Rallycross 2021

21-04-09 RallyX Nordic to be broadcast live and free-to-air in 2021
Entire RallyX Nordic campaign to be free for fans to tune into in 2021
Live coverage of all races in all classes on Facebook and YouTube
Global English-language feed to be accompanied by native broadcasts

After raising the bar in terms of what a rallycross event can deliver from a broadcast perspective last year, series organisers are delighted to reveal that the full RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires campaign will be shown live and free-to-air throughout 2021.

RallyX Nordic’s comprehensive broadcast package in 2020 set new standards with its spectacular drone footage, cutting-edge content and live studio interviews – all of which will continue to feature prominently in the forthcoming campaign, which will get underway at Nysum in Denmark on 1-2 May. Only this time, it will all be available for fans to view absolutely free of charge wherever they are in the world, with live feeds of all races in all classes on Facebook and YouTube.

The global live feed will be accompanied by English-language commentary to tell the story of the on-track action and the major talking points behind-the-scenes, plus pre-race build-up and post-show highlights. Negotiations are also ongoing with a range of mainstream national broadcasters to air the races, voiced by native-language speakers.

“There is a saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and we have applied that logic to the RallyX Nordic broadcast package,” explained RallyX Head of Media and Broadcast, Peter Lundgren. “The fans made it clear that they loved what they saw last year, so there was no need to change a winning formula – just improve it. To achieve that, we are committed to going the extra mile and redefining what a modern-day motorsport broadcast should look like – and most important of all, viewers won’t have to pay a penny.

“We worked extremely hard to ensure there would be no pay wall, and are thrilled to confirm that every single race in every single class – Supercar, Supercar Lites, CrossCar/Crosskart, CrossCar Junior and Open 2WD – will be shown live and in superb definition in 2021 across multiple platforms.

“This in turn opens up unrivalled sponsorship and promotional opportunities for forward-thinking brands keen to enhance their exposure in front of tens of thousands of loyal, passionate and knowledgeable spectators, whilst we are simultaneously engaged in positive discussions with a number of major channels to complement this coverage with native-language broadcasts.

“Building upon the success of 2020, it’s clearly going to be a hugely exciting season ahead – and quite simply, we want as many people to be able to enjoy it as possible.”

Following next month’s Danish double-header curtain-raiser at Nysum, RallyX Nordic will travel to Sweden for another double-header at the iconic Höljes circuit on 13-16 May. A new double-header fixture follows at OuluZone, close to the Arctic Circle in Finland, on 5-6 June before the action concludes and titles are decided at Arvika in Sweden over the course of a high-stakes single-header weekend on 13-15 August.

21-04-08 Enzo Ide kör RallyX Nordic med EKS JC
Belgiske racing- och rallycrossföraren Enzo Ide är klar för full Supercarsäsong i rallycrossmästerskapet RallyX Nordic. Han tävlar för det nya svenska teamet EKS JC.

Under vintern grundades ett helt nytt motorsportteam: EKS JC. Teamet är en sammanslagning av Joel Christofferssons JC och Mattias Ekströms EKS. Nu presenterar EKS JC sin första förare: Enzo Ide.

Ide har en framgångsrik racingkarriär med bland annat ett guld i Blancpain Sprint Series och en tredjeplats FIA GT3. 2018 sadlade han om till rallycross och den högsta klassen Supercar. Han har sedan dess kört utvalda deltävlingar av FIA World Rallycross Championship (VM), RallyX Nordic och Brittiska Mästerskapet. Ide avslutade 2020 års säsong med dubbla andraplatser under deltävlingarna på brittiska Lydden Hill, och kvalificerade sig även till semifinal i två VM-deltävlingar.

Nu är det klart att han ska köra en full säsong av RallyX Nordic i en Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. Årets mästerskaps körs i danska Nysum, finska OuluZone samt svenska Höljes och Arvika. Säsongen inleds i Danmark 1-2 maj och består av totalt sju deltävlingar.

Joel Christoffersson, teamchef EKS JC:
”Vi ser fram emot ett spännande år med Enzo. Han fick en bra avslutning på Lydden Hill i fjol med två pallplatser, så vi ser fram emot att kunna börja testa nu och förbereda oss så mycket som möjligt inför Danmark. Huvudmålet med RallyX Nordic för Enzos del är att försök få så mycket fart som möjligt i kroppen och kriga om finalplatser hela året. Kan han ta med farten som han visade i Lydden och jobba vidare på den redan nu kommer vi kunna vara med och slåss om finalplatserna utan problem.”

Enzo Ide, Supercar:
”Jag är väldigt glad att kunna köra hela säsongen av RallyX Nordic i år. Jag hade riktigt roligt förra året i Höljes, men det var också väldigt tufft för mig. Jag hade en helt ny bil, utan att testat något i den, så allt var helt nytt då. Nu har jag kunnat tillbringa mer tid i bilen och den passar mig väldigt bra. Jag ser verkligen fram emot att komma igång igen och vara tillbaka i rallycrossbilen. RallyX Nordic-mästerskapet är ett riktigt bra mästerskap, med många bra banor. Jag är väldigt glad att kunna fortsätta samarbetet med JC även i år, och köra min Audi S1 för EKS JC. De människorna som jobbar kring mig är trevliga och lätta att ha att göra med, något som är väldigt viktigt för att jag ska känna mig bekväm. När jag är bekväm förbättras min prestation automatiskt. Därför är det är viktigt att omge sig av ett bra team, så du kan ha roligt både i depån och på banan.”

