After claiming the RallyX North CrossCar title last season, Thomas Eek Murstad elected to defend his crown in 2026. Yet as the championship reaches its halfway point with the upcoming Älvsbyn round, the Norwegian driver feels he has only scratched the surface of his potential.
The raw numbers still point to a strong campaign. Sitting third in the overall standings and just ten points behind championship leader Carl Svedlund, the Speedcar driver remains firmly in contention. However, one statistic continues to stand out: Murstad is still searching for his first victory of the season.
It is a paradox that perfectly encapsulates his year so far. With two intermediate classification wins, five fastest qualifying times from twelve qualifying heats and 61 points scored from a possible 64 in qualifying competition, Murstad has regularly set the benchmark pace, only to see success slip away when it matters most on race day.
“The qualifying heats have gone pretty well since the start of the season, but the finals haven’t gone according to plan. I probably need to learn how to stay calmer when it comes time to finish the job. We have the speed, but for one reason or another, I haven’t been able to reproduce those performances in the finals.”
A situation that has prompted the Norwegian to take a closer look at how he handles pressure when the stakes rise.
“Maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself. I really want to take that first win and that probably influences my approach. I’m happy with our season overall, but the finals remain our biggest weakness. We need to understand what’s holding us back at that stage.”
Aware of the challenge, Murstad has sought outside support in an effort to find the missing piece of the puzzle.
“I work with a mental coach through the Norwegian national team. It helps a lot to be able to talk things through and put words to the difficulties I’m experiencing instead of keeping everything to myself.”
“His main advice is not to treat a final any differently from a qualifying heat. The speed is there. I simply need to approach a final with the same mindset I have during qualifying.”
Despite the frustrations, the Speedcar driver remains far from discouraged. After all, his 2025 title-winning campaign was built on consistency rather than a collection of victories.
“Even last year, I didn’t win a single race in RallyX North, but I managed to stay very consistent. Maybe this season will follow the same pattern.”
His position in the standings certainly supports that view.
“I’m only a few points behind the championship leader. That shows that despite the difficulties we’ve had in the finals, nothing is decided yet. The most important thing is finding the right approach to convert our potential when it really matters.”
At Älvsbyn, several factors could still shake up the established order, beginning with an uncertain weather forecast.
“The weather could play a major role this weekend. Usually, wet conditions suit me quite well, but they can also make things much more unpredictable because of visibility issues and incidents. It can go either way.”
The Norrbotten circuit presents a unique challenge for the reigning champion.
“Winning on this track isn’t easy. Pole position doesn’t really provide an advantage at Älvsbyn. The first corner tends to favour drivers starting from the outside line, and it’s often difficult to hold your position when starting from pole.”
Murstad experienced that reality first-hand last season.
“Last year, I won the qualifying sessions on both days, but that didn’t translate into victories in the finals. Each time, I found myself running second after the first corner. We also suffered mechanical problems that proved very costly.”
Despite those disappointments, the Norwegian remains particularly fond of the circuit.
“It’s probably one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar. It’s extremely technical, especially when it comes to the jumps, but that’s also what makes it one of the most enjoyable circuits to drive.”
Its technical nature often forces drivers to adjust their priorities.
“Here, the priority is simply to finish the races. You have to look after the car while still remaining competitive.”
With the title fight as open as ever, Murstad refuses to become distracted by points calculations.
“I try not to think too much about the championship. Doing the maths now won’t change anything. I prefer to focus on my own performance and take the races one at a time.”
A pragmatic outlook that does not hide the reality of his season so far.
“A lot of people focus on the fact that I’m still chasing that first win, but the reality is that we’re still in a very strong position in the championship. The speed is there. We’re simply missing that result in a final to take the next step.”
With rain potentially reshaping the competitive picture, Murstad is hoping above all for equal conditions for everyone.
“If the rain comes, I just hope the conditions remain the same for everyone. The most difficult situation is when the track keeps changing between dry and wet.”
As he heads into a round that could prove pivotal in his season, the reigning champion remains convinced that a breakthrough is close.
“I hope this weekend will allow us to turn things around. We’ve shown our potential since the beginning of the season. Now we just need to convert it all the way to the chequered flag.”
Third in the championship despite a season marked by frustration in the finals, Thomas Eek Murstad arrives at Älvsbyn knowing that the missing piece may be closer than ever. If he can finally convert his qualifying pace into a complete weekend, the Norwegian could quickly turn his consistency into victories and reassert himself as one of the leading contenders in the title race.