Kristoffersson conquers European title of ralicrosse in Lousada

Kristoffersson won the final in 4,06,044 minutes, imposing himself on the French Fabien Pailler (Renault Mégane), who finished in second place, at 52,355 seconds, and the Finnish Juha Rytkönen (Hyundai i20), in third, at three laps.

The eight-time world champion began the day with 36 points of advantage over the Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Fiesta) and won the three qualifying sessions, mathematically ensuring the title still in the quarter finals.

The decisive race was marked by a red flag, accidents, holes, mechanical problems and a fire principle.

The Norwegian Ole Christian Veiby suffered an accident that damaged the suspension of the Volkswagen Polo and forced a new match. In the beginning, the Irish Patrick O’Donovan (Peugeot 208) was also on the way after damaging the car in the first turn.

Pailler suffered a hole, but managed to take Renault Mégane to second place, while Rytkönen, despite mechanical problems and a fire principle in the Hyundai i20, finished third and secured the runner-up.

“In the end, I was able to enjoy and celebrate, because the title was resolved right away in the final rooms. The final was a bit chaotic, but the beginning went very well”, said Kristoffersson.

Bakkerud, who had arrived in Portugal in the lead of the championship, failed to access the final due to a problem in the Ford Fiesta gearbox, ending the European in third place.

The Portuguese Sergio Dias (Ford Fiesta) was the best national representative in RX1, when finishing the journey in ninth place. The Portuguese champion was placed in the final, after being fourth ranked in the second half-final.

João Ribeiro did not take part in today's journey due to the damage suffered in the Hyundai i20 safety arch on Saturday, after being hit laterally by another competitor. The International Automobile Federation (IFA) has not authorized the repair of the vehicle or the continuation in evidence.

In RX3, the Portuguese André Sousa (Audi A1) won for the second consecutive time in Lousada, benefiting from the disqualification of Lithuanian Rytis Gurklys (Audi A1), who reached the French Julien Meunier (Audi A1) in the first turn of the final.

The Hungarian Libor Tejes (Audi A1) finished second, at 2.878 seconds, while the Portuguese André Monteiro (Škoda Fabia) completed the podium, at 3.468.

Despite the disqualification, Gurklys became European champion by two points, while André Sousa finished the season in the fourth position of the championship.

The Frenchman Andrea Bénézet (Renault Clio) won the European title of RX4 and the Estonian Armin Raag (P-Tech Estfighter 2) became the first European RX5 champion.

According to the organization's data, the double day that ended the European Championship FIA de Ralicrosse took almost 15,000 spectators to the Lousada International Circuit for three days and included, on Saturday, the first night race in the history of the competition.