From Hansen to Solberg, the Legendary Names of Rallycross

When it comes to the legendary drivers of rallycross, the first names that come to mind are Petter Solberg, Johan Kristoffersson and the Hansen family. After his WRC championship, Solberg switched to rallycross and became the first name to win the inaugural FIA World Rallycross title; Kristoffersson is the most dominant figure in the discipline with eight world championships; and the Hansen dynasty is an empire rooted in the very origins of the sport. On this page we compare each of their styles, their unforgettable moments and what they brought to rallycross.

Who Are the Legendary Names of Rallycross, and Why Are They So Special?

Rallycross is one of the most brutal formats in motorsport: a handful of races, a closed circuit, three to five rivals trying to climb over you, and a joker lap you must take every race. In other words, being fast alone is not enough; you also have to put your wits on the clock. And in this environment, the drivers whose names have become legendary all share one trait: they are not just fast, they are also tactical geniuses who can read their rivals.

In this guide we put three main figures on the table: Petter Solberg, who came from rally to become rallycross's first king; Johan Kristoffersson, who has ruled the discipline; and the Hansen dynasty, which is practically the family business of the sport. Each of their stories is different - and so is each of their styles.

Petter Solberg: How Did "Mr. Hollywood" Become Champion in Two Disciplines?

Solberg's story is the answer to why rallycross's early years were so captivating. The Norwegian driver started his WRC career in 1998, entered 190 rallies, and took 13 rally wins and 460 stage victories. And in 2003 he beat Sébastien Loeb by just 1 point to become the first Norwegian WRC drivers' champion. The victories in Cyprus, Australia, France and Britain were the building blocks of that title. He finished the next two seasons second behind Loeb as well - meaning he was at the summit in rally's toughest era.

But the real story begins in 2013. Solberg switched to rallycross and with the PSRX Citroën DS3 Supercar won the championship's first FIA World Rallycross title in 2014: that year he took 5 wins and 9 podiums, and in 2015 he defended his title at the Rosario race in Argentina. 61 starts, 10 wins, 30 podiums - and something far bigger: the first driver to win world championships in two different FIA disciplines. Think of it like switching from surfing to wakeboarding and winning the world cup in both.

Solberg's rallycross style was also his signature: aggressive, crowd-raising showmanship that earned the nickname "Mr. Hollywood". The PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team he formed with Volkswagen Motorsport in 2017 won the Teams' Championship in 2017 and 2018; the team won 19 of 24 events across two seasons - an unprecedented level in the sport. He took his final WRX victory in 2017 at the legendary Lydden Hill circuit and retired from full-time motorsport at the end of 2018; in 2019 he said goodbye with a "Farewell Tour". His exit in Portugal, where in the post-race he beat Andreas Bakkerud by 2.4 seconds to give Norway a 1-2, is also among the unforgettable moments.

Johan Kristoffersson: Why Is "King Kristoffersson" So Dominant?

Now let's turn to the name whose numbers went insane. Johan Kristoffersson, eight-time World Rallycross Champion. He won 2017 and 2018 with PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden, then racked up six consecutive titles in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and the years that followed. In a word: a phenomenon.

The interesting part is the notion that Kristoffersson shouldn't have been a rallycross name at all. He began his motorsport career in 2008 at the age of 19 in the JTCC with a Volkswagen Golf; he then collected championships in the STCC, three times in the Porsche Scandinavia Cup, twice in Gymkhana Grid, and in International Superstars. In 2016, he completed his first full WRX season with Volkswagen RX Team Sweden with three podiums. In 2019, he raced in the WRC and WTCR, finishing fifth in the WTCR. In other words, this man is a racing genius who adapts to every discipline without committing to a single one - rallycross is simply his brightest stage.

One of his most dramatic moments was the 2021 season. Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen finished the season tied on 217 points; Kristoffersson came back from 17 points behind Hansen to win his fourth world title. That season finale is still being debated - we'll get there shortly. The FIA described his run of four consecutive victories in a single season, which wrote him into history, as "phenomenal".

