Richard Goransson to make WRC car debut in Rally Sweden

The 33-year-old BMW race driver was at Prodrive's Banbury base yesterday to see the John Cooper Works WRC he will use on his home round of the World Rally Championship for the first time. Goransson will test the car for the first time in Sweden tomorrow and Friday.

Next week's event will be his second attempt at Rally Sweden, having finished 17th overall in a Group N Mitsubishi last season. Goransson was back in the Mitsubishi last weekend, contesting Rally Elverum - a snow event in Norway. Unfortunately he ditched his car in a snow bank with two stages remaining.

Goransson said: "I was happy with the performance [in Norway], but we will get better. [Rally Sweden] is going to be the biggest challenge in my career and I would lie if I didn't say that I am nervous."

Prodrive's Richard Taylor said Goransson's level of preparation had impressed everybody.

"He's certainly going about the event the right way," said Taylor. "His professionalism has been second to none and you'd have to say having seen the way he drove last year - and given his day job - he's not going to be hanging about. This is, however, a one-off outing with Richard, but it's going to be a great event for him and his supporters."

Those supporters in Sweden will be treated to the opportunity to watch Goransson's event unfold live on the internet. His Mini will carry onboard cameras which will be beaming the footage straight to his website for the duration of the WRC's second round.