PG Andersson, who should have decided on what car to drive in the upcoming Rally Sweden yesterday, still haven’t decided what car to drive in his home round of the WRC. However, it’s very much looking like PG will drive a Mitsubishi in group N. It may be his own Mitsubishi – but it may also be a newer Mitsu from England. Besides the group N plans, local paper VF claims that Peugeot Sweden has offered PG a drive in their Peugeot 207 Super2000 – the one that Sandell drove two years ago. PG is currently thinking about that bid.
Archive for the ‘Swedish Rallying’ Category
Sandell in final negotiations with Red Bull
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
Patrik Sandell, photo: redbullrally.com
According to the local Swedish website Zport, Patrik Sandell is currently doing final negotiations with Red Bull and Skoda about a drive in the 2010 S-WRC. The Swede says that he “hopes” that everything will work out before the last entry date on the 4th of January. However, he doesn’t seem too worried – since he has just left for a vacation in Thailand. I think we’ll see Patrik in the Skoda, questions is just what they’re waiting for…? I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a 2 car team from Red Bull next year.
Who is the fastest driver?
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
Daniel Carlsson - South Swedish Rally 2009
Yesterday and today Daniel Carlsson did his rallying comeback in the Swedish Championship, running a Ford Focus WRC05 to seventh place. PG Andersson won the rally just before regular Swedish frontrunner Mats Jonsson.
The rules in the Swedish Championship say that the fastest driver should go first. In this case it meant Daniel Carlsson and then Mats Jonsson. That’s probably why PG beat Jonsson, and since no new seeding is made before day two, Carlsson had to go the whole rally first on the road – filled with loose gravel. But why this seeding? Is Daniel really the fastest driver?
It was more than two years since Carlsson drove a rally last time, and in the meanwhile PG Andersson have done somewhere around 15 WRC events including some top placings. At the same time, Mats Jonsson have won the Swedish Championship and won almost every rally he started in. And if WRC merits count higher, may I ask someone to remind the Swedish organisers that Mats was the total winner of the Swedish Rally in both 1992 and 1993? Anyway, that shouldn’t be necessary – since the Swedish Rally organisation are also organising the Swedish Championship from this year on…
So… Dear organisers of the South Swedish Rally. Please do some argumentation and present some facts that you based your decision on. I don’t care about the result, but it’s an interesting principle where organisers can really affect the outcome of the rally based on making strange decisions.
Interview: Patrik Sandell goes for Portugal win
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Patrik Sandell/Emil Axelsson in Skoda Fabia Super2000 in Cyprus Rally 2009, Photo: Red Bull Rally
Rally of Portugal is getting closer, and Swedish Red Bull Skoda driver Patrik Sandell arrived in Algarve on Sunday evening. He spent the Monday just chilling in the sun to gain energy and focus for the event:
- I always try to get one extra day before the recce and other preparations begin. With my full-speed lifestyle it’s important to get some time off to focus. We’re back in Portugal after quite a disappointment in 2007 when I ended up retiring from all three days. However, I liked the event very much and it fits both me, Emil and the car perfectly, I think so I think it will be just fine.
Looking back on the close fight with Araujo in Cyprus, how different are the circumstances here in Portugal?
- Considering Araujos car, I think it will be harder for him, at least as far as it’s dry. We know that the Super2000 cars have a little bit of a problem when it’s wet, since we lose some traction – while group N cars can rely on low revs and still go very fast. Besides that, Araujo also have the advantage of being in his home roads. At least, the weather forecast is for nice weather…
Besides Araujo, for the first time this season there’s some real opposition with a number of drivers in Super2000 cars. What’s your view on that?
- It’s only fun! Looking at last years IRC result in Portugal, Magalhaes led after three stages, and even though he rolled on the 4th stage he has proven himself to be fast. I’ll look out for him. Of course also Flodin is in place and he is always good on finding the throttle, so it’ll certainly be a tough weekend!
Have there been any technical changes to the car since Cyprus?
- No, not really. We’ve made some small adjustments to the suspension, but since we haven’t had time to do any tests after Cyprus, most of the fine-tuning will have to be done on shakedown. I’ve got some small ideas…
So, do you have any worries for the event?
- Actually no, none at all. The roads are nice, the car is 100%, Emil is in good shape and I’m in an unusually good shape too! We can’t change what the others are doing, we can just go out and drive the car to 100% – and that’s what we’re gonna do. Of course I’m here to win – but at the same time I’m not prepared to take too big risks this time. If I’ve got 8 points easily in my hand and the chance for 10 points with high risks, then I’ll probaby just settle for the second position. However, the goal is to never get into that situation at all, instead we’ll try to get the speed high from the beginning and see how far we get… I think it will be enough for quite much!
