Pontus ꦅTidem꧅and has signed a contract to join Skoda Motorsport, it has been announced.

Tidemand, who won the Junior WRC title in 2013, will now drive a Skoda in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, making his debut with the works squad at the opening round in New Ze🍒aland next month.

"I am looking forward to this new challenge," said Tidemand. "I ღam proud that 🌞my name is now on the list of Skoda drivers - one of the most successful manufacturers in rallying."

Skoda boss Michal Hrabanek added: "Our team already boasts the Asia-Pacific champion Jan Kopecky and European champion Esapekka Lappi, who have performed impressively in recent years. To ensure 💙we are even better positioned to succeed in the future, we have now added another very talented duo, in the form ꧟of Pontus Tidemand and [his co-driver] Emil Axelsson.

"We firmly believe in the extraordinary qualities of Pontusꦍ and Emil," Hrabanek continued. "We plan to have our team running the new Skoda Fabia R 5 in the APRC by the end of the year - after all, the season finale takes place in our most important market, China."