Swede Åhlin aims for more ERC action

The 25-year-old was in contention for a podium position early on his ERC debut on last year’s Circuit of Ireland, his first asphalt rally for nearly four years.

This year he will focus again on a title assault in the British championship, switching to a ŠKODA Fabia R5 from a Ford Fiesta, but aims to add ERC starts to his programme, including the season-ending Rally Liepāja – where his new co-driver Torstein Eriksen competed last year alongside Frank Tore Larsen.

He toldAbsolute Rally: “My plan is – later in the year once I’ve got more comfortable in the ŠKODA – to go and do one or two Tarmac events in the ERC and hopefully also the season finale on Rally Liepāja.”

Åhlin has taken part in WRC2 in the past, but added that as a privateer, the ERC is now more attractive, citing the level playing field, ability to compete for overall wins and strong promotion.