Johan Kristoffersson and Tommi Hallman are perfectly placed to claim the Drivers’ titles in Supercar and Supercar Lites respectively when the 2021 RallyX Nordic Championship reaches its dramatic conclusion at Arvika tomorrow (August 15).
Kristoffersson needs to pick up just two more points in order to claim the crown in the headline series and currently sits top of the intermediate standings after Q3, while Hallman entered the weekend holding an unassailable advantage in the lead support category and is set to be officially crowned on the final day of the season.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of drama in the thrilling CrossCar/Crosskart title fight with Isak Reiersen battling back after a difficult opening day and a previously dominant Patrik Hallberg experiencing nightmare mechanical issues when on course for a third-straight session win.
Emil Öhman remains top of the Open 2WD qualification standings after claiming victory in Q3, backing up his Q1 win from Friday, but Simon Tiger is still in line for overall honours while there is all to play for in the CrossCar Junior championship battle between Lukas Andersson and Alex Gustafsson.
In the Supercar class, a torrential downpour prior to Q2 put Kristoffersson on the back foot and allowed EKS JC’s Enzo Ide to claim the fastest time on a drying track ahead of Hedström Motorsports’ Anton Marklund and the Olsbergs MSE-run Ford Fiesta of Fraser McConnell.
However, the three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion hit back at his home circuit with a stunning Q3 drive to claim the overnight lead ahead of his World RX team-mate Ide.
Sondre Evjen, the only driver mathematically able to prevent Kristoffersson from claiming the title, was hampered by the damp conditions in Q2 but posted the third fastest time in the later session and sits fourth in the intermediate standings – one spot behind McConnell.
While champion-elect Hallman has dominated the Supercar Lites class this season, Martin Enlund took centre-stage on Saturday at Arvika with the Swede claiming victory in Q2 and posting the second-fastest time in Q3 to lead overnight.
Casper Jansson is second in the intermediate standings, having seen off all challengers in Q3 as the track continued to dry, while Mattis Jansson followed up his Q1 win with further solid scores to occupy third.
Hallman demonstrated excellent consistency in changeable conditions – including a combative comeback drive after finding himself last in his Q3 race – to sit fourth in the overall standings, just one place ahead of #YellowSquad’s teenage sensation George Megennis.
Reiersen, Hallberg and Jimmie Österberg entered the weekend level on points at the top of the CrossCar/Crosskart Drivers’ Standings, and the trio all still have a chance of claiming the title after a day of differing fortunes at Arvika.
Hallberg bagged his second session win of the event in Q2 and was streaking clear in Q3 before mechanical issues saw him grind to a halt, hampering Österberg in the process as the Power RX ace slowed for the yellow flags.
That allowed Reiersen to capitalise in his race, posting the top time of the session to vault himself back up to third in the intermediate standings behind his championship rivals after clutch problems in Q2.
Open 2WD champion-in-waiting Tiger sits second in qualifying overnight, with second and third-fastest times in Q2 and Q3 respectively repairing the damage after the BMW E30 M3 driver struggled for pace in a wet Q1. Meanwhile, Öhman remains at the top of the pile after wins in Q1 and Q3 at the wheel of his Volvo S40.
Finally, Erik Nilsson leads the way from Carcontrol team-mate Rasmus Persson in the CrossCar Junior intermediate standings but all eyes will be on third and fourth where championship rivals Gustafsson and Andersson remain locked in combat – with the latter suffering a Q3 DNF after an unfortunate incident involving Lauri Halonen and Joonatan Ylilammi.
The 2021 RallyX Nordic Championship concludes on Sunday (August 15). Catch all the action live and for free on the RallyX TV Youtube Channel from 10.30am UK Time (11.30am CEST).