21-03-31 RallyX Nordic introduces new BIO RACING 100% fuel in first step towards fossil-free future
Much of the RallyX Nordic grid to be powered by cutting-edge new fuel in 2021
Renewable P1 Racing biofuel outperforms fossil-fuel alternatives at no extra cost
Series working to reduce carbon footprint as it targets fully fossil-free paddock

RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires will debut a new, sustainably-produced, high-performing biofuel this season courtesy of an innovative partnership with P1 Racing Fuels, as the championship aims to lead the way in going 100% fossil-free by 2022.

With the global climate crisis the planet’s most pressing current issue and alternative technologies increasingly prevalent in motorsport, RallyX Nordic has been working hard to assess the best manner to care for the environment without compromising on either performance or spectacle.

In collaborating with market leader P1 – a company that has been liaising closely with championship organisers and world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, to pioneer renewable fuels since 2018 – the series is once again raising the bar.

Following extensive development and thorough safety testing, the revolutionary P1 Racing BIO RACING 100% fuel has now been approved for use in all classes, and not only will it significantly reduce RallyX Nordic’s carbon footprint, but it will also lead to increased power – without costing any more than the current fossil fuel.

In a world-first for rallycross, this new P1 biofuel will be mandatory in the Supercar Lites category in 2021 – and optional in all others. In 2022, it will be compulsory across the board as RallyX Nordic aims to make all of its events completely fossil-free.

Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of RallyX Nordic Promoter, RX Promotion, said:
“At RallyX Nordic, we’ve always tried to stay ahead of the curve, and we are hugely proud to confirm the introduction of this sustainably-produced, high-performance biofuel in conjunction with P1 Racing Fuels. A huge amount of development and refinement has gone into getting this new fuel ready to race, and we are delighted that it can be rolled out in time for the start of the coming season.

“Whilst we have only made BIO RACING 100% mandatory in one class for the moment, we are very confident that the performance gains are such that all competitors will soon elect to use it. This is just the first step in a longer-term plan that will see all RallyX Nordic cars running on fossil-free biofuel and – ultimately – an entirely fossil-free paddock.”

Martin Popilka, Chief Executive Officer, P1 Racing Fuels, added:
“Here at P1, we are passionate about working towards a more sustainable future for motorsport and have been focussing for some time on developing a completely fossil-free racing fuel for use in competitive environments.

“There is a stigma around biofuels that they don’t perform as well as fossil fuels, but the data proves that is completely untrue. What we have produced for RallyX Nordic is the world’s first fully renewable fuel that doesn’t feature any fossil-based components, without having to make any sacrifices on the performance front – indeed, recent dyno testing has shown that BIO RACING 100% actually generates more power, making it a win-win for everybody.”

The forthcoming RallyX Nordic campaign will rev into life with a Danish double-header at Nysum on 1-2 May, before travelling to Sweden for another double-header at the iconic Höljes circuit on 13-16 May. A new double-header fixture follows at OuluZone, close to the Arctic Circle in Finland, on 5-6 June before the action concludes and titles are decided at Arvika in Sweden over the course of a high-stakes single-header weekend on 13-15 August.

21-03-26 FIA World Rallycross Championship adjusts 2021 calendar
Amended fixture list confirmed for World RX and European RX series
· Headline World RX category features eight rounds at seven venues
· Germany’s Nürburgring hosts action-packed double-header
· Inaugural RX2e electric championship to star at six race weekends

Munich, 26 March 2021 – An amended 2021 calendar for the FIA World Rallycross Championship has been revealed today by WRC Promoter.

Eight World RX rounds for spectacular Supercars will be held at seven classic venues in Europe – Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, France, Latvia* and Belgium – between mid-June and mid-October.

The headline category will be supported at six of the seven race weekends by the first ever RX2e championship for electric cars.

The FIA European Rallycross Championship for RX1 and RX3 cars (formerly Supercar and Super1600) will be held at a mix of circuits within the main calendar.

This season marks the last of the Supercar era in World RX which will switch to new all-electric RX1e cars in 2022. The 500kW cars are set to become the fastest electric racers in the world and will showcase the performance possibilities of electric vehicles.

The continued challenges of the pandemic required pragmatic and strategic decisions regarding the calendar structure. It has been condensed and territorially contained to comply with health protocols and travel restrictions.

A return to a more global fixture list containing a greater number of rounds will be the aim for 2022.

WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel predicted an exciting season for both competitors and World RX fans.

“The calendar has been revised with the support of the World RX teams to ensure a fitting finale for the Supercars ahead of the start of the exciting electric era in 2022. We want maximum participation, whilst retaining a mouth-watering array of the best circuits,” he explained.

“We’ve made a strategic decision to start midway through the year to give organisers every possible opportunity to open their doors to fans in these challenging Covid-19 times.

“World RX fans are renowned for creating an exceptional atmosphere during race weekends and, along with individual country organisers, we’re doing all we can to provide the best chance of welcoming them.”

The 2021 championship in detail
The season kicks-off at Norway’s sweeping Hell circuit for the first time on 12 - 13 June and crosses the border into Sweden for the second round at the iconic Höljes track three weeks later.

The series moves south to the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in late July for Spain’s fixture, which will run to a new Friday / Saturday evening format.

