. Förra året kom Nils och Mikaela till finaltävlingen i Tyskland som etta och tvåa i mästerskapet efter en övertygande säsong.
- ”Vi vet att vi är snabba, men vet samtidigt att ingenting är klart förrän finaltävlingen. Konkurrenterna har inte legat på latsidan i förberedelserna, så det gäller att prestera på topp för att lyckas. Förra året var det oerhört viktigt att vinna mästerskapet, vilket gjorde att jag ofta valde att ta det säkra före det osäkra. I år kan jag köra med axlarna nere och har inte lika mycket att bevisa, så målsättningen blir att vinna mästerskapet, men också att vinna deltävlingar”, berättar en förväntansfull Nils Andersson.

Till årets säsong är det nya element att lära sig, som ett helt nytt tävlingsdäck och ett nytt tävlingsformat. En ny däckleverantör betyder andra inställningar på bilen och att lära sig att anpassa körningen till däckets egenskaper. Nya tävlingsformatet gör att starten blir ännu viktigare än tidigare, och placeringen i varje heat blir avgörande istället för tiden.

Bilen och teamet bakom är de samma som förra året, där bilen drivs i samarbete med Världsmästarteamet Kristoffersson Motorsport.
- ”Höljes är min absoluta favoritbana under EM serien. Förra året ledde jag med tre kurvor kvar och det här året är målsättningen att det ska hålla hela vägen, säger Nils som redan är på plats i Höljes.

Mikaela gjorde en fantastisk säsong 2023 och var den som överraskade mest av alla, med en delseger i Belgien och en slutlig tredjeplats i mästerskapet.
- ” Det var fantastiskt att kunna sluta på en total 3:e placering förra året. - När året började var mitt mål att i slutet av säsongen kunna ha samma speed som toppförarna, – ett mål jag känner att jag uppfyllt. I år har jag satt upp samma målsättning, att vara bland toppförarna och fortsätta att pusha mig själv att lära mig mer om rallycross. Men med en ny sorts däck i år så är det mycket att lära sig att anpassa sig till dem och hitta rätt känsla för att maximera farten. Förra säsongen var en brant inlärningskurva till rallycrossvärlden, och med nya banor som kommer till i år skulle jag säga att utmaningen är densamma”, säger Mikaela inför premiärtävlingen.

24-07-01 Hansen World RX Team targets strong start at World RX season-opener
Returning to its home track at Höljes this week for the opening double-header of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship (6-7 July), the most historic outfit in rallycross will be looking to channel their past success at the venue into a strong start to the 2024 season.

The last time the team, part of the wider Hansen Motorsport organisation, visited Höljes in Sweden for the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ event also marks the last time the Peugeot 208 RX1e cars were put to the test in the rallycross arena.

2019 World RX Champion Timmy Hansen secured second at the 2023 World RX of Sweden, having taken his first win at Höljes in 2021 as part of a thrilling Hansen 1-2 with his brother and 2016 European Rallycross Champion Kevin Hansen.

The siblings are hungrier than ever to repeat that performance on home soil, off the back of a strong finish to last season and a productive winter at Hansen Motorsport Headquarters.

Höljes is also where the World RX teams took part in the first official electric test. On this occasion the Hansen squad will be putting their all-electric Peugeot 208s to the test against combustion counterparts as part of the newly introduced ‘Battle of Technologies’.

With testing getting underway today (1-2 July) and racing commencing this weekend (6-7 July), watch the action unfold on Rally.TV, via the World RX website, and on the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “We’ve really been looking forward to getting back on track again. With the ‘Battle of Technologies’, running electric against ICE cars, it is very tricky to predict what will happen. We have worked on as many things as we have been allowed to, and we feel that we have improved the car, so hopefully we can be fighting for victories right from the start this weekend.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “It feels great getting the season underway in Höljes. It’s the Magic Weekend, it’s the home race, and it has been a year since we last drove the RX1e cars. I can’t wait to experience the power of those cars again and to see how we stand against the ICE cars in the first race.
“So, there are a lot of exciting new features and a lot of great drivers, and it’s a new season with a fresh start. We had a great end to last year, so hopefully our learnings over the winter and technical development have taken us a step forward and we can compete for the world championship.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “It’s very exciting to be starting the new season back in our Peugeot 208 RX1e cars. We have been very focused on improving our package since the last time we were on track, so to come back with this car now and get all our updates in place during the test, while also getting used to how the new tyre works, will be a very intense process.
“I think the new tyre will be a big change. It hasn’t been talked about a lot, but that will change things a lot in terms of how we need to drive the car, especially when we only have two days of testing. That is a short time to get used to things, but I hope we put on a good show for the fans and, on top of that, that it goes well for us!"

24-07-01 #Yellowsquad heads to Höljes for RX2e season opener
The opening round of the FIA RX2e Championship kicks off this weekend at Höljes, 6-7 July, and the #Yellowsquad crew are aiming for the top step of the podium at their home event.

After a long off-season, the #Yellowsquad team are ready to kickstart another thrilling RX2e season with a strong driver line-up confirmed for the opener.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, home favourite Isak Sjökvist will be hoping to mimic his opening-round heroics from last season in Hell, Norway where he took the win. The Swedish-born ace would continue this form going into the second round at Höljes, claiming a third-place finish to maintain his championship lead.

Sjökvist narrowly missed out on the championship title last year, but with that experience now under his belt he firmly has his sights set on taking the crown in 2024.

Partnering Sjökvist in Höljes, Molly Taylor returns to #Yellowsquad for two rounds of RX2e action this year. In 2023, Taylor did a partial RX2e campaign, whilst also competing alongside Kevin Hansen in Extreme E, taking on the tracks at Mettet in Belgium and the season finale at Estering in Germany.

Although Höljes will be a new challenge for Taylor to face, last year’s seat time could prove vital.

Often hailed as one of the toughest events to win on the rallycross calendar, Höljes puts extra pressure on the drivers fighting at the front. The Höljes crowd is always a standout on the RX2e calendar, especially for #Yellowsquad who always put on a show for the home fans cheering in yellow.

The 2024 FIA RX2e series will be supporting four rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship: Sweden, Hungary (27-28 July), Belgium (17-18 August) and Portugal (7-8 September).

Shooting for the top spot in the standings at every round, #Yellowsquad will aim to utilise the home advantage to begin a strong 2024 campaign.

Molly Taylor and Isak Sjökvist
#YellowSquad Drivers
Isak Sjökvist has been eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 RX2e season, noting: “I’m excited to finally hit the track again after a long time since the last race in the RX2e Championship. I was gutted to not be racing in France, but that did not stop me from continuing with preparations for the season opener, which now gets to be in Höljes, Sweden.

“It’s always a special feeling to race on home soil and at such an iconic track. It’s a new year and a new opportunity, so I’ll stay humble throughout every race, and always give 100 percent. I’m feeling better prepared than ever, so let’s see what the weekend brings us.”

Molly Taylor, said: “I’m really excited to get back into the RX2e car, particularly at Höljes. I spectated there 10 years ago, which was my first time watching Rallycross and it blew my mind. So, it’s pretty surreal to come back and be in the driver’s seat!”
Eric Färén
Team Principal
Isak is looking for revenge. He has never felt that Höljes is a track that fits him, but we had a test there and he’s really excited. He has a lot of podiums but never a win at Höljes, so I think that’s the main goal.

Molly is also excited for this year now that she has more mileage after testing and feels more prepared. I think she will be quicker from the beginning now she’s used to the format and the car.

We’re very happy to have these two drivers and the team cannot wait to start the season at our home event.

24-07-01 Joni Turpeinen hits the nail on the head in Älvsbyn
Leader of the Open 4WD Pro and Pro Am categories since the previous round in Kouvola, the 15-year-old Finn confirmed that his performances since the start of the championship were no fluke.

In Supercar Lites, Lukas Andersson took advantage of Race 2 at Älvsbyn to consolidate his position at the top of the standings alongside Simon Tiger in the Open 2WD class.

Finally, at the end of a brilliant weekend, Hampus Hagström regained the lead in the Junior category. Elias Svensson also performed well, capitalising on race 2 to steal first place in the overall CrossCar Senior standings from Ronalds Baldins.

Open 4WD Pro // Joni Turpeinen above the fray
Joni Turpeinen led the intermediate classification after clinching qualification ahead of Mats Öhman, Maiko Tamm and Martin Enlund, but made short work of his rivals in the final.

The 15-year-old Finn had the best start and was never really challenged. After Johan Kristoffersson, Yury Belevskiy, Filip Martinsson and Maiko Tamm, Joni Turpeinen became the fifth different driver to take the top step of the podium this year, finishing ahead of Maiko Tamm and Filip Martinsson, while Oliver Eriksson completed the top four ahead of Mats Öhman and Martin Enlund.

Joni Turpeinen’s performance gives him a 13-point lead over Maiko Tamm, while Filip Martinsson and Martin Enlund share third place overall, 22 points behind the championship leader.

Open 4WD Pro Am // Same old, same old for Joni Turpeinen
While Joni Turpeinen had to wait until Race 2 at Älvsbyn for his first career win in the Pro category, the trend is different in the Pro Am championship, where the Finn continues to impress.

Indeed, Joni Turpeinen’s third consecutive win on Sunday ahead of Martin Enlund and Mats Öhman saw him continue his massive campaign of demolition.

In addition to his three wins, Turpeinen has already claimed five podiums in six races.

On his way to Älvsbyn with a four-point advantage over Martin Enlund in the overall standings, Turpeinen now has a ten-point lead over his Swedish rival. In the battle for third place overall, Filip Martinsson (77 points), Mats Öhman (75) and Filip Thorén (68) are separated by just nine points.

Supercar Lites // Lukas Andersson back on track
After two consecutive races without a single podium finish to his name, Lukas Andersson needed to turn things around in race 2 at Älvsbyn.

Despite qualification being won for the third time in six races by Casper Jansson, Lukas Andersson managed to reverse the trend in the final stages, taking his fourth win of the season ahead of Casper Jansson and Julien Meunier.

Simon Olofsson, who had started from pole position, lost everything as soon as he exited the first turn with a spectacular series of rolls from which he emerged completely uninjured.

Fourth in the final, Tobias Daarbak was unable to secure a fourth podium in six races, but he took advantage of Simon Olofsson’s problems to regain provisional third place in the overall standings.

For his part, Lukas Andersson has a 15-point advantage over Casper Jansson going into rounds 7 and 8 of the 2024 season at Nysum at the beginning of August.

Open 2WD // Simon Tiger takes care of his stats
While Viktor Johansson was expected to react logically on his home turf in Älvsbyn, nothing really worked out for the local man.

For the third consecutive time this year, the Mercedes driver was unable to score a single podium finish.

His slump in form has helped Simon Tiger on his way to a third title in the Open 2WD category thanks to his fifth win in six races.

However, it has to be said that the BMW M3 driver didn’t have as much margin left as usual at Älvsbyn.

In fact, in Race 1, Linus Westman and Adam Öhman shared victory in the three qualifying heats. This was repeated in Race 2, with Westman winning Q1 before handing over to Öhman in Q2.

In fact, it wasn’t until Q3 that Simon Tiger was finally able to set his first fastest time of the weekend.
Nevertheless, the consistency displayed by the championship leader enabled him to make the difference by winning the weekend’s two races and increasing his overall lead over Viktor Johansson to 34 points.

While Adam Öhman took advantage of his foray into the RallyX championship to claim a second consecutive podium finish, Kenneth Konge proved to be a real handful, taking second place in race 2.

Able to set the second fastest lap on the second day of racing behind Adam Öhman, the Danish driver was able to take third place overall from Rasmus Berggren.

CrossCar // Elias Svensson leads the championship
Elias Svensson was neck-and-neck with Ronalds Baldins for first place in the overall standings prior to the Älvsbyn event, but had little success in Race 1 on Saturday following an engine failure in the semi-final.

This time, the Swede set about rectifying the situation. Third in the intermediate classification despite a DNF in Q3, the Casmat driver went on to claim his third win of the season ahead of the previous day’s winner Thomas Eek Murstad and Martin Juga.

Riku Huuhka, who was in contention for a place on the podium, lost everything at the end of the race following a mistake and, unintentionally, dragged down one of the weekend’s most prominent names, Romet Tsirna.

Although the Estonian driver managed to win the intermediate classification twice in a row this weekend, he will have to be patient if he is to claim his first career RallyX victory.

Fourth in the overall standings, Romet Tsirna is just 19 points behind third-placed Ronalds Baldins, whose run of five consecutive qualifications for a final ended on Sunday.

New overall leader Elias Svensson has a lead of just six points over reigning RallyX runner-up Thomas Eek Murstad.

Junior CrossCar // Hampus Hagström set the mood in the Junior class
There wasn’t much of a game in the Junior category. While we were expecting another great duel between Hampus Hagström and Olliver Sollie, the Swedish driver quickly sealed this third meeting of the season.

Hagström won three of the weekend’s six qualifying heats and twice claimed the maximum 30 points in the weekend’s two races.

Second overall ahead of Älvsbyn, it goes without saying that Hampus Hagström has pulled off a major coup with a view to the championship. Having trailed Oliver Sollie by three points going into the third weekend of the season, Hampus Hagström can now count on a 15-point advantage with only four races remaining this year.

With three wins and a total of four consecutive podiums since Tierp, Olliver Sollie never found the right formula in Älvsbyn. Fourth in race 1, he had to make do with fifth place in race 2. A solid performance, but not enough to stop his number one title rival from surging ahead.

One of the revelations of the weekend came from the JC Race Teknik team. With just two qualifications for a final since the championship kicked off, Carl Svedlund secured his first two podiums of the season this weekend and took advantage of the opportunity to move up from 9th to 7th place in the overall standings.

Pauli Turpeinen, who finished third in Race 1 on Saturday, was not so successful on Sunday. Despite finishing third in the intermediate classification, the Finn was eliminated during the semi-final, but retained his third place in the overall championship standings.

Finally, Peetu Piira will be one of the young guns to keep a very close eye on in the final straight of the championship. Although he didn’t compete at Tierp, his two qualifications for a final and his first podium finish at Kouvola 2 were already impressive. This weekend, the young Finn managed to repeat a similar performance, taking sixth place in race 1 before claiming the second step of the podium in race 2. Tenth overall before Älvsbyn, Peetu Piira is now sixth in the championship

24-07-01 Andersson stars in Alvsbyn as Ohman and Svedlund secure strong podiums with JC
RallyX Supercar Lites Championship leader Lukas Andersson delivered a stunning performance to win the sixth round of the season at Alvsbyn in Northern Sweden and extend his lead at the head of the points table.

16-year-old Andersson had also extended his points’ advantage in round five on Saturday despite a differential failure in the opening qualifying session of the weekend, then contact in the final that put both him and championship rival Casper Jansson out of the race.

In round six on Sunday there was again contact early in the day that hampered Andersson’s challenge, but he fought back, claiming victory in the semi-finals to secure a front-row start for the final, then took the lead in the opening corner of the last race of the day to lead throughout, driving the car as if it was an extension of his body to dominate and claim his fourth win in six rounds.

In Open 4WD, Mats Ohman entered his home round of the championship with JC’s Audi S1 quattro and starred early on. Fastest in the first Free Practice on Friday evening, he again went quickest in Free Practice 2 on Saturday morning and set the best time in Q1. He secured Top Qualifier position in the Intermediate Classification, but unfortunately spun out of the semi-final on the opening lap. He did however finish a brilliant second in the Open 4WD Pro Am final to reach the podium in front of his home fans and family. On Sunday, Ohman again started on the front row of the Open 4WD Pro final but finished fifth, but as on Saturday, he reached the Pro Am podium in third.

In the JC Raceteknik Junior Team, competing in the Cross Car Junior category, Carl Svedlund delivered the strongest performance of his career so far with his Casmat Cross Car. Svedlund drove with his head and fast pace on the incredibly challenging circuit to be second in the final on Saturday and again visited the podium with third on Sunday. Arvid Carlsson endured a challenging weekend but secured two championship points in round six on Sunday.

