In the highly permissive Open 2WD category, where the technical regulations allow considerable freedom, reliability issues can arise at any time. Unfortunately, last season was a stark reminder for Marcus Norman and his famous Wankel engine.
Although the Swedish driver had high hopes last winter, the reality painted a very different picture – one in which he never even made it to the grid.
“After our early-season problems, the original plan was to return for the Nysum and Buxtehude events, but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned,” says Marcus Norman.
“Since last summer we’ve had a series of technical setbacks that have completely derailed our programme. One of the biggest challenges was building the new rotary engine – a Billet 20B with a supercharger. The engine we acquired was far from perfect: several components were defective and major modifications were required – some of which are still ongoing”
“It’s taken relentless effort to get everything reliable, but we’ve made significant progress in getting everything ready. We continue to invest a huge amount of time and energy to be fully prepared for the first race at Montalegre in March. Motorsport is always a technical challenge, but I believe we are now in a position to fight for victory”
One thing is for sure, the Mercedes driver is determined to turn the tide in his favour.
“I love rallycross, it’s in my blood. Ever since I watched my father from the sidelines, it’s been a part of me. However, the 2024 season was incredibly frustrating and having to watch the races on TV made me feel like I was on the wrong side of the screen.”
Aside from the mechanical setbacks, Norman admits that he faced a significant mental battle.
“Just to get back to racing in 2025 will be a huge relief. Mentally, the 2024 campaign was a real struggle. I could feel my motivation slipping away. When all you want to do is compete and fight for the top spots, being on the sidelines is a tough pill to swallow. It really took a toll on my focus and mindset and I had to learn how to overcome that.”
“The problems weren’t just with the car – there were other challenges outside of rallycross, but I’d rather not go into detail. This year, finishing every race without mechanical failure will be a key objective. We’ve worked tirelessly to get the car to a level where I can have complete confidence in it and my only wish is to be able to race without constantly worrying about mechanical problems.”
For Marcus Norman, the 2025 season will be about proving that he is still one of the top contenders in the Open 2WD category.
“The results will come if we can maintain consistency and reliability. Right now my focus is on enjoying the racing and making steady progress. I know that if I regain trust, I will have everything I need to fight at the front. The competition will be fierce, but that only fuels my determination. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get on the grid for the 2025 season and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”