Flodin aims high ahead of 2011 season

Swedish star Patrik Flodin wants to try a Super 2000 car this season because he believes it will give him his best possible chance of securing a dream drive in a World Rally Car in the future.

Flodin drove a Subaru Impreza World Rally Car on Rally Sweden in 2007 in a one-off outing, finishing 11th overall, but he is keen to take the next step in his career.

The Swede is targeting some outings in a Super 2000 car: a route that recently paid dividends for his countryman PG Andersson, who will drive a new generation World Rally Car on Rally Sweden.

Flodin, 26, said: “I really hope I can find the budget because it will be a good experience for me to drive a Super 2000 car.”

Before then, however, Flodin will be bidding to repeat his victory in the Production Car World Rally Championship section on Rally Sweden, which starts in Karlstad a week today (Thursday).

Flodin will drive a Subaru Impreza for the Russian Uspenskiy Rally Tecnica operation alongside experienced navigator Goran Bergsten. He is a favourite for the prestigious showroom class title.

“I’m really looking forward to this year, and of course our aim is to go one better than last year,” said Flodin, who finished runner-up to Armindo Araujo in the 2010 PWRC standings. “I think it’s going to be really tricky though. There are some good people there: Hayden Paddon in particular is going to be hard to beat. I know him and I know his team and it’s a good package.

“But I feel quite prepared, stronger than ever and I am with a really good team with a good car and I’ve got a lot of experience. But I know I need to score points on every round to have a chance to fight for the title.”