Carlsson hopes third will help future

Carlsson scored his best ever finish in the WRC in his home event last weekend, finishing third after a titanic battle with fellow Mitsubishi privateer Gigi Galli.

Carlsson tied up the deal to run in the event in the WRC-spec machinery in the week before the rally, which was only confirmed at the eleventh hour when the other competitors agreed to the switch.

Now the former Peugeot WRC driver hopes the result will help attract backers for future rallies this season.

"It's like this: one week ago we had the meeting in England and I didn't have the budget sorted," Carlsson said. "After the recce I was still calling sponsors to get money for this rally. Hopefully the sponsorship will come after this podium.

"It's not so easy for me to predict what will happen this year. For me to come here with no testing it shows the potential in the car, no doubt.

"For me, it was easy to get into it and find a good pace to match the pace behind these two very fast guys. It's a good car, very good.

"Next week, I'm in Norway for the Norway Rally candidate event but I have no idea for the World Championship."