Johan Kristoffersson may have conquered his fifth event win in the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship, but for a number of factors, this was far from a solo drive to the checkered for the No. 1 KMS Horse Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, as Niclas Grönholm was specially responsible to offer a proper challenge to the six time World champion at the Pista Automóvel de Montalegre, in Portugal.
The Heats didn’t offer too much surprises as Johan Kristoffersson and Niclas Grönholmd had perfect scores, even though the Hansens tried to offer a challenge to Kristoffersson and Anthony Pelfrene was in his best form of the season after spending the last weekend in Rallycross France at Loheac.
Semifinal 1 had Kevin Hansen capitalizing into Kristoffersson’s delayed start and Pelfrene almost doing the same, but once the KMS Horse driver got moving, he was in chase mode to steal the top spot from the younger Hansen. After finding no room to pass, Kristoffersson went to the Joker on Lap 4, and with Hansen miles ahead and a flat tire, Kristoffersson needed to crawl to the finish line, and in the process he actually spun a charging Anthony Pelfrene that was set to get second place, only to see the qualification slip through his hands and go to René Münnich.
Semifinal 2 had a monster start from the CEDT PWRs, with Grönholm leading the path for Klara Andersson while Timmy Hansen and Ole Christian Veiby decided for a Lap 1 Joker to get it out of the way. and the early Joker worked for them as Andersson didn’t have the pace to match Grönholm, and with the Hansen Peugeot not having the stability, Veiby got at least second place as Grönholm comfortably won the race, with Timmy Hansen still qualifying for the Final.
The Final had Veiby stalling while Grönholm kept the lead with Kristoffersson passing Timmy Hansen as early as possible, and Hansen made matters worse for him by crashing and spinning at the main straight, allowing a direct battle between CEDT and KMS Horse. Kristoffersson was growing in Grönholm’s mirrors while Kevin Hansen left a battered Veiby behind and almost passed Kristoffersson, but Laps 4 and 5 were decisive to get the power down and beat Grönholm once he went to the Joker, keeping the streak alive before the second event on Sunday.
Montalegre RX I - Event results
PHOTO: FIA World Rallycross Championship
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