Linnemann targets title challenge and World Rallycross Supercar outings

A well established front-runner in the FIA European Rallycross Super1600 Championship, Ulrik Linnemann is targeting title success in 2015 in his self-built Peugeot 208, and also plans to make appearances in the World Championship in a Supercar too.

Linnemann, who’s family squad have pushed bigger outfits Set Promotion and Volland Racing hard in recent years, built the 208 for the 2014 season. While the Dane proved he had the pace to put a championship campaign together on a number of occasions, punctures and mechanical failures put paid to his title chances. “At the start of the year, I think we were in control in the championship. We were fighting at the top at every race, but after our engine trouble in Sweden, and more problems that followed, it was really tough to pick up a good result in the end. At every race, we showed how strong we can be,” said the Danish driver, who puts the troubles faced this season in part down to racing at too many events. “Nine weeks of races in a row at the start of the year was too much with our small budget family team. We did the Danish championship as well as the European but it was too much.”

Despite the problems, Linnemann is pleased with how the team’s new car performed in it’s debut year. “I am really satisfied with the car. It’s not faster than my old 207, but a lot easier to drive, and almost in control everywhere on the track! We set a fastest heat time at least once at all races during the season, so I think the big teams have to watch out next year. The plan is another season in the 208 and to have a fight for the title. But, we are also trying really hard to make some Supercar races happen, but it all depends of the money of course. I hope to do minimum two World RX events, we don’t know which ones yet, but obviously ones that we are not racing in Super1600 at.” Linnemann’s hopes of racing in Supercar next year were given a boost recently, when sponsor Even Hvaal gifted him a run out in the Renault Clio campaigned by Tord Linnerud in 2014. The test took place at Gardermoen in Norway. “A year ago, Even promised me that I could have a test drive in the Clio. It was just awesome. If you have big balls and give it full throttle, it’s easy to handle. The feeling in the car was good, but the track was wet and slippery, so I didn’t brake any records. Even and Tord were impressed.”

While focused on two Supercar outings for 2015, Linnemann has even bigger goals for the future but knows he is not alone in his desires; “Supercar is every rallycross drivers dream. I would really like to go all the way to a World Championship season in one of the top teams, but of course that is not a secret. In Denmark motorsport is small, so it is difficult to find the budget. We are trying though!”

Should Linnemann find the required funds to run in Supercar, he would be a welcome additional. Those that have progressed from the sharp end of the front-wheel drive category to Supercar have always shone. You need look no further than Timur Timerzyanov, Mats Lysen, Jussi Pinomaki, Andreas Bakkerud, Reinis Nitiss, Eric Faren…. the list goes on. The latest driver to graduate to the highest level, former Super1600 event winner Kevin Eriksson will make his Supercar debut this weekend in Argentina at the final round of the World Rallycross Championship, and will become yet another datum with which to measure the kind of success that Linnemann could achieve, should he get an opportunity to race in Supercar.

[portfolio_slideshow]