Evjen scores second 2018 podium with JC Raceteknik at Holjes
Norwegian driver Sondre Evjen finished second for the second time in a week with JC Raceteknik, as RallyX on Ice headed to Holjes in Sweden for round two (February 10).
Putting his pre-season objective of consistent performances throughout events to good practice, Evjen was one of three JC Raceteknik drivers to win their race in Q1 at the famous Holjes circuit in the ultra-competitive Supercar Lites field, as former FIA European Rallycross TouringCar Champion Ben-Philip Gundersen and Jonathan Walfridsonalso claimed Q1 victory.
Walfridson and Evjen later won their Q3 races as all five JC Raceteknik Supercar Lites drivers made the semi-finals, Walfridson qualifying third, Evjen fourth, Gundersen fifth, Pelle Willen ninth and Jimmie Walfridsson 18th.
In semi-final one, both Evjen and Gundersen beat round one winner Oliver Eriksson to progress to the final, Evjen taking race victory, but Gundersen was penalised for missing the joker lap and didn’t make it through. Jonathan Walfridson and Jimmie Walfridsson’s strong events ended in the semi-final stages, while Swedish rally driver Willen finished second in semi-final three to join Evjen in the final.
In the last race of the day, as snow began to fall on the famous World RX venue, Evjen battled right at the front of the field, pressuring eventual winner Kevin Eriksson to finish second, while Willen put a difficult first winter race of the season behind him to finish fourth.
In the RX Academy category, young JC Raceteknik driver Isak Reiersen stunned onlookers by qualifying for the final and finishing fourth, in only his second ever car race, following his debut in the Renault Clio RS RX class at Östersund just a week before.
Joel Christoffersson, Team Principal:
“It was a nice result for Sondre. As he says, we need to be consistent and to have good results every weekend, so it was very good that he could claim second again. The speed of all our drivers was very good this weekend, everyone was in the semi-finals which was our goal. It was nice for Pelle to have a good weekend after quite a bad weekend in Ostersund and Jimmy showed what he can do, but just had bad luck in the semi-final. Johnathan also showed that he’s a really quick driver with two heat wins, but he didn’t get a good start in the semi-final. It’s a shame for Ben-Philip that he wasn’t able to start the final after he drove well, but that’s how it is.”
Sondre Evjen (NOR):
"In the final Kevin Eriksson and I had a very even start, but because he had the line I just had to chase as much as I could. I’m happy with second place and lying third in the RallyX on Ice points feels good. What got me onto the podium today was quick starts, good cooperation with my spotter and the right joker tactics. The two remaining events are both home rounds for me, so I’m excited to go there. The goal is to score good points by having good heats, nice semi-finals and then fight for the podium in the final.”
Pelle Wilén (SWE):
“Now things are going as they should again. It was fantastic to drive in Holjes, but at the start of the final, my car door came open. I tried to get my arm under the safety net to pull it shut, but there was snow in the car and I couldn’t see. I almost missed the joker lap entry. That’s typical. But after I got the door shut again I finished fourth and it feels nice to be back after the race in Östersund, I’m very pleased. The goal for the last two races are to have as much fun as possible, then it’s always nice to drive in the final.”
Isak Reiersen (SWE), RX Academy:
"This feels absolutely incredible. Everything went beyond my expectations and it hasn't sunk in yet. My goal was to qualify for the final, so when I was on the start line in the final in only my second race, I knew I had nothing to lose or to be nervous about. Rallycross is the most fun, so now the goal is to raise enough money to race in the last rounds in Ål and Gol. That would be amazing. I would like to thank everyone who made the run possible, both my sponsors and JC Raceteknik.
Holjes Supercar Lites Result:
1 Kevin Eriksson
2 Sondre Evjen (NOR)
3 Oliver Eriksson (SWE)
4 Pelle Willen (SWE)
5 Alexander Westlund (SWE) 28
6 Jami Kalliomaki (FIN) 18
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7 Johnathan Walfridson (SWE)
9 Ben-Philip Gundersen (NOR)
18 Jimmie Walfridsson (SWE)
RallyX on Ice Standings:
1 Oliver Eriksson (SWE) 67
2 Kevin Eriksson (SWE) 65
3 Sondre Evjen (NOR) 53
4 Ben Philip Gundersen (NOR) 52
5 Alexander Westlund (SWE) 48
6 Vasilily Gryazin (LAT) 46
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8 Jonathan Walfridsson (SWE) 18
9 Pelle Wilen (SWE) 36
19 Jimmie Walfridsson (SWE) 13