Germany’s Nürburgring, nestled in the forests of the Eifel mountains, makes its World RX debut the following weekend. Based around the Müllenbachsleife amphitheatre section of the illustrious circuit, the track stages two rounds on consecutive days in the World RX category.

Early September takes competitors to Lohéac in west France, ahead of a planned return to the ever-popular Riga track in Latvia* for the penultimate fixture a fortnight later. Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit hosts the season finale in October.

The full calendar is:
Round Date Country Circuit Category
12-13 June Norway Hell 1, 2, 4
2-4 July Sweden Höljes 1, 2, 3, 4
23-24 July Spain Barcelona 1, 2, 4
31 July-1 August Germany Nürburgring 1**, 2
3-5 September France Lohéac 1, 2, 3, 4
18-19 September Latvia* Riga 1, 3
9-10 October Belgium Spa 1, 2, 3, 4

Category key: 1= World RX1, 2= RX2e, 3= Euro RX1, 4= Euro RX3
* Subject to promoter agreement ** Double-header in World RX1

Entries for the RX2e and the European Championships open on Monday 29 March at 12.00 CET.

21-03-16 Supercar Lites on-track for record-breaking RallyX Nordic grid
Unprecedented early interest in popular single-make class
100,000 SEK in prize money vouchers for Open 2WD competitors
‘Show-stopping’ 2021 campaign in prospect across the board

In evidence of the growing momentum surrounding RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires, the series appears to be on-course for a record-breaking Supercar Lites / RX2 class grid in 2021 – as prize money vouchers have been confirmed for the new Open 2WD category.

Supercar Lites has always been a popular feature of the RallyX Nordic package, with last year’s pulsating four-way title fight keeping the intrigue and excitement sky-high season-long and grabbing headlines at every turn.

Off the back of that, entries have been coming in thick and fast in recent weeks in all classes, and with just over a fortnight now remaining until full-season registration closes, indications suggest that the Supercar Lites / RX2 field in 2021 could be the biggest to-date.

“We have been overwhelmed by the interest in RallyX Nordic so far this year,” acknowledged Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of championship promoter, RX Promotion. “Last season for us was a huge success in spite of the complications caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and that certainly seems to have set us up for a show-stopping 2021 campaign.

“Entries are looking high across the board, but particularly so in Supercar Lites / RX2, which as a single-make category always generates spectacular racing while playing a key role in uncovering the Supercar stars of the future.”

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 SEK (c. €10.000) in prize money vouchers has been confirmed for final podiums and special achievements in Open 2WD – a class whose addition to the RallyX Nordic bill has already generated significant hype – following key partnership agreements with Motordesign Sweden AB, Gunnarsson Motorsport AB and Sellholm Tuning AB.

“We are delighted to be able to offer an even greater incentive to competitors in the new Open 2WD category,” added Steen. “We are grateful to Motordesign Sweden AB, Gunnarsson Motorsport AB and Sellholm Tuning AB for their support, and continue to seek more partners to further boost the prize fund for a category whose profile looks set to grow and grow.”

The forthcoming RallyX Nordic campaign will rev into life with a Danish double-header at Nysum on 1-2 May, before travelling to Sweden for another double-header at the iconic Höljes circuit on 13-16 May. A new double-header fixture follows at OuluZone, close to the Arctic Circle in Finland, on 5-6 June before the action concludes and titles are decided at Arvika in Sweden over the course of a high-stakes single-header weekend on 13-15 August.

Further details about the broadcast arrangement will be released in due course, with the full entry list to be revealed after the closing date of 1 April. Registrations can be filed here.

2021 RallyX Nordic Calendar
May 1-2 Rounds 1/2 Nysum, Denmark RallyX Nordic only
May 13-16 Rounds 3/4 Höljes, Sweden RallyX Nordic and Swedish Championship
June 5-6 Rounds 5/6 OuluZone, Finland RallyX Nordic only
August 13-15 Round 7 Arvika, Sweden RallyX Nordic and Swedish Championship

21-03-09 FIA RX2e to star at 2022 Race Of Champions
Motorsport legends to go head-to-head in FIA RX2e Championship car Electrifying power and performance to be unleashed on frozen Baltic Sea World RX stars effusive in their praise after sampling the car on the ice

The FIA RX2e Championship car is set to be put through its paces by some of the biggest names in global motorsport at the beginning of next year, after being announced as the first electric addition to the legendary Race Of Champions’ inaugural snow and ice event.

Since debuting in 1988, the Race Of Champions has been held in some of the most prestigious sporting venues in the world, from China’s Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing to Paris’ Stade de France, as well as London’s iconic Wembley and Olympic Stadiums. It has captivated fans in Mexico City and Miami, Barbados and Bangkok – but 2022 will mark its first venture into Scandinavia, with the Nordic region having bred 12 of its previous winners (seven individual, five as part of teams in the ROC Nations’ Cup).

As announced earlier this year, Pite Havsbad in Sweden will play host to the multi-discipline event for the next five years on a specially-designed circuit built on the frozen Baltic Sea, just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle – and FIA RX2e will be a major element of the show.

Set to race into life in just two-and-a-half months’ time, the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship has already been making waves on the international motorsport scene. During testing, the Olsbergs MSE and QEV Technologies-developed car has routinely wowed drivers with its instant torque and power, lightning-quick acceleration, excellent balance and stability and cutting-edge on-board features.

