av Webmaster | nov 25, 2018 | News
Johan Kristoffersson finished his incredible season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship by securing the 11th victory in 12 rounds – a historic and record breaking accomplishment! The PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver defended his world champion title, 93 points ahead of the runner-up!
Despite securing the title already weeks ago, it was an emotional world champion that summed up the weekend and the season. ”I feel really emotional. It’s beginning to sink in that I actually took the title and this victory is a wonderful way to wrap up a fantastic season.”
Johan said already ahead of the race that it would be important to finish with another triumph and of course there was no reason to feel different when it was all done and dusted. ”When you get to the last race of the season, it’s always a great thing to have one last win with you during the winter break. You are only as good as your last performance, so to start 2019 with a victory from the last round of the previous season is really nice.”
Once again, Johan scored maximum points in Cape Town, for the seventh time this year, but just like many times before, it wasn’t an easy task. Johan began his weekend at Killarney International Raceway in the worst way possible. A spin after having some technical problems meant 16th place in Q1.
But he fought back in his typical way with a solid win in Q2.
Ahead of Sunday, the Swede was ten points behind Sébastien Loeb, still far off the overall win in the Q’s, but two more majestic races made him climb to the top after Q4. ”I had a perfect Q3. The car was great and I could push without making any mistakes. And after Q4 my comeback was completed” said Johan.
With pole position in the semi-final and the final with his Polo R Supercar, he had a quite undramatic journey towards the eleventh victory of the season – the ninth straight win. And that’s a special number to Johan. ”I remember watching Sebastian Vettel win nine races in a row in the end of the F1 season 2013 and I thought that feeling must be fantastic, to have that much success during one year. And now I did it too. Amazing. I will never forget this season. So special.”
He also makes history with a victory percent of 92 throughout the year, the only round he didn’t win was in Belgium, where Sébastien Loeb finished on top. ”A bit frustrating, but the will to chase those 100 percent gives us something to work on for next year” said Johan with a smile.
Johan was eager to share his success with the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team. ”This crew is unique. Everything I’ve achieved this season is all because of the hard work that these people have put in.”
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.
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.
av Webmaster | sep 16, 2018 | News
The sweep of victories continues for Johan Kristoffersson. After yet another flawless weekend, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden star took his eighth World RX win this season – again a recordbreaking achievement in the history of rallycross. The ruling world champion keeps his number one position.
”I have amazing memories from here after securing my first world champion title here last year and when I saw the sea of spectators, all memories came back. That really made me yearn for another title.”
The chance of that happening is definitely within reach after another outstanding performance.
Johan set the bar high already on Saturday and proved that the job with improving the starts has paid off. Johan’s Polo R Supercar flew straight to victory in both qualifying heats on Saturday.
”Q1 was very important. That I beat (Sébastien) Loeb with nine thousandths was crucial for pole position in Q2 and that set the standard for the rest of the weekend” said Johan and continues:
”The first corner is so important here. We saw some chaos there over the weekend and I managed to stay away from it. From pole position it’s easier to brake late and keep your position.”
In Q3 on Sunday, Johan came to start with used tyres. He still won his race, but had to settle with a third quickest time in the heat.
In the fourth heat, Johan was back where he started and after finishing P1 again, he secured the first 16 points of the weekend in a convincing style.
Just in time for the semi-final, the Swede put brand new tyres on his Volkswagen rocket and managed to be quickest in the start, despite having a close fight with Mattias Ekström towards the first corner.
”The semi-final was pretty messy the first laps and I made a few mistakes. I was a bit more careful there, since I knew the speed was still there” said Johan.
In the final, ’Mr 100 percent’ made another perfect start and had a nice ride towards the 17th victory in his career and the fifth round with maximum points this season.
”We made a few setup changes between the semis and the final and the car got even better. I had a great start and felt comfortable just continuing to push. I really need to thank the team for the work they’ve done with improving the launches. That’s what made this win possible.”
It’s been said before and became even clearer to everyone this weekend: no one can stop Johan Kristoffersson in 2018!
Overall in the Drivers’ Championship, the Volkswagen Sweden driver has a 73 points’ lead ahead of Mattias Ekström, with three more rounds to go.
”Tonight we’ll party with the fans in Riga. It’s been an amazing weekend and now I just want to do this again!”
av Webmaster | sep 2, 2018 | News
Seventh victory this season, fifth straight in the World RX series and third straight win in front of the massive crowd in French Lohéac. Ruling world champion Johan Kristoffersson continues in a class of his own. The PSRX Volkswagen Sweden star started the final from the second row but still fought his way to the top of the podium.
