PSRX Volkswagen Sweden brings you the return of the
king
- World RX champion Johan
goes home with #1 on the doors
- Petter chasing first win
of the season after three podiums
- Top that… Johan on how to
beat his perfect run in Norway
- PSRX Volkswagen Sweden
wants a high five at home
What’s
coming?
Out of Hell into heaven, welcome to Höljes. And welcome home Johan
Kristoffersson. It’s the champ’s big race, the season’s so-called magic
weekend. And what a way to come back to his people, wearing the crown and
king of the season so far with four from five wins.
And don’t forget, Johan flew higher than anybody over the most famous
jump in rallycross and won World RX of Sweden last season. Next weekend
the man who is 31 points clear at the top of the table is chasing
back-to-back success in his backyard.
Once again, that backyard will be busier than usual. Last year was a
record with more than 45,000 fans nosing their way through the sleepy
Värmland village of Höljes and into the Motorstadion. This time around,
with PSRX Volkswagen Sweden’s homegrown hero and a brace of brilliant
Polo R Supercars to cheer on, it’s going to be even busier.
The Torsby-based team takes its shortest trip of the season, travelling
just 100 kilometres north to Höljes to bring the year to its mid-point
(round 6/12).
With four wins from five, Johan couldn’t be happier with the way his 2018
title defence has begun. Team owner and triple FIA world champion Petter
Solberg has stood on the podium three times this year, but he’s very,
very keen to make the top step next Sunday.
So keen, in fact, Hollywood’s started reading poetry. Not just any poet
though, one of Sweden’s best: Gustaf Fröding. From his Karlstad home,
Gustaf wrote: “For the dream, though the truth were vanished, was the
princeliest dream I could get.”
Petter’s dreaming his own princely dream about next week…
Pernilla,
what’s it like to come home?
PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team principal Pernilla Solberg
“It’s so special. The people come from so far to come and watch here.
Locally, there’s not so much going on, we’re not close to any major town
or city in Höljes, but that makes it a bit better for me – it means those
people who come here are the hardcore race fans who will stay and make a
really good party atmosphere.
“Year after year we have come and enjoyed this place. Johan winning last
year was a really special moment for Volkswagen Sweden, for him and, of
course, for me too – this is my home race!
“I love this track and these people. They speak my language!”
Petter, you
have good experience of this track, what’s the key to a quick lap?
Petter Solberg, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team owner/driver and triple FIA
world champion
“I like this track. Before we have the new regulation about the testing,
we used to do some running up here – it’s the closest place for us. Like
the last track in Norway, Höljes is the natural rallycross circuit and
it’s really quick in places, I like that.
“What I really like is the way you can use some kerbs and use the crests,
jumps and dips to move the car around and keep it sliding – it’s a real
driver’s track this one.
“It’s famous, I think for three things. The first is the banked left-hand
corner which leads you onto one of the fastest stretches of the season,
downhill on gravel. I love this. That takes you to the second most famous
part of this track: the jump. It’s a real big one. If you wanted, you
could fly and fly, but all the time you have to check who’s around you
and what’s going on. The focus is always on the clean landing to get
the nice line into the next corner.
“The third thing which is most famous about this place is the people.
There are 45,000 people here and they’re all here for a mid-summer party.
It’s amazing. It really is the magic weekend.
“This time, I want to make it my magic weekend. I missed the final last
year because I stalled from pole position in the semi-final. I’m more
determined than ever to get to and then make the most of Sunday’s final
race.”
And for your
next trick, top Norway Johan…
Johan Kristoffersson, defending FIA World Rallycross Champion
“Wow! Honestly, I don’t know how I can do that. Norway was really
perfect, everything came together so well in Hell.
“At the earlier rounds [this year], I was maybe struggling a little bit
to find the perfect place – the real sweet spot – in Saturday’s first two
qualifying rounds. Sunday was going well, but I needed to hit the ground
running a bit more. That came in Norway. Everything was perfect.
“Free practice was good, then as soon as we went into Q1 the car felt
fantastic. The Volkswagen Polo R Supercar was just brilliant for me, the
team has worked so hard for this and I’m so grateful and so happy. We did
some testing before Hell and everything worked, it gave us some time to
test some options on set-up for the car and we’ve gone in a good way.
“Petter and I both think there is a bit more to come from the car still,
so this is exciting. And I think we will need it – for sure the
competition is coming closer.
“Winning at home was one of the most special results of my career in
Höljes last year and all I can do is try to repeat that result next week.
Competing in front of so many thousands of fans is unbelievable, when you
see the flags everywhere the atmosphere is just going through the roof. I
love it.”
Driver data
Petter Solberg (NOR)
World RX starts: 54
World RX wins: 10
World RX titles: 2
Johan Kristoffersson (SWE)
World RX starts: 45
World RX wins: 13
World RX titles: 1
World RX of
Sweden data
Last year’s winner: Johan Kristoffersson (SWE)
Fastest lap: Johan, 2017 41.448s
Circuit length: 1.21km
Asphalt/gravel: 60% – 40%
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