Former APRC front-runner, Ole Christian Veiby, will make his first competitive World Rally Car appearance in next month’s WRC finale at ACI Rally Monza.
The Norwegian will drive the Hyundai i20 that was campaigned by French youngster Pierre-Louis Loubet in Estonia, Turkey and Italy after the FIA World Rally Championship restarted following lockdown.
The car will be run by 2C Compétition and Veiby will be partnered by regular co-driver Jonas Andersson.
His previous World Rally Car experience has been limited to pre-event shakedown work at Hyundai Motorsport’s test track before the German-based squad’s cars were transported to WRC fixtures.
Veiby has spent 2020 driving a Rally 2-specification i20 in the WRC 2 support category for the Hyundai Motorsport N team alongside Nikolay Gryazin. He is fourth in the standings after second-placed finishes in Sweden and Italy.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me, competing in a World Rally Car at the top level is what I’ve been working to achieve throughout my career,” said Veiby, who has started 46 WRC rounds after making his debut in Spain in 2014.
“Monza will be totally new to me, but that’s the same situation for many drivers after its late call-up to the WRC calendar as a Covid-19 replacement.
“I’m hoping we’ll have a small test in the run-up to the event but my shakedown work with Hyundai’s factory i20 World Rally Cars means I’m reasonably familiar with the inside of the car, even if I have no competitive experience,” added the 24-year-old.
Rally Monza will feature stages at the famous Italian race circuit, incorporating classic corners such as Parabolica and Lesmo, steeply banked curves and tricky gravel sections. There will also be a day’s action in the foothills of the Alps close to Lake Como.
Veiby will gain additional seat time before Monza with an appearance at Saturday’s (14 November) Kehala Rally in Estonia in an i20 R5. The rally features three loops of three stages, including the Kehala rallycross circuit, covering almost 60km.
Veiby contested the Asia Pacific Rally Championship in a MRF-backed Skoda Fabia R5 in 2017.
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Peter has been the editor of RallySport Magazine since its inception in 1989, in both printed and online form. He is a long-time competitor, event organiser and official, as well as working in the media. In 2020 he received a Motorsport Australia 'Media Service Award'.
Peter has been the editor of RallySport Magazine since its inception in 1989, in both printed and online form. He is a long-time competitor, event organiser and official, as well as working in the media. In 2020 he received a Motorsport Australia 'Media Service Award'.
by Peter Whitten
