Semerad cautious on more PWRC success

Martin Semerad says he’s not counting on a second win in the Production Car World Rally Championship any time soon.

The 19-year-old became the youngest PWRC winner when he triumphed in the category on Rally Sweden earlier this month in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

However, he attributed much of that success to the misfortune that befell pre-event favourites Patrik Flodin and Anders Grondal.

Flodin, from Sweden, was excluded from second place due to a technical infringement while Norwegian Grondal, who like Flodin was driving a Subaru Impreza, retired from the lead with engine failure.

“Patrik and Anders were much faster in fact very fast to be honest, and it’s just their misfortune that we were the winners,” said Semerad. “They deserved it much better but it’s rallying and we are really, really very happy for it because 25 points at the beginning for the season it’s just an incredible result.

“We might have a good result in the beginning but still the speed of the others might be different on the next events. I’m more confident on gravel than snow so I hope we can do some good results in the next events and at the end of season I secretly hope to be in the top three. But winning again may not be so easy.”

Semerad, a student from Prague in Czech Republic, will resume his PWRC bid on Vodafone Rally de Portugal from 24-27 March.