JC Raceteknik in fight for overall podium at RX2 finale in South Africa
The final round of the RX2 International Series takes place this weekend at the Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town, South Africa, where Swedish team JC Raceteknik is aiming to end a long 2018 season on a high.
It’s been an intense rallycross year for JC Raceteknik, competing in a number of different championships with different drivers. In the RallyX Nordic series the team claimed third in the Supercar category, along with a second and third in Supercar Lites. It also locked-out the entire Supercar Lites overall podium in the Swedish Championship, and secured fourth overall in the FIA European Rallycross Championship. Even before the summer season got underway, the team enjoyed success in RallyX On Ice, but this weekend marks the final event of 2018 with the seventh round of RX2, supporting the FIA World Rallycross Championship finale.
Ahead of the title-deciding event, Henrik Krogstad lies third overall. Last season Krogstad competed in RallyX Nordic, but graduated to a full international campaign this year and has impressed. In the last round in France, the Norwegian appeared set to claim his inaugural international victory, only to spin in the final corners and lose the position. Team mate Ben-Philip Gundersen, in his first year racing a Supercar Lites, has also shown good pace through the season and is fifth in the standings.
Just two points behind Gundersen is Norwegian compatriot Sondre Evjen in sixth. Evjen’s year started positively and he was in the hunt for the title, but a substantial accident at Holjes in Sweden meant he lost ground in the points that he has been unable to recover. In seventh overall, 10 points behind Evjen, Swede William Nilsson has endured poor luck with technical issues in the single-make formula this year, but has also show solid pace.
The RX2 International Series has been held at rounds in Europe, Canada and South Africa for the last two years, this weekend’s Cape Town event marks the second successive year of top-level rallycross in South Africa.
Team Principal: Joel Christoffersson :
"After a long gap it will be nice to go down to South Africa and finish the season on a high. Cape Town is a special event with a unique atmosphere. Last year we had a good pace from the cars and had a JC Raceteknik driver on the podium. This weekend we will do everything we can to achieve the best results possible. Looking back at the RX2 season, it’s been a good year, with both ups and downs. Of course we hoped to be in the fight for the championship, but overall we are happy.
Henrik has taken a big step forward compared to his season in RallyX Nordic last year and has shown that he is one of the fastest drivers – it’s a shame what happened to him in France. Ben-Philip has had a great first year in Supercar Lites and the whole team is impressed by his efforts. Sondre started the RX2 season strong but has since had a tougher time in the international events, both he and the team hoped for more this year. William has had some technical issues with the car his season, but has proven then when things are good he has the pace. It’s with four motivated and fast drivers that we arrive in South Africa.”
RX2: Henrik Krogstad :
“I’m really looking forward to being back in my car after a two-month break. Of course the goal is to achieve the best result I can. If I look back at the year, I’m not totally happy with my performance, I’ve been a bit inconsistent and haven’t always driven as fast as I know I’m capable of. On the other hand, I’m very happy with JC Raceteknik who have really helped me succeed. The team has been putting in a lot of effort this season so it’s a shame not to repay that with victory. But, if I can qualify for the final in Cape Town that will secure third in the championship and that is my aim.”
RX2: Ben-Philip Gundersen (NOR) :
“It will be very exciting to race in South Africa, especially because it’s so far from home and a completely different culture to the one I’m used to. But also because it’s a new circuit for me and I look forward to driving there. In the points I’m in fifth – the goal is to keep that or even move up the table if possible. There are many good drivers and there will be a hard fight all the way to the finish line in the season finale. This has been my first full season in Supercar Lites. It’s been incredible insightful for us and I have definitely taken a step in the right direction.”
RX2: Sondre Evjen (NOR) :
“It will be a lot of fun to go back to South Africa. After my second place there last year, the goal is to be on the podium again. For me, the RX2 season started well but then the contact I had with another driver at Holjes and caused me to roll ended my challenge. Because of that I missed the semi-finals and it effectively destroyed my championship. After that I struggled for motivation, but after a good result in RallyX Nordic, it came back. Now I’m really pumped for the final race and the goal is to finish as high as possible.”
RX2: William Nilsson (SWE) :
“My attitude is to go to South Africa and make this the most fun and best event ever. The goal is to simply finish as high as I can. It’s an enjoyable circuit and I had good pace there last year, so of course I’m hoping for a good result. Looking at the championship overall I had higher hopes for this year, but after everything that has happened, it’s been a cool season anyway. There have been a couple of big lows, but it makes no sense to dwell on thinking about that. My first focus is now on South Africa, but I have already begun to look ahead to 2019 too.”
RX2 International Series
1. Oliver Eriksson 154
2. Guillaume De Ridder 140
3. Henrik Krogstad 108
4. Vasily Gryazin 95
5. Ben-Philip Gundersen 90
6. Sondre Evjen 88
7. William Nilsson 78
8. Conner Martell 69
9. Jami Kalliomaki 69
10. Sami-Matti Trogen 63
