Swede Mats Öhman and his nephew Emil Öhman are set to drive selected RallycrossRX rounds with Citroën DS3 SuperCars built by Hansen Motorsport.
Some weeks ago ERC24 was told that Swede Mats Öhman would set his ex-Ludvig Hunsbedt Volvo S40 Mk2 aside to drive one of the two 2013 Citroën DS3 SuperCars of Hansen Motorsport in selected FIA World Rallycross Championship rounds. The grapevine had it back then that Joel Christoffersson (JK Race Teknik AB), formerly busy with the two Global RallyCross Dodge Dart SuperCars run by the GRC team of Travis Pastrana, would put up a new workshop in Sweden to cooperate with his compatriot Mats Öhman and another to be revealed driver.
Mats Öhman has raced over the last couple of years the ex-Hunsbedt Volvo S40 Mk2. © QBA/ERC24
However, after keeping quiet about this information, today it was made known in Sweden that Mats Öhman is ready for a full EuroRX campaign, plus selected WorldRX rounds, such as Kouvola, Höljes and Lohéac. Emil Öhman, the 28 years old son of Mats’ brother and SuperNational Rallycrosser with BMW Thomas Öhman, will join his uncle in all five rounds of the new FIA European Rallycross Championship for SuperCar drivers. Mats is going to compete with the DS3 first driven in 2012 by Timur Timerzyanov, later raced to victory in the 2012 Los Angeles X Games by Sébastien Loeb, and in the 2013 European championship used by Timmy Hansen.
In 2014 Mats Öhman will be seen in the Citroën DS3 SuperCar that Sébastien Loeb drove to victory in the 2012 LA X Games. © QBA/ERC24
His nephew Emil is trying his hands on the 2013 DS3 of reigning European champion Timur Timerzyanov. The double World champion in Snowcross has already competed with different cars in a couple of Swedish SuperNational Rallycross events so far, but is faithful to adapt rather quickly to the top category of the sport now. “It should really be fun to try my wings in international Rallycross. I have followed Mats for years and know that the sport can be very tough at times. But after my years in Snowcross it is not a too big leap I think. There is nothing wrong with the car, it feels pretty well. It is me that has to get used to it. Although I’m familiar with rough surfaces from racing snowmobiles, this is a new environment that I need to adjust to,” claimed Emil Öhman today to the press.
Emil Öhman has claimed two World Championship titles in Snowcross. © Team Öhman/ERC24
Emil Öhman debuted in Rallycross about five years ago, here pictured in 2011 at Piteå with a Volvo S40 Mk1. © Johan Persson/ERC24
Top photo: The 2013 Citroën DS3 SuperCar of Timur Timerzyanov will be driven by Emil Öhman this year. © JKR/ERC24