After stepping up from the CrossCar Junior category last season, Pontus Oskarsson discovered a completely new environment as he joined the Supercar Lites ranks. While success did not always come his way during the campaign, the driver from Malung is hopeful that the tide will turn over the coming months.
In his first full season at this level of competition, the Swedish youngster faced a particularly demanding learning curve. He ultimately finished eighth in the overall standings, with his best result coming at Älvsbyn Motorstadion, where he qualified for the final and secured a promising fourth-place finish.
Despite that encouraging performance, the overall impression was still one of a campaign disrupted by a series of setbacks, a reality the driver himself openly acknowledges.
“Last season was marked by a lot of bad luck. But whenever things went our way, we were able to be both fast and consistent. At some point the tide has to turn, and I hope this will be the year,” says Oskarsson.
Beyond those unfortunate circumstances, the step up from CrossCar Junior to the Supercar Lites category also required a significant technical and sporting adjustment, a natural progression for the 16-year-old Swede.
“The main difference compared to Cross Car Junior is the driving style. The speeds are higher, the braking phases are different, and you have to learn how to carry more speed through the corners.”
With that in mind, Oskarsson plans to continue refining both his driving and the car’s setup as he looks to better understand the technical side of the package.
“What I really need is to spend a full day testing different damper settings and simply putting in a lot of laps. Last season I mostly ran a base setup and only made small adjustments depending on the track. By trying several different configurations, I’ll understand much better what each change does to the car and be more precise with my decisions during race weekends.”
Despite a turbulent debut season, the driver from the Värmland region remains determined to maintain the strong spirit within his small family-run team.
“The main idea is to keep developing my feeling with the car and to preserve the spirit that exists within our small family team. Coming back to RallyX is also a way not to dwell on the bitter feeling I had at the end of the 2025 season.”
Looking ahead, however, Oskarsson’s programme will largely depend on the financial realities that often shape careers in motorsport.
“The plan is to compete in the first three rounds of the RallyX championship. If I find myself well placed in the overall standings, I’m ready to make the extra effort to secure the budget needed to compete in the entire season.”
Despite those constraints, the young Swede remains ambitious and hopes to take another step forward in a category he is still discovering.
“First of all, I hope the Lites category will be very competitive this season. Personally, I always aim as high as possible. I believe I have the potential to fight for a place in the final, and with a bit of luck, a podium is definitely within reach.”