Lukas Andersson (SWE):
“Saturday in Q1 went really bad, just like it did in Q1 on Sunday actually with the bad contact, but I came back in the rest of the qualifyings. My handbrake release wasn’t really working in the semi-final on Sunday, but to win the final after all of the things that happened this weekend feels really great. I didn’t expect this at all. I only planning to try and increase the lead in the points, but to take the win is even better. In the final on Sunday afternoon I really got the feeling for everything and it was a lot of fun to be in the car when it’s like that.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“This was always going to be a special event for us as rallycross returned to Mats' home region and it was such a pleasure to see him racing at home in front of his family and friends. On a different weekend he could so easily have won the Open 4WD Pro final on Saturday, but that’s how motor sport and rallycross goes sometimes. For Lukas, he was very good this weekend. Last year we lost the fight for the championship because when things started to go badly it was difficult to recover. This weekend there was plenty of challenges and contact, but Lukas kept his head and delivered when he needed to. The semi-final and final on Sunday were especially good, but for me the best thing is the whole picture of how it has been. And for Carl, I’m delighted for him to score two very good results – I hope he enjoys the feeling of being on the podium in RallyX!”

24-06-28 KMS dubblar laguppställningen till Höljes - med elektriska utmanare
Kristoffersson Motorsport spetsar till premiären i rallycross-VM genom att slänga in ytterligare ett par intressanta kort i leken. Gustav Bergström och Sondre Evjen kommer att ratta teamets båda vassa Volkswagen RX1e med eldrift runt den legendariska Höljes-banan.
- Mitt mål har hela tiden varit att vi ska komma till start med fyra bilar i Höljes och nu är vi där, säger nöjde KMS-chefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

Sedan tidigare är det klart att det Arvika-baserade teamet lanserar sina två nybyggda VW Polo KMS 601 RX med förbränningsmotorer. Världsmästar-duon Johan Kristoffersson och Ole Christian Veiby utgör den givna laguppställningen för KMS - HORSE Powertrain. Men nu får de en tuff utmaning - inifrån det egna teamet, som alltså dubblar laguppställningen till den svenska VM-deltävlingen.
- Kanonbra att vi i bistra tider kan göra en sådan satsning. Vi är otroligt stolta att kunna erbjuda publiken det här, inte minst med tanke på den enorma utmaning vi har haft inför den här säsongen, den krokigaste vägen någonsin under mina år inom motorsport, säger Kristoffersson.

I Kristoffersson Motorsports namn gör såväl Gustav Bergström som Sondre Evjen comeback i Höljes.
- Det är ju den platsen man helst vill resa till om man ska tävla i motorsport, säger Evjen, som får debutera i en elbil, en debut som på sitt sätt är ett år försenad.

Under förra årets VM skulle Sondre ha kört en av elbilarna på Lydden Hill, men den förödande branden satte stopp för allt tävlande.
- Det blev bara en lång väntan i tre dagar, säger Evjen.

En väntan som nu har förlängts till ett år, men i Höljes nästa helg ska det ske!
- Det är klart man blir lite nervös nu när allt är klart. Det är en ny bil för mig och en svår bana, men jag hoppas mycket på testdagarna i början på veckan, säger Evjen, som inte har kört rallycross sedan RallyX i Grenland i augusti.
- Det blir som att starta på nytt för min del, men det ska bli intressant. Elbilarna var riktigt snabba förra året. Jag hoppas på jämn och tuff racing i kampen mot förbränningsmotorerna.

Finns en fortsättning efter Höljes i siktet?
- Det vet vi inte. Sporten är dyr och det är alltid en utmaning att få ihop ett paket, men jag skulle förstås inte ha något emot det. Om man prövar en sån här grej vill man alltid ha mer.

Tommy Kristoffersson tycker att Evjen mycket väl förtjänar sin start i VM-premiären.
- Det blev ju pannkaka av allt på Lydden. Därför har vi känt att så fort det blir en möjlighet är det inte mer än rätt att Sondre får köra.

En kortsiktig och en långsiktig målsättning finns att förhålla sig till.
- Sondre är en förare som har växt sedan han kom till oss första gången. Vi vet inte riktigt var vi står så här i början på säsongen. Där kan Sondre komma in som en viktig lagspelare. På sikt ser jag honom definitivt som en förare för fortsatt jobb i en växande VM-serie.

Gustav Bergström körde inledningen av förra årets VM-säsong i elbilen - Portugal, Norge och Sverige - men klev sedan av för andra uppdrag. Nu alltså tillbaka där han avrundade senast - i Höljes.
- Det är typ min hemmabana, en av de bästa banor som finns!

För Bergström blir det tillbaka till en bana med grusinslag, efter att ha tillbringat säsongen hittills på asfalt i Carrera Cup Scandinavia och GT Open.
- Det har varit en tuff start på säsongen i Carrera, men de gånger jag har kommit i mål har jag varit topp fem. I GT Open har det gått mycket bättre, med två pallplatser hittills.

Bergström har på ett förtjänstfullt sätt visat upp sig på den europeiska scenen, senast på Hungaroring i Budapest, där han slutade tvåa i team med Nico Menzel.
- Konkurrensen i den serien kan inte bli hårdare. Halva griden är fabriksförare, men banorna nere i Europa är snabbare och passar mig bra, berättar Bergström.

Fylld med självförtroende åker han till Nordvärmland för att tampas med världseliten i rallycross.
- De andra håller ju på med det här på heltid, men jag får väl åka dit och bara köra ifrån dem helt enkelt.

Den interna kampen inom teamet ser han som en extra inspiration.
- Jag ser mest fram emot att mäta mig med Ole Christian och Johan. Det ska bli intressant. Jag har inte sett de nya bensinbilarna in action än, men Johan brukar ju vara snabb oavsett vad han sätter sig i, så jag skulle inte bli förvånad om han står högst upp på pallen.

Själv siktar han också högt - till slutuppgörelsen.
- Jag åker inte dit för något annat än att ta mig till final!

Den förmågan har Bergström, anser teamchef Kristoffersson.
- Jag har sagt hela tiden att hans största kapacitet finns inom rallycross. Nu har han tagit stora kliv i racing också och det ska bli spännande att se hur han kan applicera det på rallycross, säger Tommy som önskar att KMS fyrfaldiga bidrag till startfältet ska inspirera till att locka storpubliken till Höljes.
- Det kommer att bli en händelserik helg. Hoppas verkligen att vi får en folkfest med stor underhållning.

24-06-26 Molly Taylor returns to the #Yellowsquad FIA RX2e roster
Molly Taylor is set to return to #Yellowsquad for two rounds of this year’s FIA RX2e Championship. Taylor will enter the rallycross action at the Höljes season-opener, next weekend (6-7 July), before returning for the season finale in Montalegre, Portugal (7-8 September).

Returning to the championship for a second successive year, the Australian made her debut last year and immediately impressed. Although Taylor gained valuable experience last season, the two circuits facing the #Yellowsquad driver will be new challenges.

In 2023, Taylor’s campaign consisted of Mettet in Belgium and the championship showdown at Estering in Germany. Navigating the first round in style, steady improvements across both weekends led to a final position of 8th overall at the season finale.

Teammates with #Yellowsquad Founder, Kevin Hansen, in Extreme E, the pair currently sit third in the standings, marking an encouraging start to the year for the Australian.

Taylor will be looking to build upon the legacy of females both within Rallycross and within the Hansen team. Susann Hansen, Manager for the Hansen World RX Team, became the first and, so far, only female to win a European Rallycross title when she secured the 1400 Cup crown in 1994.

Lining up in Höljes in the single-specification, 270kW, four-wheel-drive all-electric RX2e machine sporting the distinctive E.ON colours, Taylor will re-join full-time #YellowSquad driver Isak Sjökvist, who enters the 2024 season having finished second in the 2023 RX2e championship standings.

The FIA RX2e series will be supporting four rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship for 2024, in Sweden, Hungary (27-28 July), Belgium (17-18 August) and Portugal, and #Yellowsquad will be looking to score every possible point.

Molly Taylor
#YellowSquad Driver
I’m delighted to be driving in RX2e once again for two races this season and I want to say a huge thank you to E.ON Next for their continued support of my racing career. It’s great to be working with my Extreme E teammate Kevin Hansen and is an opportunity to hone my race craft with Hansen Motorsport and the #Yellowsquad team. I had my first taste of rallycross last season, and I learnt a lot, so I’m looking forward to putting everything I experienced last season back into practice.

Eric Färén
Team Manager
We are very happy to have a star like Molly back! I think we all really enjoyed the two rounds last year, and Molly knew straight away that she wanted to come back this year for more. Now we are more prepared and with this extra experience she will be even quicker!

21-11-04 RallyX Championship Heads North
For the first time in its history, the RallyX Championship is preparing to head north to the fantastic Alvsbyn circuit, which hosted a memorable stage of the FIA European Championship in 1994, marked by a fantastic duel between Kenneth Hansen and Martin Schanche.

However, just 30 years after that extraordinary battle, the RallyX championship is set to put its stamp on what promises to be an exceptional event.

The next generation in full bloom
In the Open 4WD class, Joni Turpeinen will be looking to build on his impressive start to the season. At just 15 years of age, the young Finn has become a huge phenomenon in the RallyX championship. As well as leading the Pro category ahead of Filip Martinsson and Jens Hvaal, Turpeinen also leads the Pro Am championship ahead of the spectacular Martin Enlund, while the Martinsson/Hvaal duo remain more than ever in contention for the title.

In Supercar Lites, Lukas Andersson has confirmed that his performances last year, when he was just 15 years old, were no fluke. Andersson has won three of the four races he has contested since May, but will have to fight hard to hold off Casper Jansson, who is only nine points behind him.

Simon Olofsson, who was forced to retire from Tierp 2 due to an engine failure, will also have to give his all to consolidate his return to the top of the standings. Third overall, 27 points behind Lukas Andersson, the two-time defending champion is on a run of two consecutive podium finishes and remains as dangerous as ever.

A battle for territory
In the Open 2WD category, the two locals on the Älvsbyn stage, Simon Tiger and Viktor Johansson, will be determined to shine on home soil. While Tiger has a 16-point lead in the overall standings thanks to three wins from four races, Viktor Johansson's consistency could well help to reverse the trend. While other local drivers are expected to line up at the start, Norwegian Per-Magne Royras will make his debut at the wheel of the Wankel-engined Citroën Xsara, while Ossian Stenvall will also be making his debut. The driver of the Ford Escort Mk3, who is currently second in the Swedish championship thanks to three consecutive podium finishes, will definitely be one to watch.

Maximum intensity for the CrossCar categories
Last but not least, there will be plenty of excitement in the two CrossCar categories. In the Junior class, the duel between Olliver Sollie and Hampus Hagström reached new heights at Kouvola at the end of May. Neck-and-neck at the top of the standings, the Älvsbyn track will be a more than interesting battleground for the two 13-year-old Scandinavians, who will have to adapt to a completely new environment.

Among the seniors, Ronalds Baldins has proved to be the dominant force of the early season. The Latvian is the only driver to have qualified for four consecutive finals since the start of the championship. This consistency has given him a three-point lead over Elias Svensson (two wins at Tierp 2 and Kouvola 2) and a 14-point lead over outgoing runner-up champion Thomas Eek Murstad (one win at Kouvola 1). Behind them are more than a dozen drivers who have shown since Tierp that they all have the potential to stand on the top step of the podium.

In other words, this third stage of the 2024 season, with two races on 29 and 30 June at Högedens Motorstadion in Älvsbyn, will be well worth a visit.

Book your tickets HERE
Älvsbyn Entry List

24-06-13 KMS i nytt samarbete med HORSE Powertrain/Aurobay
- tillbaka till förbränningsmotor i rallycross-VM
Världsmästarteamet Kristoffersson Motorsport är redo för nästa steg i utvecklingen. När teamet tar sig an rallycross-VM 2024 är det i samarbete med HORSE Powertrain, via svenska drivlinetillverkaren Aurobay.
- Den bästa partner vi kan tänka oss. Det här är en win-win-situation. Vi kommer att ha extremt stor nytta av varandra, säger Tommy Kristoffersson, chef för det team som nu heter KMS - HORSE Powertrain och kommer att tävla med sina nybyggda VW Polo KMS 601 RX, tillbaka till förbränningsmotorer därmed.

Kristoffersson Motorsport har i HORSE Powertrain och Aurobay, hittat en samarbetspartner för ett långsiktigt arbete, till förmån för såväl motorsport som för utveckling av bilindustrin.
- I Volkswagen-koncernen, där jag har fostrats, har mottot alltid varit att all motorsport i slutänden ska gagna konsumenterna. I det här projektet kan vi tillsammans med en stor svensk motortillverkare vara med och utveckla morgondagens motorer. Det finns inget som driver utvecklingen framåt så effektivt som tävlingsverksamhet, påpekar Tommy och fortsätter:
- Både vi i KMS och Aurobay har en stor stab av extremt duktiga ingenjörer. Vi kommer att kunna utbyta erfarenheter och även utväxla personal med varandra.

På så vis blir det en symbios mellan Kristoffersson Motorsports högkvarter i utkanten av Arvika och Aurobay Sweden AB med huvudkontor i Göteborg. Den lättsamma värmländska mentaliteten har på kort tid lyckligt gift sig med den saltstänkta filosofin på Västkusten, konstaterar teamchefen:
- Det är så inspirerande att se den extrema vilja och passion som finns inom Aurobay och HORSE Powertrain. Det är en lösningsorienterad och optimistisk arbetsmiljö. Vår ambition är ett långsiktigt samarbete över minst fem år, vilket ger oss ett lugn att utveckla våra bilar med lång framförhållning. Vi hoppas också bidra till att vår samarbetspartner blir ett självklart alternativ som motortillverkare för många olika bilmärken.

Teamet kommer även fortsättningsvis att ha stöttning från sina tidigare huvudpartner, Volkswagen, Red Bull och Bauhaus. De bilar som KMS kommer att köra i VM är teamets nya supercar-konstruktioner, två stycken VW Polo KMS 601 RX med biobränsledrivna förbränningsmotorer. Dessa båda fartmonster debuterade med stor framgång vid RallyX i Tierp.

Förarpresentationen innehåller inga överraskningar. Enligt principen “favorit i repris” fortsätter värmlänningen Johan Kristoffersson från Arvika och norrmannen Ole Christian Veiby från Kongsvinger som en samspelt duo. Sexfaldige världsmästaren Kristoffersson är minst sagt entusiastisk över det nya samarbetet.
- Aurobay och HORSE Powertrain är en drömpartner för oss, inte bara en sponsor utan också en teknisk partner. Det ska verkligen bli roligt att få jobba med en långsiktig struktur och kunna planera på längre sikt. Ett spännande projekt som har väldigt mycket av typisk KMS-anda över sig.

Samtidigt är Johan väl medveten om att utmaningen är en av de största han har fått framför sig.
- Det kommer att bli tufft att tävla mot elbilarna med våra nybyggen.

Men att få sätta sig i de nybyggda kraftpaketen är något som verkligen lockar Ole Christian Veiby.
- Det är aldrig fel att få köra en supercar. Vi gillar ju lite ljud vi också, säger Veiby, som siktar på sin första individuella VM-medalj och triggas av utmaningen med teamets nya vägval.
- Vi gör helt om och går i en annan riktning, vilket gör det svårt att förutse hur vi ligger till. Det är många komplicerade saker som måste testas på en ny bil, men det ska bli väldigt spännande att jobba med en stor och stöttande partner i det här samarbetet.

Teamchef Tommy kan bara instämma i att teamet har många tankenötter att knäcka framöver.
- Sportsligt är det här en extremt stor utmaning, men en intressant sådan. Vi har en helt ny bil, en helt ny partner och ska på mycket kort tid kunna matcha elbilarna. Trots att vi har vunnit VM de fyra senaste åren måste vi vara ödmjuka och inse att det kommer att krävas mycket för att vi ska kunna utmana om VM-titeln.

