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Llovera looking forward to "home" event in Barcelona

Former Olympian Albert Llovera will compete in his third RX Lites Cup event of the season at the ninth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Barcelona next week.

The Andorran rally and Dakar competitor will be the most local driver racing in the World RX event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and hopes to build on experience gained in his first two appearances in Norway and Sweden as he targets qualification for the final. "I've been to Poland this week for a test with the team, but it was raining a little. I'm working to get into the final in Barcelona," said Llovera, who drives a car run by the LOTTO team. "If I can get through the semi-final and into the final, that would be really important for my sponsors, and it would be really exciting."

Llovera, who races using hand controls due to being paralysed from the waste down, has enjoyed his first taste of rallycross action this season and is working on a plan to compete full-time in 2017. "I love the rallycross, but I need more kilometres in the car. The starts especially are hard with the hand controls, so I need more practice. I'm looking to race full-time next year, we don't know our full plans yet but we may buy a car for ourselves. It depends on our budget, and we will probably also compete in the Dakar again."

The experienced driver is hoping for dry conditions at the Barcelona event, for both himself and the passionate Catalan spectators. "Racing in rallycross, in Barcelona, will be a new experience for me. People there know me as a rally driver, and I always have a lot of support - the spectators are very enthusiastic. I hope it is dry for the weekend. Sweden was hard for me because it was raining and I found it difficult with only a few laps of practice, so for me and the public I think it would be better if it is dry for the rallycross. I'm really looking forward to it."

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com