North America is familiar ground for Tommi Hallman. Between 2022 and 2024, the Finnish driver built a solid reputation in Nitrocross while competing in Supercar Lites and FC2 machinery. Crandon, though, represents a completely different proposition.
For the first time in his career, Hallman will step up to the premier FC1 category and go head-to-head with some of the biggest names in international rallycross, despite having been away from competition for almost ten months. Yet, the Finn’s enthusiasm remains unchanged.
“It’s a fantastic feeling. The races I’ve competed in across North America have been among the highlights of my career so far. We’ve put a tremendous amount of work into making this programme happen, and it’s great to finally get the opportunity to race,” said Hallman.
Before travelling to the United States, Hallman returned to his home circuit in Kuopio for a short outing in an FC2 car.
The goal was simple: regain some rhythm after an extended period away from competition. Having enjoyed a successful 2025 RallyX campaign in FC2, highlighted by victories in Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany, the Finn admitted he needed to reconnect with his racing instincts before embarking on this new chapter.
“We simply completed a short session at my home circuit with the FC2. The idea was to get back into the rhythm of driving a rallycross car, especially considering that almost ten months have passed since my last race. It also gave me extra confidence because I won’t be jumping into a completely new car without any prior preparation.”
One thing is certain: Hallman will face an exceptionally strong field that includes 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen, former Nitrocross champion Robin Larsson and brothers Kevin and Oliver Eriksson, both of whom played a role in developing the FC1 platform.
Lia Block will also be on the grid only days after becoming the first woman in history to lead the overall standings of the American Rally Association championship. Hallman knows exactly what awaits him.
“We’ll really have to be at our absolute best if we want to win. In the lower categories, the level at the front of the field was already very high, but there were usually only two to four drivers capable of maintaining that pace before the gaps started to open up. Now, if you make the final, everyone is quick. You’ll have to fight for every position while driving right on the limit.”
Unlike many of his rivals, Hallman arrives at Crandon with very limited experience of the FC1. His only previous outing came during a test session in Las Vegas three years ago, when he completed just a handful of laps. It is a situation that does not appear to concern him.
“One of my strengths is being able to adapt quickly when preparation time is limited. I actually believe that can be an advantage compared to many other drivers. We will have virtually no opportunity to test the car on site. Before the opening qualifying heat, there will only be one short practice session.”
The task extends beyond the driver himself. SET Promotion is also discovering the FC1 package, meaning both team and driver will have to learn together throughout the weekend. For Hallman, mastering the push-to-pass system will be one of the key priorities.
“The FC1 uses the same additional boost system as the FC2, but there are far more possibilities in terms of how it can be used. We need to learn how to maximise it as quickly as possible because this is also a new car for the team. The biggest challenge will undoubtedly be working on the set-up.”
Crandon International Raceway is widely regarded as one of the spiritual homes of off-road motorsport in the United States. Hallman has never raced there in a real car, although he is already familiar with the layout thanks to simulator competitions he contested four years ago.
Even with so many unanswered questions ahead of the weekend, his ambitions remain unchanged.
“Whenever we line up for a race, the minimum objective is always to finish on the podium and, of course, we want to win if that’s possible. This time there are a lot of new variables to take into account, so it’s difficult to define precisely what would or wouldn’t be a satisfactory result.”
Whatever the outcome, Crandon will provide the first true indication of where Hallman stands against some of the biggest names currently shaping international rallycross.