After winning Race 1 in Valkenswaard last weekend, Oliver Eriksson was unable to match the pace set by Lukas Andersson in the final of the Dutch round of the RallyX South championship.
Despite leading the Open 4WD category thanks to two fastest times from the three qualifying sessions in Race 2, Eriksson quickly saw his ambitions fade in a final that was controlled by JC Raceteknik rookie Lukas Andersson.
The Swedish driver saw his hopes of victory disappear within the opening moments of the final, forced to contend with a technical issue that left him unable to fight on equal terms.
“There’s inevitably a bit of frustration tonight. The weekend had been very positive overall and I would really have liked to finish it on a much better note,” Eriksson explained after securing second place on the podium.
“Unfortunately, we lost turbo pressure right from the start of the final. I tried to compensate, but I already felt on the pre-grid that something wasn’t right. After that, we had to manage without the boost, so it’s obviously frustrating.”
Under those circumstances, it proved difficult for Eriksson to challenge an imperious Lukas Andersson, despite what had promised to be a high-level showdown between the two.
“It’s all the more disappointing because I was really looking forward to a great battle with Lucas. He was extremely quick throughout the weekend. Starting alongside him on the front row was the perfect opportunity to go head-to-head, but I wasn’t able to give him that fight, which is a real shame.”
Despite the setback, the Swede was keen to highlight the strength of the field and the quality of the racing throughout the Dutch weekend.
“The level in the category is very high, and that’s exactly what we expect from rallycross. In recent years, we had moved slightly away from that, particularly with the Supercars, which can be difficult to follow in races because as soon as intercooler temperatures rise, you lose a lot of power, making battles more complicated. Today, with these FC2 cars in a one-make format, everyone is very quick and able to put together clean laps, which allows for wheel-to-wheel racing over four or five laps.”
A view widely shared across the paddock, particularly among the more experienced drivers.
“If you speak with Niclas Grönholm, he’ll probably tell you it’s one of the most enjoyable weekends he’s had in a car in recent years. As a driver, it’s a real pleasure to be here and compete against rivals of this level. You can push flat out through every corner and simply try to get the most out of it.”
Eriksson now turns his focus to the next round of the championship in Sweden, where he will aim to bounce back on home soil.
“The next race in Sweden will definitely be special for me. It’s almost a home event, as I live only two hours from the circuit. The field should be even stronger, with several cars built over the winter expected to be ready by then. With the return of Niclas Grönholm, the presence of Timmy Hansen, the speed of Lukas Andersson and Casper Jansson, who will surely be eager to bounce back, the level will be even higher. It promises to be a great event.”