World RX double header wins for EV and ICE automobiles in evenly matched ‘Battle of Applied sciences’
Johan Kristoffersson extends World RX lead, however solely by three factors after heated battles in Hungary
Help race wins for Nils Andersson (RX2e), Patrick O’Donovan (Euro RX1) and Nils Volland (Euro RX3)
There was little to separate fully-electric and sustainably-fuelled combustion engined automobiles on the World RX of Hungary, as Niclas Grönholm (EV) and Johan Kristoffersson (ICE) received Rounds 3 and 4 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship respectively as an evenly matched ‘Battle of Applied sciences’ raged at a blisteringly sizzling Nyirád Racing Heart double header.
Grönholm clinched his first victory of the season on day one – the CE Seller Workforce by Volvo Development Tools driver dodging a chaotic first nook and surviving an unavoidable Flip 2 coming along with Timmy Hansen (which spun the Hansen World RX Workforce’s Peugeot 208 RX1e) to then profit from a dust-free clear monitor and beat second-placed Ole Christian Veiby (Kristoffersson Motorsport) by 5.364secs.
Johan Kristoffersson and Kevin Hansen had been fairly actually locked in a dash to the primary nook, with neither of the entrance row starters prepared to concede as the sector barrelled into Flip 1 for the primary time. Each barrelled backwards into the obstacles, with Hansen’s broken Peugeot 208 RX1e going no additional and the driving force later disqualified for his half within the crash, whereas a reprimanded Kristoffersson was capable of proceed however might solely end fifth because of the time misplaced and broken suspension on his KMS – HORSE Powertrain-run Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX.
“It’s been an up-and-down day, however I’m comfortable to finish on high when it issues,” mentioned Grönholm. “It’s been a superb begin to the season general. It’s fairly clear to see we’ve taken a step ahead.”
Kristoffersson made up for Saturday’s frustrations with a masterful 10.809sec Spherical 4 victory in Sunday’s remaining to increase his lead on the high of the World RX standings.
“Yesterday wasn’t an ideal day, however in the present day was significantly better,” mentioned the six-time world champion. “Massive because of the group. They labored extraordinarily arduous final night time to make repairs and provides me a really quick automotive.”
Veiby completed second as soon as once more to leap from fourth to second within the drivers’ standings, whereas Klara Andersson got here residence third.
She had been on improbable kind all weekend – however when margins are so tight a bush with a barrier on the joker lap in Saturday’s semi remaining denied her a spot within the Spherical 3 remaining, whereas bent steering after contact with the obstacles at Flip 1 hampered the CE Seller Workforce driver’s efforts of successful Sunday’s Spherical 4.
Timmy Hansen completed fourth in each Saturday and Sunday’s finals, which was scant reward for the Hansen World RX Workforce driver’s efforts – whereas the squad’s mechanics did a improbable job to restore Kevin Hansen’s automotive for him to complete fifth in Spherical 4. The all-electric group should still be looking for its first podium results of 2024, however nonetheless Kevin and Timmy stay an in depth fourth and fifth within the factors desk respectively.
Jankó Wieszt completed third on his World RX debut after an amazing efficiency in his Korda Racing Mégane RS RX. Whereas the previous Hungarian rallycross champion averted the Flip 1 drama on Saturday, he induced a Purple Flag in Sunday’s semi remaining after bashing wheels with Veiby within the dash to the primary nook – which sadly noticed the Renault rotate sharp left and crash into the tyre wall.
A collision on the now notorious Flip 1 on Saturday denied René Münnich a spot within the remaining, however the Münnich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza driver made amends by ending third in his semi remaining and happening to say a combating sixth-place end in Sunday’s remaining.
Anthony Pelfrene confirmed nice tempo in his JDM Raptor Racing Peugeot 208 WRX, however simply missed out in a spot within the finals after ending fourth in each Saturday and Sunday’s semi finals.
Nyirád additionally hosted Spherical 2 of RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3.
Nils Andersson (SWE) received the RX2e title final yr however didn’t win a race, whereas this yr he can’t cease successful races as he recorded back-to-back victories in his Kristoffersson Motorsport’s satellite tv for pc Workforce E-run all-electric automotive. Isak Sjökvist (SWE) scored his finest results of the season with second in his #YellowSquad machine, whereas Marko Muru (SET-Loenbro) took third. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (SWE) holds on to second within the factors standings, having completed fourth in one other Workforce E automotive.
Patrick O’Donovan started his Euro RX1 weekend by spinning his Workforce RX Racing Peugeot 208 into the obstacles in Warmth 1 and regardless of affected by a heavy chilly ended the occasion victorious for the second time this season. Yury Belevskiy (CHE) completed second in his Volland Racing Audi S1, whereas Máté Benyó (HUN) got here residence third in his Korda Racing KFT Peugeot 208. Mika Liimatainen (Betomik Racing Hyundai i20) stays second within the standings, 9 factors behind O’Donovan, after ending fourth within the remaining. An enormous discipline of 18 Euro RX1 took half, representing 10 nations and 7 producers.
Nils Volland (DEU) has prolonged his lead in Euro RX3 because of a second win of the season in his Volland Racing Audi A1. João Ribeiro (PRT) had been first to the chequered flag, however a penalty for contact with Volland on the opening lap of the ultimate dropped the Audi A1 driver right down to second. Hungarian driver Krisztián Szabó completed third in his Audi A1.
World RX, RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 proceed at World RX of Benelux at Mettet (17/18 August).
2024 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Factors after Spherical 4
1. Johan Kristoffersson….101pts
2. Ole Christian Veiby….76pts
3. Niclas Grönholm….67pts
4. Klara Andersson….67pts
5. Timmy Hansen….66pts
6. Kevin Hansen….65pts
WORLD RX RACE RESULTS
World RX of Hungary (Nyirád Racing Heart)
Spherical 4 – Sunday 28 July
1. Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)….5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)….+10.809s
3. Klara ANDERSSON (SWE) CE Seller Workforce (EV)….+13.342s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Workforce (EV)….+13.765s
5. Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Workforce (EV)….+14.765s
6. René MÜNNICH (DEU) Muennich Motorsport (ICE)….+19.384s
WORLD RX RACE RESULTS
World RX of Hungary (Nyirád Racing Heart)
Spherical 3 – Saturday 27 July
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM (FIN) CE Seller Workforce (EV)….5 laps
2. Ole Christian VEIBY (NOR) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)….+ 5.364s
3. Janko WIESZT (HUN) Unattainable RX Workforce (ICE)….+ 7.722s
4. Timmy HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Workforce (EV)….+ 9.193s
DNF Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (SWE) KMS – Horse Powertrain (ICE)….+ 1 lap
DSQ Kevin HANSEN (SWE) Hansen World RX Workforce (EV)
