Tidemand
debut draws
praise from
Wilson

Tidemand, 22, ended Friday’s opening day in sixth after setting a string of top-ten times, including a sensational fourth quickest on the 15km Lesjofors (SS2) that started the day’s action.

Wilson, whose M-Sport squad is running Tidemand’s car, is impressed by what the youngster has achieved so far.
 
“I think he’s surprised a lot of people - me included,” Wilson told wrc.com.  “On his first time around this morning he was really impressive. But I think what I’m really pleased about is what he did this afternoon. It would have been very easy for him to fall into the trap of trying to go quicker but instead he’s accepted that it’s going to be difficult to be near the likes of Mads and Evgeny because of their experience.

“I think he’s adopted the very sensible approach to hold on to where he is. That’s the thing that has impressed me the most. He’s a young kid but he has a very good head on his shoulders.”

Tidemand, who started a new co-driving partnership with Norwegian Ola Fløene this week, was a frontrunner in the 2012 WRC Academy. He finished third in class on last year’s Rally Sweden driving a Skoda Fabia S2000.

“It feels fantastic, it feels good!” Tidemand said after Friday’s final stage in Karlstad. “But now we have to keep focused. There’s a long way still to go. Now I need to have a good night’s sleep and carry on driving like this tomorrow.”