Not only the Swedish drivers dominated in the Swedish half of the RallyX On Ice, but also both victories had the name Eriksson on it, as Kevin Eriksson won at Höljes, now sharing a win in 2018 with his brother Oliver, who still got a podium finish at the World RX venue.
The Erikssons were in a high note during the qualifiers, with Oliver leading Kevin and they were followed by Jonathan Walfridsson.
The first semifinal saw Sondre Evjen go straight to the lead and having his focus on avoiding am approach of Oliver Eriksson during most of the race. Once the leaders decided to go to the Joker, Evjen’s strategy of going in the penultimate lap worked wonders, while Eriksson fell to third in the final lap as Ben Philip Gundersen advanced, staying like this to the finish.
Problem then was that Gundersen didn’t do the Joker, so he lost the second place to Eriksson and also the spot in the final.
On semifinal 2, Vasily Gryazin was a victim of a crowded first corner and was sent to a stop in the snowbank while Kevin Eriksson was leading Conner Martell. The GRC driver tried everything possible to overtake Eriksson, and when they touched panels, the Swede had the advantage and Jarni Kalliomäki got the second place while Martell was recovering pace. Kalliomäki still tried to overtake Eriksson in the final corner but was beaten at the line.
Alexander Westlund did a rocket start in the third semifinal and led the way ahead of Pelle Willen. When Westlund went to the Joker, Walfridsson tried to pass Westlund but met the snowbank before that. As Walfridsson got stuck, Austin Cindric jumped to third but was unable to do a thing to qualify to the final. Westlund retook the lead when Willen went to the Joker, and things stayed like this until the checkered flag.
In the final Kevin Eriksson defended himself from Sondre Evjen to keep the lead, and Evjen then entered into pursuit mode to attack Eriksson again.
Even though Evjen was leading quite a pack to try to catch Eriksson, the World RX regular didn’t put a wheel wrong and pushed hard to secure his lead and the event win, with Evjen in second and Oliver Eriksson in third.
RallyX On Ice - Höljes final results
The RallyX On Ice stops for two weeks and returns in Norway, as Ål will be venue of the third round on Februrary 25th, with current IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden debuting in rallycross in the car that was used by Austin Cindric.
PHOTO: Olsbergs MSE
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