KMS - HORSE Powertrain-chefen är dock fascinerad av mästerskapets nya koncept, där eldriften ska möta bilar med mer traditionella förbränningsmotorer.
- “Battle of technologies” är en fantastisk devis som är unik för rallycross. Den här sporten har alltid stått för ett brett spektrum av egna lösningar. Dessutom ska man utveckla bilar som tål allt: köra på både grus och asfalt, i hopp, i trafik. Allt! I förlängningen skulle vi kunna tänka oss att ännu fler koncept kommer in i konkurrensen. Nästa steg är kanske en hybridbil.

Efter en tuff tid, där Kristoffersson senior har dragit i många trådar är han ändå översvallande positiv inför den nya säsongen och det samarbets- och utvecklingsprojekt som ligger framför KMS - HORSE Powertrain.
- Det här känns som payback för några kämpiga år, där vi har stått inför extremt stora utmaningar. Vi vill vara ett attraktivt team för någon som letar efter en partner att utveckla saker ihop med. Nu är vi där och det känns oerhört tillfredsställande.

Michael Fleiss, VD på Aurobay Sweden, ser mycket positivt på det nya samarbetet:
- Aurobays vision för racing och prestanda är att vi vill visa världen att våra 2-litersmotorer kan trimmas till mycket högre nivåer för att uppnå fantastiska resultat även inom motorsport.
- FIA:s mästerskapsserie i rallycross är en fantastisk plattform för Aurobay och HORSE Powertrain att visa världen vad ICE kan leverera, när den drivs av alternativbränslen. Vi kan erbjuda kraftfulla, lätta och modulära lösningar för alla tillfällen, säger Matias Giannini, VD för HORSE Powertrain.

24-06-07 Hedström till start i Höljes
- Peter kör Hansen-Peugeot från RX Team Latvia och ger egna teamets rookie Filip Thorén en match på hemmaplan i Höljes.

Till slut blev suget för stort. Teamchef Peter Hedström kommer själv till start i Höljes och har då möjlighet att matcha fram teamets unge rookie Filip Thorén genom att dela tips och råd direkt från tävlingsbanan.

Hedströms strålande resultat i fjolårets RallyX och EM-start taggade Peter till att fortsätta testa hetluften i Supercar. Segern ifjol över självaste Johan Kristoffersson i Danmark sporrade förstås lite extra.
- Jag funderade redan i vintras på eget tävlande och kom fram till att ska jag köra något i år så ska det vara Höljes i en konkurrenskraftig bil, säger Peter Hedström.

Att finna något konkurrenskraftigt bilmaterial att hyra till Höljes, det visade sig däremot svårare, då det mesta bilarna sålts utomlands och körs i andra mästerskap. Men en bra bil fanns nere i Götene hos Hansen, med Team Latvia och Janis Baumanis som ägare.
- Det är den bilen som Timmy Hansen vann VM med, den senaste Hansenbilen med förbränningsmotor, avslöjar Peter.

Lettländaren Janis Baumanis var själv på plats vid test i går och imponerades av Peters tempo på Höljes. Redan efter fyra varv såg tiderna mycket bra ut jämfört med herrarna Veiby och Kristoffersson som testade samma dag.
- Janis stod vid sidan, klockade tider och jämförde mot VW-förarna, jag är den enda som kört hans bilar förutom han själv, säger Peter Hedström.

Redan efter sexton varv på Höljesbanan, med lite testande av olika inställningar, kände sig Peter fullt komfortabel i bilen och ger den toppbetyg.
- Den är mycket lik Hyundaien, har bra traction och en fin motor som drar från låga varv, lite mer nervig på det snabba utför backen men den är också kortare än Hyundaien.

22-årige Filip Thorén från Hallsberg var klar för Höljes sedan långt innan anmälningstiden utgång och kommer till start i teamets VW Polo Supercar. Filip ser liksom Peter fram mot folkfesten och den härliga banan i Höljes.
- Det är grymt häftigt med all publik, jag körde ju RX2e där ifjol och det ska bli spännande att köra Supercar där, säger Filip Thorén.
Sina egna tävlingsmässiga förväntningar tonar däremot Filip ner.
- Jag skapar inte några större förväntningar, mer än att jag vill vara med till semifinal och ska försöka sätta några bra varvtider, sen kan allt hända i semin, avslutar Thorén.

Detta är långt ifrån målet som Peter har.
- Vi går för seger, avslutar Peter.

Magic Weekend med EM och VM på Höljesbanan börjar den 4/7 med Kickoff och sedan körs det både Rally Magic (sprintrace i rally), Rallycross-SM, VM och EM i Rallycross under helgen som avslutas med EM och VM-finaler på söndag den 7/7.

24-06-06 Drivers excited by Coventry potential
Kevin Hansen encouraged by the possibility of a second street circuit in the FIA World Rallycross Championship

Bringing the FIA World Rallycross Championship back to the heart of the UK to race around the streets of Britain’s ‘Motor City’ has the potential to generate ‘the biggest event the sport has ever seen’, suggests last year’s runner-up Kevin Hansen.

Rallycross Promoter is in advanced talks with the organiser of MotoFest Coventry sponsored by E.ON to host a World RX round alongside the popular automotive extravaganza in 2025, building upon the tremendous success of the series’ downtown debut in Hong Kong last November.

The UK’s largest free-to-attend motoring event, MotoFest regularly attracts more than 200,000 visitors, and Hansen – who has been heavily involved in the initial track design process – was on-site last weekend (1-2 June) to talk about the proposed plans, get a feel for the festival and assess how the world’s pre-eminent rallycross championship might further enhance its appeal.

The Swede was joined in Coventry by former Australian Rally Champion Molly Taylor, who competed for Hansen Motorsport’s junior outfit #YellowSquad in the all-electric FIA RX2e Championship last season, and Rallycross Promoter Managing Director Arne Dirks, who has led the discussions with MotoFest Director, James Noble.

Rallycross as a discipline was born in Britain back in 1967 and has a large fanbase in the country. All sights are now set on bringing the sport’s irresistible, no-holds-barred blend of fast-paced entertainment and door-to-door duels back to the birthplace – and in front of a bigger audience than ever before.

Arne Dirks, Managing Director, Rallycross Promoter, said:
“It was fantastic to spend some time at MotoFest to really get a flavour for it, and honestly, I was blown away. The atmosphere was wonderful – a celebration of motoring milestones and iconic race cars – and exactly the kind of family-friendly festival experience we want to bring to future World RX events.
“We are aware there is work still to be done to turn this ambition into a reality, but together with James and his dedicated team, we are all laser-focused on the same goal – bringing the fever and thrills of World Rallycross to the streets of Coventry next year.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Hansen World RX Team, said:
“It was absolutely astonishing to see so many fans and citizens of Coventry coming out to support the event last weekend. The vibe was incredible, with music playing from every corner within the city’s Ring Road and I think the addition of World RX to MotoFest would only make it even better.
“Historically, the British motoring industry was based in Coventry, and we all know how much passion and enthusiasm there is for rallycross in the UK. Racing right there on the Ring Road on what looks like being an amazing track in front of so many spectators, I honestly think it would be the biggest rallycross event ever seen.”

Molly Taylor, Former Australian Rally Champion, said:
“It was brilliant to be in Coventry last weekend to see MotoFest up close. Coming from a predominantly rallying background, I’m still relatively new to rallycross but having seen the event in Hong Kong last year and the huge excitement that generated, I think bringing the same buzz to Europe with a street circuit right in the heart of the UK would be pretty epic. I’d love to be a part of it!”

fiaworldrallycross.com

24-05-29 Andersson, Hvaal and Ohman claim RallyX wins and podiums in Kouvola, Finland
Rising rallycross star Lukas Andersson maintained his position at the head of the 2024 RallyX Supercar Lites Championship standings with victory in Kouvola, Finland, while fellow hot shot Jens Hvaal was also victorious in the Open 4WD Pro Am division and fan favourite Mats Ohman claimed an emphatic podium with JC Raceteknik.

16-year-old Andersson entered the weekend on the back of double victories in the first RallyX weekend in Tierp, and opened his Finnish account with the fastest time in Q1 on Saturday morning. Battling at the front of the competitive category, Andersson took top qualifying points after Q3, then won both the semi-final and final from the front to take maximum championship points at the head of the standings.

On Sunday, Andersson again took the top qualifier position, but a jump start was followed by side-to-side contact with another competitor on the opening lap of the semi-final, causing a spin and ending Andersson’s hopes of another victory. Regardless, the strong weekend means he remains at the head of the standings.

Jens Hvaal recovered from having to withdraw from round two in Tierp through illness in style by claiming his second career Open 4WD Pro Am victory, following his debut performance in the Norwegian round of RallyX last year. Having secured the Pro Am win, Hvaal also finished on the podium of the Open 4WD Pro category, racing against far more accomplished drivers.

JC Supercar team mate Mats Ohman then recovered from having to retire from Saturday’s action with an electrical issue to deliver a brilliant performance in the Open 4WD Pro final on Sunday – at the venue where he claimed a pair of Open 4WD Pro Am victories last season – and finished on the round four podium in third.

Racing under the JC Raceteknik Junior Team banner in the Junior Cross Car category, Arvid Carlsson claimed a pair of 10th place finishes in his Speedcar machine and lies eighth in the points, while Carl Svedlund made the final on Saturday to finish fifth and was 11th on Sunday. With his Casmat Cross Car, Svedlund sits just one point behind his team mate in the standings, in ninth.

Lukas Andersson (SWE):
“Saturday was a great day, I had good pace all through the day. I managed to get some good lap times and raced well through the day. On Sunday I also had good pace, I lost out a little bit in Q2 but took it back in Q3. In the semi-final I was going forward a little bit at the start and when I dropped the clutch I thought the lights would be green, but they weren’t so I had to take two jokers. Then when we restarted I was a little bit late on the lights, so I was a little bit behind, we went side-by-side after turn one and I don’t really know happened but I got spun around. Sometimes these things happen, overall it’s been great and I’m going to go all in at the next round in Sweden.”

Jens Hvaal (NOR):
“The weekend went pretty well overall. On Saturday everything felt good and it was really nice to take the win in Open 4WD Pro Am especially. On Sunday we had a lot of bad luck, so there have really been a lot of up and downs but I will just try to forget the downs and put them behind me and forget them. We have some cool races to look forward to and that’s where my focus will be.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Overall it was a very positive weekend. All of our drivers have moments where the pace of really good. For Lukas, he was very strong this weekend, a good step forward from last year and the win on Saturday was very, very good. The jump start on Sunday was a shame, but something he will learn from. Jens had his fair share of troubles after contact, Open 4WD is a bit like that this year, but when he was able to get his head down in clear air he was very good and deserved the win on Saturday – we can expect much more of that this year! And for Mats, the team worked hard to repair the car after the small issues on Saturday and Mats rewarded them with a brilliant podium.”

24-05-15 Team Manager Jussi Pinomäki on 2024 FIA World RX: “It will be something totally new”
he 2024 FIA World RX season is approaching rapidly and there are a number of changes which CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment will face as the team has raised its ambition for the coming season.

Let Team Manager Jussi Pinomäki guide you to what’s new - the full interview can be watched in the CE Dealer Team social media accounts during the coming weeks!

New race format
“The race format will be something totally new, before we used to race against the time until we got to the semi final stage. But now it’s all about position, so I think we will see rallycross in all of its beauty.

“We need to be sure that we finish in all the races and keep the cars in one piece - at the same time as we finish as high as possible.”

2024 format explained.

New countries
“We have some new tracks like Hungary, a really nice track with a lot of elevation and some blind corners. That will be interesting.

“Then we have some totally new events like Australia. I think it will be like in Hong Kong last year, everything was new and it turned out great. The general environment was super positive and we showed the potential of the sport, what it can be in the future. And I’m expecting the same for Australia.”

Explore the full 2024 calendar.

New tyres
“There are a lot of new things, of course what first comes to mind is the new tyre as we will start racing with the Hoosier tyres starting this year.

“It’s a totally different construction in the tyre than what we’ve had in the past, so a lot to learn.”

Learn more about Hoosier Tyres.

High expectations on results
“The expectations are pretty high, we have been climbing up the season every season. There is one more step to take, I think that is the main objective,” said Jussi Pinomäki.

“It’s not easy, but I feel we have a strong driver line-up. One is more experienced and one is catching up constantly. I think we are a lot stronger than when we started the project.”

Klara and Niclas
“The goal from the start was to get Klara Andersson up in terms of pace and be fast on every track we go to. And she is picking up on that even faster than we thought,” said Jussi Pinomäki.

“Niclas of course has been fast all the time, for him it’s more about finding the consistency. I have no doubts that we don’t have the drivers to take that last step up in the standings.”

Learn more about the team goals.

24-05-13 Andersson takes double-top to lead RallyX Supercar Lites standings after Tierp weekend
Swede Lukas Andersson claimed back-to-back victories in the opening two rounds of the RallyX Supercar Lites season at Tierp in Sweden as part of a packed RallyXtreame weekend.

Racing with JC Raceteknik in the single-specification Supercar Lites division for a second straight season, 16-year-old Andersson overcame engine problems on Friday morning while competing in a different Rally Sprint type format for the RallyX series, but battled back through the day of single-car, single-stage runs to claim an opening round victory.

On Saturday for round two, now racing in a conventional rallycross event, Andersson was never outside the top two in qualifying, set the fastest time in Q2 then led semi-final two from the front. In the final, Andersson made the best start to take the lead from second on the grid, then held on under pressure throughout the race to claim a fifth career victory.

Racing JC Audi S1 Supercars in the Open 4WD category, Norwegian Jens Hvaal had a challenging opening day on Friday to begin his first full campaign, then unfortunately had to withdraw from round two due to illness on Saturday. Swede Mats Ohman also had a difficult weekend, having finished fifth in the Open 4WD classification on Friday he didn’t make it to the semi-finals on Saturday.

Racing under the JC Raceteknik Junior Team banner in Tierp, Carl Svedlund claimed a best finished of fourth on Friday, while Arvid Carlsson secured a sixth and 10th place finish and lies sixth in the Junior Cross Car standings.

Lukas Andersson (SWE):
“The weekend started with some downsides with the engine failure. But I built up speed on the track in the Sprint, made it into the final and there I put up a good time. I managed to take the win – I didn’t expect that because it had gone so up and down. I raced in something similar to the Sprint before in an 85cc CrossCar, but it’s something new in a car and I enjoyed it. On Saturday I had good pace. In the semi-final I pushed really hard to know the track and how hard I could push in the final, and in the final it all came together. I had a good start, managed to get in front and from there I just drove on. I had damaged the steering a little bit so it was a bit hard to turn. It was super close, I could feel Casper [Jansson] nudging me in the back, but I held on and it feels really good to take the win. Kouvola next time isn’t my favourite track to be honest, but I will go there with the same approach and a smile on my face to do the best I can.”

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Lukas had a really good weekend. People expect a lot because he was so fast last year, but he is still very inexperienced compared to many of his rivals. He impressed me in the Sprint on Friday and did well to take the win, then on Saturday when we were back to doing rallycross proper where he was setting the pace then made the best start when it really mattered. We are really pleased with how he managed the race to take the win. It’s a good start to the season. Jens and Mats both had difficult weekends, especially on Saturday but we will test more with both of them before Kouvola, and it was a pleasure for me personally for JC to have a good presence back in the CrossCar Junior class where we will continue to help build young talents. Both Carl and Arvid learned a lot this weekend and had good speed.”

24-05-13 Kristoffersson, Andersson and Tiger lead the way at Tierp
The RallyX championship presented by Nova Motorsport gave the favourites a chance to shine in Saturday's Race 2 at the Tierp Arena. More than 15,000 spectators were especially treated to an epic battle between Lukas Andersson and Casper Jansson on the final day of action.

Open 4WD Pro: Johan Kristoffersson, an invincible fortress
While the debut of the new VW Polo KMS was eagerly awaited in Tierp last weekend, the six-time Rallycross World Champion lived up to his reputation with a flawless performance.

