Fresh from competing in the Swedish Junior Rallycross Championship, Robin Norrlander seized the opportunity at the previous RallyX round in Riga to make his highly anticipated debut in the Supercar Lites category. And the young Swede certainly has no regrets.
“Supercar Lites has been one of my goals since I was a little kid,” Robin says.
“I still remember the RallyX on Ice events held in my hometown of Östersund and at the Åre circuit. That’s really when the idea of one day getting behind the wheel took hold. Ever since then, I’ve been aiming for Supercar Lites.”
That vision finally became reality this past May in Latvia, following a first test outing at the Swedish Championship finale in Arvika in August 2024.
“I got my start in motorsport through Folkrace, which in Sweden is the most accessible and affordable way to begin. Even back then, we already had the idea of building a rallycross car — and we did, by buying an old Saab 90 that we restored ourselves in the garage. That car allowed us to run a few seasons in the Swedish junior rallycross series.”
It was a true grassroots adventure, one that gradually propelled Norrlander toward the Supercar Lites grid.
“We bought a big bus and built a small family team, which allowed us to travel all over Sweden. Honestly, it was a fantastic way to start out in rallycross. I competed in the Swedish Championship for about four years before feeling it was time to take the next step.”
That next step came in the form of RallyX, where Robin got a taste of the competition awaiting him this season.
“Of course, Supercar Lites had always been a big ambition — but I also knew it would be a massive leap from Folkrace and the national championship. Last season, we managed to do one race with this car, kind of a dress rehearsal to see what to expect. After that, I used the off-season to prepare as much as possible for my first full campaign in RallyX.”
A season debut in Riga marked a milestone — and a real test.
“Just being in this paddock is amazing. It’s an incredible feeling. Driving on tracks like this and competing in RallyX is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Sure, I hadn’t had much track time since last year, so I knew it would be tough to match the pace of drivers who started their season back in Montalegre, but for a first race, it went pretty well.”
Far from being discouraged, Robin remains determined to show what he’s capable of in the coming weeks.
“I know we still have a lot of work to do to try and reach the level of the fastest drivers. Starting the season in Riga, with no gravel sections, wasn’t ideal either — I don’t have much experience on asphalt, and I had never driven on that track before. So it was all new. Hopefully, I’ll feel more at home on my native soil in Älvsbyn, where we’ll make sure to get some testing in before the RallyX round in June.”