After testing it late last year, three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion and 2019 Race Of Champions Nations’ Cup winner Johan Kristoffersson – who will return in an effort to reclaim his ROC crown in 2022 – described the RX2e car as ‘impressive’, ‘a real step in the right direction’ and ‘a great springboard to World Championship level’.

What’s more, the Swede – the most successful rallycross driver of recent times – is far from the only one to have been won over by the four wheel-drive ‘pocket rocket’, built around a spaceframe chassis and incorporating two independent powertrains alongside a 30kWh battery, with the motors generating 250kW (335bhp) of power and up to 510Nm torque.

Fellow World RX race-winner Kevin Eriksson and countryman Anton Marklund – a multiple podium-finisher at the pinnacle of the sport – similarly tried out the RX2e car on the ice last week, and both were full of praise for its performance.

Kevin Eriksson said:
“This was a completely new world for me and I didn’t really know what to expect – I had never been in an electric race car before and had only been in an electric road car once – but I have to say, the RX2e car lived up to all my expectations and then some.

“The driveability is the biggest thing. In a Supercar, although you have a lot of power, you can find yourself in the wrong gear sometimes or the revs might be too low which causes a slight delay, but in this car, the torque and power are always right there. That was the major surprise for me. It was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it again!”

Anton Marklund echoed:
“It was my first time in a rallycross car with an electric powertrain, and my first impression was how easy the RX2e car was to drive, which was a very positive surprise. It handles very nicely, and I didn’t miss the gearbox at all – the electric motors give you the power you need from low revs to high revs, and you can really exploit that. Overall, it was a real pleasure to drive and I’m already looking forward to having the opportunity to try it again.”

Whether Eriksson or Marklund will be amongst the Race Of Champions contenders in 2022 remains to be seen, but the event has established a reputation for attracting superstars from all areas of the sport, with previous participants including Michael Schumacher, Tom Kristensen, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Petter Solberg, Sébastien Loeb, Travis Pastrana, Jimmie Johnson, Juan-Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon.

Whoever ultimately contests the event, it promises to be the ultimate test of speed, skill and control, with the RX2e car set to play a headlining role in what is sure to be a sensational show – while simultaneously exhibiting the extraordinary potential of EV technology. Race Of Champions was the first major international motorsport event to introduce electric race cars back in 2010, and is aiming to be fully sustainable and carbon-neutral next year.

Fredrik Johnsson, President and Co-Founder, Race Of Champions, commented:
“We are very happy to announce the stunning FIA RX2e car as the first electric car amongst the vehicles for the Race Of Champions Snow & Ice event at Pite Havsbad in Sweden, and we look forward to building a mutually successful long-term partnership together.

“From what we have seen during the first tests, this brand new electric rallycross car has very impressive torque and overall performance. I’m confident that the RX2e car will be a spectacular addition to the event and that the many star drivers at Race Of Champions will love pushing this electric car to its limits as they compete head-to-head to prove that they are the fastest!”

???Andreas Eriksson, CEO, Olsbergs MSE, said:
“We are thrilled to see the FIA RX2e car confirmed as part of the first-ever Race Of Champions to be held on the ice, and would like to thank Fredrik and his team for including us in what is always one of the highlights on the annual motorsport calendar.

“Race Of Champions invariably attracts the very crème de la crème of international superstars, and seeing them take to the track in the RX2e car will be an awesome sight. Rallycross is renowned for producing some of the most breathtaking action in the sport, and with this car’s eye-watering acceleration and ‘send-it-sideways’ style, I have no doubt that fans will enjoy every single moment – as, of course, will the drivers behind the wheel...”

Joan Orús, CEO, QEV Technologies, added:
“A tremendous amount of hard work has gone into getting the new FIA RX2e project off the ground, and the current interest in the championship is just reward for everybody’s incredible efforts – but to be added to the 2022 Race Of Champions bill really is the icing on the cake and something very special indeed. It promises to give drivers from across the motorsport spectrum and fans in every corner of the globe an insight into rallycross’ exciting electric future.

“This is an event that brings together the very best racers in the world, and putting them on the ice will drag the vast majority right out of their comfort zone, so it will be fascinating to see who gets to grips with that challenge the quickest. It will also be very interesting and useful to gauge their feedback about the RX2e car, which they will clearly need to master if they want to win. We look forward to finding out who those drivers will be.”

21-02-24 Rallycross' next generation get to grips with FIA RX2e car
Prospective competitors enjoy their first taste of electric rallycross in Spain
World RX ace De Ridder hails ‘hugely impressive’ instant power and torque
Young gun Steinsholt ‘working hard’ to join the grid for inaugural campaign

Seven drivers got a glimpse of the future when they tried out the new FIA RX2e Championship car around Spain’s Circuit Calafat earlier this month, with the test drawing unanimous praise ahead of the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship’s inaugural season.

FIA RX2e will join the undercard to the high-profile FIA World Rallycross Championship at six European events in 2021, beginning at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 22/23 May.

In anticipation of what is expected to be a full 20-car grid for the championship’s maiden campaign, testing has been proceeding at a rapid rate, with official test-driver Oliver Eriksson and namesake and countryman Sebastian Eriksson both putting the car through its paces in recent months.

