Former Junior World Rally champion and 2010 S2000 WRC runner-up Patrik Sandell has switched to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for 2011.
The 28-year-old Swede will drive a Skoda Sweden-backed, JM Racing-run Fabia in a seven-round IRC campaign, starting in Corsica in May. With drivers only able to count their best seven scores in the IRC season, Sandell's program should be sufficient for him to mount a title challenge.
Sandell said he was making the switch because he believed the IRC now offered the toughest challenge for an S2000 driver.
"The IRC was the ideal solution for us this year because the competition in the Super 2000 class is becoming much tougher," said the 2006 Junior WRC title-winner. "It feels like 10 to 15 drivers can win every race."
Although the IRC will now be his main focus this year, Sandell will still contest the S-WRC class in his home event, Rally Sweden, next weekend.