Swedish champion confirmed for FIA WRC Academy

The WRC Academy Ford Fiesta RS

Photo by: Ford Motor Company

The FIA WRC Academy is delighted to confirm the inclusion of Swedish Rally Champion, Pontus Tidemand, for the 2012 edition of the one-make series.

With support from Norwegian talent development programme, EVEN Rally, it became clear that the Swede had the opportunity to make an assault on the WRC Academy late on Monday evening. Tidemand and co-driver, Stig-Rune Skjærmoen, will become one of the 11 drivers already registered for the season start in Portugal before embarking on rounds in Greece, Finland, Germany, France and Spain.

Tidemand has had an impressive start to the season thus far and will be one to watch as the WRC Academy embarks upon the first round of the series later this month. Becoming the youngest ever Swedish Rally Champion in a Ford Fiesta S2000 last year, the 21-year-old has already secured victory in both opening rounds of this year’s championship and impressed, despite problems, to claim the final podium position in the S-WRC at last month’s Rally Sweden.

Contesting the season opener in Portugal, the youngster will be hoping his good form continues and will be a real contender for the victory.

Pontus Tidemand, Swedish Rally Champion, said:

“It is always a quick turn around in motorsport! There appeared a possibility of us entering the [FIA WRC] Academy at the end of last week and I am obviously very happy and grateful to EVEN Rally for making this adventure possible.

“I have no doubt that the season will be great fun and I am really looking forward to the opening round [in Portugal]. This year will see me learn an incredible amount and get a lot of experience of the World Rally Championship events. It really is a fantastic opportunity for me.”