Mille Johansson drove Royal Rally of Scandinavia at home in Sweden this weekend. Together with co-driver Johan Grönvall, Mille challenged for the podium places all weekend, finishing fifth in the Junior FIA ERC – European Rally Championship after winning the last stage.
The Royal Rally of Scandinavia was run for the first time in Karlstad and Värmland. The ERC-event builds on the legacy of Rally Sweden in the region, but now as a summer rally.
Mille and Johan had a good start to the rally and set strong times in the tough junior class, they had a hard fight for third place the entire rally – and finished fifth, just seconds from third place.
– I am very satisfied with our rally. We have had good speed all weekend. It was a shame we lost some time on Saturday morning, but otherwise it has gone really well. There has been a high level in the class all weekend, says Mille.
Mille and Johan were fastest and won the final stage, the power stage, which was run over the classic Colins Crest.
– We have a very good feeling in the car right now. On the last stage we made an attack, and were the fastest.
The Royal Rally of Scandinavia was the first major competition for Mille with notes in Sweden, since he got his driver’s license just a few weeks ago. Together with Johan Grönvall and the IKsport team with their Ford Fiesta Rally4, Mille showed that they can keep up with the pace of the absolute European elite.
Fifth place was Mille and Johan’s best result in this year’s ERC, after two tough competitions that started the season in Poland and Latvia.
Now three competitions await on asphalt in this year’s Junior ERC, starting in Italy on July 29-30.