Pontus Tidemand second in South Swedish Rally after secondsdrama.
After winning the class in Rally Sweden and a overall win in Fäviken Winter Rally so were this year’s rally comet Pontus Tidemand focused to win the third event in the Swedish Rally Championship. The contest developed into one seconds drama, where Pontus (age 20) was second, beaten only by 1.8 seconds off the overall winner Jimmy Joge (age 32).
This year’s third race in the Swedish Rally Championship was driven in the area around city Ljungby during the weekend and for Pontus Tidemand it was a tumultuous start to the rally. The car that Pontus would drive, a Ford Fiesta S2000, which is borrowed by Pontus stepfather Henning Solberg came from France late on Thursday evening where it has been on a engine overhaul.
– “I would have liked to run a longer test before the rally to set the car well and get up some speed in the body, because I have not driven a rallycar since last Championship race in March, says Pontus”
Before the rally four final stages on Sunday, so had Tidemand a lead of 2.6 seconds to second, Jimmy Joge. Before the last stage of the rally the positions had shifted and seasoned Joge (age 32) had a lead of 20-year-old junior Pontus by 1.6 seconds.
Pontus focused really hard on the last stages but lost a further 0.2 seconds and thus became the second overall after Jimmy Joge in the contest after they had driven the 15 stages of about 130 km stages-km in total.
The next event in the Swedish Championship are Snapphanerally in Hässleholm in August and where will we get a more prepared and loaded Pontus Tidemand going for a win again.
Swedish Rally championship, event 3 of 6.
South Swedish Rally, Ljungby, 3-5 juni.
1) Jimmy Joge, SMK Motala, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, 1.09.51,5
2) Pontus Tidemand, SMK Eda, Ford Fiesta S2000, + 1,8 sek
3) Patrik Johansson, Wäxjö MS, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX,+ 27,3
4) Andreas Magnusson, Skillingaryds MK, Mitsubishi Lancer, + 47,8
5) Eddie Hörbing, Laxå MK, Ford Focus WRC, + 1.13,5 min