The test days at Calafat – in Spain’s northern Catalunya region – marked the first opportunity for prospective competitors to climb into the cockpit themselves and experience the FIA RX2e car’s cutting-edge on-board technology. Guillaume De Ridder, Ole Henry Steinsholt, Damien Meunier, Iván Ares, Pepe Arqué, Pablo Suárez and Guillaume Meura all took turns behind the wheel, and all were unquestionably impressed (see individual feedback below).

Jointly designed and developed by Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies and Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE, the bespoke, lightweight, four wheel-drive RX2e car is built around a spaceframe chassis and incorporates two independent powertrains alongside a final-spec 30kWh battery, with the motor generating 250kW (335bhp) of power and – following recent upgrades – up to 510Nm torque.

The battery is mounted next to the driver in the centre of the car to ensure optimum, 50/50 weight distribution, while power is supplied evenly to the front and rear wheels by a pair of motors and inverters, all of which benefit from a cooling system to prevent excessive temperatures.

From inside the cockpit, competitors can manually adjust the amount of torque produced by the front and rear motors, the total torque deployed by all four wheels during the launch and the degree of regenerative braking on the front and rear axles.

Driver Quotes
Guillaume De Ridder
Former FIA World RX driver and RX2 International Series runner-up
“This was my first time in an electric car, and I have to admit, I was very pleasantly surprised. Although there was some initial adaptation required, right from the opening laps, the RX2e car instilled me with a lot of confidence thanks to its excellent balance. Placing the battery in the middle gives it a lower centre of gravity and greatly improves stability through corners and under braking, enabling the driver to brake later. It also means you don’t really notice the extra weight.

“To be honest, it drives very much like a combustion-engined car, but with several key advantages. The instant torque and power are hugely impressive, and not having to shift gears allows you to focus 100 per cent on your driving and all the details around that so you can improve your precision and efficiency.

“Although there is obviously less noise, it certainly isn’t silent and the flipside is that you experience an added feeling of speed from inside the car, plus you can now hear additional feedback such as the wheels spinning or sliding, which helps you to react faster when you’re on the limit. Overall, I was really impressed by the performance of the RX2e car, and I’m already looking forward to getting behind the wheel again.”

Ole Henry Steinsholt
FIA Euro RX Super1600 driver, former European and Norwegian Crosskart champion
“I’ve competed in a lot of different classes, but this represented my first experience of driving an electric race car, and it was a very positive one. The handling and stability of the RX2e car is very good, and it’s faster than the existing Supercar Lites model – it was incredible to feel the power and very engaging to drive.

“Overall, the test was really encouraging, and I am working hard to make it onto the starting grid for what is sure to be a very exciting first season in RX2e. Whether you like it or not, electric is definitely the future of motorsport. If and when the manufacturers return to rallycross, I believe this is the only way.”

Damien Meunier
Former RX2 International Series and French Rallycross Championship driver
“Although I’ve driven electric cars on the road, this was my first time in an electric race car and I have to say, the RX2e car is really enjoyable to drive. The on-board technology is incredible. There are a lot of parameters involved and I was very surprised by the acceleration – it actually felt like being back in a combustion-engined Supercar.

“QEV and OMSE have done an outstanding job in developing this car, and I was able to make tweaks and changes every time I went out. Over the course of just one day behind the wheel, I felt like I took a tremendous step forward.

“As a championship, RX2e definitely has a lot of potential. Yes, we lose the engine noise which is a shame, but if rallycross is to attract the manufacturers back again and secure its future, electric is the only way to go.”

Iván Ares
FIA European Rally Championship podium-finisher; former Spanish Rally Champion
“The test was an amazing experience. The RX2e car’s behaviour was great – better than I had anticipated, for sure. At the beginning, the feeling was a little bit strange because there isn’t a gearbox as I am accustomed to, but I soon got used to that and thanks to the incredible support of the technical crew, it was an awesome day!

“With the equality between all the cars, I think that the FIA RX2e Championship is a very attractive proposition, so I hope to get another chance to drive in it – perhaps in a real race next time...”

Pepe Arqué
Rallycross and Crosskart driver, ex-RX Academy driver
“The test was a bit of a ‘first’ for me – my first time driving an electric car and first time with four wheel-drive – and it was an amazing day. It definitely created a strong impression. The RX2e car is very easy to drive, well-balanced and predictable, and there are lots of little set-up aspects you can adjust. I was surprised by how much power was available, too – the instant reaction when it launches was particularly impressive. I’d never experienced acceleration like that before.

“I’m very thankful to QEV Technologies and FIA RX2e for giving me the opportunity to test this car. It’s clearly going to be a very interesting, competitive and close championship, and for me, there’s no question that electric cars are the future for motorsport and that rallycross is the best discipline for them. The short, sharp races mean their performance can be exploited to the maximum.”

Pablo Suárez
Rally driver, test and development driver; 2nd in class on 2017 WRC Rally Catalunya
“I really enjoyed the experience of driving the RX2e car. It was a huge privilege to share a test track with Oliver Eriksson and receive help and advice from him and other great drivers.

“The car is awesome – it’s easy to drive close to the limit, it reacts quickly to driver input and it has a really well-balanced chassis. Instant torque is what every driver wants in a car, and you just have to modulate the throttle to manage the power. Also, without having gears to shift, you can focus on being smooth and finding the best line.

“I’m working hard to get the budget together to enter the championship. I really believe in this project and that environmentally-friendly and sustainable rallycross races are not only possible, but will also be a lot of fun.”

