Kristoffersson, Speed Take Crowns at COTA

18,500 fans watched PSRX Volkswagen Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson win the inaugural running ot the World RX of USA at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas and win the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship.  

PSRX Volkswagen Sweden teammate Petter Solberg finished second in the final and tied for first in the overall event.  Andreas Bakkerrun of the EKS Audi Sports team placed third in the final and fourth in the event.  EKS Audi Sports teammate Mattias Ekstrom finished third in the event.  

“The team gave me a great car this weekend and I felt really strong from first practice. Then I got a little bit stuck in traffic in Q1 so it didn’t look so good to secure the Championship here,” Kristoffersson told reporters. “Q2 was strong, the team gave me a very good car again for Q3. I won Q4 and then in the semi-final I had a really good tyre strategy. I made the pass on Mattias in the final which was crucial to be on the podium, then Petter had a small, small mistake and that was enough to win. I have to give a big thanks to Petter and the whole team for making this possible.”  

Solberg’s strong finish solidified the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team’s hold on first place in the Team Championship.  “It was very close, I did a mistake on the brakes and that’s it. But still I’m really pleased with the performance this weekend,” Solberg told reporters. “Congratulations to Johan, I’m very happy for him to be World Champion in my team. For me it means a lot that he has been so consistent with no technical failures which is good from Volkswagen’s side.”

Competition resumes October 13 with the World RX of Germany in Estering.  The final event of the season is the World RX of South Africa in Killarney International Raceway on November 24.  Up for grabs is second place in the Drive Championship and the Team Championship.  

Along side the World RX was the Americas RX.  Scott Speed of the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team took the inaugural Driver Championship of Americas Rallycross.  

“It was a huge emotional roller coaster this weekend and those are the best, “ Speed told reporters. He finished fifth in the first three qualifier heats.  As he entered the final qualifying heat he told himself “I cannot see how this is going to work out“.  Speed reflected, “I’m just going to try and get off the line as quickly as possible and I hope he (Foust) gets a bad start. I actually pulled the fastest launch we’ve ever had.“  

It worked.  Speed placed first in the fourth qualifier and in the semi-final heat.   He finished second to teammate Tanner Foust in the final heat and in the overall event, but earn 26 championship points to claim the crown.  

“That’s why we do it. That’s why I come to work every day to live for these moments…” Speed recapped.