The RallyX Nordic activities at Höljes started on Thursday, and Niclas Grönholm capitalized the most by winning with his GRX Hyundai i20 RX while favorite Johan Kristoffersson failed to go past the semifinals.
Johan Kristoffersson was dominant during all Qualifying sessions, having even the opportunity to gamble more on the tires and go for used ones in Q3 and still beat the whole field, with only the pair of GRX Hyundais from Niclas Grönholm and Krisztián Szabó having a remote chance of being a threat to the VW BAUHAUS driver, staying near his rear bumper all the time.
The debut of the Ford Fiesta ERX in the hands of Andreas Bakkerud and Henri Haapamäki was taken as a learning opportunity, with Bakkerud in special squeezing more and more pace from the car and learning the tricks to drive the electric machine faster and more efficiently, finishing ninth with Haapamäki in tenth, meaning that both would tackle the supercar horde in the Semifinals.
RallyX Nordic - Höljes I Intermediate results
The first Semifinal was the strongest one, and this was proved by Johan Kristoffersson having to press Niclas Grönholm to conquer first place into Turn 1, being followed by Anton Marklund and Grönholm himself while Fraser McConnell was trying to get free of Lars Andersson, which eventually ended in a crash and a huge roll for Andersson, who left the car unschathed although a bit shaken.
Kristoffersson was looking set for a first row start in the final, but a right front puncture in the Final Lap robbed his chances as Marklund, Grönholm and McConnell easily passed him once Kristoffersson did his late Joker Lap.
RallyX Nordic - Höljes I Semifinal 1 results
Semifinal 2 had Szabó edging out the competition but still having the company of Enzo Ide, ready to dethrone the Hungarian of his position.
Szabó was alone in the lead with Ide taking an early Joker, but when it was thought that the GRX had this in his hand, Sondre Evjen passed him, but Ide, who was following Evjen, couldn’t find that room, with the two banging wheels, doors and a bit more, which put Ide out of contention with a broken suspension and left Szabó ended in second with a front left puncture, between the winner Evjen and third placed Phillip Gehrman.
RallyX Nordic - Höljes I Semifinal 2 results
Not having Kristoffersson in the Final would open the possibilities for everyone, and Niclas Grönholm opted for the earliest Joker while leaving the leading pack go away with Sondre Evjen in front, who went to Joker a lap later to leave the lead to a struggling Anton Marklund as the chasing pack was coming closer.
With all three cars in front needing to do the Joker Lap, Grönholm just let the race run its natural course, eventually taking the lead in the Final Lap to go away with the win. Despite finishing second, Evjen was punished for a track limit violation in the Joker Lap, which handed the place to Marklund, with Krisztián Szabó completing the podium.
RallyX Nordic - Höljes I Final results
Kristoffersson still leads the standings with 74 points, but not being part of the Final denied him of a bigger lead, with Evjen coming right behind with his 70 points.
PHOTO: RallyX Nordic
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