Being a year away from the FIA World Rallycross Championship wasn’t a thing to hinder Johan Kristoffersson’s performance, as his return to the competition was crowned with a dominant win at the first Höljes RX event of the double header weekend, with his Volkswagen Polo GTi RX equally in shape.
The ambient at Höljes made the staff from the teams scratch their heads as the unstable weather changed the track condition from time to time, practically forcing strategy changes according to the moment.
The first to take advantage from good conditions was Johan Kristoffersson, demolishing the field in Q1 with in dry conditions, though Mattias Ekström countered in Q2 with brilliant tactics, but opposing fortunes gave the top qualifier spot to Kristoffersson, as the VW BAUHAUS driver kept his drive in place while the KYB Team JC driver was punished for going too hard in his race.
But no team ended the qualifying with worst luck than RX Cartel, with neither Andreas Bakkerud and Liam Doran making past the qualifiers, and Doran couldn’t even score a point, results of Bakkerud still getting to grips with the Megane R.S. RX launch and Doran missing a race.
Höljes RX 1 - Intermediate final standings
Johan Kristoffersson was quick to secure the lead in Semifinal 1, but he had Niclas Grönholm totally in his back until the Finn decided to Joker early, which pitted him with Robin Larsson and Anton Marklund. Although keeping it close with quite a similar driving style, Grönholm didn’t have the pace to attack Kristoffersson, so the Swedish won in his usual great form. For Robin Larsson the third place was what was left to him as he was too distant from the leaders, denying any moves from Anton Marklund and securing his place in the final.
A title winning front row was in place for Semifinal 2, and Mattias Ekström got the advantage despite a slightly better start from Timmy Hansen, all while Kevin Hansen went to the Joker and wwas passed by Sebastian Eriksson. Eriksson was on fire, passing Timur Timerzyanov for fourth place in the next lap.
While Ekström and Hansen were in their own affairs in front, Timo Scheider was struggling to deny the overtake from Eriksson, but keeping it in the line was enough for the Münnich Motorsport driver to get in the Final.
A post-race investigation resulted in a penalty for Larsson due to excessive contact, which promoted Anton Marklund to the Final.
Höljes RX 1 - Semifinal results
As part of the Höljes unpredictable weather package, the skies simply let the biggest amount of water possible in the track, meaning the waiting time turned into a mad dash to set up the cars for the massively wet condition.
The Final started with Kristoffersson disappearing in front with Ekström in chase while the rest of the field was barely keeping the car straight on track. Seeing that Kristoffersson was impossible to pass, Ekström went for the Joker on Lap 3, with Kristoffersson making it inch perfect on Lap 5, and the VW BAUHAUS driver kept delivering his usually neat and precise driving style to win the first one of the season. Ekström came home in second with Anton Marklund isolated in third.
PHOTO: Kristoffersson Motorsport
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