With two Top 3 finishes during the qualifying heats, Casper Jansson managed to snatch third place in the intermediate standings from none other than Niclas Grönholm at Tierp. A performance the Swedish driver was understandably pleased with.

Fresh from Riga, where he had to adapt to driving the ex-Hedström Motorsport Peugeot 208 Supercar, Casper Jansson wasted no time settling back into his familiar FC2 machinery.

“It was an intense day, but overall a very positive one. We were consistent throughout qualifying, even though we experienced a few brake issues today. We’re going to analyse everything tonight and come back stronger tomorrow,” explained Jansson, who remains the most successful driver in the short history of the FC2 category with five victories to his name.

More than enough to put the Swede in an ideal position heading into the final phases.

“Our starts have been very good so far, so I think we have everything we need to put together a strong semi-final.”

Nevertheless, Jansson remains fully aware of the challenge awaiting him against more powerful machinery.

“Against the traditional Supercars, the starts are always a challenge. They naturally have an advantage off the line, but we’ll try to do the best possible job,” he continued.

While weather forecasts could still shake up the order on Saturday, Casper Jansson does not appear overly concerned about a potential deterioration in track conditions.

“We usually have strong pace in the rain, and we proved that last season in Denmark when we won in absolutely torrential conditions. Wet weather could actually work in favour of the FC2. But honestly, whether it rains or not, it won’t change much for us.”

Beyond his performance on track, Casper Jansson continues to gain experience behind the wheel of cars built around very different philosophies. Just days after his outing in Riga aboard a Peugeot 208 Supercar, the Swede admits that returning to the FC2 also requires him to reset certain habits.

“Switching from the FC2 to the 208 obviously requires some adaptation time. During the first session today, I was surprised by just how big the difference between the two cars actually is.”

A situation that constantly forces the Swedish driver to recalibrate his instincts.

“When you keep switching between different cars, it takes time to get the right reflexes back every single time,” he pointed out.

Two cars, two driving styles, and above all two completely different approaches behind the wheel.

“The 208 has to be driven in a much smoother and more precise way, almost like a kart. You need to be very clean and very gentle with the weight transfer. With the FC2, on the other hand, you have to be much more aggressive to rotate the car.”

A contrast that Jansson appears to enjoy.

“I actually like the difference in driving style between the two cars, so it’s not really a problem for me.”

Competing on home soil this weekend at Tierp, the Swede also knows he will have to deal with extra attention around him.

“It’s obviously a special weekend because this is my home event. There are more friends, partners and supporters around me, but in the end you still need to stay focused on one thing only: the race and the victory.”