Ohman launches two-car team for European Rallycross

Swedish driver Mats Ohman will contest the FIA European Rallycross Championship and selected WorldRX events this season in a Citroen DS3 Supercar. He will be joined in the team by nephew Emil Ohman, who will make his debut in the sport.

Formerly a Snowcross racer, where he won at Swedish and European level, Mats Ohman races using hand and arm controls in his rallycross cars, following a Snowmobile crash in 1998 that paralised him from the waist down.

“This year will be awesome,” said Mats, who will drive the car used by Sebastien Loeb to win X-Games 2012, and Timmy Hansen to win the Hungarian round of European RX last season. “When the opportunity came along, it sounded like the right timing to take on the challenge of a big Championship again.”

Since 2010, the Swede has raced a Volvo S40 Rallycross Supercar in selected events, including Sweden, France and Germany in last season. His best finish to date at European level was at his home event at Holjes, Sweden in 2012, where he finished sixth overall in a hugely competitive field.

Ohman will be joined in the team by nephew Emil, a double World Snowcross Champion. Having worked as an engineer at events on his uncles rallycross cars, this season the 28 year-old will drive a Citroen DS3 in the five European RX events – Great Britain, Norway, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

“It will be so much fun trying my wings in World RX,” said Emil. “I have followed Mats and know that the sport can be tough, but after my years in stadium cross it’s not the jumps I’m concerned about.  Even if I’m used to hard driving in snowcross, rallycross is something new and I will have to adapt as well as I can, but I am sure it will be great fun and I can’t wait to get started.”

Both drivers will begin their campaigns at Lydden Hill (May 25 – 25). Alongside his European RX challenge, Mats Ohman will also race in Finland, Sweden and France this season.

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