Hungary’s ‘Purple Cauldron’ was mastered by Johan Kristoffersson this afternoon as he claimed victory in an intense World RX ultimate 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 yr.
Kristofferson hadn’t put a step flawed 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 ultimate.
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 enduring crimson observe, navigating its undulations, tight corners and elevation with ease and infrequently unimaginable type in a efficiency he’ll remember to be happy with.
With the chasing pack behind throwing every part on the race to convey the competitors to the #1 driver, he constantly churned out strong lap occasions, unleashing a tempo unmatched by the sector 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 nearly bubbled over within the Purple Cauldron. Niclas Grönholm initially received out of the blocks nicely, however Kristoffersson held him out extensive to permit the sister KMS automotive 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 at the moment, dropped again additional locations and even collided together with his CE Seller team-mate Klara Andersson as he was attempting 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 house race subsequent trip at Kymiring.
In the meantime Veiby, who had taken benefit of Grönholm’s disastrous begin to sit comfortably in P2 could 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.
Hansen started to set down some blistering lap occasions nearly matching the championship chief in entrance of him and defending from the undercut ways of the CE Seller group who had taken their joker’s collectively on the opening tour. The older Hansen brother saved 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 the moment’s epic ultimate.
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 protecting of mud and a day of sensational competitors. Subsequent trip is an all-new problem for the FIA World Rallycross Championship drivers, with a couple 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 reside and free on the FIA World Rallycross Championship YouTube Channel.
Johan Kristoffersson, Kristofferson Motorsport, stated: “I feel it’s been a incredible weekend for us. I used to be interested in coming right here – clearly we had a moist Sweden and its largely dry right here, so ultimately we have been very pleased with the dry tempo. We struggled slightly bit in FP1 and FP2 however then we discovered our approach and improved the automotive in the course of the weekend. It’s an enormous outcome for the group, 1-2, so yeah we’re very very blissful.
“Good information in fact to be main the championship, but it surely’s tough when all factors handed out in ultimate. 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 be capable to 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 automotive there, however now it’s sorted, and I had a very good feeling this weekend. For positive Johan is Johan and is a tricky one to beat, however typically we’re there and in a position to push him a bit.
“It was an intense ultimate, 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 very good weekend.”
Timmy Hansen, Hansen Motorsport, stated: “We put new tyres on for semis and finals however I risked my life by each nook on the market I feel the excessive pace over the soar I received so nervous, so shut the wall!
“I’ve been giving it absolotley every part 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 part. I’m so happy with the boys that gave me a strong automotive. Congrats to the KMS guys they constructed a incredible race automotive. It’s extremely quick, each Johan and OC are unimaginable drivers and 1-2 for them could be very cool, however P3 for me is sort of a win and I’m going to rejoice!
“Now I’m going to be chasing Niclas, he’s seemed so sturdy this yr to date, very onerous to beat. They’ve additionally constructed an excellent race automotive, we’ll see what we are able to 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.
