Hungary’s ‘Purple Cauldron’ was mastered by Johan Kristoffersson this afternoon as he claimed victory in an intense World RX remaining 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 flawed all weekend and delivered a stellar semi-final efficiency regardless of chaos unfolding behind him to say pole place as we went into this afternoon’s all-Scandinavian remaining.
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 pink observe, navigating its undulations, tight corners and elevation with ease and sometimes unbelievable type in a efficiency he’ll make sure you be happy with.
With the chasing pack behind throwing all the pieces on the race to convey the competitors to the #1 driver, he persistently churned out strong lap occasions, unleashing a tempo unmatched by the sphere behind him and even set a brand new observe report of 44.086 seconds.
As the brand new championship chief glided to victory the drama unfolded behind as tensions virtually bubbled over within the Purple Cauldron. Niclas Grönholm initially obtained out of the blocks nicely, however Kristoffersson held him out vast to permit the sister KMS automobile of Ole Christian Veiby to slide up the within into Flip 1.
Stranded on the skin, Grönholm, who has led the standings from the beginning of the season till right this moment, dropped again additional locations and even collided together with his CE Seller 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 complete 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 day trip at Kymiring.
In the meantime Veiby, who had taken benefit of Grönholm’s disastrous begin to sit comfortably in P2 may have been conscious of the charging bonnet behind him of Timmy Hansen who, simply hours earlier than, was preventing tooth and nail in his semi-final to make it by means of.
Hansen started to set down some blistering lap occasions virtually matching the championship chief in entrance of him and defending from the undercut ways of the CE Seller workforce who had taken their joker’s collectively on the opening tour. The older Hansen brother stored his concentrate on 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 right this moment’s epic remaining.
On a day that started off cool and calm, the temperature rose in tandem with the depth on the observe, and the Hungarian followers have been handled to a very good masking of mud and a day of sensational competitors. Subsequent day trip is an all-new problem for the FIA World Rallycross Championship drivers, with a number of 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, mentioned: “I believe it’s been a improbable weekend for us. I used to be inquisitive about coming right here – clearly we had a moist Sweden and its largely dry right here, so in the long run we have been very pleased with the dry tempo. We struggled just a little bit in FP1 and FP2 however then we discovered our manner and improved the automobile throughout the weekend. It’s an enormous outcome for the workforce, 1-2, so yeah we’re very very blissful.
“Good information after all to be main the championship, however it’s troublesome when all factors handed out in remaining. Niclas had a very good weekend till the ultimate and yeah, I’ll most likely purchase new glasses as I dropped them on the ground now and hopefully have the ability to see in Finland!”
Ole Christian Veiby, Kristofferson Motorsport, mentioned: “What a weekend for the workforce 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 very good feeling this weekend. For positive Johan is Johan and is a troublesome one to beat, however generally we’re there and in a position to push him a bit.
“It was an intense remaining, particularly that second nook the place I used to be pushed within the rear and I used to be a bit shocked, considering ‘oh no I’m going to be handed right here’, however I believe Timmy [Hansen] was good there and simply let me go. Total, it was actually good for workforce to be 1-2 and nice for driver and workforce championships, so a very good weekend.”
Timmy Hansen, Hansen Motorsport, mentioned: “We put new tyres on for semis and finals however I risked my life by means of each nook on the market I believe you understand the excessive velocity over the soar I obtained so nervous, so shut the wall!
“I’ve been giving it absolotley all the pieces and P3 is greater than we should always have had, however we performed the playing cards proper and I gave it as I mentioned all the pieces. I’m so happy with the boys that gave me a strong automobile. Congrats to the KMS guys they constructed a improbable race automobile. It’s extremely quick, each Johan and OC are unbelievable drivers and 1-2 for them could 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 sturdy this 12 months up to now, 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 combat!”
Click here to view the ultimate outcomes from Spherical 3 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Click here to view the provisional Championship Standings.
