After two races at the end of the 2023 season in Grenland and Höljes, Kim Roar Johansen has announced his return to the RallyX championship in 2024.
A former Norwegian Rallycross Champion, the experienced Sarpsborg driver will continue his adventure at the wheel of the former Mats Lysen Renault Clio, which he acquired last August with the support of Frode and Atle Skaar’s RX Evolution structure.
“The purchase of this supercar was a very quick decision. I wanted to participate in the Grenland stage and was looking for advice on how to rent a car,” says Kim Roar Johansen.
“Frode Skaar came into the picture and told me about a car that would fit our budget perfectly. We didn’t have to hesitate long.
With a short test session of around twenty laps before Grenland to get to know his new weapon, the Norwegian knew it wouldn’t be easy. Nevertheless, his performance at Höljes in September 2023 delighted Frode Skaar.
“Kim had never driven a four-wheel-drive car before this test session. We had a great race in Grenland and came within a single point of qualifying for the semi-finals. With the car intact at the end of the race, we naturally decided to compete in the final round of the championship at Höljes, where Kim came very close to a podium finish in the Pro Am category. Unfortunately, a broken rear suspension on the last lap prevented him from taking third place.”
If these two RallyX races were a bit rushed last year, Frode Skaar and Kim Roar Johansen want to do things in the right order in 2024.
“Last year we had to put together a team of mechanics in just one week before Grenland, but this 2024 season should allow us to better anticipate and plan our investment in RallyX,” recalls the RX Evolution boss.
Admittedly, Kim Roar Johansen won’t be able to participate in a full program in 2024, but his presence on the RallyX scene should be much more significant.
“Our budget doesn’t allow us to plan a full RallyX season at the moment, but our goal is to participate in three or four of the five dates on the calendar,” says Frode Skaar.
This Renault Clio Supercar, originally built for Stig-Olov Walfridsson and Mats Lysen, may not have the potential to compete at the top end of the Supercar Pro class, but Kim Roar Johansen could well have a great opportunity in the Supercar Pro Am championship.
” For a first time entry in Supercar, this car remains an excellent choice. It was with this Clio that Mats Lysen won a European Championship round in 2011, while the car’s last podium finish dates back to the 2013 season at Montalegre,” Kim points out.
“Obviously, the way Supercar cars have developed since then with the introduction of the World Championship is pretty huge and we know we won’t be able to compete with the best, but that’s not such a big deal.”
