While Simon Tiger has yet to open his victory tally in the RallyX paddock since the season opener in Montalegre, the same can’t be said for his main rival in the Open 2WD category. With two wins already under his belt—from Montalegre and Valkenswaard—Viktor Johansson is clearly enjoying the moment.
Just two weeks ago, Johansson managed to upset the local specialists on Dutch soil. Although Yorick Mayeninckx, Kristof Bex, and Marvin Klaessen had dominated the opening day of competition, locking out the podium in that order, the Mercedes driver turned the tables in Race 2. He topped the intermediate classification and went on to double down in the final, crossing the line ahead of Mayeninckx and Bart Bel.
A result that rewarded the efforts of the Swedish team, especially after a much more complicated start to the weekend, where Johansson had to settle for fourth place in the final of Race 1.
“We ran into a few technical issues on Saturday, particularly with the electric motor and the transmission,” explains Viktor.
“Fortunately, the team responded brilliantly and got the car back in shape. From there, it was just a matter of figuring out how to make the most of the track with our setup—and that really showed on Sunday from Q2 onwards, when we started to find our rhythm. We managed to close the gap to the local drivers, which was far from easy at the start of the weekend.”
“It’s never simple juggling changing track conditions and mechanical problems. But I’m lucky to be surrounded by a solid team and dedicated mechanics. Once the issues were resolved, I could finally focus on pure performance.”
One thing is certain: his two victories since the start of the season are a strong source of reassurance for the driver from Älvsbyn.
“It’s an incredible feeling, because both Valkenswaard and Montalegre came with their own challenges. In Montalegre, we had to deal with an unfamiliar track. We only managed fifth place in Race 1 before turning things around and winning the next day. And the exact same scenario played out in Valkenswaard—with another win that rewarded all the work done behind the scenes.”
From the Portuguese round located nearly 4,500 kilometers from his workshop to the event in Valkenswaard some 2,500 kilometers away from northern Sweden, Johansson admits the logistical demands were at times exceptionally difficult.
“The logistics are a real headache. Planning for every single part we might need across two events is a challenge in itself. On the Friday of Valkenswaard, we were still searching desperately for the oil filter. It wasn’t at the shop, and it wasn’t in the service truck either,” he recalls with a laugh.
Fortunately, the strong spirit of teamwork and solidarity—so typical of the RallyX paddock—made all the difference once again.
“We’re lucky to have a great, tight-knit team. But we also received a huge boost from Simon Tiger, who helped us out by shipping some essential parts from Sweden that allowed us to perform in Valkenswaard.”
That support has only served to strengthen the bonds between some of the paddock’s most prominent figures.
“Travelling together, dealing with setbacks and sharing success—those experiences naturally bring people closer. It’s not always easy to switch from friendly camaraderie to intense competition on track. But I think we strike that balance really well. We race hard, and then come together under the tent in a respectful and relaxed atmosphere.”
“I also want to give a shout-out to other teams who’ve helped us out along the way. In Portugal, for example, Derek Tohill’s team kindly lent us a welding machine. Those kinds of gestures mean a lot. Everyone is ready to lend a hand when problems arise—and that’s genuinely comforting.”