Six months. That’s all it took for Petter Solberg, Johan Kristoffersson, and the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Team to wreak havoc on their rivals, and go from a ‘new entrant’ outfit to FIA World Rallycross Driver and Team champions.
Even for drivers of Solberg and Kristoffersson’s caliber it was an unprecedented achievement. When the pair pulled the covers off their 600bhp Polo GTi Supercar at the 2017 pre-season launch, the car had barely been in existence - in the metal - for a handful of months.
Over the course of the next ten events of the 12-round World RX calendar, Petter and Johan scored a combined 13 podiums and eight wins. The resulting unassailable lead built up by Johan in particular saw him lock down the drivers’ championship two races before the end of the season, and spray the championship champagne in the race paddock in Latvia.
Arguably it could have been seen as a bittersweet moment for former World RX and WRC champion Petter. Although Johan had beaten him to the punch in the drivers’ title race, the team championship spoils meant the successful culmination of years worth of effort of turning his privateer PSRX squad into a winning manufacturer backed outfit.
Now just moments away from a second season with factory Volkswagen power under the hood Petter is resolute. The only follow up to last year’s double championship success, is the same again; but with one difference. This time the race is on between Johan and himself, and the three-time FIA World Champion is determined to come out on top.
Having spent the winter working hard in the team workshops in Torsby, Sweden, as well as in the cockpit of a selection of rally machinery, Solberg has his eyes on the prize…