CE Dealer Team leads FIA World RX standings after strong start at Lousada
Photo: CE Dealer Team / Niclas Grönholm wins Sunday's final at Lousada
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment (CE Dealer Team) kicked off the 2025 FIA World Rallycross Championship with a powerful display in Portugal, taking an early lead in the Teams’ Championship and celebrating a strong win for Niclas Grönholm in Sunday’s final.
The goal for the season is clear: to win the Teams’ Championship. Round one delivered a great foundation, with both drivers setting competitive lap times across the weekend and the PWR RX1e cars proving fast and reliable. As a result, the team leaves Portugal in early control of the championship battle.
“This is the kind of start we were aiming for,” said Team Principle, Jussi Pinomäki. “Niclas drove with control and precision, and Klara matched his pace through much of the weekend – showing real grit to bounce back after a challenging start.”
“It feels good – a great start to the season,” said Grönholm. “We had the speed, the execution, and a solid effort from the whole team.”
Grönholm’s win in Sunday’s final was hard-fought and well-executed, rounding off a consistent weekend from the Finnish driver.
Klara Andersson delivered a determined performance to reach the finals, recovering strongly after a disrupted opening heat.
“Maybe not the personal result I was aiming for, but a positive weekend overall. We kept pushing, made good progress and the main goal - scoring strong points for the Teams’ Championship - played out well,” said Andersson.
“The atmosphere was amazing; you could really feel the passion from the fans – it gave the whole event a great energy.”
Photo: CE Dealer Team / Klara Andersson
Lousada’s demanding layout and changeable grip levels provided a real test for the fully electric RX1e cars. The CE Dealer Team’s twin-motor PWR RX1e, delivering 500kW and 880Nm of torque, proved well-suited to the track’s steep climbs, tight corners and mixed surfaces.
As official track building partner to World RX, Volvo Construction Equipment played a key role in maintaining perfect track conditions throughout the weekend – supporting fair, competitive racing from start to finish. The team also provided safe and efficient recovery support when needed. “The track was kept in perfect condition this weekend - great work from everyone involved,” said Niclas Grönholm.
Ascendum, Volvo Construction Equipment’s partner in Portugal, supported the event from its local base.
Photo: CE Dealer Team / Lousada's rallycross track, Portugal
The 2025 season opener also marked a new phase for World RX, with the FIA stepping into the role of series promotor. After a winter of uncertainty over the future of the championship, the event delivered a clear signal: rallycross is moving forward. With packed grandstands, high-level competition and a strong event delivery, Lousada set the tone for the season ahead.
CE Dealer Team now turns its focus to round two – and building on a strong start to the championship fight.
Photo: CE Dealer Team in Lousada, Portugal
__________________________________________
About CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment
Founded in 2022 by PWR Group in collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment and its partners, CE Dealer Team is a pioneering force in rallycross.
Operated and powered by PWR RX, the team is dedicated to accelerating the shift toward sustainability and diversity while showcasing the potential of an electric future.
Supported by independent Volvo Construction Equipment dealers and leading industrial partners, CE Dealer Team is committed to driving innovation and sustainability - both on and off the track.
Download the latest images for the 2025 from our gallery, here.
About the FIA World Rallycross Championship
Rallycross combines the very best elements of rallying and circuit racing, with a history stretching back more than half a century. Blending cutting-edge innovation with family-friendly spectator appeal, the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) showcases head-to-head, short, sharp racing on mixed surfaces (gravel and asphalt) within amphitheatre-like venues.
An evolution of the popular and prestigious FIA European Rallycross Championship – which traces its roots back to 1973 – World RX was launched in 2014 and represents the international pinnacle of the discipline, visiting some of the most iconic venues in the sport where high-profile drivers duel wheel-to-wheel in cars capable of catapulting from 0-100km/h faster than Formula 1. Find out more at www.fiaworldrallycross.com
For media enquiries, contact:
Daisy Dunkley-Clark
Managing Director, PWR Agency
+46 (0) 72 574 6424
daisy.dunkley.clark@pwrgroup.se