Azores next for Škoda Sweden ace Sandell

Patrik Sandell has revised his original plans to contest the GEKO Ypres Rally this week and will instead return to Intercontinental Rally Challenge duty on Sata Rallye Açores next month.

The highly-rated Sandell, who is contesting a seven-round IRC campaign in a Škoda Sweden-backed Fabia Super 2000, has yet to demonstrate his true potential with a brace of ninth-place finishes. His last IRC appearance was on the Prime Yalta Rally in Ukraine, where a succession of punctures held him back.

“Given that we’ve had two quite disappointing rallies in a row there’s a pressure on us now to start delivering,” explained Sandell. “So we have to look closely at the upcoming events and focus on the ones where we think we are most competitive. We simply have to favour results rather than learning. It is not optimal, but that’s the reality.”

It is not clear what IRC event Sandell and co-driver Staffan Parmander will contest instead of the Ypres Rally.