Entry list and test days done for World RX at Höljes:

The action returned to the FIA World Rallycross Championship as the entry list for Höljes was confirmed and the cars were put to test in collective test days at the Swedish circuit, as a form of assessing the power balance between the electric RX1es and the combustion powered RX1s.

The first thing in the 10 car list that catches the eye is Kristofferson Motorsport, which is split into two banners but will operate as one entity. Johan Kristofferson and Ole Christian Veiby move away from the Polo RX1es and sport new Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX models, leaving the tried and trusted electric cars to Gustav Bergström and Sondre Evjen, who know their ways into KMS machinery.

Hansen World RX Team kept the formula as it was last season, with the same pair of Peugeot 208 RX1es to Timmy and Kevin Hansen. CE Dealer Team is also repeating the formula by keeping the two PWR RX1es for Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson.

Allinkl.com Münnich Motorsport stays as a single car operation, but René Münnich drops the inconsistent SEAT Ibiza RX1e in favor of a new Ibiza RX1 that was recently tested and left a good impression in the Euro RX1 event winner.

French driver Anthony Pelfrene completes the list with a Peugeot 208 WRX from JDM Raptor Racing, making the jump from the national scene in FFSA Rallycross into the World stage.

While lap times tend to not reveal significant details for rallycross, the first test had a morning session with Grönholm ahead but with most of the field going at shakedown pace, which was shown in the second session of the first day as the lap times were roughly more than a second faster for most on track. Johan Kristofferson finally displayed the power at disposal and outpaced Timmy Hansen and Grönholm, with Evjen appearing in an encouraging fourth place.

The second test day came and not much changed at the top of the table, with Kristofferson still being the target while Veiby progressed well and ended the day with the second best time. While eight drivers were within eight tenths of a second, Münnich and Pelfrene were visibly off the pace, with the French driver being almost two seconds behind Kristofferson's best lap.

The Höljes double header starts the 2024 season on 6 and 7 July.

PHOTO: FIA World Rallycross Championship