By Bill Wood

We've heard the rumors but now we hear it directly from three-time European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen. He says he's ready to commit to a 2012 campaign in the fledgling Global Rallycross Championship based here in the U.S. He told us he's prepared to leave the established European Rallycross Championship entirely if he can only find the budget to run only one series.

As an illustration of his commitment, Isachsen said he will move his car and his base of operations to Atlanta, Georgia where he'll be working with JRD Motorsports, the U.S. representative for chassis builder Ingvar Gunnarsson Motorsports AB of Öxnevalla, Sweden. The IGM shop is considered the best in the rallycross business. It built and maintains Isachsen's Ford Focus he won championships with in the ERC. Isachsen affectionately calls the Focus "Stina."

Isachsen is the three-time defending champion in the ERC, an FIA sanctioned series run throughout Europe from Sweden to Portugal. Sverre has won the last three titles including a come from behind championship in 2011 overcoming a mid-season points lead by American Tanner Foust. Foust wound up second in the points standings.

This exclusive podcast is a conversation with Isachsen, a 2010 X Games rallycross athlete, recorded Sunday afternoon at his home in Norway. That's all ahead in this special edition of Tech House & Speed. TRT: 18:26

We've learned that three-time European Rallycross Championship Sverre Isachsen, The Viking Warrior, plans to commit to a U.S. season in 2012. He told Tech House & Speed he'll run in the new Global Rallycross Championship exclusively if he can only find budget to run one series.

In this video from the Polish round of the European Rallycross Championship last year, his fourth win of the season. Isachsen closes the door on another round win and a lock on the 2011 title. Watch them try to chase him down through the dust trail he leaves behind. And watch the frustration of Frenchman Davy Jeanney who can't get around Sverre so he slams into him instead! In the field and their order of finish.

Third at Rallye Perce-Neige, the opening event in the Canadian Rally Championship, was Sylvain Vincent and his co-driver Simon Vincent from Terrebonne, Quebec who drove a steady event in an older 1994 Subaru Impreza. He said he had to overcome overheating issues on a frozen day. On top of that, he had to battle the cold inside the car when he heater malfunctioned.

Maybe the drive of the Rallye Perce-Neige, though, was turned in by CrazyLeo Urlichich who was hit with six minutes of penalties earlier Saturday when he didn't check into two controls in time. That pushed him well back in the 40 car field. But Urlichich and his new co-driver Carl williamson pushed throughout the day and even overcame a violent spin into a utility pole to claw their way back to second in the event. It was a stunning recovery.