Two car Helmia team for European Rallycross


by Hal Ridge |

Helmia Motorsport will embark on a challenge in the newly re-structured FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2014 with new driver Lukas Walfridson. The Swedish team are set to use the European series for Walfridson to develop as a driver and as a step to fulfilling its aspirations to compete in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in the future.

With Stig-Olov Walfridson calling a close to his full-time driving career at the end of this season, his nephew Lukas will drive the team’s Renault Clio Supercar in the European series, alongside on-event team mate Tord Linnerud. The latest Walfridson to uphold the family name comes from a successful background in Scandinavian CrossKart, and recently tested the team’s five-cylinder Clio at Holjes. Walfridson will have turned 21 by the time the 2014 championship starts and enters rallycross looking for fresh success having won eight CrossKart titles since 2009

“Lukas has spent a lot of time racing in CrossKart, and now Stig-Olov is taking a back seat we felt the time was right to put him in the car. Lukas did 50 laps at Holjes a few weeks ago before the snow hit. The CrossKart lap times are actually very close the that of a Supercar around Holjes which has helped him a lot,” said Lars-Erik Walfridson, Lukas’ father. “The two cars will be prepared separately, but we will travel together to share costs and work together from one truck at the events. It’s good to have twice as much knowledge and information shared within the team. I feel that it’s good that the European championship is run over five rounds, it makes it accessible. We will see how this year goes, but if things go well then we will certainly consider the World championship in the future.”

While Walfridson will be starting his first season in car racing, experienced Norwegian Tord Linnerud is also a newcomer to rallycross. He drove three events in RallycrossRX 2013 in the ex-Mats Lysen Clio and is looking forward to working with his young team-mate. “Lukas is really good, I’m looking forward to racing with him. I have watched him in a CrossKart and he was very impressive. I’m excited about the European championship. Helmia and Stig-Olov helped me a lot before the final two rounds this season, it’s great to work with a team with so much experience, and they are very nice people too,” said Linnerud. “My goal is to get to the semi-finals at each event, and if I can do that then hopefully I can do well in the championship too. I want to be on the championship podium but of course you always want to win. I hope to do six or seven events, along with some Norwegian and Swedish (STCC) championship rounds. Evan Hvaal owns the car and his involvement is the only reason I can do the European championship.”

 

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