Joni-Pekka Rajala, the former Finnish Rallycross Champion, has confirmed via FIA World Rallycross that he will compete in a full Euro RX season with an Eklund VW Beetle alongside Alexander Hvaal.
Finland’s Joni-Pekka Rajala will drive an Eklund Motorsport Volkswagen Beetle Supercar in the full FIA European Rallycross Championship this season.
The former Finnish Rallycross Champion competed regularly in Euro RX for the first time last season and finished fourth overall in the championship. Having driven one of the Eklund team’s Saab 93 Supercars last year, Rajala will drive the Beetle used by Daniel Holten and Henning Solberg in FIA World Rallycross Championship events last season, alongside new team mate Alexander Hvaal this year.
“We had a great season last year with Joni-Pekka, he was really fast,” said Eklund. © Holten Motorsport/ERC24
“It’s really nice to work together with Eklund Motorsport again this season,” said Rajala. “Last year everything went really, really well – the team and car were great. This year, I want to fight for a podium finish in the European Championship with the Volkswagen Beetle. It’s great that I have a regular team mate this season and (Alexander) Hvaal is a really good driver, so I’m sure between me, Alex, Per (Eklund) and the rest of the team we can make good progress with the Beetle this season.”
Youngster Daniel Holden is debuting the VW Beetle SuperCar made by veteran Per Eklund. © JKR/ERC24
Eklund Motorsport team principle, Per Eklund, thinks the squad have a strong driver line up for its two-car assault on Euro RX this year. “We had a great season last year with Joni-Pekka, he was really fast,” said Eklund. “I promised him that he could use the Beetle this year if he wanted to stay with us. We have made some changes to the car and I think with Joni-Pekka and Alexander (Hvaal) we have two very talented drivers in the team this season. We have a lot of work to do before the first round in Belgium but we will be working day and night to make everything ready to test before then.”
Top Photo: Joni-Pekka Rajala pictured (central) will contest the ERX in a Eklund Beetle. © Toni Ollikainen/ERC24