“Everyone in rallycross follows RallyX Nordic” – Petter Solberg

Two-time World RX Champion and motorsport legend Petter Solberg says the RallyX Nordic series is perfect for drivers coming through the ranks as it provides a ‘great level’ and is closely watched by the sport’s top performers.

The first person to win two FIA World Championships in two different motorsport disciplines, Solberg remains one of motorsport’s most recognised and popular competitors having made the successful transition from rallying to rallycross.

Still a respected title contender at World RX level, Solberg will nonetheless play a big role off the track this season as he oversees his son Oliver in his quest for the RallyX Nordic title. The 17-year old was a revelation in his rookie season last year, finishing runner-up driving the same Citroen DS3 Petter swept to his 2015 World RX title in.

Petter reveals there is good reason why he wants Oliver to learn his race craft in RallyX Nordic, saying it provides an excellent level to measure his skills against, as well as put him in direct view of rallycross’ biggest stars.

“RallyX Nordic is a great level before progressing further in your career,” he commented ahead of this weekend’s 2018 opener in Holjes, Sweden. “Everyone I know follows the Nordic series and this I think is key – it gets drivers noticed.”

With Solberg ‘junior’ finishing second in RallyX Nordic last season to Thomas Bryntesson – himself a runner-up in the FIA European Rallycross Championship -, Petter says the competition shows how impressive the standard..

“Drivers like Bryntesson are performing well in the European Championship, so that immediately shows what the level is like, which is very good. At a young age it is tough to get the budget for the European Championship so this is another possibility for drivers to show themselves to the right people but without spending so much.

With this year’s revamped series covering all four Nordic heartlands in 2018 – Sweden (Holjes, Arvika, Tierp), Norway (Grenland), Denmark (Nysum) and Finland (Kouvola) – Petter sees RallyX Nordic as a series on the rise.

“There are a lot of Supercars on the grid and you also have the Supercar Lites too, which is a fantastic class with many top guys. I am also pleased to see the series coming to Finland, Denmark and Norway – the more it is seen across the Nordic countries, the more interest and backing these drivers and teams will receive.”