Touring car legend Rickard Rydell

Rickard Rydell has been racing touring cars since 1994. The Swede started with Volvo, driving the spectacular 850 Estate. Since then he has racked up wins and titles. Currently Rydell is taking part in the World Touring Car Championship for SEAT and lies fourth in the championship. TouringCarTimes met up with the 1998 British Touring Car Championship champion and had a chat with the man.

What do you think about the season so far?

“I have four very strong teammates. They are all very quick. But we have a good atmosphere and a lot of fun during testing and racing. I have had three races without points so far, but the other races have worked very well.”

You seem to struggled with qualifying this year?

“Two years ago I had the best qualifying average. So I am a little bit disappointed with myself this season. Usually when I have a bad qualifying session, I’m quick in the race. In Valencia I struggled in qualifying, but I was fastest in the second race. We have often failed to find a good qualifying setup. You need to get everything right because the field is so close. Yvan (Muller) and Gabriele (Tarquini) have done a better job in qualifying this year.”

What do you think about the future of the WTCC?

“First of all I think we seriously have to think about the environmental issues with racing. We have to look at the pollution and diesel is for sure one way to do it. But we also have to look at energy systems similar to the ones they are introducing in Formula 1. The racing industry have to show the world that we are serious on these issues. Racing has developed a lot of important things for regular cars in the past. We have to show that the racing industry is open for the future, new ideas and new technologies. That is the big picture. The small picture is that the FIA have to get balance in WTCC. That is the most difficult thing right now.”

What about the rumors of Volvo entering the WTCC, could we see you in a C30?

“When I raced for Volvo there were other people working there. They have all left the team by now. I do not have any contact to Volvo now. I am quite sure that Volvo will not enter the WTCC. The Volvo S60 was another car. The C30 isn’t good for the WTCC-rules. The car is very quick in qualifying but not in the races. There were some STCC-races where they qualified very well but dropped back in the races. Just look at the Brands WTCC-race, they were really fast in qualifying but not so good in the race. They would not get the same weight and engine advantages in WTCC as they have in the Swedish Touring Car Championship.”

What do you think about the STCC?

“I have only seen a couple of races this year. For sure it is a very strong championship in the top, but then of course there are not that many cars. Fredrik Ekblom and Richard Göransson are very quick, as is Thed Björk with the Honda. And I am sure that there are two or three guys who could do well in the WTCC. I think the STCC is very good for such a small country.”

Would you consider driving in the STCC?

“I don’t think so. I have other plans. But I will never say never. At the moment it is WTCC for me. But after that, if I get a good offer from the right team and the right car, why not?”

What has been the best time in touring car racing for you so far?

“I really like the WTCC. I am in a good team and I can fight for the World Championship title. We are driving in Brazil, Mexico, Europe, Japan and China. To see all these countries is really nice. You go there for a week and you are together with all of drivers and the team. It is really nice because you get to know each other very well. It is like a football or hockey team. You are together for a long time and you build a relationship which is really good.

When I drove in the British Touring Car Championship I lived in Sweden. I only went to Britain for the tests and race and flew back on Sunday night. I had a close communication with the team then, but it wasn’t the same. But despite that I did enjoyed the time at Britain. I raced there for so many years. It feels like racing at home when I am in Britain. I have raced much more in Britain then what I have in Sweden.”

If you compare the old Super Touring Cars to the new S2000 cars – Which cars do you prefer?

“The Super Touring cars were more difficult to drive. It was a big challenge to drive a Super Tourer. But it is different today. You have to look at how close the field is, the entertainment, all the fans and the fun. This goes on the contrary to what the drivers feel. For me the touring cars is a balance between fun to drive and really good racing. The old Super Tourers were more fun to drive, but at the final years of Super Touring it got more and more difficult. The WTCC today is a great show with good racing and action. It is not such a big difference now compared to the past Super Touring years.”

If you look back at your career, was it the right choice to switch to touring cars in 1994?

“Before I made the switch to touring cars I raced in Japan for many years. I won Macau in 1992 with Tom’s Toyota and did well in Formula 3. I had an agreement with Toyota to drive F3000 in Japan for 1994. That was the right step for Formula 1. But then I became very ill in Japan and was in a hospital for a week. At the end of 1993 I got an offer from TWR to drive for them in BTCC. I didn’t want to go back to Japan. Now I had the chance to live in Sweden and to race in England. I thought that it was better for me.

But then at the launch of the car they (TWR/Volvo) said that we are going to race an estate. And I only thought, wow.. Right after that I thought that I perhaps should have stayed in Japan and driven F3000 instead. When I signed the contract I didn’t know that they would race with the Estate. But it was really fun. When I saw the car for the first time I was shocked. The car needed a lot of work before it was competitive. And the beginning of the season I thought it was a bad move for me, but after two seasons in in BTCC I knew it was the right decision.

I lived in Sweden and raced in England. I had a really happy life and still have. I do a lot of things outside the racing and I enjoy it. I enjoy racing and I love my job. Over the last 20 years I’ve always had a works contract. You could say that it is a very long time, but I am still motivated. I have a really hard training program for my fitness. I am happy with what I do.”

A while ago it looked as if you were on the way out of the racing scene, what were your plans then?

“Before I signed for SEAT last year, I only had the Aston Martin contract and I was thinking about my future. At the same time I got helicopter license. My plan was if I could not get a good job in racing, I would try to work as a commercial helicopter pilot as I have always dreamt of flying a helicopter.”

Where will you be in five years?

“In five years I might still be in racing, but in ten years probably not. After that I might be a helicopter pilot. But it is hard to say right now. You make a decision today and tomorrow there is something else. The way of life is changing all the time.”

You had a taste of the GT-cars when racing for Aston Martin, did you enjoy it?

“I enjoy touring cars more! A GT-car has more power, bigger tyres and is a bigger challenge to drive. But there are some important differences. In GT-racing you are always sharing the car with another driver. The WTCC is more competitive because you are racing for yourself, the mechanics and the team. I like the touring car racing, to be able to fight against the other drivers with some contact. I love the adrenalin rush you get in this type of racing.”

Which year has been best so far?

“That is a difficult question. 1992 was an important year when I won at Macau. But 1998 was a good one when I won the BTCC, that year was probably the best if you just look at the results. 2006 was also a good year for SEAT, I was very quick but we weren’t strong enough against BMW. But perhaps next year will be my best.. I am still really competitive.”