With three wins in qualifying, Johan Kristoffersson easily dominated the final stages, winning ahead of Ole-Christian Veiby and 2023 Pro-Am champion Maiko Tamm, with rookies Filip Thorén, Joni Turpeinen and Isak Sjovkist finishing in that order.

After the first two races, Johan Kristoffersson has a ten-point lead over Ole-Christian Veiby. The sensation of the weekend was 15-year-old Joni Turpeinen, making his first appearance in an official competition at the wheel of a Supercar. Third in the championship, 19 points behind the leader, the young Finn finished ahead of Martin Enlund, Filip Martinsson and Maiko Tamm.

Open 4WD Pro-Am: Martin Enlund and Joni Turpeinen neck-and-neck
After Filip Martinsson's victory in Race 1, Martin Enlund was quick to respond to the three-time Swedish champion's rise to prominence by taking his first career win in the Supercar category.

Despite being dominated by Joni Turpeinen in qualifying, the Supercar Lites runner-up reversed the trend in the final, outpacing his Finnish counterpart and Filip Martinsson's Renault Clio.

After two races of the current season, the three men are neck-and-neck in the overall standings. Provisional leader Martin Enlund is just two and seven points ahead of Joni Turpeinen and Filip Martinsson respectively.

Supercar Lites: A duel that lived up to its promise
With Simon Olofsson forced to retire early in Race 2 due to an engine failure, Lukas Andersson and Casper Jansson spared no expense in their bid to win the first weekend of the season.

Having won the rally sprint the day before, Lukas Andersson was unable to beat Casper Jansson in qualifying, but he did manage to make the difference in the final stages.

Throughout the day, the two Swedes fought a fierce battle. Casper Jansson set the fastest time in Q1, Lukas Andersson returned the favour in Q2, before Jansson took advantage of Q3 to win the intermediate classification for the second time this season.

However, Lukas Andersson reversed the trend with a first-class drive in the final. Even slowed by a puncture, the JC Raceteknik driver managed to hold off the onslaught of Casper Jansson, who was forced to retire after suffering a mechanical breakdown in the penultimate corner. Julien Meunier and Kevin Daarbak made the most of the opportunity to complete this second top-three finish of the 2024 season.

In the overall standings, Lukas Andersson has a five-point advantage over Casper Jansson. Third-placed Julien Meunier is two points ahead of Kevin Daarbak, while Marceau Launay and Eirik Berget are still in the hunt, trailing by just seven points.

Open 2WD: Simon Tiger in total control
Like Johan Kristoffersson in the Supercar class, Simon Tiger was never in trouble during the two days. Already leading the overall standings with a maximum of 24 points at the end of the rally sprint, the driver from Luleå did it again the following day, dominating a category that was reinforced by Swedish championship regulars Viktor Fahlgren, Jon Ny and Anton Carlsson.

Winner of the three qualifying heats, Simon Tiger took his 11th career win, beating Viktor Johansson and the excellent Anton Carlsson and Viktor Fahlgren, while Kenneth Konge closed the gap with a broken rear suspension.

After two races, Simon Tiger leads the championship by 11 and 17 points respectively, ahead of Viktor Johansson and Kenneth Konge. Rasmus Berggren, who finished fourth on the previous day, failed to qualify for the final

24-05-11 Maximal utdelning för KMS
Dubbel dubbelseger! Det gick som på räls för Kristoffersson Motorsport-duon Johan Kristoffersson och Ole Christian Veiby i RallyX-premiären i Tierp.
- Det har fungerat bra. Ett tecken på att våra ingenjörer har gjort ett bra förarbete med de nya bilarna, säger Johan som tog hem segern båda dagarna.

Kristoffersson Motorsport åkte till säsongspremiären med två oprövade kort i form av de nya egenbyggda KMS 601 RX-bilarna, med biobränsledrivna förbränningsmotorer. Resultatet visade sig vara över förväntan - eller i alla fall som väntat.
- Vi vet ju att det är gediget byggda bilar, så vi var väl egentligen inte speciellt oroliga, men det är förstås ett fint kvitto på att vi har gjort rätt saker, säger teamchefen Tommy Kristoffersson.

RallyX inleddes under fredagen med en sprinttävling, där förarna gav sig ut en och en på banan. KMS-duon visade direkt vilka som hade mest krut i tunnorna. Kristoffersson dominerade hela dagen med Veiby som en skugga där bakom och de båda lämnade motståndarna långt efter sig.
- Jag hade väl önskat att kunna pressa Johan lite mer. Han har varit stark hela helgen och så har det varit lite småstrul på min bil, men det har varit en bra helg med många lärdomar och ett fint test. Aldrig fel att få köra supercar igen, säger Veiby, som fick en tuff start på dag två när han blev inblandad i en kollision i första kurvan.
- Ja, det var kanske onödigt att ge sig in i den kampen, men då fick vi se vad bilen tål och går för.

Veiby kämpade sig sedan tillbaka i matchen med två andraplatser bakom Johan, därefter seger i semifinalen, vilket innebar att han kunde utmana Johan från första ledet i finalen.

Kristoffersson visade sig dock omutlig den här helgen. Han tog starten och drog ifrån stallkompisen, men vid mållinjen var försprånget bara en enda sekund.
- Jag fick punktering, ut ur velodromen på sista varvet tror jag. Vet inte varför det hände. Jag hade punka även i semifinalen, men då var det bara en pyspunka bak.

Banan i Tierp blev med tiden ganska tuff för bilarna under andra dagen, men på det hela taget var det stora motorevenemanget i Upplands-metropolen ett häftigt evenemang. Värt att hylla, tycker Tommy Kristoffersson.
- En stor bidragande orsak till att vi deltar här är att Andreas Eriksson och hans gäng bjuder till med ett sånt här härligt arrangemang. Mycket folk och en massa aktiviteter. Full fart hela tiden. Det är svårt att stanna hemma då. Sedan får vi se hur det blir med fortsättningen. Det har vi inte bestämt ännu.

Men tävlingen gav dessutom något att ta med sig till hemläxan också.
- Bra att få trimma in några gubbar på nya positioner och för alla att vara i race mode. Sedan finns det förstås detaljer att jobba vidare med. Starterna till exempel har inte varit perfekta.

Johan Kristoffersson instämmer i det nyttiga med att komma ut och tävla.
- Test är test och det behöver vi mer av, men tävling är tävling, en lite mindre skyddad miljö. Vi visste inte riktigt om vi var redo för att ge oss ut att tävla, men så här i efterhand tycker jag ändå att vi visade att vi var det och vi har lärt oss en massa saker.

I RallyX-mästerskapet leder nu Kristoffersson med maximala 60 poäng före Veiby på 50.

24-05-10 Uppdaterat schema RallyX
Uppdaterat schema för RallyX deltävling 1
Uppdaterat Schema CLICK HERE!

24-05-10 The start of a new era for Rallycross
On the eve of the start of the RallyX championship, First Corner has lifted the veil on the new FC2 cars that will compete in the 4WD/Supercar category before moving on to Nitrocross next autumn.

After 12 months of hard work since the project's inception, no fewer than five cars will be on the grid at the Tierp Arena this weekend.

First Corner and OMSE have pulled off a masterstroke in just a few weeks. Starting with the crazy idea of turning the current Supercars Lites into real power monsters with around 550 hp and a turbocharged engine powered by a non-fossil fuel, the technical teams in Nynäshamn have used a wealth of ingenuity to achieve their goal.

The FC2, which was unveiled to the public on Thursday evening, is designed to compete with traditional supercars while maintaining relatively low running costs.

With its aggressive design, the FC2 will get its first real test this weekend when it takes on the best of the rallycross scene.

Andreas Eriksson - CEO for OMSE
"This FC2 is a project I've been dreaming about for a long time. We've had many discussions over the last ten years about how to develop our Supercar Lites into something bigger and now we have a product that perfectly matches the expectations of our sport. I'd like to thank all our technical partners who have supported us in this adventure, because this project has been a real race against the clock. From day one, our goal was to have these cars competing in RallyX before heading to the United States for Nitrocross at the end of next summer.

"This product is the result of a long and intense process and I am proud that we have achieved the goals we set ourselves. I'm also grateful to the teams who have put their trust in us by ordering the first kits to convert the current Supercar Lites into FC2s. It's been a crazy couple of weeks in terms of intensity to get everything ready in time for this first race of the RallyX Championship, but I'm very happy with the result.

"We'll now make sure we continue to develop these cars over the next few weeks, but there's no substitute for real competition to see where we stand and that's why we chose RallyX to develop our product as best we can. Thanks to Supercar Lites, we've been able to bring a lot of talent to the forefront of the rallycross scene and I firmly believe that this project will allow us to do exactly the same with FC2, which is just the next step.

Michael Lynch - Driver for the Loenbro Set Team
"This car has phenomenal power. The first tests I was able to do at the beginning of the week were on a track where the grip is very unstable, but the engine performance is really optimal at all levels. What's more, we've been able to benefit from a tried and tested product that hasn't had a single breakdown. In other words, we're more than happy to have bet on this FC2 project."

Conner Martell - VSC driver for Team Farén
"I have a lot of experience behind the wheel of a Supercar Lites, but my first few laps in the FC2 have been a completely different experience. The potential is there and I'm more than excited to see where we stand in relation to the real Supercars. What is certain is that the initial idea is not only good on paper, but that the concept also works in the real world. Above all, this concept will allow a large number of drivers to continue their development in our sport at a more attractive cost."

Patrick Gruszka - Driver for Team Green APU
"I have some limited experience in Supercar Lites with a full season in Nitrocross. This FC2 really bodes well for the future and especially for next season from next September and I hope this first weekend will allow us all to confirm that

Oliver Eriksson - Driver for Team OMSE
"The car has completed its first laps and the concept is working. In moving from the Supercar Lites to the FC2 we really wanted to make a breakthrough between these two generations of cars and that's what we've done. To take what worked best on the Lites, recycle it into the FC2 as it is now and make it competitive with the current Supercars is quite an achievement. I'd like to thank our longstanding partner Avitas Motorsport for their responsiveness and for helping us move forward faster and faster, as well as all our other technical partners who have worked so hard. To have no less than five cars on the grid for this first round of the RallyX championship is a real achievement. We've had a lot of work to do over the last few days to make sure that everything works and that this car can compete with the current Supercars. We'll have a great opportunity to measure ourselves against the new cars produced by KMS, as we couldn't dream of a better comparison.”

Kevin Eriksson - Driver for Team OMSE
"I had so much experience driving Supercar Lites that when we got to Supercar level we always tended to complain about the chassis behaviour. We had so many examples from top drivers like Joni Wiman and Sebastian Eriksson that we asked Andreas Eriksson how effective a Supercar Lites with a Supercar engine could be. Now, several years later, we are witnessing the realisation of all our wishes. The potential of this FC2 is huge. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks will bring"

24-05-09 Isak Sjökvist and #YellowSquad reunite for 2024 RX2e title-fight
Swedish driver Isak Sjökvist has re-signed with #YellowSquad for the 2024 FIA European RX2e Championship. Following a nail-biting season last year, in which Sjökvist finished a close runner-up, both team and driver are committed to reaching that coveted spot at the top of the RX2e leaderboard.

This season marks three years since Sjökvist made the switch to rallycross, taking on the Supercar Lites division of RallyX Nordic in 2021. That same year marked the Swede’s RX2e debut, claiming a home podium in Höljes at his maiden event.

With three seasons of the all-electric single-specification category under his belt, the now 22-year-old has become one of the front-runners, scoring more RX2e podiums than any other driver. In his first full campaign in 2022, Sjökvist finished on the podium in four of the five rounds, claiming a maiden victory in the final round in Barcelona and securing the runner-up position in the championship standings.

2023 saw Sjökvist kickstart his first year in #YellowSquad colours with a win in Hell, Norway, making it back-to-back victories in a Zeroid X1 machine. Two more podium finishes in Höljes and Estering, Germany, placed the Swede second in the standings once more, just seven points adrift of the trophy.

Sjökvist‘s experience is reinforced by the expertise of Hansen Motorsport’s junior team and the lessons learned during their first championship battle together, putting #YellowSquad and Sjökvist in a strong position for the FIA RX2e title this season.

Hansen Motorsport’s commitment to RX2e supports its vision for a more sustainable future. The Hansen outfit enters its third season running all-electric cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship and will be adding further #YellowSquad drivers to its electric racing roster this year.

#YellowSquad notably claimed the RX2 International Series crown in 2020, alongside wins in NRX NEXT and success in the European Rallycross Championship and RallyX Nordic in Supercar. This week sees Sjökvist taking on the opening event of the 2024 RallyX Nordic season, taking to the track for a double-header at the Tierp Arena in Sweden (10-11 May) in preparation for his RX2e campaign.

For 2024, the FIA RX2e championship kicks off its calendar in Essay, France (8-9 June) before supporting the FIA World Rallycross Championship across its four European rounds, in Sweden, Hungary, Belgium, and Portugal.

Isak Sjökvist #YellowSquad Driver
I’m super excited that I’ve signed for another year with #YellowSquad. We are making great progress and I know we have what it takes to reach our goals together.

It's an honour to get this opportunity once again and encouraging for me that they have the trust in me. I would also like to take a moment to thank all my partners, including the Hansen family and my own, and everyone else that is giving me this opportunity.

We’re starting up this year’s programme by taking on the first two rounds of RallyX Nordic on home soil, which feels exciting and a great run-through until the RX2e season begins. You could call it the best possible warmup!

Eric Färén Team Principal
We’re excited to do another year with Isak. I think from the beginning last year it felt like a perfect fit. We were all working well together and having a lot of fun.

Of course, it feels a bit like unfinished business. We have long term goals, but we want to win the RX2e championship so that is what we’ll be pushing for this year. I know Isak has been working hard over the winter and we will try to be as prepared as we can to give him all the tools that he needs to get the title.

24-05-09 April was a month full of positive steps in Hansen Motorsport's
April was a month full of positive steps in Hansen Motorsport's sustainability driven mission, as the team delved deeper into its work as a member of Hydrogen Sweden, and the Rallycross Promoter unveiled a 'Sustainability Handbook' outlining the framework for a greener version of the sport.

From one increasingly sustainable sport to another, Timmy took to the waters at Lake Maggiore in Italy for further testing with the E1 Series, as the all-electric powerboat championship prepares for its next round in Venice (11-12 May).

Hansen Motorsport joins Hydrogen Sweden
Always in pursuit of innovative, sustainable solutions, earlier this year Hansen Motorsport became a part of Hydrogen Sweden, exploring the possibilities of hydrogen and collaborating with other stakeholders in the industry towards a greener future.

There is little doubt that hydrogen will play a key role in reducing emissions, and the non-profit organisation Hydrogen Sweden is the leading platform for hydrogen in Sweden. Together with its network, made up of over 175 members, Hydrogen Sweden leads on multiple projects, disseminating knowledge around hydrogen and its possibilities. Kevin took part in the latest instalment of talks hosted by the group - a 'Hydrogen Hour' - in April.

In addition to being being a Hydrogen Sweden member, Hansen Motorsport is a signatory to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Race to Zero. The team has also achieved FIA 3-Star Sustainability Accreditation, alongside being ISO 14001:2015 (International Organisation for Standardisation) certified, as part of its sustainability efforts.

Having become the first rallycross team to reach carbon neutral status with the 2022 season, Hansen Motorsport continues to push for environmentally friendly improvements, both within the team and the championship. Details of its '2023 Sustainability Report' will be revealed soon!

Towards the end of April, the Rallycross Promoter unveiled its 'Sustainability Roadbook' for 2024 and beyond, outlining a clear framework and guidelines for a more sustainable version of the championship.

With sustainability at the heart of Hansen Motorsport, it is fantastic to see the FIA World Rallycross Championship and WRC Promoter GmbH working together to create a greener future for the sport of rallying.

The 'Sustainability Roadbook' presents action points for the Rallycross Promoter’s goals in the short and long-term, as well as highlighting its achievements to-date, in alignment with the FIA's environmental strategy.

