After competing in the Junior CrossCar category in RallyX and making a brief appearance in the Supercar Lites class last season, Viktor Kristensson is set to seize his chance at the second round of the 2025 season by stepping into an FC2 car prepared by the BAK40/STS RX team.
Although the young Swede had not initially planned to travel to Valkenswaard, the withdrawal of American driver Lane Vacala opened the door for a return to the RallyX paddock.
“We received a last-minute offer from Simon Olofsson. One of the cars became available for this event, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” said the 16-year-old with a smile.
Having opted not to pursue a full campaign in Supercar Lites, Kristensson will instead take on the premier Open 4WD category this weekend.
“Even though I drove the final rounds of the 2024 season in a Supercar Lites, I quickly realized that the category didn’t quite suit me. What I really wanted was to feel the same kind of speed and intensity I’d experienced in CrossCar. That’s why I committed to a national program in Sweden this year, but I believe the FC2, with its 550-horsepower engine, aligns perfectly with what I’m looking for,” explained Viktor.
For the young driver from Vellinge, this FC2 debut won’t be a total leap into the unknown.
“I’ve already tested a Supercar four times, and the pace was pretty encouraging. That’s what convinced us to give the FC2 a try, to see if it’s the right platform to start with. Maybe we’ll continue down this path before eventually moving up to Supercar. Right now, the goal is to see how it feels and to learn as much as possible this weekend. The field is strong, and I still lack experience compared to the other drivers, so I’ll take it step by step—gain consistency, build confidence, and grow progressively.”
“I’m really excited to be racing this weekend! The FC2 is a completely new machine for me, with plenty of things to get used to—paddle shifting, a totally different feel… It’s nothing like a Supercar. The engine is mounted in the rear, and all the power comes in suddenly, so managing that takes some getting used to. Still, I’m confident this experience will be hugely beneficial.”
Fortunately, Kristensson won’t be tackling the challenge alone. He’ll be backed by former European Rallycross Championship driver Marcus Nilsson.
“I’m really lucky to have Marcus with me. He works with us on car preparation as part of Team Skaab and is a fantastic engineer. This weekend, he’ll also act as my spotter, and we’ll be reviewing onboard footage together. He has a lot of experience in the European championship and knows this track inside out, so he’ll be able to coach me perfectly. It’s a huge asset to have someone like him in my corner for my first outing in the FC2.”