Rafoss ‘taking everything step-by-step’ in rookie Euro RX1 campaign

The talented Norwegian teenager started out in the dual-surface discipline in 2022, exceeding his own expectations by twice reaching the top step of the rostrum as a rookie in the domestic series’ ‘Junior’ category – with the first of those victories achieved in a thrilling photo-finish.

After placing third in the final standings, Rafoss headed into battle in 2023 with a new Honda Civic at his disposal, going on to secure the championship runner-up spoils both that season and the next – but better still was to come. Over the course of what he describes as a ‘fantastic’ campaign last year, the Skien native won the opening four rounds on his way to clinching the coveted crown – and that opened a new door... 

“I got the opportunity to race my step-father David Nordgård’s Ford Fiesta Supercar in the last event of the Norwegian Championship in 2025,” the rising star explained. “It was very cool to drive – and very different to my Honda Civic! That weekend only made me want this even more, so I immediately began working on attracting sponsors to raise the budget I needed for a full season in Euro RX1.”

Having successfully done so, Rafoss will duly line up for the curtain-raising contest in Rīga next month (9-10 May) as part of a bumper, 30-strong grid, featuring legendary names of the sport such as eight-time world champion Johan Kristoffersson, former European champion Patrick O’Donovan, double French champion Fabien Pailler, local hero Jānis Baumanis and his own countryman, three-time Euro RX title-winner Andreas Bakkerud.

While he is under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge that awaits, the 19-year-old –one of the youngest drivers in the field – is adopting a mature approach that seems sure to serve him well.

After spending the off-season diligently rebuilding the Fiesta that he will pilot in 2026 – benefitting from the guidance and tutelage of former Euro RX TouringCar event-winner, Nordgård – he concluded the second day of last week’s pre-season group test around the historic Biķernieku trase in the Latvian capital inside the top ten on the Euro RX1 timesheets. It was a promising start.

“The main aim is to gain as much experience as possible and have some fun!” Rafoss revealed, looking ahead to what he envisions as a multi-year programme in the series. “I’ve never competed on any of the tracks before, and it will be really cool to discover them all. Everything is completely new, so it will clearly be a learning year for me and I want to learn as much as possible, taking everything race-by-race and step-by-step.

“The level in the European Championship this season is sky-high, so I’m not putting any pressure on myself. It goes without saying that I would love to reach the semi-finals, but as long as I do the best job I can, I will be happy. I’m really looking forward to getting started!”

Following the opening round of the campaign in Rīga, participants will lock horns at Nyirád in Hungary (30-31 May), Höljes in Sweden (4-5 July), Mondello Park in Ireland (18-19 July), Lohéac in France (29-30 August) and finally Lousada in Portugal, where champions will be crowned on 12-13 September.