Johan Kristoffersson completed an impressive double at the Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps by winning both double header events this weekend. Kristoffersson repeated Saturday’s victory in Round 6 by making it six wins from seven races on Sunday as he strengthened his challenge for a fifth FIA World Rallycross Championship title.
The Swede did not set much pace on Saturday’s heat one and two however, after starting at fourth in the final, the defending world champion cut neatly to the inside entering turn one while Niclas Grönholm and Kevin Hansen focussed on fending each other off, to slot into second behind pole-sitter Timmy Hansen.
As the electric rally cars moved into the first hairpin turn, Grönholm’s hard braking forced a collision, sending Hansen into a spin and Kristoffersson into the first position, ultimately collecting the chequered flag.
Second position went the way of Kevin Hansen, while Gustav Bergström – who wasn’t even due to take part in the final until a disqualification catapulted him onto the grid – wound up third to reach the World RX rostrum for the first time in only his sixth start at the international pinnacle of the sport.
“We started on a high and ended on a high,” said Kristofferson after his Saturday’s win. “In-between, it was quite tricky. I’m happy for Gustav – to finish on the podium so early in his World RX career is fantastic. Big congratulations to him”.
Sunday’s action saw Kristofferson secure the pole position and dominate the race, driving clear of his pursuers to take the chequered flag almost four seconds ahead of his closest pursuer.
The result has extended his advantage at the top of the title standings to 41 points with only two race weekends remaining – a fact not lost on the four-time world champion.
“You need to be in the right place at the right time, and thankfully, we were,” beamed Kristoffersson after tallying the 33rd triumph of a career that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. “The team is delivering a perfect car every time we go out and we worked hard on our starts today, because they weren’t the best yesterday. That paid off in the final, and thankfully there was no squeeze into turn one because the wall there is pretty unforgiving.”
Grönholm finished second to cap a weekend of continued progress for the Construction Equipment Dealer Team as Bergström went on to take the final podium position on Sunday.
Kevin Hansen wound up fourth after sliding wide in the last corner – finding himself inadvertently clipped by Grönholm in the process – with Ole Christian Veiby classified fifth.
The next stop on the 2022 schedule will be World RX of Catalunya on 29-30 October.
Watch our video feature on World Rallycross’s transition to electric racing.