Seven days in rallycross, June 27

On Thursday evening at Strangnas in Sweden, Johan Kristoffersson (VW Polo) won the third round of the RallyX Scandinavia series, dominating the final ahead of Sebastien Eriksson (Ford Fiesta) and Linus Westman who scored a personal best result in his Hedstroms Motorsport Skoda Fabia. Robin Larsson (Audi A1) started on the front row of the grid but was forced out of the final with a broken passenger door, while Fredrik Tiger (Ford Focus) made his Supercar debut at the event in preparation for participation in the World Championship event at Holjes next month. Patrick Flodin claimed his first win in the Supercar Lites division while Kevin Hansen extended his lead at the top of the championship by passing namesake Kevin Eriksson in the last corner to stand on the second step of the podium.

In Washington DC, America, Swedish driver Patrick Sandell (Ford Fiesta) won his first ever GRC event heading home a Ford one-two-three. Nelson Piquet Jr (Ford Fiesta) finished second to go within a point of series championship leader Scott Speed (VW Polo), who finished sixth in Washington behind team mate Tanner Foust (VW Polo), who scored his best result of the season in fifth. Joni Wiman was third best Fiesta to claim the last step of the podium, his first in the Supercar category. Steve Arpin (Ford Fiesta) continued his run of consistent results with a fourth place finish in the final. Before the start of the event in Washington the Andretti Autosport VW team reveled their new VW Beetle Supercar, built to replace the ex-Marklund Polo’s in the series. The new 544bhp machines are due to race later in the season. “After Volkswagen of America’s impressive start on the rallycross scene, the launch of the new Beetle for the GRC represents the next major milestone,” said Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito.

Finnish rally driver Riku Tahko will make his World Rallycross debut this weekend at Kouvola, Finland at the wheel of an LD Motorsports run Citroen DS3. Tahko had been scheduled to drive a Prodrive Mini RX at the event, but has switched to the DS3 from the British squad this week. “It was looking like I wasn’t going to be able to race in Kouvola, after my plan with Mini went down, and I was only going to be able to work as the Live RX commentator for Finnish TV. However I’m really pleased I got the offer from LD Motorsports to drive one of their cars. To be part of the top team in my RX debut is just a dream come true for me,” he said. The Finn will drive the car previously raced by multiple British Champion Pat Doran.

The entry list for the fifth round of the World Rallycross Championship in Sweden has been released. Biggest news is that Frenchman Davy Jeanney will make his second start of the season and partner Liam Doran in the Monster Energy World RX Team. “I am very excited to be getting behind the wheel for another world championship round,” said Jeanney. “Lydden Hill just made me more hungry to race, and when the opportunity with Liam Doran’s team came about, I couldn’t say no. Racing in Sweden is always a great experience. I’m sure there will be a lot to learn, but I am confident to get a good result.” The Swedish event will host several interesting wildcards including the return of rallycross legend Ludvig Hunsbedt, driving his former Ford Focus now owned and run by Stein Egil Jenssen. Kristoffersson Motorsport will field it’s VW Polo Supercars for Johan Kristoffersson and Ole Christian Veiby. Sidelined by concentrating on the WTCC in 2014, Rene Munnich will make his World Rallycross debut in Holjes in his Skoda Fabia Supercar. SuperNational star Stian Haugan will make his Supercar debut driving Morten Bermingrud’s Citroen C4.