Making his first appearance in the Open 4WD category of the RallyX Championship at Tierp, Norwegian driver Emil Sivesind wasted no time in making an impression.
Competing behind the wheel of the ex-Sivert Svardal VW Polo, now owned by former European TouringCar and Supercar Championship driver Kjetil Larsen, Sivesind certainly lived up to expectations.
After topping the intermediate standings during the opening round at Tierp, including setting two fastest times, only contact in the opening meters of the Pro-Am final denied him what looked like a well-deserved victory.
Although he faced a more challenging outing the following day, the two-time Norwegian Rallycross champion still managed to secure sixth place in qualifying before ending the weekend with a third-place finish in the Pro-Am final.
Even so, Sivesind undoubtedly emerged as one of the standout revelations of the weekend alongside Viktor Kristoffersson.
There was little surprise in that, however. A two-time Norwegian Rallycross champion, Sivesind had already recorded six consecutive podium finishes in his domestic championship prior to Tierp.
In an exceptionally competitive field, it was Sivesind’s adaptability that impressed the most. Despite limited testing ahead of the Tierp event and the challenge of learning an unfamiliar car, the Norwegian immediately established himself among the front-runners.
“It was an incredible opportunity to take, and I think I showed that the speed was there. We had very little testing, so becoming competitive that quickly is obviously very positive. Most of all, I really enjoyed being behind the wheel,” Sivesind explained after the weekend.
For Kjetil Larsen, owner of the VW Polo, the Norwegian’s performances came as no surprise. The former TouringCar and Supercar driver says he has long believed in Sivesind’s potential.
“I knew Emil had this potential. We had already seen how fast he was in two-wheel drive machinery and in the Norwegian Championship, but what he showed this weekend was still impressive. He was driving on a circuit completely different from what he is used to, with a very particular style, similar to Riga. Even so, he adapted immediately.”
Beyond the raw pace, Larsen believes Sivesind has all the qualities required to establish himself at the highest level of the sport.
“He wasn’t even the one who came asking to drive the car. I went to him because I was convinced he had the talent to achieve great things. Today, he proved that he clearly deserves a place in Supercar. In Norway, there are very few drivers better than him.”
Naturally disappointed by the incident in the opening Pro-Am final when victory appeared within reach, Larsen nevertheless chose to focus on the consistency Sivesind showed throughout the Swedish event.
“The accident in Race 1 is obviously frustrating because he clearly had the speed to take the win, but it changes nothing about what he demonstrated throughout the weekend. What impresses me most about him is his calmness. He always keeps a cool head, even when everything around him seems chaotic. That’s an extremely rare quality.”
Despite the disappointment at Tierp, Emil Sivesind is already focused on the next stage of his season, with the Norwegian Championship now back in his sights.
“The next step is the Norwegian Championship next weekend. We’ll be back in the usual Audi, and the level of competition will once again be extremely high.”