Radstrom reveals ERC Royal Rally of Scandinavia dream

A winner in the FIA Junior WRC Championship and podium finisher in Junior ERC, Rådström is returning to competition this year after a season away. And while his programme is likely to be focused on his domestic series due to funding constraints, the all-new ERC Royal Rally of Scandinavia holds big appeal.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Rally Lima, the opening round of the Swedish championship, Rådström said: “Of course everyone has this dream to do [ERC Royal Rally of Scandinavia], I am not so far ahead with my budget yet so it’s just a dream for the moment, but if there is any way to do the ERC round in Sweden, we will do it.

“It’s on home soil and it would be a dream. After Rally Sweden went to another area [Västerbotten], we have now been given this rally and it’s not just a dream for the competitors. There is also a real heritage of spectators travelling to Värmland to watch the rallies over the years so it will be nice to be there and nice for them.”

Rådström features on a packed Rally Lima entry list that also includes Fredrik Åhlin, a driver with pedigree at both world and European level.

“There are seven very competitive drivers this weekend,” said Rådström. “You have P-G Andersson, Ole Christian Veiby and Fredrik Åhlin is also back in the game with Team Nybe, which is on a very high level. So it’s absolutely strong competition, especially with a world championship driver like Ole Christian with who it’s good to compare.”

Of his own prospects for success on Rally Lima, Rådström is planning a steady approach. “We have been one year away now from rallying, at least me, my co-driver [Johan Johansson] has been busy with different drivers, but it’s my first competition again and maybe we need to be a bit humble for the first part of the season, but let’s see.”

Rally Lima runs tomorrow (4 February) with ERC Royal Rally of Scandinavia scheduled to take place from 6 - 8 July as round five of the FIA European Rally Championship season.