Johan Kristoffersson was beyond delighted after yet another fantastic race weekend, this time in front of 80.000 spectators in Bretagne.
”I love this place. The fans are so special. We know that everyone cheers like crazy for Sébastien (Loeb) and wants him to win, but the respect and the great feeling they give me is just wonderful. I really want to thank them all.”
The Swedish rallycross ace were in control all weekend and won Saturday’s qualifying heat. In the second, he had a rough start but still managed to win his race and set a second quickest time overall in the heat.
Sunday continued in the same way. Kristoffersson won an intense battle with Mattias Ekström in Q3 and beat Liam Doran in the fourth heat and with that he scored 16 championship points.
From pole position in the semi-final, he saw Ekström fly into the lead. Johan, who drove on used tyres, kept his position and secured second row in the final and another five points for the championship.
”The semi-final was okay, but my launch in the start was not superb” commented Johan.
He came to the final with four new tyres on this Volkswagen Polo R Supercar.
”I had saved my tyres for the final, but I was still a bit worried, becuase when you are in the middle of the field you can’t always take advantage of the tyres. I jokered early came out in front of my team-mate Petter (Solberg) – it was a close one!”
From fifth position, Johan put pressure on the drivers in front of him and waited for them to take the joker lap.
”Will they do it now? I wasn’t sure; I didn’t know who would joker when. I was behind Timmy (Hansen) and thought: ’Will he go for it now? Will he?’ I was ready to take my chance but it never really worked. And I couldn’t fully charge without risking to hit him, so I spent several laps just waiting and lost time.”
On the last lap, leading Andreas Bakkerud, Mattias Ekström in second and Timmy Hansen in third went for the joker lap, which in the current conditions took another extra second.
”My spotter yelled ’Go, go, go!’ so I pushed like mad and we made it.”
With his dad Tommy’s coaching from the spotter tower, Kristoffersson junior managed to squeeze in right in front of Bakkerud with Petter just behind. The two VW Polo R drivers had gone from fourth and fifth place to the podium in a few seconds.
”Amazing! I really want to thank my team and Petter. There were moments when I thought that this wouldn’t be possible and that makes the victory even more special” said Johan.
This win also means that Johan beats his own record of victories from last year. Seven wins in one season and a new record – but the job is not done yet. There are four World RX rounds to go, the next one is in Latvia in two weeks. Until then, the ruling world champion has a 59 points’ lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
av Webmaster | aug 6, 2018 | News
He did it again! Despite a difficult position after a rough Saturday, Johan Kristoffersson managed to score maximum points at the seventh round of this year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship. After the weekend in Canadian Trois Rivières, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver has a comfortable 55 points lead.
Last year’s winner of the Canadian World RX had a long and somewhat troublesome road to the triumph. Johan didn’t get the best position in both Q1 and Q2 and with lots of battles and traffic, things got very tough. When he went to bed on Saturday night, he was ninth overall. Not the comeback after the summer break that he had hoped for.
”Did you think I had left my competitive speed at the beach? So did I. Seriously, Saturday was really tough. I got stuck in traffic and things didn’t go my way at all. I was so frustrated that evening.”
But just like many times before, everything turned around on Sunday.
”In situations like this, it feels so good to have a team-mate like Petter Solberg. I felt that I lost time on the gravel sections, so we sat down and talked about the car and my driving. He helped me a lot and on Sunday morning I did as he told me to” said Johan, while thanking his team-mate.
After a tough fight with Kevin Hansen in Q3, Johan managed to win the race and was also quickest overall in the heat. That put him in a great position for Q4, something that he really took advantage of. He drove his Polo R Supercar to a safe heat win and got away with 16 points from the qualifying heats, which is a maximum score.
In the semi-final, Johan was off to a fantastic start and dominated the race until he, as most times this season, crossed the finish line as the winner.
”I had to push hard in the semi-final. I knew that the Peugeot cars would be quick again.”
From pole position in the final, Johan had a trouble free ride towards the sixth victory in seven rounds so far this season. As a bonus, the Swedish star collected maximum points (30) for the fourth time in a row. What a performance!
”The final was good. I was challenged in the first corner, but once I made it through I knew that things were looking pretty good for me.”
In the Drivers’ Championship, Johan is in the overall lead with his 195 points. Sébastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen are 55 points behind him in second and third place.
