Junior FIA World Rally Championship regulars Dennis Rådström and Johan Johansson had a tough appearence in the FIA European Rally Championship season opener, Rally di Roma Capitale last weekend.
Driving a Orsak Rally Sport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally4, Rådström on the first loop received a puncture that caused him to go off the road bend the car’s suspension. He did however return on Sunday and set several top times in the class, and the pair eventually finished seventh overall in the ERC3 Junior class.
“It has been a weekend with mixed feelings. It all started well on Saturday with a good time in the first split time on the first loop. But we get a puncture early and we do not feel the puncture until it was too late and we drove into the ditch where we bend the tie rod,” Rådström explained about this weekend.
Rådström seems to be pleased with his performance despite the costly puncture and is already keen to be back at the event next year with the experience he gained over the weekend.
“We were able to restart and drove the fantastic stages here in Rome on the last day, and we feel that there is more to pick up in the car. We are still satisfied with the performance, we take it very positively and look forward to coming here next year with more experience.”
“We have done everything we can and worked fantastically well together in the car and together with the team, so we with us take a good feeling from here,” co-driver Johansson added.
The FIA Junior World Rally Championship is set to return at Rally Estonia in early September.
