Kristoffersson wins Portugal World RX opener

Swede Johan Kristoffersson began his first full campaign in the World Rallycross Championship with victory at the opening round in Portugal.

Fast all weekend, the former circuit racer won the second semi-final to qualify on the front row for the final alongside reigning champion Petter Solberg, before beating the Norwegian star in a frenetic race.
 Solberg had topped the Intermediate Classification and won the first semi-final.

Kristoffersson made a strong start in torrentially wet conditions and dove directly into the joker lap section, while Solberg led Peugeot driver Timmy Hansen on the main circuit.

Hansen's new teammate Davy Jeanney made a strong start and he too took a lap one joker on the outside of Turn 1, but was passed by former JWRC champion PG Andersson, who had also leapt away from the start line.

Second row starter Andreas Bakkerud was another who took his joker at the first opportunity and had a ding-dong battle with Andersson during the opening lap, first passing the Swede on the tarmac before running wide on the slippery loose and relinquishing the place.

As Hansen pushed Solberg hard up front, Kristoffersson started to close down on the leading duo, before Hansen elected to take his joker on the second lap.

He returned to the main circuit third, just ahead of Andersson, who made a move to pass the Swede two laps later; touching his VW Polo's left-rear wheel on Hansen's 208 and causing damage that would see him drop out of podium contention.

Meanwhile, Solberg took his compulsory joker on lap four and was jumped by Kristoffersson, who pulled a gap to claim his first win.

Hansen in third fended off the attentions of team mate Jeanney in the closing laps. OMSE driver Bakkerud dropped back in fifth while Andersson retired.

"That was a great final, I almost stalled on the startline but kicked the clutch and made a good start," said Kristoffersson. "The track was unbelievably slippery, on the gravel you just have to stay on the line as much as you can and pull the handbrake and hope the corner comes to you when you want. We have worked so hard over the winter and this is a great start for the whole team."

Originally on Autosport.com