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He's done it again! Volkswagen's Kristoffersson seals 2018 WRX championship in style

He has done it again! Sweden's Johan Kristoffersson has claimed his second title in the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, United States. The defending champion was victorious in his Volkswagen Polo R Supercar at the tenth of this season’s twelve rounds, just in front of his team-mate Petter Solberg , and now has 281 points to his name.

With a lead of 77 points over second-placed Mattias Ekström , and a maximum 60 points up for grabs at the remaining two events, the driver of the Team PSRX Volkswagen Sweden can no longer be caught at the top of the overall standings. 

"This is absolutely incredible,” said an overjoyed Kristoffersson, celebrating the confirmation of his latest triumph. "At the moment, everything is working out perfectly for me. The quality in the World Rallycross Championship has risen dramatically in recent years and it is damned good fun racing here.

A big thank you goes to Petter, Pernilla and the entire PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team, who have always support me fantastically. And, of course, to the Volkswagen Motorsport team, which provides Petter and me with the best car in the field – the Polo R Supercar." 

“Congratulations to Johan on a fantastic season,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “I did not believe it would be possible for him to surpass his performance from last year. He is a really worthy champion.” The World Rallycross Championship is not only a success story for the newly-crowned double world champion, but also for Volkswagen: since the inaugural race last year, Kristoffersson and Solberg have taken 17 of a possible 22 victories in their two 419kW Volkswagen Polo R Supercars – nine in this year alone.

Two titles in eight days

Kristoffersson cannot stop celebrating at the moment. Just eight days prior to winning his second WRX title, he clinched the title in the TCR Scandinavia series at the wheel of the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. After the success in Austin, Kristoffersson can already look back on an impressive season littered with records. The 29-year-old won nine rounds, surpassing the previous record of seven victories, which he set last year. Kristoffersson was the fastest man in 18 qualifying heats – here too, he broke his own record from last season (16). The Swede scored an average 28.1 points per event – with a maximum 30 points up for grabs at each round.

Kristoffersson practically inherited his passion for motorsport and Rallycross in particular. His father Tommy drove in the European Rallycross Championship in the 1980s and 1990s, finishing third overall in 1993 when Johan was just four years old. Nowadays, Tommy Kristoffersson is one of his son’s closest confidantes.

The 59-year-old acts as spotter for Johan at Rallycross events. He also runs the family’s own team, Kristoffersson Motorsport, with which all-round talent Johan Kristoffersson has won titles in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) and its successor TCR Scandinavia.

After the triumph in the USA, next task awaits PSRX Volkswagen Sweden on 13 and 14 October. Kristoffersson and Solberg will be back fighting for the Team title at round eleven of the season, which takes place at the Estering near Hamburg (D).

The 2017 Team world champions currently hold a 79-point lead over the second-placed team EKS Audi Sport, with a maximum 56 points on offer at each round. Solberg is also still in contention for the runner-up spot in the Drivers’ Championship. The 43-year-old is currently third in the overall standings, just two points off second place.

Facts and figures on Johan Kristoffersson (S)

Date/place of birth    
06 December 1988 in Arvika (S)

Career highlights

2018 and 2017: 1st place FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX)
2018: 1st place TCR Scandinavia
2015, 2013, and 2012: 1st place Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia
2012: 1st place Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC)
2012: 1st place Superstars International Series

WRX statistics*        

Appearances: 51
Events won: 18
Podium finishes: 27
Final appearances: 38
Qualifying wins: 52
Races in total (qualifying, semi-final, final): 298
Total points in Drivers’ Championship: 1,104
Average points per event (maximal 30): 21.6
First race: 06 July 2014 (World RX of Sweden)
First win: 26 April 2015 (World RX of Portugal)

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