Euro RX3 title fight hots up heading to Höljes

Prior to World RX of Norway, fans could have been forgiven for thinking that Damian Litwinowicz was set to emulate Yury Belevskiy and Kobe Pauwels by running away with the FIA European Rallycross Championship. Ahead of World RX of Sweden this weekend, we suddenly have a title fight on our hands.

Litwinowicz – the highest-placed returning driver from 2022, having finished runner-up in last year’s Euro RX3 standings – was unbeatable in the opening two rounds at Nyirád and Montalegre, but the Pole was unable to replicate that form in Hell, as Nils Volland produced a dominant drive to top the timesheets in every session en route to his maiden victory in only his seventh outing in the series.

Fellow Volland Racing ace Espen Isaksætre has rapidly adapted to his first season behind the wheel of the all-conquering Audi A1, and has outpaced Litwinowicz on a number of occasions already this year but is yet to reach the highest step of the rostrum. After an error cost the Norwegian the chance of a breakthrough triumph on home soil just under two weeks ago, he will be fired-up to turn the tables on his team-mates in Sweden.

The championship-leading Audi trio might be the clear favourites once again, but a surprise result can never be ruled out – especially at Höljes. Last year, if you recall, Marius Solberg Hansen piloted his Škoda Fabia to glory in Sweden, offering fellow Škoda stars Jens Hvaal and Martin Kjær hope of pulling off a similar David vs. Goliath feat 12 months on.

Volland Racing driver João Ribeiro and promising French rookie David Bouet, meanwhile, return to the fray after missing Norway due to repairs following the Portuguese round – both hoping they have a trick or two up their sleeve as they bid to make up for lost time at the ‘Magic Weekend’.