After losing the RallyX North championship lead to Carl Svedlund, Espen Isaksætre remains firmly in the title fight. With four races left this season, the Norwegian trails the Swedish rookie by just 14 points—a small enough deficit for him to head to Nysum with his ambitions intact.
Isaksætre had moved to the top of the standings after the opening race at Honkajoki, only to relinquish the lead to Svedlund the following day. Since then, the Swede’s impressive consistency has enabled him to extend the gap. Even so, the 2023 FIA Euro RX3 runner-up remains one of the leading title contenders.
With five final appearances from six starts, Isaksætre has claimed three podium finishes, including victory in the opening race at Älvsbyn. His semi-final exit the following day, however, prevented him from halting his rival’s progress. With only two double-headers remaining, the Norwegian has no intention of letting his guard down.
“There are still four races to go, and a lot can happen. My only aim is to give it everything every time I go out on track,” he stresses.
The season run-in begins this Saturday at Nysum, a track Isaksætre enjoys but where he has yet to turn his potential into the results he wants. The Norwegian hopes the lessons learned from his previous appearances will finally allow him to turn his fortunes around.
“The final four races of the season take place at two tracks I particularly enjoy: Nysum and Estering. I’ve never achieved the results I was hoping for at Nysum, but hopefully this year will be different.”
His past struggles at the Danish circuit cannot be traced to a single cause. While the pace was there at times, Isaksætre admits that several technical choices undermined his chances last season.
“At times, I had good speed, but something always seemed to happen. Looking back, I don’t think the car’s set-up was good enough last year.”
A new engine configuration had been used at Nysum before the team reverted to a different set-up at Estering, where the performance immediately returned.
“Those experiences have given us a clearer understanding of the direction we need to take. We have reviewed footage from last year to identify the areas where time can be gained.”
Extremely fast, Nysum demands great precision. Braking and the ability to maintain a consistent rhythm will undoubtedly be two of the keys to the weekend.
“The braking points are crucial. That is where you can gain a huge amount of time, but also lose a lot. The key is to find a good rhythm throughout the lap.”
The section after the jump changes as the weekend progresses and gravel is gradually pulled back onto the racing line, while the section beneath the bridge combines high speed, bumps and low grip.
“That section is bumpy and very fast, and the car slides around a lot. You have to find the right balance between staying calm and continuing to push for as long as possible.”
With only 14 points to make up on Svedlund and several rivals still bunched closely behind him, Isaksætre knows that a cautious approach could prove costly. Thomas Eek Murstad, Riku Huuhka and Joonatan Ylilammi all remain close enough to capitalise on the slightest mistake.
“When things are this tight, you have to attack on every lap. If you start trying to play it safe, you can quickly lose ground to the others.”
Although he has already competed at the highest European level, Isaksætre believes he is still learning, with this only his fourth season in CrossCar. The previous years have been devoted to understanding the specific demands of these machines and how to set them up.
That experience has nevertheless taught him how to deal with the unexpected. An engine failure, a puncture or an electrical problem can turn a weekend on its head and reshape the championship battle.
“It is better not to think too much about all the possible scenarios. The aim is to score as many points as possible at every opportunity.”
Nysum therefore represents more than another attempt to master a circuit that has rarely been kind to him. The Danish round also offers him the chance to halt Svedlund’s progress and remain within striking distance ahead of Estering.
As the final venue of the season, the German circuit will hold special significance for the Norwegian, three years after he lost the Euro RX3 title there to Damian Litwinowicz.
“I have some unfinished business there as well. I learned a lot from what happened there before, and that experience will help me this time.”