It's no coincidence that his name also comes up in joker lap tactics: the races where he chose to take the joker early are famous for turning his rivals' strategy upside down. Kristoffersson's game is simple: do what the opponent least expects.

The Hansen Dynasty: Champions from the Family That "Invented" Rallycross

If you haven't heard the Hansen surname in the rallycross world, it means you haven't been following the sport from the right place. A few things began with this family:

• Svend Hansen, Kenneth's father, is referred to as the person who could be considered the inventor of rallycross.
• Kenneth Hansen, 14 European Rallycross Championship titles, 249 races, 73 victories and 170 podiums; plus 10 Swedish championships.
• Hansen Motorsport, was founded in 1990 by Kenneth and Susann Hansen; Susann moved from driving to team management.

So the family's roots go back before today's WRX was established. Now two sons carry on this legacy: Timmy and Kevin Hansen.

Timmy Hansen: The Winning Man from the Back Row

Kenneth's eldest son Timmy made his debut in the 2012 FIA European Rallycross Championship. The moment that made him legendary was Trois-Rivières in Canada: the only driver in World RX history to win from the very back of the grid. Having finished fourth in the semi-final, he made it into the final at the last moment - and won as the driver starting from furthest back ever to claim victory. Such a thing would be an impossible dream without the nostalgia of joker laps and short races.

The 2017 season was a memorable one, a shared breath for the brothers; after two European Junior Rallycross Cup titles, Kevin went down in history as the European Rallycross champion at just 18 years old.

The 2021 Final: Joker Lap Strategy, Disqualification and a Controversial Championship

The rallycross joker lap means you must slow down for one lap once in every race. It looks simple, but it is actually chess: take the joker early, or use it at the last moment? Timmy Hansen's joker lap strategy in 2021 is one of the prime examples of this - and also of how the balance between strategy and rules can be thrown into question.

Hansen and Kristoffersson ended the season tied on 217 points. In the season finale, Hansen was disqualified from a race and Kristoffersson claimed the championship. The joker tactic, a driver's greatest asset, this time resulted in a rule violation, and the season finale sparked serious controversy. No one forgot; it is still being talked about. This is exactly why rallycross is exciting: a single lap, a single joker choice can change careers.

Who Is the Greatest? Solberg vs. Kristoffersson vs. Hansen Comparison

Putting these three names side by side is the most enjoyable way to spark a debate. Because each of them is "the greatest" in a different way:

Some say Solberg's two-discipline legacy is unmatched; others say Kristoffersson's statistics already end the debate. My view? Both are true, but on different scales. Solberg built a bridge; Kristoffersson crossed that bridge and ruled with a new standard. The Hansen family, meanwhile, is in the sport's DNA. Which one is your favorite?

The Legacy of These Legends: World Finals in Istanbul

The prominence of WRC-originated names during Solberg's championship era shows just how significant the identity of the new championship is. This legacy is still alive today: the finals of the championship's 2025 season, which began in 2014, were held at Istanbul Park on September 20-21, 2025, where the World and European champions were decided. Türkiye was on the World Rallycross calendar for the second consecutive year with the Istanbul Park race on July 25-27, 2025; Juha Rytkönen took the victory on the second day of the final.

So today, new names are racing on the path paved by the legends - and some of them may one day take the place on this page. Until then, don't forget: knowing the royal families of rallycross takes watching this sport to a whole different level.

Sources

• Petter Solberg
• Petter Solberg: World Rally Champion
• Johan Kristoffersson
• The Story | Johan Kristoffersson
• Rallycross - Hansen Motorsport
• Kenneth Hansen (rallycross)
• Win for Johan Kristoffersson, disqualification for Timmy Hansen
• How Kristoffersson won his latest World RX title
• Kristoffersson makes World RX history with four consecutive wins
• Hansen brothers interview
• World RX Portugal: Timmy Hansen extends points lead
• Rallycross Stars Gather at TOSFED Istanbul Park for the Double Final
• Türkiye on the 2025 World Rallycross calendar
• Juha Rytkönen takes victory on day two of the Rallycross final in Istanbul