Loeb backs Giordano in WRC 2
Frenchman switches to Peugeot for six-round programme
Ambitious Veiby set for R5 debut
Winner of the WRC 3 category at Rallye Monte-Carlo, Ole Christian Veiby will drive a Skoda Fabia R5 in WRC 2 at Rally Sweden [11 - 14 February] as he prepares to fight for this year's Junior WRC crown.
The 19-year-old Norwegian finished second in his maiden Junior WRC season last year and has set himself the target of winning the title this time.
But with the first round of the Junior Championship not until Vodafone Rally de Portugal in May, Veiby is looking to other classes to keep sharp and build experience.
Driving Citröen's DS3 R3T he dominated WRC 3 at the opening round, finishing almost four minutes up on Frenchman Jordan Berfa in second.
This Saturday he will get his first taste of a four-wheel-drive R5 car when he contests the Norwegian Championship Rally Finnskog as a warm up for the Swedish WRC counter the following week.
"I have an exciting season ahead of me. This year I'm chasing first place in the Junior WRC, although I know that the competition will be just as tough as last year," he said.
"It was all new to me last year, but now I have experience from most events. In rallying, that is a great advantage. It is nice to bring that knowledge to Rally Finnskog and to Rally Sweden the weekend after that.
"Driving the Škoda it will be fun to compete against drivers like Mads Østberg and last year's Norwegian rally champion Eyvind Brynildsen, who both will do Rally Finnskog in R5 Ford Fiestas," he added.
Rally Finnskog will be Vby's first event for more than a year alongside co-driver Stig Rune Skjærmoen. The Norwegian is back to call notes after Veiby's 2015 co-driver Anders Jæger left to partner Andreas Mikkelsen at Volkswagen.
