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Marklund gears up for Euro RX defence with ice race debut

Reigning FIA European Rallycross Champion Anton Marklund will prepare for the defence of his Supercar title by racing in the winter rallycross discipline of SM-week in Sweden, on March 25.

The annual SM-week, this year held in the town of Skelleftea near to Marklund's home in Northern Sweden, will include a winter rallycross category for Supercar Lites, with the Swedish winter rallycross champion title being awarded to the events' winner.

Despite hailing from the frozen North of Europe, the event will be the first time that the 2014 World RX of Canada podium finisher Marklund has raced on ice, or driven a Supercars Lites machine.

"This will be really, really fun. As it's going to be my first winter race ever and I've never driven a Supercar Lites car before, I don't really know what to expect. I see this more as a fun way to race close to my home for the first time in eight years," he said. "But, I know what will happen, as soon as you put the helmet on, you do all you can to win. It will be a fun challenge and of course in rallycross anything can happen, but I hope to make both the semi-final and the final."

The Marklund Motorsport driver will take part in a two-day test with the JC Raceteknik team next week to prepare for the event.

"The biggest challenge will be to feel at home in the car and learn what its characteristics are. Supercar Lites have less power than a Supercar so to be quick on ice you have to drive wide and carry the speed. I'm looking forward to learning about that in the test days. JC Raceteknik has a lot of experience so they know what is needed to be fast on ice."

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com