Popular Swedish venue sets stage for round two of 2018 RallyX Nordic season
Thomas Bryntesson arrives in Arvika with Supercar series advantage
Guillaume De Ridder leads ultra-competitive Supercar Lites class
Arvika sets the stage for round two of the 2018 RallyX Nordic season with all eyes on championship leader Thomas Bryntesson to see whether he can maintain the momentum from his perfect start to the season.
The JC Raceteknik driver kicked off the defence of his RallyX Nordic title in fine style with a fighting display in round one at Holjes. Bryntesson bounced back from a crash at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta during an earlier qualifying race to claim a comprehensive win over a high-quality field in the final.
Leading Helmia Motorsport’s Lukas Walfridson and Mats Ohman across the line, Bryntesson returns to Sweden for round two in Arvika looking to protect and extend an early four-point lead over the opposition.
Technical and challenging, Arvika is a mainstay of the RallyX Nordic calendar and is known for producing competitive door-to-door action, with this year’s event primed to continue the thrilling racing trend displayed in Holjes.
Indeed, while Bryntesson may have emerged as the familiar figure atop the podium, the close competition of round one nonetheless points towards multiple drivers being in contention for this year’s sought after RallyX Nordic title.
Fronting the challenge is Peter Hedstrom, who topped the Intermediate Classification coming into the semi-finals only for technical issues with his Volkswagen Polo in the final to scupper his hopes of overall victory. Nevertheless, ahead of his home race, Hedstrom remains well-positioned just six points shy of the lead.
Similarly, Oliver Solberg in the OSRX Citroen DS3 and Olsbergs MSE's Oliver Eriksson will seek greater fortune after eye-catching flashes of performance in Holjes didn't translate into the desired results on track. Even so, both have reason to be confident ahead of round two with Solberg having claimed victory in Arvika twelve months ago, while Eriksson arrives on the back of a big win in the RX2 International Series at Silverstone's Speedmachine.
Other drivers in the hunt for glory include Philip Gehrman in his Eklund Motorsport Volkswagen Beetle, the young Swede having also reached the final in Holjes, while Ola Froshaug in the second JC Raceteknik Ford Fiesta and Hedstrom Motorsports' Christer Dalmans will look to replicate their run to the final in Arvika twelve months ago.
Peter Hedstrom, Hedstroms Motorsport: "Arvika is a very technical race track, with its sharp curves and big jumps. It is the type of track that requires a determined approach and rewards those that dare to brake later! It is definitely one of my favourite tracks and I cannot wait to get out there to challenge for victory."
RallyX Nordic Series Manager Ian Davies, commented: "We enjoyed a memorable start to the 2018 RallyX Nordic season with some classic rallycross action setting the stage for what promises to be a truly gripping season ahead. We can expect more of the same this weekend in Arvika, a much-loved staple of the rallycross scene with a layout that really challenges both man and machine. As a measure of RallyX Nordic's enduring popularity, it is a pleasure to be extending the series' live television reach from this event as part of a dynamic new agreement with TV2 Sumo and TV2 Sportskanalen in Norway, complementing our broadcasts on C More in Sweden. We are certain viewers will have plenty to enjoy from Arvika this weekend."
Supercar Entry List - RallyX Nordic // Round 2 // Arvika
1 Thomas Bryntesson JC RACETEKNIK Ford Fiesta
8 Peter Hedstrom Hedstroms Motorsport Volkswagen Polo
9 Crister Dalmans Hedstroms Motorsport Volkswagen Polo
11 Oliver Solberg OSRX Citroen DS3
16 Oliver Eriksson Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta
17 Mats Ohman Ohmans Motorsport Ford Fiesta
30 Ole Kristian Temte Ole Kristian Temte Norwegian RX Team Citroen C4
48 Lukas Walfridson Helmia Motorsport Renault Clio
61 Andreas Carlsson ACRX Andreas Carlsson RallyCross Renault Clio
76 Philip Gehrman Eklund Motorsport Volkswagen Beetle
77 Stene Johansen Stene Johansen Motorsport Renault Clio
88 Daniel Thoren Hedstroms Motorsport Volkswagen Polo
91 Ola Froshaug JC RACETEKNIK Ford Fiesta
Supercar Lites
The competitive Supercar Lites cateorgy continues in Arvika with Guillaume De Ridder looking to continue his winning feeling following success in Holjes. The Olsbergs MSE driver was the dominant winner last time out but faces a renewed challenge from an impressive 20-strong entry list, including fellow Holjes podium-winners Linus Ostlund and Glenn Haug, plus defending champion and last year's Arvika Supercar Lites winner William Nilsson. Round two will also feature two series newcomers in Arkadiy Tsaregradstev and Troy Dovel, competing with SRT and Set Promotion respectively.
Supercar Lites Entry List // Round 2 // Arvika
2 Ben Philip Gunderson JC RACETEKNIK
6 William Nilsson JC RACETEKNIK
9 Glenn Haug GHRX
10 Martin Jonsson Alfta Racing Team
11 Mats Oskarsson Mats Oskarsson
12 Anders Michalak Michalak Motorsport
17 Hampus Radstrom Radstrom Motorsport
18 Linus Ostlund Olsbergs MSE
21 Marcus Hoglund JC RACETEKNIK
27 Petter Leirhol Leirhol Motorsport
52 Simon Olofsson STS RX
55 Vasiliy Gryazin Sports Racing Technologies
57 Arkadiy Tsaregradtsev Sports Racing Technologies
66 Santosh Berggren A Berggrens Bilservice I Floby
69 Sondre Evjen JC RACETEKNIK
87 Troy Dovel Set Promotion
90 Jimmie Walfridson JC RACETEKNIK
91 Jonathan Walfridsson JC RACETEKNIK
96 Guillaume De Ridder Olsbergs MSE
98 Stein Frederic Akre Team Trysil
