Defending world champion Johan Kristoffersson and his team PSRX Volkswagen Sweden started the new season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in the same way they finished the last one – with a victory.
”It was a tough start of the new year so taking the victory makes me really happy” said Johan. ”The competition was tough and the weekend was rough. To start with a brand new car in these conditions (on Saturday) was difficult, we struggled a lot with the grip. It was a day where you just tried to survive and to have both our PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo R Supercars was a great confirmation for the team after the hard work that they’ve done during the winter.”
The opening day of the FIA World Rallycross Championship 2018 offered grey skies and heavy rain, which made the Catalunya track in Barcelona extremely muddy and slippery. Johan still managed to claim third place after the first two qualifying heats and found himself in a great position for the remaining two heats.
On Sunday, the weather was finally sunny again and a good performance in the morning, Johan stayed in third place and moved on to the first semi-final. The race was tough and after having to fight in the first corner, Johan stroke back, passed Andreas Bakkerud after a fantastic joker lap and finished second.
It was set for a real fight in the final and a dramatic incident already in the first corner caused Johan’s team-mate Petter Solberg to crash into a pile of tyres, while Johan battled his way to second place behind Mattias Ekström. But after investigating the accident in the start, the organizers came to the decision to disqualify Ekström and the victory went to Johan instead.
”The semi-final was good and gave us a good result and position in the final. I’m really sorry for what happened to Petter in the first corner. And like I said, it’s been a tough weekend but we’re coming home with points and that’s what matters at the end of the season” said Johan.