Guillaume Meura
Cross-country rally and electric touring car / GT driver
“My first experience of both rallycross and RX2e was fantastic. The car was very easy to learn, super agile and great fun to drive, and I was really impressed by its overall sensations – as well, obviously, as its power and speed. At the same time, everything felt very stable and well-controlled, and it has excellent traction on both gravel and asphalt. There is also a pretty big jump at Calafat that the suspension handled perfectly.

“There is a common misconception that because electric cars are generally heavier than internal combustion cars, they must be slower, but the reality is totally the opposite, as the RX2e car goes to show. That wasn’t a surprise to me, as I have several years’ experience of driving electric cars. There’s no question that electric is the future for motorsport, and this championship is certain to attract a very high calibre of competitors. I would love the chance to be amongst them.”

Following the opening round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the 2021 FIA RX2e Championship will visit Hell in Norway (12/13 June), Höljes in Sweden (3/4 July), Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain (24/25 July) and the Nürburgring in Germany (31 July / 1 August) before concluding at Lohéac in France (4/5 September).

21-02-19 JC Raceteknik och EKS förenas – bildar teamet EKS JC
De två framgångsrika teamen EKS och JC Raceteknik slår sig samman under 2021 och framåt. Med samlad kraft bildar det gemensamma teamet EKS JC, och ambitionerna är höga.

JC Raceteknik och EKS är två team som båda tagit varsitt team-guld i rallycross-VM (FIA World Rallycross Championship). Nu står det klart att de under 2021 kommer slå sig samman för flera framtida motorsportprojekt.

Det nyligen bildade teamet kommer gå under namnet EKS JC, med JC Racetekniks grundare Joel Christoffersson som teamchef. EKS JCs första tävling blir rally-VM (FIA World Rally Championship) i Finland redan i slutet av februari, där Mattias Ekström kommer till start i klassen WRC3 tillsammans med kartläsare Emil Bergqvist.

Joel Christoffersson, teamchef EKS JC:
”Jag och Mattias delar samma tankesätt och inställning för sporten. Det är en av huvudanledningarna till att våra samarbeten har varit så framgångsrika, och ger oss också en stabil grund att bygga vidare på. För 2021 kommer vi helt klart att fokusera på rallycross-VM, med målet att inte bara vinna team-VM utan även förarmästerskapet. Vi kollar också närmare på flera andra projekt för att kunna bredda oss inom fler sporter än bara rallycross.”

Mattias Ekström, EKS grundare:
”Jag bildade teamet EKS under 2014 med ambitionen att vinna tävlingar och mästerskap, och kunde uppnå det 2016 genom att vinna både förar-VM och team-VM i rallycross. Under 2019 och 2020 tog JC Raceteknik våra bilar till toppen av tre stora mästerskap: RallyX Nordic, EM och VM. Från och med nu kommer Joel att ta hand om alla EKS och JC Racetekniks gemensamma projekt – rallycross, rally, crosskart och allt annat som kommer upp. Vi kollar också närmare på framtiden inom elektrisk motorsport, och förr än senare kommer det finnas en helt eldriven bil i vårt garage.”

21-02-16 Rosenqvist: Rallycross is tailor-made for electric technology – and QEV are masters of it
NTT INDYCAR SERIES star tips FIA RX2e to light up the international rallycross scene
Swede recalls QEV’s ‘passion’ and ‘professionalism’ from Formula E partnership
29-year-old says drivers and fans can expect spectacular racing and ‘crazy acceleration’

FIA Formula E and NTT INDYCAR SERIES race-winner Felix Rosenqvist has high hopes for the new FIA RX2e Championship – the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship – describing the discipline as ‘the perfect format’ for electrification and QEV Technologies as masters of the electro-mobility game.

Even before the age of 30, Rosenqvist has already forged a deserved reputation as one of Scandinavia’s most successful – and versatile – motorsport stars. Having conquered both the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and iconic Macau Grand Prix – twice, in the case of the latter – the Swede stepped up to Formula E for the 2016/17 campaign with Mahindra Racing, a team run in large part by QEV.

From two seasons in the all-electric single-seater series, Rosenqvist achieved three race wins, four further podium finishes and an impressive third place in the overall championship standings. The 29-year-old has since gone on to establish himself as a front-running competitor in North America’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren SP, after securing ‘Rookie of the Year’ honours in 2019, but he retains fond memories of his time spent working with QEV in Formula E.

“That was a really special period in my career,” he reflects. “We had a lot of fun together. As an electric series, software is the biggest factor in Formula E, and that is unquestionably QEV’s strength. There are a million different things you can do to a car from a software point-of-view – within the parameters of the regulations, of course – and as somebody that grew up as part of the computer generation, that really appealed to me.

“All the guys at QEV are ultra-professional, and what really struck me was just how passionate they are about the technology. For every problem we encountered, they rapidly found a solution and they would spend countless hours working to extract every last thousandth-of-a-second.

“Since then, they have turned from a comparatively small operation into a much bigger one, with experience and success in a range of disciplines and on both the racing and road car side – and I have no doubt that they will make a similar success out of RX2e. Rallycross is obviously something new for them, but at the end of the day, like any other type of motorsport, it’s still about going fast and doing so in an efficient manner.”

