Karl Peder Nordstrand
Norway
·
ERC 4
Key Facts
Nationality
Norway
Date of Birth
14.07.2007
Team
IK Sport Racing
Co-Driver
Sunniva Rudi
Car
Opel Corsa Rally4
Tyres
Hankook
ERC 2025
8th in ERC4, 8th in Junior ERC
Why did you choose the ERC for 2026? “The atmosphere at the ERC events looks amazing. It’s a championship with such a god quality, and it’s the perfect step for us to reach an even bigger step. The prize of winning the Junior ERC and to get driving the Junior WRC is also a really good initiative to get young talents up and forward”
What target have you set yourself for this season? “For me the target is to develop, be the bravest driver and show the real potential I have on an international level. It would not be fair to not tell you that we also are aiming for the top step of the championship as well. And with the right amount of work laid down I believe hand on heart that we have a chance”
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC? “I hope to learn and understand the different rallies and the unique and hard parts of the different rallies. As well to be competing in a full season where you have to calculate risk based on what’s the smartest for the championship”
Who’s your rallying hero and why? “My rallying hero has to be Sébastien Ogier. It’s purely because of his ability to adapt fast and his unique driving style where he is extremely good at calculating risk and raw speed. I want to be an even better version of him, that’s the goal”
What’s your greatest achievement in rallying/motorsport so far? “The two second places I did in Zlín and Croatia, purely because of the lack of Tarmac experience I had before the two events. I have had some amazing experiences with some overall victories in national championships, but to get on the podium at an international level was just something else”
Looking back to your first rally, when was it and where, what car did you drive and what happened? “My absolutely first rally was in Latvia, more specific the Rally Cesis in 2022. I had just turned 15 and we managed a podium in the Rally4/R2 category directly, something that we didn’t expect at that time”
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years from now? “In my mind, five years from now I want to be in the WRC fighting for a potential championship. I know it sounds like a hard job, but I do believe with the right passion and dedication we can really do it”
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do? “I haven’t actually been doing something else then driving cross car or rally my entire life. I had one winter when I was 10 where I tried handball, just because of my sister, who is now highly active and playing in the Champions League. But she had more talent and passion for the sport then me. I have found out the in the last years that I’m really enjoying riding bikes, so it would probably be riding the road bike. It’s maybe because of the equality to rally in terms of speed and dedication”
When you are not competing what do you do to keep busy? “In between races I’m still finishing my final year at school and for sure dedicating time to be a better rally driver. I have also been working at both a local car dealership, as well as at a retirement home taking care of elderly people. Maybe not what you think a rally driver been doing in between races”
Tell us something interesting about yourself? “I was only three years old when I drive my first all-terrain vehicle at home, and I fell in love with it immediately. I also have quite small feet, size 39, but it’s better handling with the pedals”
