2006 FIA Junior World Rally Champion Patrik Sandell from Sweden leaps to the world of Global RallyCross Championship and Global X Games with Ford.

Former Junior World Rally Champion (2006) Patrik Sandell has during his career competed in numerous racing series. Now he makes the biggest leap in his career so far, when he steps over from Rallying to US style RallyCross to run the full 2013 season in the Global RallyCross Championship with Ford and OlsbergsMSE.

“Throughout my career I have always strived to drive in the best team, in the best car, with the best conditions. And now I get the chance with Ford and OlsbergsMSE. They have been on the podium in almost all competitions, and also won the championship the last two years – it is an incredibly big deal”, says Patrik Sandell.

The Global RallyCross Championship consists of nine races in total, two will be run in Europe, one in Brazil, and the other six in the United States. Four of these rounds along with X Games and one with NASCAR, which helped to boost the sport, especially in the USA.

“I was really turned on when I got this offer. Rallycross is really on the rise internationally. It is an opportunity that is too big to turn down”, continues Patrik who will now run against names like Ken Block, Travis Pastrana and numerous others.

“I’m really pleased with our driver line-up this year. We have a good mix of riders, with different backgrounds and of different ages that will help us develop the car further and defend the championship title”, claims OlsbergsMSE’s team manager Andréas Eriksson.

Patrik’s debut will be in Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil on April 21. To prepare himself, he spent the winter studying both the competitors and the sport itself, and although he has not run a single race yet he feels well prepared.

“It becomes the new head-to-run for me. Those Rally drivers who have taken the leap before me have managed pretty well, so I hope it should work for me too. In the beginning I guess I’ll mainly concentrate on producing good starts – and then just let it run”, tells Sandell with a big grin on his face.

Link to Patrik Sandell’s Website.

Photo: As claimed by ERC24 already in early January Patrik Sandell is entering the Global RallyCross Championship now. © PSM/ERC24