Johan Kristoffersson, World Rallycross Champion
soft-spoken Swede Johan Kristoffersson is near unbeatable on the world rallycross stage. He’s methodical, analytical and a demon behind the wheel. But when it comes to taking time away from the fast-paced world of racing, he prefers to take things slow.
“I like to enjoy a really early morning with a sandwich and a coffee with the family in the car and the temperature outside at -15 degrees.”
“My favourite detour is back home in Swede with loads and loads and loads of snow, really high snow banks alongside the roads. I like to load up my Touareg full of equipment to go cross country skiing, alpine skiing, to play in the snow with the kids, stuff like that. I like to enjoy a really early morning with a sandwich and a coffee with the family in the car and the temperature outside at -15 degrees. This is my favourite.”
It’s unsurprising that he likes to ski for relaxation. Before becoming a recognised racer Kristoffersson was competitive in cross-country skiing and ranked in the top ten in Sweden - pretty impressive.
“Sometimes I go camping in the winter. My family doesn’t enjoy this, so I go alone. I have to find a small cottage in the north of Sweden if they are going to join me,” he says about the icy getaways.
It’s almost mandatory that a Swedish racing driver owns an old Volvo, and he has two. It also seems as though we may have yet another son of a world champ being developed on the ice and gravel tracks of Sweden.
“I have an old Volvo 240 and 142 and some other really old stuff. I take my son Colin with me to some locked (closed) roads. At the age of ten I want him to learn how to place the car on the roads and how to use the gearbox.”
When questioned about the likelihood of creating another Kalle Rovanpera or Oliver Solberg, Kristoffersson isn’t committing to anything, “I dunno, we will see”. But he does confirm, “We have tried so many sports and this is one he is hooked on. Colin has started with cross karts now, but his father is rarely at home to go to all the races.”
When questioned about his skill level, “When the mechanic fits the wrong gearing on the kart, then Colin gets disqualified. He is learning as a driver and I am learning as a mechanic.” In fact, his motorsport career started as a mechanic, many years ago.
“I was a mechanic for my father, back back back in the days. I used to be in charge of the tyres. My father used to race Rallycross and later on he raced circuit”. Kristoffersson senior raced one of the most memorable rally cars of all time.”
“My father raced Audi S2 in rallycross. I wish I was able to test one of those cars one day. My father always tells me how good today’s cars are. I wish I can test one, I think I will have to wrestle such a car he was driving.”
Soft-spoken Swede Johan Kristoffersson is near unbeatable on the World Rallycross stage. He’s methodical, analytical and a demon behind the wheel. But when it comes to taking time away from the fast-paced world of racing, he prefers to take things slow.