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Austin World RX: Johan Kristoffersson clinches 2018 championship

Johan Kristoffersson wrapped up his second consecutive World Rallycross Championship title by qualifying for the Austin final, then won after an error from PSRX Volkswagen team-mate Petter Solberg.

Solberg had dominated the series' American weekend and started on pole position for the final after beating Kristoffersson in the first semi-final.

That semi result immediately gave Kristoffersson sufficient points to secure the championship in a season he has dominated.

Solberg led the final from Audi driver Andreas Bakkerud on lap one, as Kristoffersson forced his way inside Bakkerud's EKS team-mate Mattias Ekstrom in the first corner joker - a move that would prove decisive.

Not wanting to allow Kristoffersson clear air, Solberg immediately responded by taking his joker on the second tour and returned to the main circuit into the Turn 3 left hander just ahead of his colleague's Polo.

Bakkerud inherited the lead from Solberg and saved his trip to the extra route until lap four of the six.

The Audi rejoined the standard lap behind Kristoffersson but had a nose inside team-mate Ekstrom's AS1. Ekstrom ran wide and Bakkerud slipped up the inside to take third.

With two laps to run, the Volkswagen duo ran one-two at the head of the field and Solberg appeared set to claim his first victory in 16 months, but the 2014/15 champion outbraked himself into Turn 3 on the penultimate tour and ran wide onto the loose gravel.

Kristoffersson needed no second invitation and passed Solberg on left hand side over the circuit's jump to take a lead he would hold to the finish, to score his ninth win from 10 rounds this season.

Behind the top three, contact between Timmy Hansen and Ekstrom dropped the Audi driver down the order as Sebastien Loeb passed Peugeot team-mate Hansen for fourth and Ekstrom finished sixth.

The inaugural Americas Rallycross title was also settled as the two series shared the bill at the United States Grand Prix Formula 1 venue.

Triple Global Rallycross champion Scott Speed secured the ARX crown in his Volkswagen Beetle, although he lost out to Andretti Autosport team-mate Tanner Foust in the battle for the Austin event win.

Zdroj: autosport.com