Andersson targets Finland WRC return

PG Andersson has revealed plans to return to the World Rally Championship in Finland at the end of July.

The 30-year-old Swede has tackled two rounds so far this season in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, impressing in both Sweden and on the last round of the series, Rally d’Italia Sardegna. He now hopes to secure enough backing to enable him to contest Neste Oil Rally Finland from 28-30 July.

“There is always possibilities and chances and I’m working at home to try to get the budget for Finland,” the double Junior world champion told Wrc.com. “We’ve reserved the car for Finland so we’re working on finding the budget but it’s the whole budget more or less that is needed so it won’t be easy.”

After stopping with broken steering on stage two in Sardinia, Andersson admitted the prospect of working to secure additional sponsorship to compete in Finland didn’t appeal to him, such was his disappointment at the amount of time lost while he and co-driver Emil Axelsson rushed to make repairs. However, after posting several top-five stage times on days two and three he became convinced that the effort would be worth it.

“On Friday [in Sardinia] it felt like I was not bothered any more but at least we were able to show two good days and that makes me more enthusiastic to push to get the budget,” he said.

Based in the university city of Jyvaskyla, Rally Finland’s high-speed gravel stages and blind crests have earned the event a fearsome reputation, a fact not lost on Andersson.

“Finland is probably the most difficult rally to go to and try to be fast but there are not so many other rallies to chose from if you don’t want to do Tarmac,” said Andersson. “There are the two factory Ford drivers who will be really quick there and the Citroens of course. It’s not an easy rally and we will need to do a test. Whether it is included in the budget or not is another thing.”