Larsen and co-driver Torstein Eriksen were among the contenders for the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia throne when the high-speed gravel event hosted the FIA European Rally Championship for the first time last July.
But 8.9 kilometres into SS10, the 9.52km Tolita test – which they started 1.3sec down on third place – their Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 clipped a hidden culvert and rolled end over end live on Rally.tv. Although the Norwegians were uninjured, the Larsen Motorsport-run car suffered extensive damage.
With no funds available to rebuild his wrecked car, Larsen feared his rally career was over. However, with the support of his team and the entire rally community in Norway, the car was repaired and Larsen and Eriksen incredibly ended the season as Norwegian champions.
Despite the severity of the accident on the Karlstad-based event last summer, Larsen has announced plans to return to Sweden’s Värmland region for the second edition of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, which is set to take place from 13 - 15 June. And the 33-year-old is aiming for a podium finish.
“BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia was both the biggest highlight and disappointment of last year,” he said. “But it sparked a desire to make an even bigger effort in the FIA ERC and seek revenge.
“Immediately after the crash, I was afraid my rally career was over, a car like this costs incredibly much money. But I have fantastic mechanics who voluntarily rebuilt the car, and I experienced incredible support from all of Norway. That made my motivation to come back skyrocket.
“I feel like we lost a podium last year, so the big dream is to reclaim it. I’m not afraid to come back to Sweden. I've analysed what happened and feel confident. The competition in the FIA ERC, especially in Sweden, is tough, but I believe we will be competitive.”
Limited edition Royal Pass ticket kit now on sale
Tickets for the ultimate festival-style rally, which includes the iconic Colin’s Cresta Arena on its flat-out rout, are now on sale. Follow this link for more information: https://ercroyalrally.com/en/shop/
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