Johan Kristoffersson has won the World Rallycross Championship (WRX) title for the fifth time. After a victory in Sunday’s race in Barcelona, the Swede can no longer take the championship away from the season finale at the Nürburgring (November 12th and 13th).
Kristoffersson is also the first champion in the electric era of the WRX, which began in 2022 under difficult circumstances.
“I’m very proud,” says Kristoffersson. “We started from scratch with this car. It’s our baby and so many people have put their whole lives into this project. It’s a real team effort and it’s been a real pleasure to have been a part of this journey.”
“A fifth world title is just incredible and it will take me some time to realize that,” continued Kristoffersson. “It’s the first time my girlfriend and son are here to see me win the championship and I’m so happy to be able to share this special moment with them. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Late start to the season, small field
In 2022, the previous RX1 supercar class was replaced by the new RX1e category, with which the WRX was driven with electric cars for the first time. A uniform electric drive with 680 hp can be integrated into an existing chassis.
But the beginning of the electric era was not under a good star. Also due to delivery problems with the electric drives from the company Kreisel, the start of the season had to be postponed several times and only took place in mid-August in Hell, Norway.
The number of starters was also very manageable with eight participants. Kristoffersson drove for the family team alongside Ole Christian Veiby with a Volkswagen chassis. The main rivals included the Hansen brothers Timmy and Kevin, whose family team relied on Peugeot chassis.
Kristoffersson dominates the season
There was also the Swedish racing team PWR, which used the Hyundai chassis of Marcus Grönholm’s team under the name “PWR RX1e” for Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson. The Swedish Volkswagen privateer Gustav Hedström and the German Rene Münnich in his SEAT Ibiza completed the field.
The Swede made it clear from the start that the road to the title in the first electro season would only lead through Kristoffersson. Kristoffersson won the first four races of the season, before Grönholm, another driver, was on top of the podium for the first time in the second race in Portugal.
Kristoffersson then hit back with a double victory in Spa and had the chance to win the title early in Saturday’s race in Barcelona. But after a collision at the start and a 3-second penalty, Kristoffersson only finished fifth, while Timmy Hansen celebrated his first win of the season. On Sunday, Kristoffersson sealed the deal with seventh win of the season in the ninth race.