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Gronholm plays down expectations on son's World Rallycross season

Two-time World Rally champion Marcus Gronholm has played down expectations of his son Niclas' rookie year in the World Rallycross Championship

Gronholm Jr and fellow 19-year-old Kevin Eriksson will front the Olsbergs MSE team's assault on this year's World RX series in a pair of Ford Fiesta RX Supercars.

His WRC legend father also returns to Andreas Eriksson's squad - with which he raced in Global Rallycross - but as team manager rather than a driver.

Gronholm Jr won last year's Finnish Rallycross title in a supercar, but he will still be short on seat time when he starts round one in Portugal next month.

"This is a learning year for Niclas," Gronholm Sr told Autosport.

"I thought maybe this was a little bit early for him, but Andreas had some ideas and wanted to do something.

"Niclas could probably do with some more testing and some more time in the race car, we will try to do what we can before the first race."

Gronholm Sr retired after suffering concussion in a rallycross crash at the 2012 X Games.

"For me, it's OK to drive fast again and maybe it would be nice to compete," he said, "but I don't think this would be a good decision at home.

"Tessa [Gronholm's wife] has the memory from X Games, it's not a nice one."

The 30-time WRC winner said his son is currently "a little bit too much of a gentleman" in his racecraft.

"Maybe he needs to be a little bit more aggressive; when the door is open he needs to go through it immediately," Gronholm said.

"This will come with experience. For me, it wasn't a problem - when I pulled on the helmet, straight away I was: 'Grrrr, I'm ready!'

"But, don't forget, I had raced a lot in motorbikes when I was earlier in my career."

Gronholm's long-time WRC rival Sebastien Loeb has switched to World RX with the Hansen-run works Peugeot team this year.

"It would be fantastic to see a Gronholm beating a Loeb," said Gronholm Sr.

"But I don't think [it will happen], not this year. Maybe next year, but you never know.

"I must admit, I was a little surprised when I saw Sebastien is doing all the championship.

"One thing is sure: he will be quick!"

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