Hungary’s ‘Pink Cauldron’ was mastered by Johan Kristoffersson this afternoon as he claimed victory in an intense World RX last that has given him the benefit within the 2025 Championship standings. It was a KMS 1-2 with OC Veiby in second and Timmy Hansen maintained his unbroken run of podiums this 12 months.
Kristofferson hadn’t put a step improper all weekend and delivered a stellar semi-final efficiency regardless of chaos unfolding behind him to assert pole place as we went into this afternoon’s all-Scandinavian last.
The seven-time World Champion led from begin to end, expertly navigating the Nyirád Racing Circuit which has seen some epic and unforgettable wheel to wheel racing over the weekend. His Volkswagen Polo World RX machine appeared to glide over the long-lasting crimson monitor, navigating its undulations, tight corners and elevation with ease and infrequently unbelievable fashion in a efficiency he’ll make sure you be pleased with.
With the chasing pack behind throwing every thing on the race to deliver the competitors to the #1 driver, he persistently churned out stable lap occasions, unleashing a tempo unmatched by the sector behind him and even set a brand new monitor file of 44.086 seconds.
As the brand new championship chief glided to victory the drama unfolded behind as tensions nearly bubbled over within the Pink Cauldron. Niclas Grönholm initially acquired out of the blocks effectively, however Kristoffersson held him out broad to permit the sister KMS automobile of Ole Christian Veiby to slide up the within into Flip 1.
Stranded on the surface, Grönholm, who has led the standings from the beginning of the season till at this time, dropped again additional locations and even collided together with his CE Supplier team-mate Klara Andersson as he was making an attempt to make up for misplaced floor.
This left the Finn down the order the place he was held up behind sole ICE-powered finalist and compatriot Juha Rytkönen for nearly the whole remainder of the race. The pair would find yourself fifth and sixth on the line with work to do going into their residence race subsequent outing at Kymiring.
In the meantime Veiby, who had taken benefit of Grönholm’s disastrous begin to sit comfortably in P2 can have been conscious of the charging bonnet behind him of Timmy Hansen who, simply hours earlier than, was combating tooth and nail in his semi-final to make it by means of.
Hansen started to set down some blistering lap occasions nearly matching the championship chief in entrance of him and defending from the undercut techniques of the CE Supplier group who had taken their joker’s collectively on the opening tour. The older Hansen brother stored his deal with his race as he went into lap 4 of six, strategically timing his joker to exit narrowly in entrance and declare the ultimate step of the rostrum in at this time’s epic last.
On a day that started off cool and calm, the temperature rose in tandem with the depth on the monitor, and the Hungarian followers have been handled to a great overlaying of mud and a day of sensational competitors. Subsequent outing is an all-new problem for the FIA World Rallycross Championship drivers, with just a few weeks of down time now earlier than the paddock reassembles at Kymiring in Finland. It’ll be a journey of discovery that’s positive to ship extra intense motion, all of it streamed stay and free on the FIA World Rallycross Championship YouTube Channel.
Johan Kristoffersson, Kristofferson Motorsport, stated: “I feel it’s been a unbelievable weekend for us. I used to be inquisitive about coming right here – clearly we had a moist Sweden and its principally dry right here, so ultimately we have been very proud of the dry tempo. We struggled a little bit bit in FP1 and FP2 however then we discovered our approach and improved the automobile throughout the weekend. It’s a large outcome for the group, 1-2, so yeah we’re very very pleased.
“Good information after all to be main the championship, nevertheless it’s tough when all factors handed out in last. Niclas had a great weekend till the ultimate and yeah, I’ll most likely purchase new glasses as I dropped them on the ground now and hopefully be capable of see in Finland!”
Ole Christian Veiby, Kristofferson Motorsport, stated: “What a weekend for the group all the time good to be again, Höljes was a disappointment for me – we have been having some troubles with the automobile there, however now it’s sorted, and I had a great feeling this weekend. For positive Johan is Johan and is a troublesome one to beat, however typically we’re there and capable of push him a bit.
“It was an intense last, particularly that second nook the place I used to be pushed within the rear and I used to be a bit shocked, pondering ‘oh no I’m going to be handed right here’, however I feel Timmy [Hansen] was good there and simply let me go. General, it was actually good for group to be 1-2 and nice for driver and group championships, so a great weekend.”
Timmy Hansen, Hansen Motorsport, stated: “We put new tyres on for semis and finals however I risked my life by means of each nook on the market I feel you understand the excessive velocity over the leap I acquired so nervous, so shut the wall!
“I’ve been giving it absolotley every thing and P3 is greater than we should always have had, however we performed the playing cards proper and I gave it as I stated every thing. I’m so pleased with the boys that gave me a stable automobile. Congrats to the KMS guys they constructed a unbelievable race automobile. It’s extremely quick, each Johan and OC are unbelievable drivers and 1-2 for them may be very cool, however P3 for me is sort of a win and I’m going to have fun!
“Now I’m going to be chasing Niclas, he’s regarded so robust this 12 months to this point, very laborious to beat. They’ve additionally constructed an excellent race automobile, we’ll see what we will do for the remainder of the season however I’m a fighter – I’m going to struggle!”
Click here to view the ultimate outcomes from Spherical 3 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Click here to view the provisional Championship Standings.
