Robin Larsson says the four new tires he kept for the final were crucial to him taking victory in the opening round of the RallyX Nordic season at Höljes’ Magic Weekend.
The JC Raceteknik driver started alongside polesitter Niclas Grönholm in the final and managed to out-drag the Finn on the run into the first corner.
Grönholm used two new tires during Q3, which he won, while Larsson preserved his fresh rubber for the last race.
The Swede believes this was the key to getting off the line first.
“I felt I had a half-length over [Niclas] so he had to brake really, really late to be ahead of me. Then it was really tight and I had to drive really carefully, on the gravel it was really slippery,” Larsson said in the post-final press conference.
“Niclas used two new tires for the Q3 and we had four new tires for the final so it was a good advantage, especially with that start to have four new tires in five laps, it was perfect.”
Having been the closest challenger to Grönholm in the qualifying heats, Larsson backed up the pace in his Audi S1 to resist several attacks from Grönholm’s Hyundai i20.
“It feels good. I had a great start, Grönholm was really quick behind in the slippery corners,” Larsson added.
“I just controlled the tempo for the first three laps and I knew I had four new tires so I just started pushing on the third lap. When I came out behind [Thomas] Bryntesson, I heard that he still had to joker… yeah, a really good start with the new car which worked perfectly all day.”
Both Larsson and Grönholm are in their 2020 World Rallycross Championship cars this weekend, and they were separated at the checkered flag by Johan Kristoffersson in an older Volkswagen Polo.
Larsson believes the first bout of the season bodes well for the rest of the year.
He said: “We’re driving here for fun, but both Niclas and I, and Johan we are going to drive for the world championship, and Niclas has his car and I have my car, so to measure yourself against Niclas is great.”
