Qualifying 1 and 2 were completed today (July 5) at Höljes in Sweden under wet weather conditions during the second round of the 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship. Defending champion Johan Kristoffersson (VW Polo RX1e) set a fastest time twice and holds the overnight lead.
The first weekend of July is traditionally the “Höljes” weekend in the world of Rallycross and this year it is no different. Höljes Motorstation plays host for the second round of the 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship. The first round took place on May 31 – June 1 in Lousada, Portugal with Construction Equipment Dealer Team Niclas Grönholm (PWR Hyundai i20 RX1e) claiming the win ahead of Timmy Hansen (Peugeot 208 RX1e) and Ole Christian Veiby (VW Polo Mk5). World champion Johan Kristoffersson (VW Polo Mk5) finished fifth in the opening round. Back then Kristoffersson Motorsport was racing in their Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) VW Polo Mk5 cars, however for this weekend, as well as for the rest of the 2025 season, the team switched to the electrical vehicles that were used with success for the last time two years ago… at Höljes. The 2025 Sporting Regulations allow a team to ‘[..] change the make or model of the car during the season once‘. From the nine World RX drivers allowed to start this weekend, seven are now at the wheel of an electrical vehicle.
In the Saturday morning free practice in the wet the Kristoffersson Motorsport prepared electrical vehicles occupied the first three spots with Johan Kristoffersson fastest ahead of Gustav Bergström (VW Polo RX1e) and Ole Christian Veiby (VW Polo RX1e). Qualifying 1 was next on Saturday afternoon, still on a wet track (‘Wet Race’ was declared by the Race Director), where Kristoffersson and Veiby were both in the second race. Grönholm won the first race from Juha Rytkönen (Hyundai i20) in an ICE car while Kristoffersson afterwards lead the second race from lights to flag beating the time set by Grönholm and scoring the fastest Q1 time. Rytkönen was third overall in Qualifying 1 ahead of Kevin [Hansen] (Peugeot 208 RX1e) and Timmy Hansen.
In Qualifying 2, with the starting grids based on the result of Qualifying 1, race wins went to Ole Christian Veiby, in race 1, and Kristoffersson in the race after beating Niclas Grönholm. Juha Rytkönen, in the ICE Hyundai, made it to the finish eventually but had to deal with a front right puncture preventing him from setting a decent time. Therefore in the ranking after Q2 Kristoffersson goes into the lead with maximum points. Second overnight is Niclas Grönholm, who was two times second fastest. Ole Christian Veiby is currently on third. Kevin Hansen was denied the start in Qualifying 2 following a technical issue with the battery in his car (red light) that was not fixed in time.
Alongside the World championship also the second round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship for RX1 cars and RX3 cars are taking place at Höljes. In the RX1 category fastest times today were set by Mika Liimatainen (Hyundai i20) in Q1 and by René Münnich (SEAT Ibiza Mk5), at the wheel of a new SEAT Ibiza, in Q2. Liimatainen beat his countryman Joni Turpeinen (Ford Fiesta Mk7) in Q1 while Münnich in Q2 was faster than Martin Enlund (Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST). Overnight Liimatainen tops the ranking with Martin Enlund second and René Münnich third. Peter Hedström (Peugeot 208), whose car caught fire in Q2, is currently fourth.
In the RX3 category, championship newcomer Markus Røsrud (Škoda Fabia Mk2) from Norway set fastest times in both qualifying sessions and consequently holds the overnight lead. Remarkable, the top five in Q1 and Q2 were identical. Portuguese João Ribeiro (Audi A1) is currently second with Hungarian Sámuel Kovács (Škoda Fabia Mk3) in third.
The action at Höljes resumes Sunday morning with a warm-up for all categories from 8:30am followed by Qualifying 3 and 4, the semi-finals and the finals.
Results
World RX (after two heats): 1. Johan Kristoffersson (S), 100; 2. Niclas Grönholm (FIN), 90; 3. Ole Christian Veiby (N), 79; 4. Timmy Hansen (S), 79; 4. Juha Rytkönen (FIN), 78; 6. Klara Andersson (S), 76; etc.
Euro RX1 (after two heats): 1. Mika Liimatainen (FIN), 86; 2. Martin Enlund (S), 83; 3. René Münnich (D), 81; 4. Peter Hedström (S), 79; 5. Mikko Ikonen (FIN), 78; 6. Nils Volland (D), 76; etc.
Euro RX3 (after two heats): 1. Markus Røsrud (N), 100; 2. João Ribeiro (P), 90; 3. Sámuel Kovács (H), 84; 4. Nicolas Geleyns (B), 80; 5. André Sousa (P), 78; 6. Balász Kőrmőczi (H), 72; etc.