Tidemand
goes back
in time

Tidemand is better known for his exploits behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2, the car used as standard in the young driver-training series on six rounds of the World Rally Championship. However, he will try out a historic-specification Ford Escort RS BDG for the popular gravel rally, which lists several of the sport’s greats on the starting list and features 21 stages.

“I really look forward to measure myself with old masters such as Bjorn Waldegard, Stig Blomqvist and Hannu Mikkola and to run an old rear-wheel driven car,” said Tidemand, who became the youngest Swedish national champion last year aged 20. “Of course I will try for the victory like always but it will probably be difficult.”

Tidemand will have a new co-driver for the event with Super 2000 World Rally Championship navigator Emil Axelsson replacing Stig Rune Skjaermoen on a one-off basis.

The WRC Academy resumes on Neste Oil Rally Finland from 2-4 August. Tidemand is currently sixth in the standings.