Indeed, with its succession of short, sharp bouts, rallycross is in many respects the ideal arena for electric technology, and Rosenqvist is swift to point out the benefits not only from an environmental standpoint but on the performance side too, predicting faster races and eye-watering acceleration from the new FIA World Rallycross Championship feeder series.

“Electric technology has progressed hugely over the past seven years – just look at how much quicker Formula E cars are now compared to back then – and all of that progress can be filtered into RX2e,” he explains.

“Weight has been the biggest limiting factor, but electric motors are getting lighter all the time and in any case, you can get away with carrying a little bit more weight in rallycross because the races are shorter and you have a lot of power available. Rallycross could almost have been tailor-made for electric technology – it has the perfect format.

“I think the RX2e car will definitely represent a step forward in performance terms. People always talk about the acceleration in an electric road car – well guess what, it’s exactly the same thing in a race car. You get crazy acceleration out of an electric motor – you can exit every corner flat-out, which is incredible.

“A few years ago, everybody was dead-set against electric technology, but the world is changing fast and the fact of the matter is that whoever doesn’t get on-board with it now is going to be left behind. This is the future, and I’m really excited to see the RX2e car in action...”

21-02-16 Hansen becomes first rallycross team to join UN Sports for Climate Action Framework
Hansen Motorsport has joined the race against climate change as the first rallycross team to become a signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s ‘Sports for Climate Action’ initiative, affirming its push towards building a more sustainable future for motorsport and wider society.

As multiple top-level rallycross championships prepare to adopt all-electric formulas in 2022, Hansen has recognised its responsibility to play an active role improving the sustainability of motorsport and encouraging the wider motorsport community to work towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.

This commitment is based on five key principles laid out in the UNFCCC’s Sports for Climate Action Framework:

Promote greater environmental responsibility
Reduce the overall climate impact from sports
Use our platform to educate for climate action
Promote sustainable and responsible consumption
Advocate for climate action through our communications

These principles will inform the way Hansen operates in future, working to reduce its own impact on the environment along with utilising our sport’s reach strive towards collective action for achieving climate neutrality.

Susann Hansen, Team Manager for Hansen Motorsport, will oversee our team’s implementation of its new environmental strategy and push the team forwards to meet its sustainability goals.

By addressing environmental and sustainability issues through the medium of rallycross, a discipline that reaches millions of people across the globe, Hansen plans to lead by example and inspire motorsport fans to embrace the challenge of tackling climate change together.

Susann Hansen, Team Manager, Hansen Motorsport:
“Our family has always been passionate about environmental issues. Taking the next step and formally committing Hansen Motorsport to playing a bigger role in taking responsibility for a sustainable future was a natural progression of that passion.

“Since our earliest years as a racing team we have been actively supporting charities like the World Wildlife Fund in their quest to tackle marine pollution, for example, but in the long term this on its own is not enough. We must not only support others, but take action as individuals. And that message is central to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which was a key factor in making this commitment.

“We are creating new systems and new policies in our team to reduce our carbon footprint, and to lower consumption of energy and materials. But most importantly we want to show we are taking the race against climate change seriously, and we will only reach the finish line victorious if each and every one of us is working towards that goal.”

21-02-12 New era begins as World RX promoter confirmed
The FIA World Rallycross Championship – the top level of rallycross in which Team Hansen has won two manufacturers' titles and one drivers' title with Timmy Hansen – announced a new championship promoter, WRC Promoter, yesterday.

WRC Promoter has taken over responsibility for managing World RX from 2021, replacing outgoing promoter IMG, and is set to oversee the championship's switch to electric vehicles in 2022.

Team Hansen welcomes WRC Promoter to the championship and is looking forward to working together as rallycross moves into an ambitious new era.

The
Boss Kenneth Hansen
“From our initial conversations, we are encouraged they will take the series in a positive direction”

We are happy that WRC Promoter has been chosen as the new promoter of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Having seen the work WRC Promoter has done since taking over the World Rally Championship, we are confident the championship has a good future ahead of it.

“They are planning a long-term commitment to our sport and, from our initial conversations, we are encouraged they will take the series in a positive direction.

“By remaining on track introduce to electric vehicles in 2022, we believe the championship is going in the right direction to become bigger and more successful in the future. Motorsport has always been closely aligned with the car industry, and by adopting an electric formula, World RX will remain relevant for years to come.”

Kevin Hansen, Driver, Team Hansen
“I’m really looking forward to the electric revolution coming in our championship”

WRC Promoter has created huge value for rallying the last few years, so having them onboard is the best news for rallycross in a long time.

“I’m young, eager and hungry to win a world championship, and going for the title now with WRC Promoter in charge should give myself and my rivals the opportunity to become stars worldwide while trying to win it.

“I’m really looking forward to the electric revolution coming in our championship and what the future holds.”

21-02-11 FIA and WRC Promoter will join forces for FIA World Rallycross Championship
The FIA has today announced that it has paved the way to a promising co-operation with the World Rally Championship Promoter Group for the promotion of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The FIA and WRC Promoter will work together to implement the 2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship and look forward to concluding a multi-year promoter agreement for the German-based company to be entrusted with commercial and media rights for the series.

As part of the collaboration with WRC Promoter, the company has committed to investment in the world championship and in particular the development of the future electrification of rallycross.

From 2021, rallycross will launch the entry-level FIA RX2e Championship, the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship.

