Johan Kristoffersson continued his FIA World Rallycross Championship fightback at Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps, recording a 2d consecutive triumph as Andreas Bakkerud become once crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion.
Three-time world champion Kristoffersson had never competed around the spirited Ardennes circuit prior to this weekend, however the KYB EKS JC driver did no longer let that safe him aid. Second within the intermediate classification after the qualifying stages, the Swede won his semi-final sooner than sprinting some distance off from his pursuers within the final to cap a discontinuance to-most attention-grabbing accumulate that has carried him to correct 12 elements adrift of the summit of the Drivers’ standings.
Compatriot Kevin Hansen kept his contain title aspirations on-music with a true lope to 2d in his Hansen World RX Crew Peugeot 208, with a happy Krisztián Szabó claiming the maiden podium carry out of his World RX profession in third. The Hungarian has reached the final in every spherical to-date this season, and produced a defensive masterclass on the aid of the wheel of his GRX-SET World RX Crew Hyundai i20 to reduction Timmy Hansen, Enzo Ide and Anton Marklund at bay correct to the chequered flag.
Championship chief Hansen won the first semi-final, however become once penalised for contact on the hairpin that eradicated High Qualifier Kevin Abbring. The Dutchman become once on prominent develop at his ‘native’ music and deserved some distance more for his efforts than a DNF, however he proved that every and each he and Unkorrupted will most certainly be a force to be reckoned with over the final three rounds.
Ide famed a fifth-location carry out on home soil, sooner than Marklund on his debut in Hedströms Motorsport’s Hyundai i20. There become once disappointment, however, for Riga winner Niclas Grönholm – compelled huge at first up of the 2d semi-final – and Timo Scheider, whose sick-fortune persisted as suspension wreck curtailed his payment.
Johan Kristoffersson, KYB EKS JC, acknowledged: “It feels qualified to safe right here. I become once joyful from the begin up, and having no longer been to Spa sooner than, I mediate it doubtlessly helped me that the music ground become once a cramped bit varied when put next with 2019 because it intended the others didn’t indulge in so worthy of a headstart. Overall, we’ve made a correct elements develop within the championship so I’m more than joyful.”
On his 30th birthday, Norway’s Andreas Bakkerud become once crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion for the third time in his profession – and the first time within the headlining Euro RX1 category.
Bakkerud and Fabien Pailler indulge in waged a nip-and-tuck duel for supremacy season-long, and the pair entered the final in Belgium separated by correct a single level within the Norwegian’s favour. A lights-to-flag victory – his first of the campaign – cemented a in vogue title triumph for Bakkerud, as Pailler adopted him home to seal the runner-up spoils and Jānis Baumanis within the 2d ESmotorsport Škoda Fabia accomplished the tip three in each and each the occasion and the championship standings.
Andreas Bakkerud, 2021 Euro RX1 Champion, acknowledged: “Right here’s completely crazy. I owe ESmotorsport a large ‘thanks’ for giving me the assorted to compete in Euro RX1 this year – it truly didn’t gaze treasure that might maybe maybe effectively be occurring sooner than the begin up of the season. Every person within the crew has performed this kind of qualified job. I’m very overjoyed with them all, and there’s more to return. Optimistically now we indulge in a most attention-grabbing brighter future together.”
Within the FIA RX2e Championship, Guillaume De Ridder despatched the partisan fans home joyful alongside with his 2d victory of the season after a spirited-fought fight with chief title rival Jesse Kallio. The Finn become once fastest on day one, however the Belgian hit aid on day two, and the next open within the final seen him hold a lead that he would no longer attributable to this reality resign.
The safe has elevated De Ridder’s succor over Kallio within the title standings to nine elements with merely one spherical left to lope. Isak Sjökvist rounded out the rostrum in third sooner than spectacular newcomer Klara Andersson.
Yury Belevskiy has placed one hand on the Euro RX3 trophy following his third triumph of the 2021 campaign at Spa, as his closest competitor, Volland Racing crew-mate Kobe Pauwels, endured a anxious weekend on home turf, enabling the Russian to lengthen his championship result in 24 elements with correct 30 final to play for. Marat Knyazev and Damian Litwinowicz joined Belevskiy on the Belgian podium.
There is just not any longer any longer any leisure for competitors within the FIA World Rallycross Championship, with spherical seven of the season – Cooper Tires World RX of Montalegre – constructing next weekend (October 16-17).
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