Heading into the Älvsbyn round, Jon Ny sits third in the RallyX North championship standings and has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. Consistent since the opening round and firmly established among the front-runners, the Swedish driver admits he never expected to find himself in such a strong position just a few months ago.
“I didn’t expect this kind of start to the season. The car is working well, but honestly, I never thought I’d be in this position. We’ll see what happens from here.”
Despite the team’s encouraging form, there were no major technical overhauls during the off-season.
“We changed the engine, and that’s pretty much the only modification we’ve made to the car.”
While that change has undoubtedly helped the team take a step forward, Ny believes there is still work to be done before he can consistently challenge the benchmark drivers in the Open 2WD category, starting with championship leader Lucas Gabrielsson.
“The cars are very different, and Gabrielsson is extremely fast. The other front-runners are as well. For me, the priority is to become more consistent and continue gaining experience because the pace at the front is incredibly high.”
Ny also continues to benefit from the support of Filip Martinsson, a valuable mentor whose experience remains an important asset. Martinsson claimed three consecutive Swedish Championship titles behind the wheel of a BMW E36.
“Of course, I still get advice from Filip. It’s extremely valuable to have access to his feedback and experience.”
The upcoming event at Älvsbyn represents a significant stage of Ny’s season. Although he regards it as one of Sweden’s premier rallycross venues, he still gives a slight edge to Höljes.
“Höljes is still the best circuit in the country in my opinion, but Älvsbyn is a clear second. It’s a track that’s very close to home for me and it’s fantastic when it’s dry. When it rains, however, it probably becomes the most difficult circuit on the calendar.”
That observation could prove particularly relevant this weekend, with weather forecasts suggesting challenging conditions may be on the horizon. The prospect is especially important for a driver who has already secured two podium finishes this season.
“If the conditions stay dry, this track is an absolute pleasure to drive. But when it rains, it becomes extremely difficult. I really hope we’ll get at least one dry day. Ideally, we’d get two.”
Another advantage for the Swedish driver is his proximity to the Norrbotten venue.
“We live about 200 kilometres from here. For us, it’s practically a home race.”
That stands in stark contrast to the extensive travel commitments required throughout the rest of the RallyX calendar.
“Competing in RallyX takes a huge amount of time. Whenever we have to travel to Denmark or other distant venues, it means dedicating at least an entire week to the event. Even Tierp is still nearly a ten-hour drive away. It requires a lot of commitment, but it’s worth it.”
Despite currently occupying a place on the provisional championship podium, Ny remains firmly grounded. Still in what he considers his first full season at this level, he is careful not to set unrealistic targets.
“I’m still a rookie. If we can finish the season in the championship top three, that would already be a fantastic result. Erik Lidman passed me in the standings in Finland, which obviously wasn’t part of the plan, but we’ll try to stay in the fight.”
Weather conditions could ultimately play a decisive role this weekend if the forecast rain arrives.
“When it rains here, anything can happen. You can have a multi-car incident in the very first corner. In those conditions, the race can swing in anyone’s favour. You have to be smart and avoid mistakes.”