World RX’s journey to a more sustainable future is an ongoing process. In 2022, the series introduced electric cars for the first time, before achieving FIA three-star environmental accreditation last year. In 2024, World RX’s electric cars will go wheel-to-wheel with sustainably-fuelled combustion cars, an exciting ‘Battle of Technologies’ and a first in motorsport.

Timmy returns to the water with E1 Series
Team Brazil, founded by technology entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, headed to Lake Maggiore, Italy, in April for testing ahead of Round Two of the E1 Series in Venice (11-12 May).

Alongside Catie Munnings, his team-mate for both Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and Team Brazil, Timmy got further acquainted with the E1 Racebird in preparation for the upcoming racing action, against teams owned by the likes of Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, and Sergio Perez.

Timmy and Catie secured a flying start with P3 in Qualifying at the opening round of the E1 Series in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2-3 February). Team Brazil rode this momentum into the Semi-Finals, securing P2 in one Heat, but testing conditions in the other meant they just missed out on a spot in the Final.

Feeling prepared after a few days testing, and looking to make a strong comeback after Round One in February, Timmy and Catie are sure to make a splash in Venice.

24-05-09 Äntligen "kosläpp" för KMS
Det blir “kosläpp” för Kristoffersson Motorsport när RallyX rullar igång i Tierp kommande helg. Två nya bilar släpps ut med två välbekanta förare: Johan Kristoffersson och Ole Christian Veiby.
- Alltid trevligt med RallyX och deras imponerande upplägg. Jag tror på en superhelg med mycket folk och fint väder, säger stallchefen för KMS, Tommy Kristoffersson.

Kristoffersson Motorsport lanserar två nya egenbyggda supercar, med biobränsledrivna förbränningsmotorer, i den uppländska motormetropolen.
- De är ersättare till våra två gamla trotjänare “Bettan” och “Grisen”, och är tänkta att användas i tävlingar som RallyX och kanske Rallylegend. Elbilarna har inte gått sedan Lydden Hill och är föremål för uppdateringar. De bilarna får vi inte heller testa med för tillfället så det här är vårt sätt att komma igång med att trimma in teamet.

Om det blir fler tävlingar i RallyX återstår att se. Teamchefen är tydlig med att det är världsmästerskapet som är huvudmålet.
- Vår prio ligger på VM, även om vi inte är klara med hela paketet där än. Det har varit extra tufft att få ihop allt i år, men vi har goda förhoppningar att allt ska ha gått i lås när det är dags i Höljes i juli.

Johan Kristoffersson har haft en tävlingsmässigt lugn vinter och vår.
- Jag har inte kört sedan Extreme E-premiären och det var ju i januari, konstaterar Johan.

Gissa om den sexfaldige världsmästaren är tävlingssugen?
- Spännande att få känna på de nya bilarna. Nu får vi se hur långt vi har kommit. Det är bra att få komma igång och tävla även om det är tester vi skulle behöva mer av framöver.

Ett besök i Höljes har det blivit med nyförvärven, men mycket är förstås oprövat ännu.
- Det är inte bara bara att ta något från ritbordet och få det att fungera optimalt i praktiken, påpekar Ole Christian Veiby, som likt Johan är mycket taggad inför Tierp.
- Det är länge sedan det var tävling. Lite rallykörning i vinter, men inte lika många mil som vanligt, så det känns bra att köra igång igen. Jag har sällan glatt mig så mycket inför en premiärtävling, lovar Veiby, som också trivs på banan i Tierp, där han förra året var tvåa i mål, tätt i hälarna på stallkompisen.
- Det var första gången jag körde där ifjol och det gick ju bra. Jag fick pusha Johan ända till mål.

RallyX-premiären går över två race, med en tävling på fredag respektive lördag, där fredagstävlingen har ett nytt format. Den körs i form av en RallyX-sprint med två specialsträckor i jakten på bästa tid. Under lördagen blir det däremot en rallycross-tävling i traditionell stil.

24-05-09 Thorén klar för RallyX!
- Filip äntrar teamets VW Polo Supercar för full säsong i RallyX och Hedströms Motorsport slår ett slag för fler unga förare.

Säsongsöppnaren i RallyX på Tierp nu på fredag och lördag bjuder på full satsning med fokus på unga förare från Hedströms Motorsport. 21-åringe Filip Thorén gör debut i Supercar, två år äldre Isac Egonsson laddar för full säsong i Crosscar och i Crosscar Junior kör de båda unga förarna Hampus Hagström och Hugo Lundgren.

Filip Thorén kommer köra en VW Polo Supercar från Hedströms Motorsport i RallyX. Supercar-rookien från Hallsberg har värmt upp med tester tidigare på både Tierp och nu senast på Westombanan i Arvika. Filip känner sig redo för tävling och tygla de över 600 hästarna under huven på Polon efter att ha avslutat en rejäl genomkörare på Westombanan.
- Det här blir jäkligt häftigt, helt klar det värsta jag kört hittills, ler Filip Thorén efter några avslutande varv i Polon.
Omställningen från den RX2e-bil han körde förra året är stor och han har fått lägga om körstil lite, då Polon kräver mer aggressiv approach.
- Elbilen var man tvungen att köra mer effektivt och mer som racing, inte sladda så mycket, sen finns det ju så mycket mer effekt i den här Polon, allt går ju så mycket fortare i den här, reflekterar Filip.
Thorén som startade med Folkrace i unga år, har sedan kört den stora rallycrossplantskolan JSM-klassen 2150, där han 2022 tog hem silvret, innan han ifjol tog klivet in i RX2e. Till i år kände han sig redo för nya utmaningar och är nu väl förberedd inför debuten i Tierp.
Målsättning i år för Filip är att göra några hyfsade resultat och lära sig klassen, han lägger inte någon press på sig att topp-prestera direkt från start.
- Jag känner mig rätt lugn och är redo för säsongsstart, nu ska man bara lära sig tävla i den också, skrattar Filip.

Med till Tierp i Crosscar-klassen är också rutinerade Extreme-föraren Isac Egonsson, som efter ett sabbatsår gjorde ett par inhopp i teamet mot slutet av förra året. I år blir det full satsning på RallyX för 24-årige Egonsson från Torsby i teamets Casmat Extreme.
- Det blev nytändning ifjol när jag hoppade in och blev fyra i SM i Östmark efter ett helt års uppehåll, berättar Isac.
Egonsson spänner bågen högt, målsättningen är att vara med på pallen i RallyX.
- Jag tror Isac har alla chanser, han var bitvis ruggigt snabb ifjol och nu har vi fått till karten med bra drag i motorn, säger Peter Hedström.
Isac erkänner att det kan bli tufft, inte minst från de yngre förarna som vill upp, men han har receptet för seger.
- När man möter dem är det bara att fälla ner locket och köra, börjar man tänka så är man efter direkt, menar Egonsson.
Casmat-karten ger han lovord efter testerna.
- Den räcker helt klart till för att blanda sig i toppstriderna, den känns bra och nu börjar jag få snurr på den, men det kommer bli ett riktigt getingbo i RallyX, tror Isac.

I Crosscar Junior är det blott trettonårige Hampus Hagström som kör för Hedströms Motorsport. Det är Hagströms andra säsong i RallyX Nordic. I fjol slutade han femma, men i år är siktet högre ställt både i premiären och i totalen.
- Hampus kommer absolut vara med och slåss om totalsegern i år, menar teamboss Hedström.
Hagström laddade upp inför Tierp med fyra testdagar och sedan seger direkt i första NM-deltävlingen på Finnskogbanen i Flisa.
- Det var en riktig drömstart på säsongen med att vinna NM i Flisa, ännu en seger i Tierp vore skönt, säger Hampus Hagström.

Junior i Crosscar är också teamets nykomling Hugo Lundgren, som är helt ny i sporten och körde sitt livs första tävling i Flisa förra helgen. Trots avsaknad av tävlingsrutin gjorde han stora framsteg under sin första tävlingshelg och är spänd på att för köra på Tierp Arena.
- Det kändes att Hugo växte in i karten och det var utveckling i varje varv han körde, berättar Peter Hedström.

Teamet är nu på plats med teamchef Peter Hedström i spetsen, att backa upp Filip, Isac och Hampus och Hugo i deras satsningar mot toppen i RallyX.
- Det ska bli jättekul att få följa våra unga förare och se dem utvecklas ytterligare under säsongen, avslutar Peter.

24-05-05 Sammanfattning Supercupen i Rallycross Deltävling 2 och 3 – 4-5 maj
Den 4-5 maj arrangerade Haninge Motorklubb andra och tredje deltävlingen i Supercupen i Rallycross. I tävlingen deltog klasserna 2400 cc, 2150 cc och RCH – Historisk klass. Dessutom Crosskartens värstingklasser Xtreme och Xtreme Junior. Den första deltävlingen kördes i Fjärås den 27 april.

Här följer en sammanställning av resultaten.

Klass Supernationell 2400 cc
Förare Klubb Förare Klubb
1 Rasmus Olsson Karlskrona AK Rasmus Olsson Karlskrona AK
2 Joakim Berndtsson Tjörns MF Lars-Johan Gummsesson SMK Nyköping
3 Emil Naessén SMK Nyköping Joakim Berndtsson Tjörns MK

I Supernationell är Rasmus Olsson hittills ohotad cupledare. Han har nu totalt tre segrar.

Klass 2150 cc
Förare Klubb Förare Klubb
1 Kim Andersson Orust MS Anton E Thereus MK Team Westom
2 Anton E Thereus MK Team Westom Jonathan Rosborg Enköpings MK
3 Niklas Eriksson Laxå MK Richard Klingstedt Vimmerby MS

I klassen 2150 är resultaten lite blandade. Kim Andersson har en första- och en tredjeplats, Anton E Thereus har en första- och en andraplats.

Historisk Rallycrossklass - RCH
Förare Klubb Förare Klubb
1 Rune Granlund NMK Trøgstad Rune Granlund NMK Trøgstad
2 Göran Lind Bollnäs MK Göran Lind Bollnäs MK
3 Kjell-Åke Hellkvist Dalby MK Kjell-Åke Hellkvist Dalby MK

Rune Granlund från vårt grannland Norge ligger bra till med två segrar och en andraplats.

Crosskart Xtreme
Förare Klubb Förare Klubb
1 Sebastian Enholm Teknis MC Sebastian Enholm Teknis MC
2 Jonatan Hoffman Haninge MK Alex Lindeqvist Haninge MK
3 Stefan Agerheim Haninge MK Rasmus Roos Haninge MK

I Xtremeklassen verkar Sebastian Enholm helt oslagbar. Nu har han totalt tre segrar.

Crosskart Xtreme Junior
Förare Klubb Förare Klubb
1 Kalle Björk Haninge MK Gustav Atteblad Östmarks MFF
2 Elis Rippe MK Ran Kalle Björk Haninge MK
3 Hannes Hägg SMK Hälsinge Liam Hägg SMK Hälsinge

I juniorklassen ligger hemmaföraren Kalle Björk bra till. På de tre deltävlingarna har han en förstaplats och två andraplatser.

Kompletta resultat finns att hämta på www.raceoffice.se

Om Supercupen
Målsättningen med Supercupen är att utöka och säkerställa tillväxten inom Svensk Rallycross.

Under 2024 ingår sju tävlingar i serien.
Deltävling 4 och 5 arrangeras av Strängnäs AMS den 8-9/6.
Deltävling 6 körs av SMK Arboga den 17/8.
Deltävling 7 – finalen – går av stapeln hos Götene MK den 7 september.

Högstabanan • Haninge • www.haningemotorklubb.se

24-05-01 Supercupen i Rallycross 4-5 maj i Haninge
Deltävling 2 och 3 – 4-5 maj
Den 4-5 maj arrangerar Haninge Motorklubb deltävling två och tre i Supercupen i Rallycross. Tävlingen körs på Högstabanan söder om Stockholm. Den första deltävlingen arrangerades av Fjärås MK den 27 april.

I tävlingen deltar klasserna 2400 cc, 2150 cc och RCH – Historisk klass. Dessutom deltar Crosskartens värstingklasser Xtreme och Xtreme Junior. Första start bägge dagarna är 10.00. Därefter tre kvalomgångar och finaler.

Här följer resultaten efter deltävling 1.

Förare märkta med en asterisk är anmälda till helgens tävlingar.
Klass Supernationell 2400 cc
1* Rasmus Olsson Karlskrona AK
2* Leo Ivarsson Kungsbacka MA
3* Lars-Johan Gummsesson SMK Nyköping

Klass 2150 cc
1* Niklas Eriksson Laxå MK
2* Richard Klingstedt Vimmerby MS
3* Kim Andersson Orust MS
Historisk Rallycrossklass - RCH

Bilen måste vara tillverkad före 1974.
1* Peter Fransson Vimmerby MS
2* Rune Granlund NMK Trøgstad
3 Rickard Klasson Tjörns MF

Crosskart Xtreme
Förarna är över 16 år.
1* Sebastian Enholm Teknis MC
2* Jimmy Bergander Haninge MK
3* Alex Lindeqvist Haninge MK

Crosskart Xtreme Junior
Förarna är 12–16 år.
1* Gustav Atteblad Östmarks MFF
2* Kalle Björk Haninge MK
3 Ville Viberg Tomelilla MK

Resultat kommer fortlöpande att läggas ut på www.raceoffice.se
Mer information om Rallycross och Crosskart finns på www.sbf.se

Om Supercupen
Målsättningen med Supercupen är att utöka och säkerställa tillväxten inom Svensk Rallycross.

Under 2024 består serien av sju tävlingar.
Deltävling 4 och 5 arrangeras av Strängnäs AMS den 8-9/6.
Deltävling 6 körs av SMK Arboga den 17/8.
Deltävling 7 – Finalen – går av stapeln hos Götene MK den 7 september.

24-04-25 From Total Transparency To Fan Appeal, RallyX Continues To Lead The Sport With Innovative Directions
• With the 2024 season just around the corner, the RallyX Championship is preparing for some major changes.
• With the aim of improving the decisions taken by the Race Direction, the RallyX Championship has set up a working group to develop the way in which the sporting regulations are interpreted.
• As part of this working group, each category will have its own representative, while Reinis Nitiss has been appointed as Race Controller for all events in the 2024 season.
• The former FIA World Championship star will be responsible for ensuring that the Working Group's recommendations are implemented by the Race Director.
• Reinis Nitiss will also be present during the TV broadcasts of the RallyX Championship to share his point of view and analysis with the fans to help them better understand what goes on behind the scenes of the rallycross sport.
• Former rallycross legends such as Kenneth Hansen, Tanner Foust and Andreas Eriksson will be responsible for guiding the working group by sharing their extensive experience of the sport.

In 2024, the RallyX championship will seek to fundamentally reinvent the interaction between drivers, teams and stewards by reinforcing the crucial role of the Race Director through the creation of a working group bringing together some of the key players in the rallycross sport.

Sharing experience for more pragmatic decisions
Led by true legends of the sport such as Kenneth Hansen, Tanner Foust and Andreas Eriksson, who will act as 'Senior Advisors', the task of this working group will be to act as an interface between the paddock and the stewards.

“The RallyX Championship wants to create a new dynamic by ensuring that the rules and the decisions taken by the stewards are in line with the philosophy and the feedback from the drivers and the different teams” explains Andreas Eriksson.

"That is why we have decided to set up a working group consisting of Joel Christoffersson, Kevin Eriksson and Eric Farén, as well as other key figures such as Jimmie Osterberg and Viktor Johansson. Their role will be to listen and discuss with the teams and competitors to determine how certain rules should be interpreted by the Race Direction, while at the same time putting forward ideas for possible changes to the regulations. The working group will be open to anyone who wants to get involved in helping rallycross move in the right direction."

"Kenneth, Tanner and I will be advising this working group with all our rallycross experience. The aim is really to bring together all the thoughts that will be centralised by the group to give clear guidelines on how the Race Director should work at our events. In this way, any Race Director appointed by the RallyX Championship will always have to take into account the interactions made by our working group."

"For example, if the working group feels that there is too much contact on the track and too much damage due to the competitive nature of the sport, it can ask the race director to take firmer and stricter decisions. Similarly, if a competitor does not agree with the penalty imposed, he can contact the Working Group and they will review the case together and assess whether the rules need to be changed".

