WRC
Wales Rally GB: URT preview
Flodin to drive for URT in Great Britain Swedish driver Patrik Flodin will drive an URT-built Subaru Impreza WRX STi N14 on Wales Rally GB that will be held on 4-7 of December and will form the showdown of the FIA World Rally ...
Published: Nov 30, 2008, 11:14 AM
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Flodin to drive for URT in Great Britain
Swedish driver Patrik Flodin will drive an URT-built Subaru Impreza WRX STi N14 on Wales Rally GB that will be held on 4-7 of December and will form the showdown of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The driver is known in his native country as the national rally champion 2006, he is renowned in the world for winning three WRC rounds in GroupN category, while in Russia he took the glory of the "Avtoalyans- Velikie Luki" rally in what was his first guest star appearance with the Uspenskiy Rally Tecnica team. The first experience proved to be very positive, and it was decided to continue collaboration on the final round of the WRC.
Despite some great successes and masterful driving abilities, Flodin is not yet as famous as his talents allow him. The 24 years old Swede has been in driver's seat since he was 16. Born in a small country-side settlement, where rallying was in people's blood, he first did motocross, than switched to four wheels for the same discipline, and finally at the age of 16 found himself behind the steering wheel of a rally car, prepared for the regional Volvo monocup. And what at the beginning seemed to be just a hobby, soon turned into a serious practice, as 2005 saw his first appearance in the Production Car World Rally Championship. "I can't call myself a professional driver as I don't get paid for my participation in rallies, but my whole life is devoted to rallying", - explains Patrik. Too shy - as gifted: he has already 5 podium finishes on WRC rounds in GroupN category to his name, among them 3 brilliant victories in Norway, Portugal and Finland - all taken in 2007.
Wales Rally GB 2008 will be his 2nd rally that the young driver will compete for the Russian team. Patrik describes how this became possible: "I was invited to participate in a Russian rally event. We showed a good result and were able to find that the URT-built car was really good. So, I was offered a drive with them in Great Britain. This rally will be not only my own chance to demonstrate my driving skills, but also an opportunity for the team to prove what their car is capable of. I have tried different Subaru N14 cars this year, and the URT-built Impreza is definitely the best. I especially liked the TEIN suspension installed in this car. So, overall it's the best offer that a sportsman can get. Moreover, judging by my first experience with the team, I'm confident that everything there will be at the highest level. High professional skills of its engineers and mechanics mean that everybody here works competently. In rallying everything depends on details, and I'm sure that my new team can perfectly cope with any difficult situation".
Patrik Flodin isn't a newcomer to the Welsh land. In Rally GB 2006 he came 2nd in GroupN, and now he looks positively into the upcoming 2008 event. "I like this rally very much, and it will be a great pleasure to drive there. However, the weather can bring some surprises. A lot of local drivers, who have much experience of going in wet and mud, will compete in this event. I'm not quite sure that I can match their speed in bad road conditions. But I'll definitely do my best. Anyway, we'll try to fight for the podium. Of course, I want to win, but it won't be easy, that's why I'm careful in any predictions. Though, for me the main aim is victory - what's the point of competing if not trying to win?"
All sportsmen have their own secrets of success. For Patrik everything is simple: first of all, he admires driving, and secondly he feels his car. "I know, how it will behave in any situation, know what to do to achieve the goal. I'm always feeling the car - that's why I control the situation".
Wales Rally GB 2008 will get underway with the start ceremony at 18:00 local time on Thursday 4th December, 2008.
-credit: urt
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