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Double FIA World RX champion Kristoffersson signs up for WTCR

Johan Kristoffersson is the latest star name to bring FIA world title-winning pedigree to WTCR OSCARO by joining Sébastien Loeb Racing to drive a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in 2019.

The back-to-back FIA World Rallycross champion, Kristoffersson also won the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2018, a feat he achieved in a Golf GTI TCR run by his family team.

Kristoffersson’s arrival at Sébastien Loeb Racing, alongside existing drivers Mehdi Bennani and Rob Huff, will require the French squad to field two separate entities in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO under new rules for 2019, which limit outfits to two-car teams only. A fourth, as yet unnamed driver, will complete the Volkswagen-powered SLR attack.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Johan Kristoffersson to WTCR OSCARO,” said François Ribeiro. “He’s a double FIA world champion, a big talent and a proven winner in touring car racing so it will be great to watch him being a part of an extremely strong line-up of drivers. No doubt he will work hard with his new team to be competitive next year.”

Why joking around was time well spent
Of the 10 WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO venues on the 2019 schedule, only the Hungaroring will be familiar to Johan Kristoffersson following his stint in the International Superstars Series in 2012. However, the ‘joker’ lap, which will be in use at WTCR Race of Portugal in Vila Real next July, will be second nature to the Swede. The ‘joker’ lap is inspired by the FIA World Rallycross Championship and requires WTCR OSCARO drivers to take an alternative route once in all three races in an effort to further spice up the action and aid overtaking on street tracks.

“After four years of rallycross, 2019 will be my first full touring car season on the international stage since 2013,” said Kristofferson. “Most of the circuits are entirely new territory for me and therefore represent a huge challenge. I’m looking forward to working with my new team-mates, especially touring car world champion Rob Huff. What’s more, Sébastien Loeb Racing is an experienced team and I’m delighted to be moving within the Volkswagen family.”

From rival to part of the team: Kristoffersson joins Loeb’s stable
Johan Kristoffersson will go from Sébastien Loeb’s World Rallycross rival to one of his drivers in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO. Loeb jointly owns Sébastien Loeb Racing with his business partner Dominique Heintz. Kristoffersson’s second WRX crown came after he won 11 of the 12 rounds in 2018. The only event Kristoffersson didn’t win was in Mettet, Belgium, when Loeb took the victory.

So what is Johan Kristoffersson’s background?
An all-round superstar from Sweden, the 30-year-old is the son of former European Rallycross Championship stalwart Tommy Kristoffersson. Indeed, Johan was just four years old when his father placed third in the 1993 standings. After making his World Rallycross Championship debut midway through the 2014 season, the younger Kristoffersson scored his maiden win in 2015 and claimed the first of his back-to-back WRX titles in 2017. He’s also a double Scandinavian Touring Car champion and a three-time winner of the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. In 2012 he won the International Superstars Series at this first attempt.

FIA world title counter reaches 14
Of the drivers whose WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO programmes have been announced, seven have won FIA world titles as follows:

Thed Björk (x1): 2017 FIA WTCC
Augusto Farfus (x1): 2018 FIA GT World Cup
Rob Huff (x1):  2012 FIA WTCC
Johan Kristoffersson (x2): 2017, 2018 FIA WRX
Yvan Muller (x4): 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 FIA WTCC
Andy Priaulx (x3): 2005, 2006, 2007 FIA WTCC
Gabriele Tarquini (x2): 2009 FIA WTCC, 2018 FIA WTCR

WTCR OSCARO 2019 takes place over 30 races on 10 weekends in three continents with the action getting underway at WTCR Race of Morocco in Marrakech from 5-7 April 2019.

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com