New responsibilities for Reinis Nitiss
The youngest ever winner of an FIA World Championship event has been appointed Race Controller. Reinis Nitiss will be responsible for implementing all the recommendations of the working group set up by the RallyX Championship.

In particular, the Latvian will have the power to decide whether an action deserves a penalty or not, while at the same time assigning a penalty that is in line with the philosophy decided by the working group.

And who better to take on this role than Reinis Nitiss? A former double European Rallycross Champion, the Latvian driver has the distinction of having raced in many different categories. From Super1600/RX3 to Supercar Lites, Supercar and CrossCar, Reinis Nitiss has an unrivalled knowledge of the rallycross sport.

An educational approach to help fans better understand the sport behind the scenes

As well as his position as Race Controller, Reinis Nitiss will also have a prominent role in the TV coverage. In addition to a camera following the Latvian throughout the events, Reinis Nitiss will have the task of educating the audience by appearing in the RallyX Championship TV studio alongside Andrew Coley and Hal Ridge to explain the ins and outs of his role. The Latvian will be able to explain exactly what factors he takes into account when deciding whether or not to penalise a driver.

“Race Direction must be seen as our ally," says Andreas Eriksson.

"The purpose of creating this working group is also to underline the difficulty of their role. We're going to give the fans a whole new way to appreciate these men and women behind the scenes by bringing their work into the spotlight”

"We really want to make our Race Controller an integral part of the show. We want to make him a real star, a character who is recognised and appreciated by the public for his ability to share his sense of analysis and know-how. Not only do we want to take the fans behind the scenes and show them what goes on, but we also want to showcase the stewards and the race director. It's also an excellent way of attracting the younger generation to these functions, which are sometimes unknown to the general public."

"One thing is for sure, from this season on, drivers, teams and stewards will be working hand in hand in a totally transparent and productive atmosphere, which will also be accessible to the public via our TV broadcasts. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

If the RallyX series has always stood out for its creativity, innovation and ability to push the boundaries of our sport, this will continue in 2024 as the championship prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

24-04-23 Important information RallyX Round 1 & 2 Tierp Arena
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ROUND 1&2!
For entry to Tierp Arena all drivers, team members has to register for a ticket. The ticket will be emailed to you with a QR code that will be scanned upon entry.

Thank you!

REGISTER TICKETS HERE: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/team-driver

24-04-17 Another productive month for Hansen Motorsport
March marked another productive month for Hansen Motorsport, as the team progressed its long-term partnership with Sparco and confirmed Kevin and Timmy Hansen as its drivers for the 2024 FIA World Rallycross season.

In the FIA World Rallycross Championship, all involved are preparing for an exciting new format. The pioneering 'Battle of Technologies' will see the all-electric RX1e cars - introduced two years ago - up against sustainably-fuelled combustion counterparts.

A trip to Stockholm presented an exciting start to the month, as Susann attended a Swedish Female National Team Leaders Network meeting. Hosted at the National Sports Federation HQ in Stockholm, women came together to exchange insights and experiences from leadership roles within their respective sports.
Longstanding partnership with Sparco continues for 2024

"Towards the end of March, Hansen Motorsport announced that Sparco, the Italian auto part and accessory company, will continue to supply the driver equipment, team kit, and teamwear for Hansen World RX Team and #YellowSquad.

Sparco will also support Timmy Hansen as he faces his exciting new challenge in the E1 Series, by providing technical racing equipment from the Full-Efficiency line, which is globally the first and only product line aimed at the principles of “zero waste”.

The long-standing partnership between Hansen Motorsport and Sparco has been built on shared values and decades of joint experience in motorsport. This partnership supports innovation through constant collaboration with the drivers, whose valuable feedback gained from their skills on track continues to back research and development towards the highest level of performance.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Founder of Hansen World RX Team, said: "All of us at Hansen Motorsport are proud of our work as a family company. Having dedicated partners like Sparco, who share our commitment and passion, plays a crucial part in our legacy as a team. Together with Sparco we’ll continue to push what’s possible and pick apart every detail as we look to continue innovating and improving both on and off the track."

Diego Lamura, Sparco Chief Marketing Officer and Global Partnerships, said: "Sparco is proud to partner with Hansen Motorsport. This long-term partnership gives us the opportunity to continue and deepen our commitment to innovation and sustainability, while benefiting from the world-class expertise of the drivers, who play a key role for us at Sparco in our ongoing research and development activities."

The most successful team in rallycross history will draw on its wealth of knowledge and experience, as it retains 2019 World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen and 2016 European Rallycross title-winner Kevin Hansen.

The familiar driver line-up will be squaring up to unacquainted adversaries in the 2024 World RX season, as the eagerly anticipated ‘Battle of Technologies’ racing comes to life. For the first time, cutting-edge electric cars – introduced to World RX two years ago – will go wheel-to-wheel with sustainably-fuelled RX1 combustion counterparts.

Opting for the all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e cars, the Hansen World RX Team are looking to build on last year’s performance in pursuit of both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles this season.

Kevin Hansen said: “It’s great to be confirmed for another season in the World Rallycross Championship with the Hansen World RX Team. Our team has such a strong presence in rallycross, and we’ll be drawing on all our history in the sport to take on this 2024 season.

“Last year was a fantastic learning curve for myself and Timmy in different ways. We work well together and that’s also how we can develop the car in the right way. We require the same things, and we have a very similar language when we talk about the car, so we’ll be looking to push development as much as we can throughout this season.”

Timmy Hansen said: “I’m happy to be racing again this season and to keep my streak alive of having done every race in World Rallycross so far. To be taking on 2024 with Kevin in our ninth season as teammates feels special and gives us both a great foundation to work with.

“It’s a very different season this year. We’ve had two seasons of new electric technology and now, finally, we get to go up against combustion cars and I think that will be a great show for the fans.

“The electric will have some strengths, but so will the combustion – which will be a lot lighter in the regulations - so it will be very interesting and for sure make the championship more unpredictable.”

At the start of March, Susann headed to Stockholm for a Swedish Female National Team Leaders Network meeting. Hosted at the National Sports Federation HQ, women came together to exchange insights and experiences from leadership roles within their respective sports.

Susann said: "No matter the sport, the dilemmas turn out to be quite equal. There is no doubt that sport in general is facing a massive challenge in getting women engaged. So events like this, which amplify the career opportunities available for women and encouraging them to stay in sport over time, are crucial."

Among the activities on offer across the two-day event (7-8 March) in the Swedish capital were multiple lectures, including one held at the Stockholm School of Economics around “leveraging the power of women in sports”, as well as talks around the rise of AI in sport.

Susann said: "That power group of women, which I'm fortunate to be a part of, strengthened me in a whole new way. We had two days of interesting lectures around leadership, AI in sport, and many discussions and good laughs. It was so energising to listen and learn from these exceptional women from all kinds of sport. We even got to try MMA!"

24-04-05 RallyX TV Broadcast 2024 - We Go Green!
Television: RallyX Continues Its Commitment To Innovation And Sustainability
The RallyX Championship presented by Nova Motorsport is pleased to confirm the introduction of new innovative initiatives in its television production, with the stated aim of strengthening its commitment to innovation, sustainability and the accessibility of its programmes to fans around the world.

From the 2024 season, the RallyX championship will use new technical solutions to reduce its environmental footprint. Again in partnership with DMC, RallyX will use a brand new remote Grass Valley technology to significantly reduce the number of on-site staff without compromising the exceptional quality of the television production.

In doing so, RallyX is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable production methods by ensuring that its operations remain environmentally friendly. The adoption of this remote production solution demonstrates RallyX´s determination to reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining the highest standards of quality.

As usual, the 2024 season of the RallyX Championship will benefit from exceptional television coverage, as each event will continue to be available free of charge on the Youtube platform. This strategy underlines the RallyX Championship´s desire to bring together motorsport and rallycross enthusiasts from all over the world.

In the upcoming season, we're excited to introduce a state-of-the-art remote solution from DMC, powered by Grass Valley technology. This advancement enables us to drastically reduce our on-site presence, aligning with our commitment to a eco-friendly production minimizing our environmental impact.

At the core of our efforts is a dedication to sustainable production methods, ensuring that our operations remain environmentally conscious. By adopting this remote solution, we're proactively addressing our ecological footprint while maintaining RallyX's renowned standard of excellence.

RallyX has long been known for its exceptional TV broadcasts of rallycross events, and this year is no exception. We're proud to continue offering our top-tier coverage via YouTube, allowing fans worldwide to enjoy the thrilling races from anywhere. This commitment to accessibility underscores our goal of uniting rallycross fans worldwide in their passion for motorsport.

In summary, our decision to embrace this remote solution and utilize YouTube for broadcasting reflects our dedication to innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Join us in celebrating the 10th year of RallyX and experience the thrill of world-class racing in the year ahead.

Head of Broadcast and Media
We are very excited to announce the continuation of our partnership with RallyX for the 2024 season. The renewed collaboration marks another thrilling chapter in a shared journey towards success and development to provide first class racing to RallyX’s global audience!

In 2023 it was a true pleasure to be working alongside Peter and the RallyX organization and this year we look forward to implementing an upgraded centralized production method to reduce costs and logistics connected to the climate footprint.

24-04-03 RallyX 2024: Tyre Information
Find out all the practical information about tyres for the 2024 season by following this link: https://www.rallyx.se/app/uploads/2024/04/RallyX-Commercial-sheet-2024.pdf

The biggest change will be in CrossCar and CrossCar Junior where all competitors will have to mark their tyres to help us learn quantity use and more heading into the 2025 season.

All tyres bought from Hansen Tyres will be marked at the time of purchase and all other tyres not bought from them will also have to be marked at the track by Hansen Tyres for a small fee of 1.50 Euros for CCJ and 3 Euros for CC.

24-03-29 14 Nationalities For A Record Number Of Drivers In The RallyX Championship
With the entry period still open, 115 drivers have already claimed the 125 places available for the 2024 season.

With 14 different nationalities represented, the RallyX championship reinforces its status on the international scene.

While the CrossCar categories are sold out, there are still some places available in the Open 4WD, Supercar Lites and Open 2WD categories.

After breaking attendance records in the first two weeks of January, the RallyX Championship presented by Nova Motorsport has confirmed this trend with a total of 115 drivers for the 125 places available for the 2024 season.

For its tenth anniversary, the RallyX championship continues to gain momentum. With the final registration period closing on 15 April, no less than 14 nationalities have already entered.

In this Olympic year, the 2024 campaign will be a veritable concert of nations. In addition to Sweden with 34 representatives, Norway (22 drivers), Finland (19 drivers) and Denmark (17 drivers) will also be trying to reach the top step of the podium.

But the growing strength of the RallyX championship will also be demonstrated by Estonia (seven representatives), Belgium and the Netherlands (four each), France, Great Britain and Latvia (two each).

The United States of America, Germany, Lithuania and Poland will also join this prestigious list.

"The line-up for the 2024 season is nothing short of exceptional," says a delighted Andreas Eriksson.

"We've never had so many drivers enter the competition and it's a reward for all the work we've done over the last ten years. Bringing 14 nations together in our championship is a real achievement, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that number increase in the coming weeks.”

"The CrossCar categories are already fully booked. That's a good thing, because it's through the junior and senior championships that we're working to build the stars of tomorrow in rallycross. There are still a few places available in Open 4WD, Supercar Lites and Open 2WD. With the tracks we have selected and the forthcoming announcements we will be making in the next few days, I have no doubt that this season will be a great success"

To confirm your commitment for the 2024 season, follow this link: https://chronomoto.com/rallyx/entry/

24-03-27 Hansen World RX Team ready for electrifying 2024 title fight
Multiple World Championship-winning team, Hansen Motorsport, faces a new challenge in its 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship assault, as the third year of the discipline’s electric era comes with a sustainable twist.

The most successful team in rallycross history will draw on its wealth of knowledge and experience, as it retains 2019 World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen and 2016 European Rallycross title-winner Kevin Hansen.

The familiar driver line-up will be squaring up to unacquainted adversaries in the 2024 World RX season, as the eagerly anticipated ‘Battle of Technologies’ racing comes to life. For the first time, cutting-edge electric cars – introduced to World RX two years ago – will go wheel-to-wheel with sustainably-fuelled RX1 combustion counterparts.

Opting for the all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e cars, the Hansen World RX Team are looking to build on last year’s performance in pursuit of both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles this season.
Podium contenders from the outset in 2023, the Hansen World RX Team hit the ground running with second in the season-opener in Montalegre, Portugal. That podium was among six rostrum appearances last year, including a win at the season-finale in Hong Kong, as the team finished second in the Drivers’ and third in the Teams’ standings.

Led by 14-time European Rallycross champion Kenneth Hansen and European S1400 champion Susann Hansen, the squad is adding?lessons learned from last year?to?an intense off-season ahead of its 2024 championship challenge.

Behind the scenes, Hansen Motorsport remains unwavering and unified in its efforts. From the mechanics and engineers to the PR and communications staff, the team pushes for the epitome of teamwork, and each member plays a crucial role.
The 2024 FIA World Rallycross schedule features ten rounds across five double-header events, with the campaign kicking off in Höljes, Sweden (6-7 July). Following the ‘Magic Weekend’ season-opener, the championship heads to Hungary where the drivers will take on Nyirád’s ‘Red Cauldron’, which steps up to the World Championship for the first time (27-28 July).

Two well-known World RX venues follow in Mettet, Belgium (17-18 August) and Montalegre in Portugal (7-8 September), ahead of an exciting season finale as the series heads overseas to Australia (30 November – 1 December).
Kenneth Hansen, Team Founder of Hansen World RX Team, said: “This season feels different in many ways, so we’re grateful to have Timmy and Kevin continuing with the team.

“Timmy and Kevin have both enjoyed a great start to the year in their other disciplines, and this gives us a lot of confidence as a team going into the World RX season. Just as they have been working hard, so have we back at Headquarters. We have turned all the stones we can to find all the small ways for us to improve. We must keep innovating and trying new things, and this is how the ‘Battle of Technologies’ has come about.

“With sustainably-fuelled combustion cars lining up on the grid we have an intriguing mix, and, for me, it will be very interesting to see how the two different technologies perform throughout the season.”

Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “It’s great to be confirmed for another season in the World Rallycross Championship with the Hansen World RX Team. Our team has such a strong presence in rallycross, and we’ll be drawing on all our history in the sport to take on this 2024 season.

“Last year was a fantastic learning curve for myself and Timmy in different ways. We work well together and that’s also how we can develop the car in the right way. We require the same things, and we have a very similar language when we talk about the car, so we’ll be looking to push development as much as we can throughout this season.”

Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “I’m happy to be racing again this season and to keep my streak alive of having done every race in World Rallycross so far. To be taking on 2024 with Kevin in our ninth season as teammates feels special and gives us both a great foundation to work with.

“It’s a very different season this year. We’ve had two seasons of new electric technology and now, finally, we get to go up against combustion cars and I think that will be a great show for the fans.

“The electric will have some strengths, but so will the combustion – which will be a lot lighter in the regulations - so it will be very interesting and for sure make the championship more unpredictable.”

24-03-22 Swede Andersson returns to RallyX Supercar Lites with JC Raceteknik
Lukas Andersson will return to the RallyX Supercar Lites series for 2024 with JC Raceteknik looking to build on a surprise maiden senior rallycross campaign last year.

Graduating from the Junior Cross Car series last season, having claimed the title in 2021, Andersson stunned regulars by scoring victory on his Lites debut in Denmark and winning three of the four opening rounds of the 2023 season. He ultimately finished the campaign third overall with JC Raceteknik.

Now, building on that experience, 16-year-old Andersson will embark on a second campaign in the single-specification category. To prepare for the new season, Andersson has spent time driving on ice over the winter in Scandinavia, and will test the JC Supercar Lites ahead of the season-opener at Tierp in May.

