Johansson was crowned Junior WRC champion less than two weeks ago at the Central European Rally, sealing the title in dramatic fashion on the very last stage.
Before the Power Stage, the 20-year-old Swede was seven seconds behind Australia’s Taylor Gill. Johansson threw everything he had into the final test, setting the fastest time by 8.6 seconds over Gill.
That effort earned him both the rally victory and the JWRC title – by just 1.6 seconds.
“It’s honestly unbelievable how it came down to just one stage deciding the whole championship. I’m super happy to be able to push when I needed to and that I had the capacity to do so,” Johansson told WRC.com.
It was Johansson’s first victory of the JWRC season. Although Gill collected two wins and three second places this year, Johansson’s triumph proved decisive as the Central European asphalt event awarded double points.
Johansson admitted that his approach was a classic case of all or nothing.
“That’s basically what we said before the stage – it was all or nothing. I’d rather end up stuck in the forest than finish second,” Johansson explained.
Next year, Johansson will step up to the WRC2 category, with his JWRC title earning him a four-event prize drive in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 on Hankook tyres.
The Swede had already won the Junior ERC title last year, and now he added an even more prestigious championship to his name.
“Honestly, no, I couldn’t have imagined it happening this quickly. It’s quite unique to win a championship in your first year. We didn’t have the same experience on some of the events that others have, so to finish like this is just amazing.”
