JC Raceteknik claims double RallyX Nordic Championship titles
Swedish rallycross team JC Raceteknik secured a dream finish to the 2017 RallyX Nordic Championship by claiming both the Supercar and Supercar Lites titles at the final round in Strangnas (September 23).
Norwegian star Thomas Bryntesson entered the event with a healthy lead at the top of the Supercar standings, just five days after claiming second overall in the FIA European Rallycross Championship.
Fastest in each of the Free Practice sessions, Bryntesson was quickest in Q1, second in Q2 and third in Q3 to be second in the Intermediate Classification. Winning semi-final two put Bryntesson on the front row for the final, but by then the rising star had already secured the title in his first year in Supercar. In the final, Bryntesson scored yet another podium in an amazing season, in second position.
In the sister Ford Fiesta Supercar, fellow Norwegian Ola Froshaug set a best time of third in the qualifying stages, in Q2, and again achieved his event-target for his maiden Supercar season of qualifying for the semi-finals. He was seventh in the Intermediate Classification and only just missed out on a place in the final. He finished the year fifth overall.
In the Supercar Lites Championship, JC Raceteknik also had fantastic cause for celebration. Entering the season finale second in the points, Swedish driver William Nilsson – who claimed his first-ever Lites victory in 2017 – needed a top result to claim the title, and he delivered. Fastest in Free Practice, the Swede was quickest in Q2 and consistently at the front of the field to be top in the Intermediate Classification. He finished second to team mate Sondre Evjen in semi-final one to make it into the final, which he won to claim the title in jubilant style.
Evjen finished on the podium in third to conclude his RallyX Nordic campaign in fifth position, having set second-fastest time in Q2 at Strangnas, while Henrik M Krogstad was fastest in second Free Practice and was classified sixth in the final to secure third overall in the series, at his first attempt.
The team’s last event of the season will be the final round of the RX2 International Series at Cape Town in South Africa, in November (11 – 12).
Joel Christoffersson, Team Principal :
"This is amazing, I started this team in 2014 and now in 2017 we stand as winners in both Supercar and Supercar Lites, something that nobody has succeeded in doing before. On top of that, we are second in the European Championship this year. I'm speechless, I could not even dream of that.”
"We came here to defend the Supercar points lead and score more points than leader Simon Olofsson in Supercar Lites. When Thomas managed to take the Championship victory before the semi-finals, it already felt incredible. Then we recharged and took on the fight in Lites. Simon [Olofsson] took the start in the final but made a mistake and William didn’t need asking twice to secure the gold. Everyone in the team wants to win and we fight together for that same goal, so this feels incredibly nice.”
Supercar: Thomas Bryntesson (NOR)
“This really is a dream come true. It feels awesome and to achieve it together with the whole team is really fun. We have worked really hard and that has been rewarded with results. The season in Nordic has been so good with five podiums from six races, on top of winning silver in the European Championship. I would like to thank the whole team from the mechanics to the cook, my sponsors and of course all of my supporters, it's unbelievable how many people want to help me achieve these dreams.”
Supercar: Ola Froshaug (NOR) :
"It has been a very good season. It was my first year in Supercar with the goal of reaching the top five, and I succeeded. The team has worked amazingly, we are like a big family and I'm proud of having two champions in it.”
Supercar Lites: William Nilsson (SWE) :
"It hasn’t sunk in; I haven’t understood it yet. With the season I’ve had, it hasn’t been easy going, but I’ve fought hard. So to take home the Championship after all that feels so very, very good. Today I showed that I have nerves of steel. But, motorsport is not an individual sport, it's a team sport where all parties need to work. I must say thanks to my family, the team, all of our sponsors, friends at home and everyone else who has supported us. Without all of them, I would not be here today.”
Supercar Lites: Sondre Evjen (NOR) :
"It’s fun to be on the podium. I’m pleased with the result, but made a mistake in the final which unfortunately cost the opportunity for a better result. In RallyX Nordic I wanted to get on the [overall] podium this year, but what happened, happened. I had three good events and I’m pleased with Grenland, Arvika and Strangnas. Then I got black flags in Gotene and Solvalla, which is what cost me positions in the points.”
Supercar Lites: Henrik M Krogstad (NOR) :
“The feeling is great, but I had hoped for better. Obviously I am satisfied, but I always drive aiming for the top step of the podium. I have the pace, but then things have been going wrong too. This year I finished on the podium in two rounds, but also have been given a black flag in two rounds too. Next season, the goal is to drive the RX2 International Series and I hope for more consistency.”
RallyX Nordic Championship, Strangnas Supercar Result:
1 Oliver Solberg (LAT)
2 Thomas Bryntesson (NOR)
3 Oliver Eriksson (SWE)
4 Peter Hedstrom (SWE)
5 Ramona Karlsson (SWE)
6 Alexander Hvaal (NOR)
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7 Ola Froshaug (NOR)
RallyX Nordic Championship, Supercar Points:
1 Thomas Bryntesson (NOR) 160
2 Oliver Solberg (LAT) 141
3 Peter Hedstrom (SWE) 113
4 Alexander Hvaal (NOR) 111
5 Ola Froshaug (NOR) 88
6 Mats Ohman (SWE) 84
RallyX Nordic Championship, Strangnas Supercar Lites Result:
1 William Nilsson (SWE)
2 Vasily Gryazon (RUS)
3 Sondre Evjen (NOR)
4 Simon Olofsson (SWE)
5 Jessica Backman (SWE)
6 Henrik Krogstad (NOR)
RallyX Nordic Championship, Supercar Lites Points:
1 William Nilsson (SWE) 126
2 Simon Olofsson (SWE) 122
3 Henrik Krogstad (NOR) 96
4 Vasiliy Gryazin (RUS) 86
5 Sondre Evjen (NOR) 78
6 Viktor Johansson (SWE) 75
