After coming up short against Lukas Andersson in the opening round of the weekend at Alvsbyn, Oliver Eriksson produced the perfect response on Sunday. The Swedish driver secured his third victory of the season and significantly strengthened his grip on the RallyX championship lead.
Already a winner earlier this year at Valkenswaard in RallyX South competition, the championship leader took full advantage of the changing weather to regain the upper hand over his closest rivals. However, the day had not started according to plan, with Eriksson sitting only fourth after the opening qualifying session.
Despite that modest start, the Swede quickly turned things around. By posting the fastest times in the next two qualifying sessions, he edged past Lukas Andersson to claim the top spot in the intermediate standings. Kevin Eriksson, Romet Tsirna and Adam Ohman completed the top five.
As rain made track conditions increasingly challenging, Eriksson found another level during the final stages of the event. Setting the fastest lap in every decisive race by a margin of more than a second over his rivals, he proved untouchable at the front on his way to victory ahead of Romet Tsirna and Lukas Andersson.
The victory gives the championship leader a valuable cushion in the standings. With the final two events of the 2026 season set to take place in Denmark and Germany, he now holds a 27-point advantage over Lukas Andersson and a 22-point lead over Romet Tsirna.
Reflecting on his victory, Eriksson highlighted the impact the changing weather had on his performance.
“In Race 1, we were already right in the fight even though we didn’t manage to take the win. Today, when the rain arrived, I immediately felt comfortable in the car and was able to go out and take the top step of the podium.”
Particularly effective on the wet surface, the Swede made no secret of how much he enjoyed the conditions.
“I love driving these FC2 cars in the wet. They work remarkably well in the wet and I enjoy every second behind the wheel. In the final, I was pushing hard from the opening laps with a big smile on my face because I was having so much fun.”
For the championship leader, the defining moment of the weekend came during qualifying.
“Qualifying was crucial. In Q1, I was fourth after getting caught up in a bit of traffic. We took a gamble on slick tyres and I think it was the right call, but circumstances prevented me from fully exploiting the potential.”
Once that initial hurdle had been overcome, Eriksson was able to launch his charge back to the front.
“In Q2, my main focus was staying out of trouble at Turn 1 before concentrating on my pace. The car was quick and that allowed me to move up the order while also setting the fastest time in Q3.”
Despite extending his championship advantage, Eriksson is refusing to get carried away.
“It’s obviously a positive result for the championship, but there are still two important rounds to come in Denmark and Germany. Nothing is decided yet. I also hope the grid continues to grow. I know Niclas Grönholm is eager to come back, and that’s a great thing for the championship.”
More broadly, the Swede believes RallyX gives drivers the opportunity to reconnect with the pure enjoyment of racing, a philosophy that currently shapes his approach to competition.
“Today, every race is first and foremost an opportunity to rediscover the joy of racing. That’s why we do rallycross. I think that’s exactly what RallyX delivers: the pure enjoyment of competition. That’s the mindset I’m in right now, and I hope it spreads throughout the paddock.”