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PSRX Volkswagen Sweden heads to the sun in search of the
perfect season
- PSRX Volkswagen Sweden
ready to sign off the season in style
- Petter chases silver in
South Africa after his WRC adventure
- Johan looking to land an
extraordinary 11th win of the season
What’s coming?
The final chapter in a quite astonishing season of success for PSRX
Volkswagen Sweden. In Cape Town, South Africa next week the Torsby-based
team has the opportunity to land a truly perfect season.
The FIA World Rallycross Championships are both sewn up and sorted in
favour of Johan Kristoffersson and Petter Solberg’s team, but there’s the
chance of some silver to go with all that gold at the Killarney
International Raceway.
Petter’s shot at second place across the spread of the season is,
however, a long one. The team was forced to change the engine in his
Volkswagen Polo R Supercar following the last round in Buxtehude and with
that comes a 15-point penalty in South Africa. One
thing is sure, while there’s a hope of the perfect year, Petter won’t be
giving up.
Last year Johan went to South Africa chasing an 11th podium
from 12 events (he bagged it, naturally, with a win). With seven wins
from those 11 podiums, the super-Swede himself questioned how a season
could get any better. He’s answered that one in emphatic fashion this
year; 12 months on he heads south in search of an 11th win from 12
events.
Pernilla, the
end of this incredible season is in sight…
PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team principal Pernilla Solberg
“It’s been unbelievable. So much work from everybody in the team, and
such a fantastic cooperation with Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster and all
our partners, has made this incredible season possible and now we have
one more opportunity to do the job.
“The feeling going to this last round is the same as every other race
this year. Of course, with the championships decided, the pressure is a
little bit less, but the preparation and commitment is just the same. We
go to Cape Town to give the best of PSRX Volkswagen Sweden and Volkswagen
Motorsport – we go there chasing the best result possible.
“Logistically, RX of South Africa is a little bit more complicated being
a fly-away round, but it’s a fantastic place to go to race and going to
such places is exactly what competing in a world championship is all
about.”
Johan, how
difficult is it to compete in these races when you’ve already won the
title?
Johan Kristoffersson, defending FIA World Rallycross Champion
“In some ways it’s actually easier. Last time when we went to Germany
Petter and I were thinking to the teams’ championship and we sorted that
out there. Now I will do what I can to help Petter to get the second
place, but, really, this is pure racing, pure competition this
time.
“There’s no overall championship to fight for, we just have to make the
best race we can and really enjoy ourselves. The pressure is definitely
not off, it’s never off when you are lined up against five other
supercars and you’re all heading for the same piece of racetrack at turn
one!
“And, don’t forget, you’re never better than your last result, so the
best way to go into the winter and the off-season is on the back of a win
and that’s what I’d like to do in Cape Town. Talking of the winter,
that’s another advantage of coming to South Africa – winter is just
starting to arrive at home in Sweden, so to come to the southern
hemisphere for some summer sun is really nice.”
Petter, what
chance the silver?
Petter Solberg, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team owner/driver and triple FIA
world champion
“It won’t be easy at all. Basically if any of the other three drivers
(Sébastien Loeb, Andreas Bakkerud or Mattias Ekstrom) makes it to the
final then I can’t do anything. I’m not thinking about any of that, I’m
just thinking to my own race – I will do everything I can do and then see
what happens on Sunday afternoon.
“This has been a tough season for me, in and out of the car. In the
middle of the year, just to be thinking of fighting for the silver medal
was a bit like a dream for me. I’m happy to be competing. It’s been a
good month since Germany: I went back to the World Rally Championship and
had a fantastic time driving Volkswagen’s Polo GTI R5 car, setting
fastest times and having a really good time at Rally of Spain. And now we
can come to one of the best tracks of the year in a fantastic place with
a big crowd and a great atmosphere.
“For the second year, we go to South Africa as double champions. That’s a
very special achievement for this team and a very nice feeling for me.”
Driver data
Petter Solberg (NOR)
World RX starts: 60
World RX wins: 10
World RX titles: 2
Johan Kristoffersson (SWE)
World RX starts: 51
World RX wins: 19
World RX titles: 2
World RX of
South Africa data
Last year’s winner: Johan Kristoffersson (SWE)
Fastest lap: Johan Kristoffersson (2017) 40.393s
Circuit length: 1067m
Asphalt/gravel: 60% – 40%
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