Andersson’s car will be run alongside JC Raceteknik’s already-announced Supercar programme in the 10-round RallyX series that visits events in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Lukas impressed a lot of people last season, and he learned a lot. I really believe you learn as much on the bad days as you do when you’re winning, and while of course we want to win every weekend, last season Lukas learned a lot. We will work to help him put all of that leaning together this year, so he can continue making progress. We know he has the speed, he has shown that with winning a number of events, the consistency is important now, and making the best of things when your day is not going so well. JC has a lot of pride in bringing young talents forward from Junior Cross Car and are excited to continue this journey with Lukas.”

Lukas Andersson (SWE):
“Now that I’ve got a bit more experience with the car, I think it will help me to reduce the mistakes I made last year and become more consistent. Apart from a few trips on the ice this winter behind the wheel of old Volvos, I haven’t competed in a single race since the end of last season, I’m making sure that I stay in top shape by taking care of my physical condition. Before Tierp, I’ll do some tests with the car to get my bearings so that I can start the new season in the best possible condition. I know what I have to do if I want to compete with the experienced drivers. My strategy will be the same as last year though – I don’t know how things will work out, but I will do everything I can to be among the fastest. Like everyone else I want to win races, but I also know that I still have a lot to learn in this category. But, the big difference with 2023 is that I can go into the championship knowing that I feel completely at home behind the wheel of this car. I’m going into this with the intention of showing my best weekend – I want to continue to progress and make the most of every moment.”

24-03-19 Hvaal and Öhman set for RallyX Supercar campaign with JC Raceteknik
Hvaal and Öhman set for RallyX Supercar campaign with JC Raceteknik
Rising rallycross star Jens Hvaal and experienced campaigner Mat Öhman will contest a full 2024 RallyX Supercar season with JC Raceteknik, driving a pair of Audi S1 Supercars.

Norwegian ace Hvaal made his Supercar debut in his home round of the RallyX season at Grenland last August and impressed, challenging drivers with far more experience en route to fourth place in the Supercar Pro and victory in the Pro Am Supercar categories.

Having previously raced in Junior rallycoss in Norway, Hvaal followed in his family footsteps with a strong European Championship campaign in the RX3 (Super1600) class last season, running at the front of the order throughout the season, having finished a dream third on his debut in Germany in 2022.

Now, 19-year-old Hvaal will take on some of the best rallycross drivers in the world as part of the booming RallyX series, racing in the Supercar category across the 10-round schedule in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany.

Also running under the JC Supercar flag, Mats Öhman claimed wins in the Supercar Pro Am category last season and like Hvaal will have eyes on the title this year. Hailing from the North of Sweden, Öhman will have a ‘home’ round of RallyX too, with the third event of the schedule set to be held at Alvsbyn on the last weekend in June.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“Jens was very impressive in the first race we did with him last year. He was quick in the test we did before Grenland, but to be honest many drivers can be quick in testing but not transfer that speed to a race weekend. Jens did do that, and we’re excited to work with him this year to give him the best chance of delivering those performances every weekend he gets in the car. Jens and Mats are at two ends of the spectrum in Supercar. Jens is an upcoming talent where he has the speed but needs some more experience and Mats has the experience and the speed, he just needs a little luck for everything to fall into place for him sometimes. Mats wins in Finland last year were incredibly special, and we will work hard to make more of those moments with him in 2024.”

Jens Hvaal (NOR):
“Driving a Supercar is something I never imagined I would be doing this year so I’m really looking forward to start the RallyX season. In Grenland last year I had no expectations, so to start in a final with Johan Kristofferson, Ole Christian Veiby, Sondre Evjen and the two Eriksson brothers is something I would never dreamed of before that race – it was a race I will never forget. This season we have one main target, to get as many laps in the car as possible. Although Grenland went very well, it will be something else for me when you have to drive on new tracks, and I have a lot to learn about a four-wheel-drive car. But, we chose JC because we think it's the best team and everyone in the team is very professional. My cousins ??have been driving for JC before so we already knew Joel, and after Greenland there was no other option than driving with JC this season.”

24-03-15 Confirm your entry for the 2024 season by midnight
While the RallyX championship has already broken the record for the number of drivers registered during the first registration phase, which ran from December 24th to January 25th, there are only a few hours left today for latecomers to send in their entry forms.

While the CrossCar Senior and Junior categories are already fully booked (entries submitted from now on will be placed on a waiting list), there are still a few spots available in the Supercar, Supercar Lites and Open 2WD categories.

However, in order to take advantage of the preferential rates, drivers must register before midnight on Friday, March 15.

After that date, it will still be possible to register at a higher rate until April 25, 2024.

However, given the very limited number of seats available in each category, we strongly encourage you to register now using the link opposite: https://chronomoto.com/rallyx/entry/

24-03-13 RallyX Championship Heads North
The RallyX Championship, presented by Nova Motorsport, is pleased to confirm the addition of Älvsbyn to its calendar.

The legendary Swedish track will welcome RallyX competitors on June 29 and 30 for the third stage of the 2024 season.

Fans may remember the high-voltage duel between Kenneth Hansen and Martin Schanche during the 1994 edition of the FIA European Championship held in the county of Norrbotten, but it will now be up to the RallyX drivers to add to the legend of a track that is a must in the world of rallycross.

In addition to a track that offers a perfect balance between technical and fast sections, the Älvsbyn circuit also stands out for its first turn in loose gravel and its corners that allow for different lines to be used.

After Kalix in 2015, this is the second time in its history that the RallyX championship will head north to Sweden in a unique and particularly idyllic setting.

"As the RallyX championship celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, it's a real pleasure to confirm the addition of the Älvsbyn stage to our calendar," says Andreas Eriksson.

"In addition to a rich historical heritage in the world of motorsport, we are coming to a region where the rallycross culture is extremely strong. With Tierp, Estering, Nysum, Kouvola and now Älvsbyn, our drivers will have the chance to compete on tracks that all have their own special characteristics"

RallyX 2022 champion Viktor Johansson, chairman of the organizing committee, makes no secret of his satisfaction at being able to host the third stage of the 2024 season on his home turf.

"We enjoyed a golden period between the 1990s and 2000s, marked by a round of the European Rallycross Championship in 1994, as well as numerous events in the Swedish Championship at a time when sporting legends such as Kenneth Hansen and Per Eklund were at the height of their glory. So we're more than happy than ever to return to events of this caliber," says Viktor Johansson.

"We have been talking to RallyX for a long time about organizing an event on our track. After Kalix in 2015, there was a mutual interest from the promoter and our organization to bring the championship back to northern Sweden. I'm convinced that we will see some very high quality racing and I'm sure that the public will turn out in force to celebrate the return of RallyX to our region.”

2024 RallyX Calendar
May 10-11 - Tierp Arena (Sweden)
May 25th and 26th - Kouvola (Finland)
June 29-30 - Alvsbyn (Sweden)
August 2-3 - Nysum (Denmark)
August 9th and 10th - Buxtehude (Germany

24-03-13 CE Dealer Team targets title tilt with confirmation of 2024 line-up
Rising star and experienced campaigner to lead team’s quest for silverware

CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment has its sights set on title glory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2024, after confirming an unchanged driver line-up of multiple event-winner Niclas Grönholm and rising star Klara Andersson.

CE Dealer Team joined the World RX grid two years ago, placing third in the Teams’ standings in its inaugural season before improving to second last year. The forthcoming campaign will herald the beginning of the eagerly-anticipated new ‘Battle of Technologies’, pitting the cutting-edge electric RX1e cars directly against their sustainably-fuelled RX1 combustion counterparts for the first time – a significant milestone in the sport’s evolution.

“I’m incredibly excited about the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete against the best in the world,” enthused Grönholm, a driver with seven career victories to his name at the pinnacle of the dual-surface discipline.

“While winning is always the ultimate goal, I approach each race with humility and respect for the competition. Every season brings new challenges and opportunities for growth, and I’m fully committed to giving my best in the pursuit of success. I can’t wait to hit the track and see what we can achieve together as a team.”

The 27-year-old Finn – son of two-time FIA World Rally Champion, Marcus Grönholm – is targeting a concerted championship bid behind the wheel of CE Dealer Team’s electric PWR RX1e, having finished third in the title table in each of the past three seasons.

Team-mate Andersson made her World RX debut in 2022, since when she has rapidly established herself as a leading protagonist. After making history in Portugal during her rookie campaign – as the first female ever to reach the rostrum in top-flight international rallycross – in Hong Kong last November, the 24-year-old Swede then became the first woman to top a heat session in the series.

“I’m honoured to be confirmed as an official driver again with CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment,” commented Andersson, “and thrilled to be part of a team that aims for excellence in rallycross. With our eyes fixed on the Teams’ championship, we are determined to bring our best to every race and lead the team to victory.

“I’m incredibly excited to start my third season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. This year is going to be really interesting with the ‘Battle of Technologies’, and it will be super-cool to have the finale ‘Down Under’ in Australia! Together, we’re ready to tackle the challenges ahead and make our mark both on and off-track, so let’s make this year special!”

The 2024 World RX action will get underway at CE Dealer Team’s home circuit of Höljes in Sweden – rallycross’ legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ – on 6-7 July.

fiaworldrallycross.com

24-03-12 1 Week On – How Robin Larsson and DRR JC hit the Nitrocross Championship jackpot in Vegas
Reigning Nitrocross Champion Robin Larsson delivered an almost-perfect performance to secure his second-straight Nitrocross Drivers’ Championship title earlier this month, while DRR JC took the Teams’ Championship title at the season-finale in Las Vegas (March 1-2).

Larsson entered the last weekend of the season in the points’ lead as Las Vegas returned to the top-flight rallycross schedule, and secured strong points throughout the opening day of racing, eventually finishing the final in second to DRR JC team mate Fraser McConnell.

Knowing what he needed to do on Saturday, by the end of the Heats and Top Qualifier sessions Larsson had done enough to secure a second crown. Thereafter he stormed to a clean-sweep of the event to underline his second Group E title in style, the points scored by the team also enough to claim the Teams’ Championship title for the second year in a row.

Larsson’s RX Cartel team mate, Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud, showed strong pace throughout the weekend in the sister 1000bhp all-electric FC1-X machine but was out of luck when it came to the results list.

For Fraser McConnell, a stunning victory on Friday and a further strong performance on Saturday, with P4, lifted him to second in the standings, while former World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen joined DRR JC in a fourth car and finished third on Saturday and second on Sunday.

Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“We went to Vegas to do a job, but knew it would not be easy because Kevin (Eriksson) has been very strong this season. But, Robin was brilliant, the whole team worked together so well as they always do and, in the end, we had the title secured before the end of the final day. That’s when Robin is at his most dangerous, with the points in the bag he was free to drive for the win with no pressure, and he did. It’s brilliant to continue this co-operation with DRR and claim another Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship. Everyone deserves this. Fraser was so good on Friday to win, and Timmy was impressive jumping into the FC1-X for the first time and taking two podiums. We also announced over the weekend that Fraz will stay with us for next season, so we are very happy with taking another title, and already looking forward!”

Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“It feels so good to take the title again. To be in Vegas – it’s such a cool place and it was a brilliant first time there. To get a clean sweep on the second day was a brilliant way to secure the championship, and also to take the Teams’ Championship as a team – it’s been an awesome job the whole season from everybody. A massive thanks to the team, and all the fans that came out!”

24-03-11 Last days to confirm your entry for the 2024 RallyX season
While the RallyX championship has already broken the record for the number of drivers registered during the first registration phase, which ran from December 24th to January 25th, there are only a few days left for latecomers to send in their entry forms.

While the CrossCar Senior and Junior categories are already fully booked (entries submitted from now on will be placed on a waiting list), there are still a few spots available in the Supercar, Supercar Lites and Open 2WD categories.

However, in order to take advantage of the preferential rates, drivers must register before midnight on Friday, March 15.

After that date, it will still be possible to register at a higher rate until April 25, 2024.

However, given the very limited number of seats available in each category, we strongly encourage you to register now using the link opposite: https://chronomoto.com/rallyx/entry/

24-03-04 Nova Motorsport Becomes Official Tire Supplier of RallyX
The RallyX Championship is proud to announce the signing of an exclusive partnership agreement with Nova Motorsport, marking the start of a new era in the world of rallycross.

This five-year partnership reinforces RallyX's position as a major player on the rallycross scene and demonstrates a long-term commitment to the future stability and growth of the sport. Nova Motorsport's acquisition of Cooper's patents ensures continuity of product and service quality, providing competitors with an unrivaled racing experience.

Nova Motorsport's five-year partnership begins with the 2024 season of the eight-round, pan-European RallyX rallycross championship, which kicks off in Sweden on May 10-11. Comprising five categories and headlined by the elite 600 hp Open 4WD class, RallyX represents the ultimate racing environment for Nova Motorsport to demonstrate the technical excellence and competitive superiority of its products.

Nova Motorsport's acquisition of all remaining inventory from the Cooper Tire & Avon Motorsport business, including the world-leading ACB11 rallycross tire, will ensure uninterrupted, consistent service and supply, providing competitors and enthusiasts with an unparalleled racing experience.

Underpinning the Nova Motorsport offering is the highly experienced team assembled by Nova Motorsport founder and Managing Director of the brand's parent company, SPC Group, Paul Hallas. James Weekley, former General Manager of Avon Tires Motorsport, leads Nova Motorsport as Commercial Director. Former Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport General Manager Paul Coates joins as Contracts Manager and former Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport Product Technology Manager Matthew Vincent becomes Senior Product Category Manager.

James Weekley, Nova Motorsport General Manager, said: "Nova Motorsport is delighted to continue the relationship that Avon Motorsport and Cooper Tire have established with rallycross in general and RallyX in particular. Our technical team has been dominant in this field for three decades and we have a long and highly successful relationship with RX Promotion, so this was the most natural place for Nova Motorsport to begin its motorsports activities utilizing the highly successful Avon Motorsport and Cooper Tire product line.”

"We look forward to growing Nova Motorsport on a global scale and providing the highest quality competition tires. Our commitment to research and development will ensure that our products remain at the forefront of technology and performance in the world of competition and rallycross tires.”

Nova Motorsport has also brought on board a key figure in the rallycross world in Matthew Vincent. Matthew has been involved in various rallycross championships around the world for the past 15 years and was instrumental in the development of the ACB11 rallycross tire. Matthew will continue to work closely with the RallyX Championship to provide the best product for the series.

Matthew Vincent, Senior Product Category Manager at Nova Motorsport, commented: "I am excited to join Nova Motorsport and have the opportunity to build on the success of the ACB11 rallycross tire with the RallyX Championship tire supply agreement. With Nova Motorsport's commitment to research and development and this new partnership, the ACB11 rallycross tire will continue to be the leading product on the market as Nova Motorsport develops more new products in the future".

Andreas Eriksson, RallyX promoter, said: "We are delighted to welcome Nova Motorsport as our privileged partner for the next five seasons. This collaboration will allow RallyX to consolidate its presence and provide a solid platform for drivers who aspire to a promising future in rallycross".

Nova Motorsport aims to quickly establish its presence in the global motorsport and racing community. By focusing exclusively on motorsport and specialty tires, the brand will leverage its in-depth knowledge and expertise to create tires that deliver success in the most demanding racing conditions.

The new company's expertise will enable it to create tailored tire offerings to meet the specific needs of different racing categories. In addition, the brand is committed to significant investment in research and development to ensure Nova Motorsport remains at the forefront of tire technology for competition and high performance vehicles.

24-02-29 Team OMSE's Quest for Nitrocross Glory
This weekend in Las Vegas the Swedish team led by Kevin and Oliver Eriksson will try to add more prizes to the Team OMSE trophy collection in the final round of the 2023/2024 Nitrocross Championship season.

The moment of truth has arrived for Team OMSE. On the eve of the big event in Las Vegas, Andreas Eriksson's squad can still hope to win both the driver and team titles up for grabs.

To do so, Kevin Eriksson will have to do his utmost to reverse the trend. Second in the standings, 23 points behind leader Robin Larsson, the Swedish driver, who will race under the Kempower banner in a few hours' time, has enjoyed a flawless campaign so far.

