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Leading Supercar Lites team JC Raceteknik will expand into running a full-time Supercar team in the FIA European Rallycross Championship and RallyX Nordic Championships this season.
The team will field a pair of OlsbergsMSE-built Ford Fiesta Supercars and has signed rising star Thomas Bryntesson (20) and Norwegian compatriot Ola Forshaug (52) to drive for the squad.
In 2016, Bryntesson won the RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites Championship and finished second in the FIA World Rallycross Championship RX Lites Cup driving for the team. Eight-time NEZ (North European Zone) Champion Forshaug is a leading driver in Scandinavian Supernational rallycross category, and has achieved numerous podiums. He twice raced a Per Eklund Supercar in 2006 and 2007.
JC Raceteknik has significant experience of running customer’s rallycross Supercars, but 2017 will mark the first time that the team will field its own cars. In recent years the team has been involved in running cars for Alexander Hvaal, Eric Faren, Mats Ohman and Emil Ohman and team principal Joel Christoffersson has worked with drivers like Kenneth Hansen, Timmy Hansen, Liam Doran. Ken Block and Travis Pastrana in his impressive career to date.
The team will continue to field Supercar Lites in various championships in 2017. The Supercar announcement completes an internal framework that will allow drivers to begin competing in crosskart and graduate to Lites and developing into Supercar should the wish as part of their career.
JC Raceteknik returned from two successful test days in Florida last week, with more planned ahead of the start of the season.
Joel Christoffersson, Team Principal :
“We have planned a two-year commitment, so the first season is a bit of a learning year for sure. Despite this, we will as usual aim high. The goal is to be on the podium at the end of the season. Thomas is a very good driver – we see enormous potential in him. He has delivered in Supercar Lites and will also be perform in Supercar I’m sure. Ola has achieved good results in Supernational, where he proved to be very fast. I'm really looking forward to working with these drivers and help them perform as well as possible. I've always had the dream of having Supercars on the starting line. We think it's great that there is so great interest in the European Championship at the moment. Even some World Championship teams are running cars in Euro RX, so this year will be formidable challenge.”
Thomas Bryntesson (NOR):
“It will be really fun to take the step up to Supercar. I can’t even describe how much I’m look forward to the season. To compete in the Supercar has been my goal since I started motor racing, so it's really a dream come true. This is the first year in a new class, so it'll be tough, but I have a good team behind me and I look forward to the challenge. During my career I have always fought for victories and in Supercar I will do the same and try to race at the top. Rallycross Supercars are incredibly cool. They are quite similar to drive to a Supercar Lites, but with far more horsepower in a Supercar. 2017 will be really good.”
Ola Froshaug (NOR) :
“Everyone who is involved in rallycross dreams of someday competing in Supercar, so it’s obviously exciting. Driving in team with Thomas will be really good - he is really developing and is very fast, and I have the experience. Despite the high competition, I will aim high. The goal is to be in the semi-finals and finals in both Euro RX and RallyX Nordic. I have scored many good results in the Supernational category and think I have a chance to fight for the top this season. The cars have changed an awful lot since I last drove a Supercar. Technology is advancing at a furious pace, and nowadays it is more power in the cars. So that I can take with me to the future”
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