WRC3 star gets extra World RX chance

Norwegian rally and rallycross driver Ole Christian Veiby will replace compatriot Tord Linnerud in the VW Team Sweden World Rallycross squad for the championship's finale in Argentina this weekend.

Linnerud, who has been Johan Kristoffersson's team-mate in the Volkswagen Polo team all season, has been forced to withdraw from the Rosario event after sustaining a back injury.

Veiby has raced for the Tommy Kristoffersson-run team six times already this year, finishing third in the European championship and making the semi-finals of the world round in Sweden. Alongside that, the 19-year-old has competed in the World Rally Championship's WRC3/Junior division, taking a class win on the season finale in Wales.

"Tord's injured his back, so he had to say he couldn't drive, so they asked me to drive the second car," said Veiby. "It's a really good opportunity for me and it's really nice to be racing at the last round of the championship. Our pace has been better and better all year in the European Championship."

Veiby is targeting a podium finish this weekend in Argentina, though he admits switching back from his Citroen DS 3 R3-MAX rally car will require adjustment.

"All these other guys have been driving in these cars a lot this year," he said. "I just came from Rally GB so I haven't driven the Supercar since the event in Italy, but I'm hoping for a good result.

"If I reach the podium, that would be like a win for me. That's what I hope for."

Originally on Autosport.com