Marcus Gronholm has been confirmed as one of the drivers taking part in the second round of RallyX on Ice Championship, due to take place on 13 February in Karlstad, which takes place on the same weekend as the Rally Sweden.
Gronholm, who won the FIA World Rally Championship in both 2000 and 2002 as a works Peugeot driver, retired from Rallying in 2007 but has since competed in various rallies in a privately run Subaru as well taking part in several Rallycross events in Europe and competing in the Global Rallycross Championship.
The former WRC Double Champion is in good company however as he is joined in the field by Thomas Radstrom, another former WRC ace. Radstrom was a works driver in the WRC during the 1990’s for Toyota and has competed successfully in several Rallycross championships as well as being a previous winner on the Rally Sweden.
As well as Gronholm and Radstrom, the field of driving talent includes current FIA World Rallycross drivers Andreas Bakkerud, Reinis Nitiss and Super 1600 driver Janis Baumanis. RX Lites drivers Sebastian Eriksson and Kevin Eriksson are taking part along with Swedish Touring Car Champion and Rallycross driver Richard Goransson. All drivers will be using the RX Lites cars normally used on the support package for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Rally Sweden organiser Glenn Olsson is overjoyed at the drivers entered for the second round of the championship and the impact this will add to the Rally Sweden weekend.
“RallyX On Ice is a great addition to the Friday night at Färjestadstravet in Karlstad. We will have a mix of the absolute elite of the WRC, FX snowmobie and motocross and now RallyX. This must be the event of the year for anyone who likes motorsports,” said Olsson, CEO of Rally Sweden.
“But it isn’t just experience lining up in Karlstad. There are a few young up-and-coming talents joining as well spearheadded by Reinis Nitiss. Nitiss just won the bronze medal in the WorldRX Championship and is joined by fellow Latvian Janis Baumanis. Expect a battle between the young talents to see who gets to try and beat Grönholm and Rådström.”
“That both Marcus Grönholm and Thomas Rådström comes to us during Rally Sweden means a lot. They are two of the big profiles and our fans will love this, I’m sure of this,” Olsson added.
Entry List RallyX On Ice, Karlstad February 13
- Andreas Bakkerud
- Simon Olofsson
- Richard Göransson
- Marcus Grönholm
- Janis Baumanis
- Sandra Hultgren
- Tomas Rådström
- Kevin Eriksson
- Tomas Holmen
- Joakim Hvaal
- Reinis Nitiss
- Sebastian Eriksson
