2018 World RX of South Africa

Kristoffersson Caps Dominant World RX Season With Win In South Africa

Kristoffersson Caps Dominant World RX Season With Win In South Africa

Johan Kristoffersson completed a dominant run through the World Rallycross season, winning the finale in South Africa.

Nov 26, 2018 by FloRacing Staff
Kristoffersson Caps Dominant World RX Season With Win In South Africa

Johan Kristoffersson completed a dominant run through the World Rallycross season, winning the finale in South Africa on Sunday for his 11th victory in 12 stops on tour.

Kristoffersson, who had already wrapped up his second consecutive championship, lined up in the finals on the front row alongside PSRX Volkswagen teammate Petter Solberg. Kristoffersson held the inside line into the first turn, sending Solberg's car sideways. 

Solberg held second from a fast-starting Mattias Ekstrom onto the loose section for the first time, the Audi driver having passed Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen, both of Peugeot, in the first corner shuffle.

Ekstrom then dove up the inside of Solberg into the turn four right-hander on the opening lap, forcing Solberg wide across the grass. But Ekstrom also ran wide at the exit of the chicane, allowing Hansen to pass them both.

Hung out on the left-hand side of the circuit, Hansen was left with no option but to take the extra-route joker at the first opportunity and was followed by teammate Loeb.

Chasing Kristoffersson in the lead, Solberg spun into the wall at turn three and although Ekstrom and Kevin Hansen made it through, Solberg’s car collided with Timmy Hansen’s, causing immediate damage to the front-right corner, forcing him out.

Kevin Hansen took his joker at the same moment, which bumped up Loeb to third behind Ekstrom, the former DTM ace electing to take his joker on lap three to cover off the Frenchman.

He succeeded, and while Kristoffersson had built a big enough advantage to take his extra route on the four tour and maintain his lead, Ekstrom held off Loeb to the finish.