Johan Kristoffersson demonstrated during the whole 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship season that his driving style was the most suited for the new RX1e regulations, and carrying on from a near-perfect year, he conquered his fifth World RX title on Sunday at Barcelona, while Timmy Hansen was able to grab a win on Saturday.
Should it be the old points scoring system, Timmy Hansen should be with his red alert signal on from the first race of Heat 1, as Kristoffersson dominated Qualifying, and once Timmy Hansen saw the opportunity to beat Kristoffersson on Progression Race 1, he did, even if the fight was a bit rough. Kevin Hansen had the Progression Race 2 for him, confirming the power of the Hansen WRXT, but they would have to deal with a strong Niclas Grönholm.
Semifinal 1 saw Kristoffersson monopolize the front by allowing no space for Grönholm, and with Klara Andersson busy defending from Gustav Bergström, the top-2 would have a battle of their own. With a status quo in first and second, the bigger job was for Bergström as he had to close the gap to try to be the best third placed car, but he couldn’t do much to be near the drivers in front of him.
The Hansens were in Semifinal 2, but if it wasn’t for Kevin Hansen’s persistence, Ole Christian Veiby would be spoiling their party from the start. With Veiby slotted between the Hansen Peugeots, they couldn’t do half of the tactics they’re known for, so the idea was to take the clean air time to make it work and beat Veiby, and it worked for Kevin by going first in the joker while Timmy had free room to push. They swapped positions when Timmy went to the Joker, but the older of the brothers was so fast he almost bumped the younger one before they crossed the line.
The Final had so much rubbing on Turn 1 that both Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen were straight off the track, with Grönholm leading while Timmy Hansen went to the Joker on Lap 1. Despite having Kristoffersson on his back, Timmy Hansen’s battle was with Grönholm, Barely no gap was there between Hansen and Grönholm, and that thin margin was more than enough in the Final Lap for Hansen to prevail, while Grönholm was second and Gustav Bergström completed the podium.
Barcelona RX 1 - Event results
On Sunday, Hansen could be in a good position to delay Kristoffersson’s title celebrations a bit more, but the VW BAUHAUS drivers replied it with the top spot in the Heats and a commanding win in Progression, like Timmy also did. Basically everything Timmy threw at Kristoffersson was returned, as the Volkswagen Polo RX1e always had the bases covered.
Semifinal 1 had the CEDT PWRs trying to box Kristoffersson from outside of Turn 1 and failing to do so, instead going into pursuit mode to stay close to him. While Kristoffersson and Grönholm wouldn’t throw all the cards for being in the direct advance spots, Klara Andersson had a mission of closing down on them to get the best third placed spot, being initially held back by Grönholm but then passing him for second, while leaving the Finnish driver to deal with René Münnich. Kristoffersson and Andersson stood where they were, while Grönholm held Münnich in all ways possible for third.
In Semifinal 2 it was a direct Hansen vs. VW BAUHAUS battle, with Kevin Hansen nearly spinning and Timmy Hansen holding the lead from Ole Christian Veiby. With the Hansen Peugeots boxing Veiby, the Norwegian couldn’t afford to do the Joker Lap early, so Gustav Bergström could be VW BAUHAUS’ ace from the back of the field, but a late change saw the Volkswagens sit back before the Final Lap to try a move, and for Veiby it paid dividends as he could hold Kevin Hansen for second, even if a broken suspension was a consequence, while Timmy Hansen went straight to the win.
The Final saw the two CEDT PWRs being thrown to the back while Kristoffersson was leading Timmy Hansen, with Veiby being followed by Grönholm in an early Joker strategy. Kristoffersson was clearly faster than Hansen, and the Hansen WRXT driver saw Kristoffersson go away with the victory and also with the World RX title, while Veiby completed the podium.
Barcelona RX 2 - Event results
Kristoffersson has 162 points against the 123 of Timmy Hansen, which draws a line of almost two wins between them with one event to go. Niclas Grönholm with 114 points can still beat Timmy for runner-up, as well Kevin Hansen and Ole Christian Veiby with 112 points, and while Gustav Bergström and Klara Andersson sit outside the 100 point mark with 98 and 92 points respectively, they can fight to see who will be the best rookie of 2022.
The final event of the season will be the Nürburgring RX on 14 November, which will feature a new event format due to particular circumstances on the date and for testing purposes.
PHOTO: Kristoffersson Motorsport, Red Bull Content Pool
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