In the seven events he has contested so far, Kevin has broken the 60-point barrier five times and has also claimed a total of five podium finishes. However, while he is still waiting for his first win, the two races in Las Vegas will be the perfect time for him to put the pressure on defending champion Robin Larsson.

"Even though it is undoubtedly easier to approach the final race of a championship from the top of the standings, I don't think my status as a hunter is a handicap," says Kevin Eriksson.

"If Robin [Larsson] has a lot to lose and little to gain, I am in the opposite situation. I'm going into this weekend with the advantage of not having to ask myself any questions. For my part, I feel in full possession of my abilities. Our preparation has been very good and I'm happy to be second overall at this stage of the championship".

Oliver Eriksson, for his part, knows that he has a double task. Not only does he have to protect Kevin Eriksson, but above all he has to score as many points as possible to try and close the 75-point gap between Team OMSE and DRR JC in the team championship.

In other words, the battle for the team title is far from over. Indeed, with a perfect weekend, Kevin and Oliver Eriksson can still claim a total of 312 points. A tally that would be more than enough for them to take first place in the overall standings.

"Of course, winning the Nitrocross title would be very special for our whole team," says Oliver Eriksson.

"That's our goal and we're obviously keen to add our name to the Nitrocross honors list. We've had a great season so far, but the chance to win the trophy would be a great reward for all the guys in our team who have worked hard all year to ensure that we still have a chance of winning the title going into the final stage of the championship. Needless to say, we're more motivated than ever to complete our trophy collection."

Where can you watch the Las Vegas race?
With over 3 million views since the start of the 2023/2024 championship, the Rumble platform is where all Nitrocross championship events are broadcast.

Race 1 in Las Vegas on Friday, March 1st click here
Race 2 in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 2nd click here

24-02-28 FIA World Rallycross Championship unveils 2024 calendar
Australia and Hungary join World RX schedule as ‘Battle of Technologies’ begins

The FIA World Rallycross Championship is pleased to present its 2024 calendar, with the exhilarating dual-surface action set to bring fans to their feet as the eagerly-anticipated new ‘Battle of Technologies’ races into life.

For the first time in World RX history, the cutting-edge electric RX1e cars – introduced two years ago – will go doorhandle-to-doorhandle with their sustainably-fuelled RX1 combustion counterparts as they rejoin the fray. This will add another fascinating dimension and an intriguing twist to what is already one of the most thrilling forms of motorsport on the planet.

Ratified by today’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, the 2024 schedule features five double-header fixtures totalling ten rounds, preceded by a standalone FIA European Rallycross Championship curtain-raiser on 8-9 June at Essay in northern France – a circuit that last hosted Euro RX more than a decade ago.

The World Championship then kicks off at Höljes’ legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ in Sweden (6-7 July) – selected as the best event of 2023 at the recent FIA Off-Road Prize-Giving ceremony.

Three weeks later, competitors will head to Hungary, as Nyirád’s famous ‘Red Cauldron’ – which has welcomed Euro RX for the past two seasons – steps up to World Championship level for the first time on 27-28 July.

Two popular World RX venues follow, in the shape of Mettet in Belgium (17-18 August) and Montalegre in Portugal (7-8 September), before the series travels overseas. Discussions are ongoing to add an event in Asia to the calendar in the autumn, ahead of a new season finale in Australia on 30 November – 1 December.

This will mark the first time the championship has set foot ‘Down Under’, as World RX continues to explore new territories following its spectacular city-centre debut in Hong Kong last November.

Arne Dirks, Managing Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:
“We’re excited to officially present the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar. A huge amount of hard work has gone into putting this schedule together, and we must thank all of our stakeholders for their earnest efforts and support.

“With a mixture of traditional rallycross favourites such as Höljes, Montalegre and Mettet, a very well-deserved promotion for Nyirád following two excellent European Championship events, a maiden visit to Australia and a return to France, we have a truly global and compelling calendar sure to whet the appetite of competitors and fans alike – and one befitting of such a landmark season as the ‘Battle of Technologies’ gets underway in style.

“We are looking forward to seeing the RX1e cars back in action for the first time since last summer, and curious to discover how they compare against the sustainably-fuelled combustion cars on the grid. As we all know in rallycross, there will be absolutely no quarter given.

“Looking further ahead, we are already in the advanced stages of finalising next year’s plans, with even more interest from major new markets, so we look forward to confirming and presenting the 2025 World RX dates in due course.”

2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship Calendar
June 8-9 Euro RX of France, Essay (Euro RX only)
July 6-7 World RX of Sweden, Höljes
July 27-28 World RX of Hungary, Nyirád *
August 17-18 World RX of Benelux, Mettet
September 7-8 World RX of Portugal, Montalegre
November 30 – December 1 World RX of Australia, TBA *
* Subject to circuit homologation

All European events to include FIA European Rallycross Championships

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: fiaworldrallycross.com

24-02-27 Exciting news: RallyXtream weekend is back!
Free entry: That's right – entry is completely free for the whole family!

Register your tickets here: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/RallyXtream_Weekend_1932

Get ready for an adrenaline packed weekend! Back by popular demand, we are proud to announce the return of RallyXtream Weekend at Tierp Arena, and this year promises to be even bigger and better than ever before!

What you can expect:
RallyX & Rally Sprint: Watch drivers navigate challenging courses with precision and speed.
SXS & Drifting: Prepare to be amazed by the skill and excitement of SXS racing and the fascinating drifting feats.

Huge Exhibition: Explore the latest in motorsport technology and innovation in our large exhibition area.
Funzone for Kids: Entertain the little ones with bouncy castles, electric cars and more in our dedicated Funzone.
Music and beer garden: Great music while you sip a refreshing drink in our lively beer garden.
Food and drink: Great variety of food, drink and snacks around the entire area.
Surprises: Throughout the event, we will offer a lot of cool surprises. Keep an eye on our social media for more information.

First round of the RallyX Championship:
RallyXtream Weekend will be the first round of the RallyX Championship, all the big names in the sport of Rallycross ready to fight for glory and prestige on the track!

Don't miss this - invite your friends and family to the RallyXtream Weekend.

See you there!

www.rallyxtreamweekend.se

24-02-21 FC2 project enjoys outstanding success
Since its launch last November, the onging FC2 project has continued its development phase in North America. To date, First Corner has confirmed 15 orders for this revolutionary new concept.

The latest version of the FC2 concept will be unveiled next month in Las Vegas at the final Round of Nitrocross. As a leader in automotive innovation, First Corner is pleased to confirm that development of the FC2 is progressing successfully in North America, where our engineering teams are benefiting from more favorable weather conditions than in Europe at this time of year.

The latest progress in this phase of development allows First Corner to report that the FC2 is ahead of the schedule set by OMSE. Although the car used in the USA still retains the current Supercar Lites bodywork, work continues behind the scenes to achieve the final FC2 design.

The unveiling of the latest version of the development vehicle at the Nitrocross Finals in Las Vegas, scheduled for March 1-2, will be a critical step in the continuions public promotion of the FC2 concept.

Supporting this activity, First Corner recently attended the Autosport show where representatives met with partners and suppliers. The preliminary mock-up of the new FC2 body was made available to potential partners and suppliers through virtual reality glasses, a pioneering initiative that proved a great success at the event.

Since the official launch of the FC2 kits in early January, some 15 orders have been received, with a further 8 under negotiation. Inquiries from both Europe and the USA (Nitrocross) have continued to pour in since the beginning of 2024.

In addition, a ground-breaking partnership between OMSE / First Corner and Racemarket.net, the international renowned Motorsport sales platofom has resulted in the launch of a dedicated web page on Racemarket.net for the resale of redundant components from the upgrade process of Supercar Lites to FC2. This is an innovative recycling program that supports OMSE / First Corner's continious commitment to sustainable motorsports.

Prior to its introduction in the Nitrocross NEXT EVO championship from the 2024/2025 season, five FC2 cars will make their official racing debut in the Supercar class of the RallyX championship from May 2024.

24-02-14 OMSE and First Corner Announce Exclusive Partnership with Racemarket.net
OMSE and First Corner World Leaders in Sustainable Motorsport, Announce Exclusive Partnership with Racemarket.net; Pioneers in the Circular Economy within Motorsports

OMSE and First Corner proudly announces a groundbreaking partnership with Racemarket.net, the globally renowned marketplace for motorsports enthusiasts. This unique collaboration aims to spearhead a circular economy within the motorsport’s community, particularly focused on the upgrade from Supercar Lites to the revolutionary FC2 concept.

The FC2 concept redefines motorsport by creating identical FC2 vehicles through the recycling and reuse of current Supercar Lites. This innovative approach includes the enhancement of existing components and the resale of surplus parts through Racemarket.net marketplaces. The overarching goal is to minimize the carbon footprint of the FC2 while aligning motorsports with environmental sustainability.

This innovative investment reduction program allows Supercar Lites owners to recoup an estimated 30% of their initial investment by recycling surplus parts. These components will be made available for reuse in other racing formulas or by current Supercar Lite owners with a solution enabled by Racemarket.net.

This strategic partnership not only confirms Racemarket.net's position as a global sales hub for the motorsport community but also solidifies OMSE and First Corner as World leaders in sustainable Motorsports. Acting as a bridge between motorsports enthusiasts and innovative programs like FC2, Racemarket.net continues to shape the landscape of motorsports commerce.

“When we first came up with the FC2 concept, we also wanted to come up with an innovative approach to support sustainability within Motorsport” says Andreas Eriksson, CEO at OMSE and First Corner. Our revolutionary cooperation with Racemarket.net is not only the first of its kind within Motorsport, but it’s also the perfect solution we were seeking for our clients, and we look forward to expanding this cooperation further in the future.”

"We are thrilled to be part of this revolutionary endeavour with OMSE and First Corner," says Jure Krapenc, CEO at Racemarket.net. "This partnership not only aligns with our commitment to fostering a circular economy but also underscores our dedication to being the premier sales point for the global motorsport community."

24-02-06 Enlunds Motorsport och Martin Enlund tar steget upp till Supercar
Enlunds motorsport avslöjar idag en betydelsefull utveckling inför säsongen 2024 med Martin Enlund som tar steget upp till en högre nivå inom motorsportvärlden.

Efter en imponerande prestation och framstående insatser i tidigare tävlingar, är Martin Enlund redo att konkurrera på en ny plattform och ta sig an nya utmaningar inom klassen Supercar. Teamet med Martin i spetsen är taggade inför den nya utmaningen men nu väntar en hel del jobb med den nya bilen en Ford Fiesta MK8 byggd av OMSE. Enlunds motorsport planerar just nu försäsongen som kommer att innehålla mycket körning och tester, allt för att vara redo i maj på Tierp arena som är starten av RallyX-serien.

Det är främst RallyX-serien som Enlunds motorsport satsar på under 2024 men hoppas även på inhopp i andra serier.
– Efter fyra år i supercar lites så känns det som ett naturligt steg för oss ta klivet upp till supercar. RallyX-serien håller en väldigt hög klass när det kommer till både konkurrens och event, säger teamchef Roger.

På den klassiska sportfrågan: Hur känns det svarar Martin:
– Jag är otroligt glad att vi har lyckats få ihop den här satsningen. Det är en dröm sedan man var barn att tävla i supercar och nu står vi här. Samtidigt väljer jag att vara ödmjuk inför uppgiften, detta är en 3-års satsning och första året är såklart ett läro-år. Det kommer främst handla om att både jag och teamet ska samla på oss erfarenheter och lärdomar. Men det är ju såklart så.. finns det en lucka så tar jag den, skrattar han.

Följ Martin & Enlunds motorsport på facebook https://www.facebook.com/martinenlund60

24-01-25 RallyX celebrates 10th anniversary with record number of entries
As the RallyX championship prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary and the first of three registration periods comes to an end, promoter RX Promotion has confirmed a record number of drivers for the 2024 season.

As the early bird registration period for discounted entry fees concluded, no less than 94 drivers have already punched their ticket to the 2024 RallyX championship.

"Since registration opened on December 24th, we've had a record number of drivers enter the 2024 championship," says Andreas Eriksson.

"For the first time in the history of the RallyX championship, we've passed the 90-driver mark in just a few days. This is a real success and I'd like to thank everyone involved in the championship for their commitment and for the confidence they have repeatedly shown in us to make our series a rallycross stronghold".

While only 125 places are available for each RallyX event, more than 75% of the field has already secured their entry for the 2024 season.

"We still have two months to reach the target of 125 registered drivers and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the RallyX championship in the best possible way. We see excellent momentum in the Open 2WD category with 13 cars already entered. In CrossCar, no less than 18 juniors have sent in their entry forms, while the number of seniors has already reached 32. In Supercar Lites, we already have 15 cars, while in Open 4WD (Supercar), the 16-driver mark has already been reached, even though we know that many teams will be joining us over the next few weeks and are not yet included in this figure, so this list promises to grow rapidly"

In total, no less than 11 nationalities are currently represented in the RallyX championship, but that number could grow as the second phase of entries is now open until March 15, 2024.

"We expect the last available places to be filled quickly," says Andreas Eriksson.

"Our championship is developing at an incredible pace and it's great for the tracks we work with to know that they can count on highly competitive line-ups. This tenth anniversary of the RallyX championship is definitely shaping up to be a great vintage. But our work doesn't stop there. We're going to use this opportunity to strengthen the position of our championship and thus lay a very good foundation for its future, which has never been more promising in the history of RallyX".

Good to know!
Of the 125 places up for grabs, the first registration phase, which closed on January 24, has already attracted a total of 93 drivers.

The second registration phase begins on Thursday, January 25 and closes on March 15, 2024.

The third and final registration phase will run from March 16 to April 25.
Since December 24, no fewer than 11 nationalities have been registered.

The number of entries by category since December 24, 2023:
Open 2WD: 13 drivers
XC CrossCar Junior: 18 drivers
XC CrossCar Senior: 32 drivers
Supercar Lites: 15 drivers
Open 4WD: 16 drivers

Please note that the maximum number of drivers per event is 125. Entries will be automatically closed once a category has reached its maximum number of entries. Only five reserve drivers may be added to this list.

Registration for the 2024 season of the RallyX Championship is accessible via this link: https://www.rallyx.se/driver-registration/

RallyX 2024 Calendar
May 10-11: Tierp Arena // Sweden (double header)
May 25-26: Kouvola // Finland (double header)
TBA: Sweden (double header)
August 3-4: Nysum // Denmark (double header)
August 10-11: Estering // Germany (double header)

24-01-24 Ingen VM-runde på Lånkebanen i år
Den endelige terminlisten for årets VM i rallycross er ikke offentliggjort av det internasjonale bilsportforbundet ennå. Men det er klart at det ikke blir VM og EM i rallycross på Lånkebanen på Hell i år.

Styret i selskapet HellRX AS som har vært ansvarlig for den norske VM-runden de siste årene har måttet innse at det ikke er økonomisk grunnlag for å fortsette med arrangementet.
- Fjorårets arrangement fikk et betydelig minusresultat, og med den usikkerheten som er rundt hele VM-serien for tiden så må vi bare innse at vi ikke har mulighet til å være arrangør lenger, sier styreleder i HellRX AS Jan Olav Haarsaker.

HellRX AS eies med 55% av Norges Bilsportforbund, mens de øvrige aksjonærene er lokale aktører i Trøndelag.

Fra Bilsportforbundets side beklager man at det ikke vil være forsvarlig å fortsette VM-festen på Lånkebanen.
- Lånkebanen var EM-arena for første gang i 2011, og da rallycrossen fikk VM-status fra 2014 var Norge og Lånke naturlig vertskapsnasjon og bane. Det har vært noen fantastisk gode arrangement, så det er vemodig at vi må kaste kortene. Publikumsinteressen er for liten, og det er dessverre ikke økonomisk forsvarlig å fortsette. Samtidig med sviktende publikumsinteresse blir kravene til alle internasjonale idrettsarrangement vanskelige og vanskeligere å innfri for små nasjoner som Norge, sier generalsekretær Hallgeir Raknerud i NBF.

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