Kristoffersson Motorsport wins World RX Team title
Ole Christian Veiby takes his maiden race win over the World RX Ori.
Juha Rytkönen becomes the sixth different World RX race winner in 2024.
Johan Kristoffersson has claimed an unprecedented seventh FIA World Rallycross Championship drivers’ title after an exciting season finale in Türkiye.
The 35-year-old Swede failed to add to his five race wins in the Istanbul Park double-header. But there was no need for that as they secured the title with a win in the second heat on Saturday.
“The race to win the championship is amazing and a lot of fun,” Kristofferson said.
“We have so many good people on the team, so we started the season well prepared, with a very easy and reliable car to drive.
“It will take some time to win seven World Championship titles!”
From the moment he won the title, Kristoffersson was focused on helping KMS win the World RX Teams’ title, sacrificing qualifying and semi-final wins to promote teammate Ole Christian Veiby to the runner-up position for drivers. ranking.
Veiby took his first World RX victory by winning round 9 in a Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX equipped with the sustainable fuel combustion engine KMS – HORSE powertrain. A golden opportunity to steal silver from pole position.
So it was Kevin Hansen who, in his Hansen World RX Team Peugeot 208 RX1e, maintained second place in the drivers’ standings and secured the runner-up spot by finishing fourth in the final round (and, more importantly, ahead of Veiby). .
The Hansen team stood out as they failed to reach the podium in the first four rounds of the season, but thanks to their outstanding teamwork, they have since achieved six consecutive podium finishes. Kevin and brother Timmy each won a race during the season, with the latter finishing fourth in the points standings.
Sunday’s rain and unusually slippery track conditions did not favor Türkiye’s electric car as he found finding traction tricky. Niclas Grönholm was very fast in Saturday’s dry conditions and took second place in the final. However, it was a different story on wet surfaces the next day, as the CE Dealer Team PWR RX1e driver finished fifth in the final race of the year.
The Finn finished fifth in the final points standings. This is one place ahead of teammate Klara Andersson, who missed out on either of the World RX of Türkiye finals.
Lack of grip was a major problem for Patrick O’Donovan, who was very sidelined. The Euro RX champion advanced to Saturday’s final despite being pressured by a spin approaching turn one in the semi-finals. Fifth place in round 9 was the highlight of a brilliant weekend in the Team RX Racing Peugeot 208 WRX.
One of the biggest surprises of the season lasted until the final round, when Juha Rytkönen won in the 10th round over Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen.
The 33-year-old Finn was in incredible form throughout the weekend and took part in a tough battle. It was a tough battle, especially with PGRX teammate Steven Bossard.
But everything worked out in the end for Rytkönen as he turned a stellar start into a textbook flash, posting a victory and becoming the sixth driver to win a World RX Series round this year.
“I was speechless and really surprised,” Rytkönen admitted.
“Saturday was a tough day for us, but Sunday was much better and to beat two world champions in the final is a really special feeling. “It’s truly amazing!”
2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship
Points after 10 rounds
1. Johann Kristofferson… .240pts
2. Kevin Hansen… .197pts
3. Ole Christian Baby… .190pts
4. Timmy Hansen… .181pts
5. Niklas Grönholm… .177pts
6. Clara Anderson… .145pts
World RX Race Results
Turkiye World RX (Istanbul Park)
Round 10 – Sunday 10 November
1. Juha RYTKÖNEN(FIN) PGRX(ICE)… .5 laps
2. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS – Equine Powertrain (ICE)… .+3.026s
3. Timmy Hansen (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV)… .+12.428s
4. Kevin Hansen (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV)… .+14.465s
5. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV)… .+18.783s
6. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)… .+19.370s
World RX Race Results
Turkiye World RX (Istanbul Park)
Round 9 – Saturday 9 November
1. Ole Christian VEIBY(NOR) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)… .5 laps
2. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Dealer Team (EV)… .+6.017s
3. Kevin Hansen (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV)… .+7.654s
4. Timmy Hansen (SWE) Hansen World RX Team (EV)… .+10.991s
5. Patrick O’Donovan (IRL) Team RX Racing (ICE)… .+11.811s
6. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS – Equine Powertrain (ICE)… .+6.768s
