As the second driver ever in the history of World RX, Johan Kristoffersson scored maximum points at Norwegian Hell: quickest in all four qualifying heats, victory in the semi-final and a great triumph in the final. All in all a dominant winning weekend for the FIA World Rallycross Championship leader.
”What a fantastic weekend! Already from start I felt very comfortable with the car. It’s incredible when you really can control your car and feel like you can do whatever you want with it” said Johan.
Unlike at previous races, Johan dominated already on Saturday at the Lånke track in Norwegian Hell. Two heat wins meant overnight lead and Johan continued in the same way on Sunday. With strong starts, he could defend his position all through the remaining qualifying heats.
In the semi-final, both PSRX Volkswagen Sweden drivers, Johan and his team-mate Petter Solberg, were once again side by side in the first row. But this time without any drama. Johan drove his Polo R Supercar towards a convincing victory while Petter finished third.
The drama in the final played out in the first corner, behind Johan in the lead. Timmy Hansen took a hit, went sideways and almost hit Johan. But after escaping that drama without a scratch, Johan controlled the rest of the race. Mattias Ekström, with an early joker lap behind him, came chasing from behind but the ruling world champion had more to give and finished eighth tenths before Ekström with Petter third. The Swede secured his second straight victory on this track in front of 24.000 spectators and also the fourth win in five rounds in this year’s World RX championship.
By winning all four qualifying heats, the semi-final and the final, Johan accomplished something that only Andreas Bakkerud has done before in the World RX.
”Such a great feeling” said Johan. ”This weekend was yet another superb effort by PSRX Volkswagen Sweden. We had a strategy that worked and it is awesome to have my team-mate with me on the podium! Sweden is my home, but I live close to Norway so this victory feels very special. But at the same time, the 30 points for the championship are even more important.”