SWEDISH RALLY ACE PLEASED WITH TEST PERFORMANCE

Swedish rally ace Kenneth Eriksson is pleased with the performance of the former Possum Bourne WRC Subaru, after putting it through its paces, in the lead up to the Silverstone Race to the Sky this weekend.

Eriksson drove the car last year for the first time but mechanical problems plagued him throughout the event. This time with a new engine, capable of achieving 580hp, he is hoping for better things.

“I am very pleased to be back for Race to the Sky and I think we are much more prepared this year,” he says. “We have done a test with a promising result and I feel very confident that we can be quite competitive this year.”

Eriksson says the main opposition will obviously be defending champion Japan’s Monster Tajima.

He says while they had their problems last year there were some stages in the race where they proved they could match Tajima’s performance.

“Rod Millen is also fast but Monster has been winning before and looks like he will be the one for all of us to beat. The competition is very strong and some local guys from New Zealand have good cars as well.”

Vantage Motorsport owns the distinctive hillclimb Subaru and Eriksson says he feels honoured to be chosen again to drive it at Silverstone Race to the Sky.

“I will try to fulfil their wish to win the race in this car.”

The Subaru has previously clocked 8m 30 secs on the Waiorau Snow Farm hill and Vantage Motorsport general manager Craig Vincent says they think it can go faster this year.

Eriksson was third overall in the World Rally Championship in 1995 and won the Rally of New Zealand in 1997.