While Marcus Norman was expected to join the RallyX championship for a full season, he was ultimately forced to skip the Tierp and Kouvola stages. However, as RallyX prepares to head north to the Luleå region, the Mercedes CLK driver has confirmed that he will indeed be back in business on his home turf in Älvsbyn.
Focused on the design and development of a new engine since last season, Marcus Norman was even more excited this winter at the idea of returning for another full campaign in the RallyX championship. Unfortunately for the Swedish driver, a few last-minute unforeseen circumstances got the better of his efforts.
We went into the 2024 season with big ambitions and big plans,’ says Marcus.
“Everything was in place behind the scenes to be ready for the start of the championship and we were clearly determined to fight for the top places, but unfortunately things didn’t go exactly to plan as we weren’t able to secure our budget for the 2024 season in time. So we decided to take a sabbatical year.”
For Marcus Norman, however, missing the upcoming event in Älvsbyn on 29 and 30 June was out of the question.
Indeed, he intends to use the opportunity to put his brand new engine, which he describes as “revolutionary”, through its paces.
“This last minute setback has given us a lot more room to concentrate on the development of our new engine. We’ve spent countless hours fine-tuning and developing it, and I can already say that the first results are very promising,’ explains Marcus.
“One thing’s for sure, this is not just another engine, it’s the most extreme, high performance package you’ll see on the track. We’ve incorporated the very latest technologies and innovations to push the limits even further. Not only will we benefit from the increased power, but above all everything has been done to make it as reliable as possible. I’m convinced that this engine will change the game. We’re not just talking about speed, we’re talking about an engine capable of delivering consistent top class performance in the most demanding conditions.”
“The other good news is that we have also decided to enter rounds 5 and 6 at Älvsbyn. This will be the ideal place for us to test our new concept. The aim is simple: not only will we be able to test our engine, but we’re also going to Älvsbyn with the firm intention of dominating our class and taking our first podium with our new package. This engine is a clear incentive for us to raise our ambitions and I’m more than excited to do my first laps in a real race environment.”
Although he has had to wait patiently since the beginning of May and the start of the championship at Tierp Arena, Marcus Norman makes no secret of his impatience.
“I can’t wait to get back to the RallyX championship. We’re in the middle of our preparations. It’s a mixture of nervousness and excitement because we know we have something really special under the bonnet. It’s a whole new chapter with our revolutionary engine. We know the scale of the challenges that await us if we are to try and stand on the top step of the podium. But one thing’s for sure: we’ll go to Älvsbyn in top form and show everyone what we’re made of.”
However, the Älvsbyn event could encourage Marcus Norman to head to Nysum and Buxtehude to close out the 2024 season.
“Depending on how things go in Älvsbyn and our state of mind, it’s not out of the question that we could compete in all the other events on the calendar. At the moment, I’m most interested in getting back to the excitement of racing and seeing what results we can achieve.”
“I’m just looking forward to getting back in the car as soon as possible. Watching the first two rounds of the season on television has only added to my motivation, seeing the level of competitiveness in this championship and the determination of all these talented drivers who are constantly pushing themselves to the limit. I’m aware that I’m taking on a more than complicated challenge, but we’re ready for battle. After all, the thrill of competition, the roar of the engines and the fight for every second on track is what we live for.”
