Rallycross king joins Loeb team

WORLD TOURING CARS

Rallycross’s loss is the World Touring Car Cup’s gain for 2019, with double World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson the latest star driver to join the tin-top series.

Kristoffersson, who won 11 of last year’s 12 World RX rounds for Petter Solberg’s PSRX squad, was left with no realistic opportunity to defend his crown after Volkswagen decided to pause its involvement in the wake of rival manufacturers’ withdrawals.

While his World RX exit has now been confirmed, Kristoffersson will remain part of the Volkswagen stable next year as part of its roster of

WTCR drivers. He will be part of a four-car line-up – split into two teams – at Sebastien Loeb Racing, which will be a works-supported VW operation, alongside Rob Huff and Mehdi Bennani. A fourth driver is set to be announced at a later date.

“I’m very much looking forward to the WTCR,” said Kristoffersson. “After four years of rallycross, 2019 will be my first full touring car season on the international stage since 2013. Most of the circuits are entirely new territory for me and therefore represent a huge challenge. I’m also looking forward to working with my new team-mates, especially [2012] world champion Rob Huff. What’s more, Sebastien Loeb Racing is an experienced team and

I’m delighted to be moving within the Volkswagen family.”

This year will be Kristoffersson’s first in World Touring Cars, but the Swede is no stranger to tin-tops – he claimed the 2018 TCR Scandinavia title driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI, was the Scandinavian Touring Car champion in ’12 and also won the Superstars crown that year.

Volkswagen is the third make to commit four cars to the WTCR for 2019, after Hyundai and Lynk & Co.