Evjen, Gundersen and Walfridson re-sign with JC Raceteknik for 2019 and target SM week gold
JC Raceteknik is targeting success in the RX2 International Series and RallyX Nordic with Supercar Lites drivers Sondre Evjen, Ben-Philip Gundersen and Jimmie Walfridson in 2019. The trio will begin their year aiming for victory at SM week this Friday.
The confirmation that Evjen, Gundersen and Walfridson will return to single-make Supercar Lites competition in 2019 is the first part of the 2019 jigsaw completed for JC Raceteknik, after the announcement that the Kil-based team will run a pair of 2017 Audi S1 quattro Supercars in rallycross’ top category this year, but is yet to reveal who will drive the cars and in which series.
Former FIA European Rallycross Champion Gundersen and Norwegian compatriot Evjen will race in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX2 support category and RallyX Nordic in 2019, while Walfridson will join the pair at Nordic races. Gundersen finished his maiden campaign fourth in the points and took a pair of wins, while despite a pair of setbacks, Evjen finished sixth in the international series. JC Raceteknik also enjoyed significant success in RallyX Nordic in 2018, finishing second, third, fourth and fifth in the standings.
The 2019 action will get underway this Friday during SM week in Sundsvall, where the regular trio will be joined by Pelle Wilen, who drove for the team last winter. Wilen is a multiple Swedish rally champion and a successful folkrace driver.
Joel Christoffersson, Team Principal:
“It's fantastic that Sondre, Ben-Philip and Jimmie are ready for a new season with JC Raceteknik in both RX2 and RallyX Nordic. Sondre has been part of the team for a few years now and it’s great to continue that cooperation. Last year was Ben-Philip’s debut season in Supercar Lites, it was a good year and he showed really great potential. For Jimmie, last year was a learning year, but he still finished third in the Swedish Championship and we will continue to work hard to help him achieve even more in 2019.
In RX2 we are aiming to be on the top of the podium at the end of the season. We have good drivers and equipment to do that, and the goal is the same in Rally X Nordic too. Last year we were second and third, so of course the goal this year is to finish first, second and third overall in the championship. Both championships are really tough, but we will work hard and see where we end up.
The SM week race will be an exciting and fun competition. It is a completely new track, so it be equal conditions for everyone. We go there to try and bring home the gold, and the other medals. Pelle is our ice racer who has been driving with us for several years, so it is great to have with him with us. He’s a lot of fun and we hope to achieve a good result.”
Ben-Philip Gundersen (NOR) :
“We had a very good cooperation with JC Raceteknik in 2018, so being able to drive with the team again in 2019 pleases me and I’m really looking forward to the season. Last year was a good season for me and I know the competition will be at least as high, if not even higher this year. My goal is to be on the podium in both RX2 and RallyX Nordic. I have no real expectations for SM week, because I haven't driven on snow once this winter. But it will be very fun to start competing again after the break and ice driving is always exciting.”
Sondre Evjen (NOR) :
"I feel very comfortable in JC Raceteknik and together we will fight for victory in both championships. I had a couple of events that went really badly in 2018, which unfortunately meant we were unable to fight for the top of the points. I was a sixth in RX2 and third in RallyX Nordic - this year I'm aiming higher. I go to SM week to have fun and get good practice for the summer season. I look forward to some tough fights, but of course I hope for a good result too.”
Jimmie Walfridson (SWE) :
“It feels really good to stay with JC Raceteknik for 2019. Last year was my debut season and I would say it went pretty well. I had some ups and downs, but overall it was an educational season that ended with a third place in the Swedish Championship. This year, my goal for RallyX Nordic is to improve and get on the podium, and to get a good result in the Swedish Championship again.
It will be really fun to get started with SM week. Setting a goal is always difficult, but I know that once the helmet is on, there is only one thing that matters: victory. Hopefully it goes better than last year – I'm aiming for a podium position.”
Pelle Wilen (SWE) :
“I have good memories from last year when I drove rallycross for the first time at SM week and it went way beyond my expectations. Unfortunately, the suspension broke in the final, but apart from that, everything was so fun, so I have to try again this year. Setting a target is difficult because in rallycross anything can happen. To compete with drivers from the world’s elite is something I do with respect and if I am in the final I will be satisfied. But, at the same time, there is no one in this field who wants to be second. Regardless of the result, it will be really fun.”
