The 2024 RallyX champion, who moved up from CrossCar, showed last weekend that he needed little time to master the new FC2 effectively. With two podium finishes at Montalegre, Elias Svensson has already sent a clear message to his rivals – even the 20-year-old Swede did not expect such a strong debut.

In his first outing behind the wheel of the FC2, Svensson delivered an impressive performance, securing four Top 8 finishes in the six qualifying heats. He clinched his first podium in Race 1 of the FC2 final, finishing third behind Casper Jansson and Oliver Eriksson. ​

The following day, the driver from Sunne concluded his inaugural experience with his new machine by securing second place in the Open 4WD final. ​

“I am very happy, even though I feel sorry for what happened to Casper in the Open 4WD final,” Svensson said, referring to his compatriot’s spectacular incident at the exit of the first corner.

“For me, this result exceeds anything I could have imagined at the start of the weekend. I made significant progress with the car, despite not having the opportunity to test before Montalegre. Ultimately, we kept finding more speed with each session on track.”​

While the challenge was huge for Elias, he approached this new chapter of his racing career with evident composure and clarity.​

“I had no pressure this weekend. I’m competing against drivers who have been racing these types of cars for many years, so I had nothing to lose. Honestly, I never thought I would finish P3 yesterday and P2 today.”​

Though pleased with his performance, Svensson remains aware of the work required to fully exploit his vehicle’s potential.​

“I have track experience, but I still need to fully connect with the car. I know I can go faster, but it will take time and experience to get there. Now, we will do everything in our power to be on the starting grid for the next event in Valkenswaard.”​