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Karlsson replaces Villeneuve for German World Rallycross round

Ramona Karlsson will replace Jacques Villeneuve in the Albatec Racing team at the German round of the World Rallycross Championship next month

Villeneuve is set to miss the next two rounds of the championship in France and Germany due to clashing Formula 1 commentary commitments at the Italian and the Singapore Grands Prix.

Former Production World Rally Championship driver Karlsson made her top flight rallycross debut at the opening round of the season in Portugal in a Per Eklund Saab 93, becoming the first female to race in the World Rallycross Championship.

She qualified for the semi-finals but retired with steering failure after contact.

Karlsson has contested four of the six European events in the World Rallycross Championship so far but has since failed to make the semi-finals again and will switch to the Albatec-run Peugeot 208 vacated by Villeneuve at Buxtehude, Germany.

"In Holjes [Sweden], we had some technical issues with the car, which resulted in me not competing in Belgium, and I was approached by Albatec to see if I was interested in opening up discussions for 2015," said Karlsson.

"During that conversation, we talked about the commercial benefits of all parties for me to take part in some races this season, as I intend to contest the full World Rallycross Championship next year."

Karlsson will test the Peugeot 208 prior to the German event.

"I'm extremely excited to be joining them. I hope we have a good test and I get a good feeling for the car. I'm really looking forward to Germany and my goal is to reach the semi finals."

The Swede will be partnered by British driver and team owner Andy Scott, while fellow Briton David Binks will replace Villeneuve in the squad for the next round of the championship at Loheac in France.

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