The Red Bull Rally Team will again enter the 2009 World Rally Championship (PWRC) – with a line-up that is to a large extent new, as far as drivers and cars are concerned.  Raimund Baumschlager’s BRR team will ensure continuity in the technical implementation while aiming at defending the PWRC title once again.

The Red Bull Rally Team’s project of a successful title defence is getting valuable support on the part of the Škoda factory team.

The 2009 driver line-up is also deemed to be fit for the title. Sweden’s Patrik Sandell will tackle the Production WRC together with his co-driver and compatriot Emil Axelsson and enter a total of eight WRC events.

Patrik Sandell from Ostersund is 26 years of age and regarded as a great prospect in the even greater rallying nation of Sweden.

Co-driver Emil Axelsson is 25 years old, lives in Linköping and has accompanied Sandell ever since he entered rallying.

Sandell/Axelsson finished fourth overall in the 2008 PWRC – with a total of four podium finishes.

Patrik Sandell: “It’s really a great honour for me to be able to drive for the Red Bull Rally Team. I would love to repay their huge trust in me with the world championship title. After last year’s results I too think that my goal can only be the title.”

As already mentioned Sandell/Axelsson will drive a Škoda Fabia Super 2000 – with factory support by Škoda. Raimund Baumschlager, who has already been able to gain personal experience with the Škoda Fabia Super 2000 during tests, is of course looking forward to his new task as boss of the BRR team.

Baumschlager: “I’m glad to have one of the best drivers in our team with Patrik. For me there’s no doubt that he’s world champion material, that’s why our common goal can only be to defend the title for the Red Bull Rallye Team. I was able to form a very precise opinion about Patrik in 2008. Rarely have I seen a young driver work so hard on his career! His will, e.g. to find sponsors, even in hard times, impressed me. We expect the same ambition and effort during preparation for the rallies and of course in the competition as well.”