Intro:

Johan Kristoffersson mastered treacherous conditions to take his first World Rallycross victory in Portugal on Sunday (26th April) ahead of world champion Petter Solberg.

Script:

Johan Kristoffersson battled his way through some truly apocalyptic weather to earn his first World Rallycross victory in the opening round of the 2015 Championship in Portugal on Sunday.

Defending world champion Petter Solberg was in fine form all weekend and he won the first semi-final to secure pole position in the final with Andreas Bakkerud and Per Gunnar Andersson joining him.

As the weather deteriorated, Johan Kristoffersson took the second semi-final with the Peugeots of Timmy Hansen and Davy Jeanney also going through to the final.

The rain continued to fall and it caused havoc in the RX Lites final.

The longer joker lap, which all was proving particularly treacherous and Sandra Hultgren managed to slide off at the start with her car landing on its side.

But Kevin Eriksson took victory from fellow Swede Kevin Hansen with Joachim Hvaal of Norway third ahead of Tobias Brink.

In the Rallycross final, Solberg made a poor start from the front of the grid with Jeanney charging hard down the outside.

As team-mate Andersson crawled round, Kristoffersson crossed the line first in his Volkswagen Polo to claim his first World Rallycross victory.

Due to qualification results over the weekend, Kristoffersson and Solberg both leave Portugal with 27 points, three points clear of Hansen.