Without a podium finish since Race 1 in Riga back in May, Tobias Daarbak has been going through a rough patch marked by a glaring lack of luck.
And yet, with 99 points scored in qualifying since Montalegre, he trails fellow contender Lukas Andersson by just two points.
Still, with his last two outings in the Supercar Lites category ending in sixth and fifth place finishes respectively, the Danish driver finds himself only fifth in the overall RallyX North standings, 22 points behind current leader Roberts Vitols.
Not exactly an ideal scenario heading into the weekend in Älvsbyn, but there’s no sign the elder Daarbak brother plans to throw in the towel.
“Of course, there’s a bit of frustration right now, but I’m happy to be in Älvsbyn. I’ve been looking forward to this round because I had a great time on this track last year. It’s definitely one of the most enjoyable circuits of the season, and I feel like luck is finally turning back in my favor — or at least I hope it is,” said the Danish driver, who showed up sporting a new, thin moustache.
“I actually shaved before KymiRing, but the results didn’t really follow in the final, so I figured I’d try a different approach this weekend,” he added with a grin.
Indeed, despite starting on the front row in the final at KymiRing and being considered a serious contender for victory, Daarbak’s hopes were quickly dashed.
“On the second lap, I picked up a puncture on the left rear. It became really hard to drive, and I started losing speed. It kept getting worse every lap, and I just couldn’t keep up the pace.”
While his situation is far from hopeless, a strong response is certainly expected this weekend.
“I need to stay calm and aim for a podium this time. I really need the points. It’s frustrating to work so hard at home and then come to the race only for things to go sideways. The last few rounds have been especially tough. Obviously, I’d love to win both days, but I think the smarter play is to drive carefully and make sure I’m scoring points.”
Just ahead of him in the RallyX North standings is none other than his younger brother Kevin, who has so far outshone the family name in Supercar Lites — claiming his fourth podium of the season at KymiRing.
“He’s doing a great job,” Tobias admitted.
“He’s made huge progress from last year to this one. He’s really getting fast, but I still think I have a slight edge. It’s only his second year in this car, so there’s still a lot for him to learn. But yeah, he’s gaining ground fast. We try to help each other out at every race, share setups, and exchange notes about the track so we’re as prepared as possible.”
One thing’s for sure: the Daarbak brothers plan to take on their rivals as a united — and competitive — front.
“It’s a bit tricky, because we’re racing against each other. We don’t want to make contact, but we both want to come out on top. And at the same time, we sit at the same table for every meal — so we try to keep this rivalry working to both our advantage.”