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Nitiss sets sights on Euro RX title

Latvia's Reinis Nitiss has joined Finnish team SET Promotion for an assault on the 2018 FIA European Rallycross Championship, racing a Ford Fiesta Supercar.

FIA World Rallycross Championship race winner Nitiss will drive the M-Sport built Ford Fiesta RX Supercar that Niclas Gronholm campaigned in World RX last season, a move that will see him join forces once again with SET Promotion and team owner, Jussi Pinomaki.

In 2013, the Latvian driver won the European Super 1600 title in a SET Promotion Renault Clio, before working with Pinomaki in the Olsbergs MSE team in 2014 and 2015.

"When considering plans for 2018, it was important for me to continue competing in rallycross and retain my spot in the paddock. In addition to that, I definitely wanted to compete in my home round of World RX, in front of the local fans and supporters. I also wanted to improve my ability behind the wheel," said Nitiss.

"We decided to join SET Promotion due to our past successful collaboration, and because Marcus Gronholm, a two-time World Champion, is a consultant of the team. His advice will definitely help me improve. I will spend time at SET Promotion's headquarters in Finland to gain knowledge about the technical side of the car, their setup, and team management."

The Euro RX Supercar Championship takes place in support of five World RX events this season - in Barcelona, Belgium, Sweden,France and Latvia - with Pinomaki confident the addition of Nitiss gives the team an excellent shot at the title in 2018.

"It feels amazing to work with Reinis again. We won the European Super1600 title together back in 2013 and now the aim is to do the same in Supercar.

"The competition will be really tough, but we are ready to work hard to achieve our targets," said Jussi Pinomaki. "Reinis is still very young, but already has great experience of top level rallycross, so we can expect great things to happen. Having Reinis back with SET Promotion also greatly supports the long-term strategy of SET Promotion and GRX, bringing young drivers up from RX Academy all the way to World RX."

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com