03/07/2024
According the latest news of Mats Öhman and the FIA decision of not letting him compete in Euro RX with his car I would like to highlight one of my old posts from RallyX at Solvalla 2016.
This is important. So please take the time to read it.
”During this weekend's rallycross championship at Solvalla, I took over four thousand of pictures. One of these stands out among all the photos of champagne showers and racing crashes.
The driver in the red race suit is Mats Öhman. He used to race in the European SnoCross Championship, but his career came to an abrupt end 18 years ago when he broke his neck during a competition in Russia. The accident left him 95 percent paralyzed. When Mats woke up at the hospital, and realized how severe injuries, his first question was: “How could life ever be normal again?”
He spent a long time in hospital and a new motorsport career felt impossible. But one day a guy came to the hospitals parking lot. He was also in a wheelchair, and drove his car all by himself. That gave Mats the determination: “If he can do it, so can I.”
The stubborn Swede built a specially designed rallycross car. The steering is controlled using the left arm, while throttle, gear change, brake and clutch are operated by the right arm. Thanks to that car, we have been able to see him on multiple tracks around the globe.
He recently said: “Racing is an incredible feeling, I can’t describe it. It’s like my body is working again and I feel normal. It’s the best rehabilitation in the world.”
Let's return to my picture.
Alexander is a small guy with a big smile on his face. He is at Solvalla to watch rallycross and of course he is cheering for Mats, thinking it is so cool to watch him drive.
It shimmers in Alexander's eyes when the mechanics gives him a tour of the car and explains how it can be driven without a steering wheel.
"I'm here to show Alexander that he can do anything, just in his own way," says his father.”
Mats is a role model, and a massive part of the sport. We need him. For Alexander, and every other person out there to prove the world wrong.
