Another amazing weekend for Kristoffersson

av Webmaster | okt 14, 2018 | News

Johan Kristoffersson has finally conquered difficult Estering in Buxtehude. His first ever victory on the German track was also his tenth win this season. A stunning performance by the two-time world champion and his team PSRX Volkswagen Sweden – the Team championship is secured for the second year in a row.

”I can finally tell you that the view is awesome from the top of the podium in Buxtehude” said Johan after mastering the track that has haunted him previously. Johan Kristoffersson prepared thoroughly for this World RX round in order to figure out the secret on how to succeed and take his first podium at Estering. His plan worked. Johan didn’t just make it onto the top of the podium, he also scored maximum points for the sixth time this season. ”For me, this sport and the championship isn’t about numbers. Sure, it’s nice to win ten rounds, but that’s something I can look back on when I get old, when I have my grandkids on my lap and tell them about how granddad was a really quick driver once.”

His grandkids may hear the story of a difficult and rough qualification where he secured 16 points, just ahead of Andreas Bakkerud. ”There were moments this weekend when I thought ’It’s Buxtehude all over again. I won’t be able to get this podium’. Some of the qualifying heats were really tough with lots of traffic and interesting lines in the first corner.”

In the semi-final, it was Johan’s team-mate Petter Solberg who was the first to challenge, but Johan managed to keep the distance and score six more points with his Polo R Supercar. ”It was a shame that Petter and I ended up in the same semi-final, but we both made it through. In the first corner after I had done the joker lap it was like we were driving completely synchronized – that was good fun!

The final was dramatic. From first row, Johan lost the leading position in the legendary first corner to Bakkerud. One lap later, he took back the lead in the same place and was heading for the victory, but the race got a red flag after Kevin Hansen’s incident. With that, Johan got a new chance from pole position and this time he immediately took the lead and kept it until he crossed the finish line. He secured the tenth win in eleven rounds and the 19th in his career – something that is unique in the history of the World RX.

In the Drivers’ championship, Johan now has 311 points, which makes it an 83 points’ lead (!) over of Mattias Ekström with only one round to go in South Africa next month. Johan’s points also helped PSRX Volkswagen Sweden to secure the Team championship for the second year in a row, something that the champion wanted to put light on this weekend. ”The most important thing here and now is the story of the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team. There are so many people who have worked so hard behind the scenes for this and this weekend is for them. To win a FIA title is an amazing accomplishment, but to do it again, in this way, shows that this is the best team in the world” said Johan.

King Kristoffersson conquered the World RX – historic second world champion title secured

av Webmaster | okt 1, 2018 | News

World champion – for the second time – and historic within Swedish motorsport! After another great triumph at the Circuit of the Americas in the USA, Johan Kristoffersson once again proved that he rules the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Two rounds remain but the title is already secured by the Volkswagen star, who took his ninth victory of the season.

”What an incredible feeling! The title is what I came here for and it’s amazing to have it secured. There was some pressure at practice and in the qualifying heats, and sure I thought about the championship, even though I tried to push those thoughts back” said the delighted champion.

At the brand new track for the World RX in Austin, Texas, it wasn’t a given win for Johan Kristoffersson. In fact, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden giant had a rough start of the weekend.
“I got stuck in traffic so it didn’t look too good in the beginning” confessed Johan.

A 13th and second quickest time in Q1 and Q2 placed him in fifth overnight.

Like several times before, the Swede had a much better Sunday. After setting a third fastest time in Q3, he took the win in Q4.
“In Q4 I felt like everything worked perfectly and I had good speed. The car felt really great and that gave me confidence.”

Those results put Johan and his Polo R Supercar next to his team-mate Petter Solberg in the first semi-final. Solberg impressed during the weekend and he also won the semi-final with Johan just behind.
But the five points that Johan picked up were enough for him to secure his second world champion title with two rounds to go in Germany and South Africa.
”The semi-final was completely crazy! I made it through the last corner and knew that I was world champion. And still there was one race to go.”
So there wasn’t much celebration right away. A champion behaves accordingly and Johan was fully focused on the final.
“I was in race mode and there wasn’t time to think about anything else” said the world champion.

From second row in the final, Johan immediately went for the joker lap and with that he took a fierce battle with Mattias Ekström. Johan was the strongest one this time and could continue chasing the lead. It looked like he would have to settle for second place behind Solberg, but on the fifth lap, Johan’s team-mate and team owner went wide. Johan saw his chance and that took him to his ninth triumph in ten rounds – and his 18th victory overall in the World RX.

With this win, Johan Kristoffersson becomes historic since he is the first one within Swedish motorsport who has two world champion titles on senior level.
“I am so proud of what I’ve accomplished this season. It was huge to win last year, but to defend the title in this way feels very special. I have many people to thank for this, the whole PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team included.”

The season continues for the two-time world champion in Germany in two weeks before heading to South Africa for the final round in the end of November.