Pontus Tidemand is ready to once again defend the Swedish colours in the FIA World Rally Championship's Swedish event. This time he will be behind the wheel of an M-Sport run Ford Fiesta in the WRC 2 category, aiming for top position.

Rally Sweden is the second round in the WRC calendar and is traditionally one of the two winter events in the series. The rally takes place between 12 and 15 February and the two previous years, Pontus has been participating in the highest category – WRC. In 2013 he made a renowned debut where he ran as high as fourth and was the fastest Ford. Last year, in 2014, he finished eighth and scored thereby his first points in a World Rally Car. This year he comes to start in a Ford Fiesta running for M-Sport, but this time in WRC 2.

"Of course it would have been amazing to drive a WRC car again, but we're aiming for the WRC 2 championship this season and it is important to fight from the start and get a good result even in my home event" says Pontus. "Experience wise, I think my chances are pretty good as this is the WRC event that I have contested most times, but I know that there will be really tough competition."

2015 is an important year for Pontus when it comes to building a strong foundation for the future at the same time as making progress and the team is working hard on the details for the rest of the season. The plan is to mainly focus on the WRC 2 championship and contest as many events as possible. Pontus' international season starts in Sweden and with the support from EVEN Management, Tätab and several local companies, the Swede now gears up for battling on home soil.

During 2014 Pontus, who then was the reigning Junior World Rally Champion, mixed rally and rallycross in both World Series. In the WRC events that he contested, he successfully mastered a Ford Fiesta R5 in the same category that he will target during 2015. With two podium finishes from last year, including a victory, Pontus hopes to score the third in Sweden and he looks forward to another busy season:

"This will most definitely be an exciting year and I'm happy to start my season in Sweden as that is my highlight of the rally year. Last year I got to drive the R5 on gravel and asphalt so it will be really fun to see what a similar car can do on winter roads. We obviously aim for the top position at Rally Sweden, but I do not feel any pressure to perform just because I'm on home soil. Quite the opposite – I feel the support from the spectators and that encourages me to give that little bit extra!"