The Finn is using the event to get back into the groove of competition after completing the final operation on his leg at the beginning of December, which was injured in practice for the 2012 X Games.

The distinctive Ford Fiesta that Topi is piloting this weekend will be run by French team Sainteloc, which is currently leading the Andros Trophy standings. Topi got his first taste of the 340-horsepower machine earlier this week, in a test at a venue close to the Isola 2000 circuit in France where this weekend’s races will take place. The 800-metre track – a similar length to rallycross – takes place at 2000 metres of altitude, on a circuit lined with snowbanks that is reminiscent of a stage on Rally Sweden. There are also categories for bikes and electric cars, with all the competitors using studded tyres to ensure the best possible grip.
”I’d say that I covered around 50 kilometres at the test, so really it was only a taste,” said Topi. ”But I enjoyed myself a lot: these cars are very good fun to drive. On the whole it is quite a different experience to rallycross, but there are still one or two things in common. The main thing is that you are much more sideways. Basically, you are hardly ever pointing straight at all! So you have to set up the car carefully before the corner and then drive through it. The power is not quite the same as our rallycross car, but for a surface like this, it’s certainly enough…”

The Isola 2000 weekend takes in two days of competition, on Friday and Saturday. During each day, there will be a practice session, two qualifying rounds and a final. Points are on offer for the qualifying rounds and the final, with the driver scoring the highest number of points at the end of the weekend declared the winner.

”I’m not going to make any predictions because the whole thing is still very new to me and I will be up against drivers with a lot of experience,” said Topi. ”But of course I will be doing my best and it would be great to get a good result. I think it will just be a question of learning as the weekend goes on, so I don’t really know about my potential in the Andros Trophy yet. There’s only one way to find out!”

The flying Finn only knows one speed: flat-out. And if he gets on well with the round at Isola 2000, he may even consider contesting some more Andros Trophy races in future.

More information about the Andros Trophy is available at www.tropheeandros.com