While the CrossCar class competitor in the RallyX championship headed to the United States to contest the final round of the 2023/2024 Nitrocross season, Elias Svensson didn’t miss the opportunity to stop off in North Carolina to test the brand new FC2.
Ahead of a 3500-kilometer journey to Las Vegas, which Elias Svensson will make in a motorhome, the Swede was one of the very first drivers to get hands-on with the FC2, whose official racing debut is scheduled for May 2024, when the RallyX championship kicks off.
An experience that the CrossCar specialist doesn’t regret for a second.
“It’s really fun to be one of the first drivers to discover this FC2 and to see all the work that has gone into modifying this Supercar Lites chassis,” comments Elias.
Developed by Kevin Eriksson since the end of 2023, Elias Svensson was quick to point out how easy the FC2 is to handle.
“I think OMSE has done a great job. It’s even better than I expected. It’s an ideal car for drivers who, like me, come from a CrossCar background. The fact that the engine is placed in the rear like in a CrossCar made my adaptation to the car extremely easy. I felt like I was behind the wheel of a big CrossCar, this time with four-wheel drive”.
“It is clear that this FC2 is a very nice transitional stage to get to know real rallycross behind the wheel of a real race car. Admittedly, I haven’t been able to test this FC2 on a real track, but compared to my previous tests with a Supercar Lites, I found this new car much easier to deal with. The fact that the gears are changed with paddles behind the steering wheel gives a feeling of constant control”.
From now on, Elias Svensson will have the opportunity to pursue his American dream in Las Vegas, where he will drive a Supercar Lites in the “NEXT” category.
“Actually, the main reason why we came to the United States was to test this new FC2 to get a better idea of the car in view of our future projects. We then discussed with Andreas Eriksson the possibility of competing in Las Vegas, and I have to say that we were lucky that Lia Block was not available for the event, so I was able to take the car that was originally dedicated to her”.
Now a key figure in the RallyX championship, Elias Svensson will be able to test his true potential against the best Nitrocross specialists in a context radically different from his native Värmland.
“The first goal is to have fun while trying to gain as much experience as possible and leave the United States with good memories. It’s clear that the change between the small town of Sunne where I come from and Las Vegas is enormous. We’re going to drive 3500 kilometers in a motor home from North Carolina to Nevada, so I’m expecting an absolute eye-opener.”
“I know how lucky I am. Being able to compete in the United States isn’t given to everyone, so I’m going to try to do my best. Of course, the other drivers have more experience at the wheel of a Supercar Lites than I do, so it won’t be easy for me to make up for this lack of experience in just one weekend, but I will be able to rely on a teammate of Casper Jansson’s caliber. Everyone knows that Casper’s level is above the norm, but even though nothing will be easy, I’ll try to catch his rhythm and progress in contact with him.”
While it wouldn’t be surprising to see Elias Svensson beat the odds next weekend, the CrossCar specialist isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“I think this race in Vegas is quite simply the biggest and most difficult of my entire career, because I’m going to have to get to grips with the specifics of this new car very quickly. Of course I’ve been watching a lot of Nitrocross videos and it’s clear that everything looks extreme compared to what we know in Europe. What’s certain is that I’m going to have a great opportunity and I intend to make the most of it.”
