The 2018 RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires Supercar title will be decided this weekend [6-7 October] with Oliver Solberg, Oliver Eriksson and Thomas Bryntesson primed for a three-way battle at the brand-new Tierp Arena rallycross track.
With five of six rounds completed, Solberg heads into the much anticipated season finale armed with a six point margin over closest rival Eriksson with Bryntesson firmly in the hunt 12 points adrift of his fellow Norwegian. In Supercar Lites, Guillaume De Ridder faces off with Ben-Philip Gundersen for the overall crown.
Setting the stage for this Swedish showdown is the Tierp Arena’s newly-constructed rallycross track, which makes its debut on the RallyX Nordic calendar to conclude the season. With a carefully-crafted layout designed with drivers and spectators in mind, the 1394m track’s distinguishing trio of jumps, tight Arena hairpin and use of gravel corners have all come in for praise by RallyX Nordic competitors.
Having only recently celebrated his 17th birthday, Solberg is the youngest of the three title contenders, yet remains the man with a target on his back as the only driver to have won more than once this season in his OSRX Citroen DS3.
Victories in Arvika and Grenland – the latter yielding a career-first perfect score – have seen Solberg steadily assume control of the title battle in a hugely successful second season of RallyX Nordic competition that has captured headlines around the world.
“It’s been a great season and I am excited to be here fighting for the title. It will be a bit different this weekend with the championship to consider. I was the one chasing last year, this year it is the other way around. You have a bit more pressure and the guys behind can push, but I know so long as I focus and not take any big risks it will make a difference. I feel good and it is better to come with the lead than to be behind, so I’d rather it was this way. I will give it everything!”
Heading up the competition is Olsbergs MSE driver Oliver Eriksson, who has become an increasing threat to Solberg over the season and arrives in Tierp on the back of a confidence-building victory last time out in Kouvola.
Dovetailing his RX2 International Series commitments – where he is also a title contender – with a chance to secure his maiden Supercar title, 19-year-old Eriksson is hoping momentum and home support will give him the edge.
“I don’t feel any pressure, I have nothing to lose. Second is first loser in my eyes! We had a tough start to the season with some breakdowns but we have been chasing Oliver down all year and now we are closer than ever. We just need that final big step to grab the title at the final round.”
As well as contending with one another in Tierp this weekend, the title rivals will also have to go up against arguably the strongest Supercar line-up of the season in what is set to be a spectacular conclusion to 2018.
In addition to regular front-runners Peter Hedstrom (Hedstroms Motorsport), Ola Froshaug (JC Raceteknik), Andreas Carlsson (AC RX) and Daniel Thoren (Hedstroms Motorsport), Lukas Walfridson makes a welcome return in the Helmia Motorsport Renault Clio, as does Eklund Motorsport’s Philip Gehrman. Both drivers have stepped on the podium in 2018 but will be looking to top it for the first time this weekend.
After his headline-grabbing run to victory on home soil in the final at Nysum, Ulrik Linnemann is back to continue that winning feeling in Sweden this weekend. This time, however, the Dane swaps his venerable Volkswagen Polo for a Honda Civic in what will be the car’s European competition debut.
Meanwhile, World RX regular Robin Larsson will be chasing victory in an Audi A1 as part of a 14-strong Supercar entry list brimming with high quality contenders.
RallyX Nordic Series Manager Ian Davies, commented: “Here we are, the final round of what has been a truly absorbing and thrilling RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires season. What a final round we have in prospect – three hugely talented young drivers from different teams fighting it out for Supercar title glory, an exciting head-to-head for Supercar Lites honours, an entry list brimming with race and even championship winning talent and a brilliant new venue in the Tierp Arena, one that sets a brilliant stage for what will surely be an unforgettable weekend. Moreover, with drivers from Belgium, the UK, Latvia and Hungary competing, this will be the most international RallyX Nordic event in its history which is indicative of the series’ growth and the respect it receives globally. Good luck to our RallyX Nordic title contenders in Supercar and Supercar Lites, may the best men win.”
Supercar Lites
The Supercar Lites title will also be decided at the Tierp Arena with Guillaume De Ridder and Ben-Philip Gundersen going head-to-head for the overall crown.
After three consecutive wins at the start of the season, Olsbergs MSE driver De Ridder appeared well on course for the title only for JC Raceteknik’s Gundersen to reel the Belgian in with victory in Kouvola and keep the championship fight alive right down to the wire in Sweden. As it stands, De Ridder holds a 17 point lead with a maximum of 30 available in Tierp but both will come up against some big new competition beyond their more familiar rivals.
In the week RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires confirmed Latvia will join the schedule in 2019, the nation’s newly-crowned FIA Euro RX champion for Supercars Reinis Nitiss makes his debut in the Supercar Lites class with SRT.
Meanwhile, World RX contender and former RallyX Nordic champion Kevin Eriksson – older brother of Oliver – makes a welcome return as he swaps his Ford Fiesta Supercar for Lites.
Elsewhere, Veronica Salsten joins the ranks for Team Faren alongside RX2 regular Nathan Heathcote, who will fly the flag for the United Kingdom this weekend, while Hungary’s Lukas “CsuCsu” Kornel is back in RallyX Nordic following his eye-catching run to the Supercar final in Finland in August.
In all, 24 drivers will battle for victory in Sweden, including William Nilsson, Sondre Evjen and Simon Olofsson, who will attempt to end their respective seasons on a high by consolidating their top five overall standing.