The 2021 FIA World RX (RX1) season is scheduled to start at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 22 - 23 May. The event will be supported by FIA RX2e. The FIA European RX1 and European RX3 Championships will also form part of the 2021 calendar.

The new RX1e electric FIA World Rallycross Championship will debut in 2022, featuring four-wheel drive 600+ hp/500 kW Touring Cars, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100kph in less than 2 seconds with performance levels that are capable of exceeding the current ICE Supercars.

Last month the FIA launched a request for proposal for the promotion of the FIA European Rallycross Championship from 2022-2025. Submissions for that tender are now under consideration.

Peter Bayer, Secretary General for Sport, FIA said: “We are pleased to be aligning with WRC Promoter as we build towards a ground-breaking electric future for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

“The FIA and WRC Promoter have reached a common vision on how to work together for the benefit and the growth of rallycross. Our respective teams are working on a long-form agreement, look forward to commencing work on the 2021 championship and to the move of the sport towards a bright, more sustainable and greener future.

“We have worked extensively with the company as the promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship for a number of years and we anticipate they will bring the same energy and dynamism to the promotion of rallycross.”

WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said: “World Rallycross sits on the verge of an innovative and pioneering future. We see strong growth potential in all areas and WRC Promoter is delighted to be at the forefront of a series focused on sustainable technology and e-mobility.

“Rallycross provides breathtaking thrills and spills and we will build new foundations to create an engaging and progressive platform for our global audience and partners.”

21-02-09 Finland completes 2021 RallyX Nordic calendar as entries open
Interest already high as series bids to build upon successful 2020 campaign
State-of-the-art broadcast package promises unrivalled return on investment
Finland returns to RallyX Nordic calendar with OuluZone fixture in June
Three double-headers and a super Swedish showdown to decide title fights

Entries have today (9 February) officially opened for the 2021 RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires campaign, as Finland rejoins the schedule with a double-header weekend at OuluZone.

Despite the disruption of the global pandemic, RallyX Nordic very much bucked the trend in 2020 with a tremendously successful season. Not only did the series stage the first major international rallycross event of the year last summer – Höljes’ high-profile ‘All-Star Magic Weekend’, attracting the likes of Johan Kristoffersson, Niclas Grönholm, Timmy Hansen, Oliver Solberg and Thierry Neuville – but it comprehensively shifted the goalposts in terms of what the discipline can deliver from a broadcast perspective.

Over the course of the campaign, NEP Sweden produced more than 43 hours of cutting-edge, live high-octane action, state-of-the-art drone footage and privileged behind-the-scenes insights (all of which can now be viewed for free here), taking viewers right to the very heart of the events during a period when trackside attendance was strictly off-limits.

In addition to keeping fans royally entertained – with pulsating title fights in every class rooting them to their seats season-long – it also ensured competitors enjoyed unprecedented levels of exposure and their sponsors benefitted from unparalleled return on investment, at a time when value for money was arguably more important than ever.

Far from content to rest upon their laurels, however, RallyX Nordic organisers and the creative brains at NEP have spent the off-season hard at work to ensure the broadcast package for the forthcoming campaign raises the bar even further, with details to be revealed in due course.

With five classes on the agenda – the pre-existing Supercar, Supercar Lites, CrossCar/Crosskart and CrossCar Junior categories joined by Open 2WD in 2021 – and interest already running at record levels, everything is set for another spectacular season of RallyX Nordic competition as bumper grids are anticipated across the board.

The campaign will rev into life with a Danish double-header at Nysum – scene of last year’s title-decider – on 1-2 May, while Sweden’s iconic Höljes circuit plays host to rounds three and four a fortnight later (13-16 May). Finland makes a welcome return to the calendar on 5-6 June with the double-header contest at OuluZone in the north of the country, before Arvika in southern Sweden brings the curtain down on proceedings with a single-header showdown on 13-15 August.

“We are delighted to confirm Finland’s return,” commented Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of RallyX Nordic promoter, RX Promotion. “We have always maintained a good relationship with the Finnish event organisers, and it was a shame we were not able to go there last year due to scheduling difficulties.

“As we said at the time, it was very much our intention to reinstate Finland to its rightful place on the RallyX Nordic calendar, and to have reached an agreement to race at OuluZone is fantastic news for all concerned. Together with Nysum, Höljes and Arvika, we are confident we now have all the ingredients for an exciting, varied and thrillingly unpredictable season ahead.”

Full-season entries will close on Thursday, 1 April. Registrations can be filed here

2021 RallyX Nordic Calendar
May 1-2 Rounds 1/2 Nysum, Denmark RallyX Nordic only
May 13-16 Rounds 3/4 Höljes, Sweden RallyX Nordic and Swedish Championship
June 5-6 Rounds 5/6 OuluZone, Finland RallyX Nordic only
August 13-15 Round 7 Arvika, Sweden RallyX Nordic and Swedish Championship

21-01-23 Registrations open for new FIA RX2e Championship
20 places available in first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship
Cars to be allocated on a first come, first served basis
Competitors will benefit from pre-season testing opportunities
Registration forms can be downloaded from new fia-rx2e.com website

Driver registration is officially open for the 2021 FIA RX2e Championship, with competitors encouraged to signal their interest quickly as excitement builds around the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship.

RX2e is set to electrify the international rallycross landscape in 2021, as it joins the undercard to the high-profile FIA World Rallycross Championship at six major European events – Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (22/23 May), Hell in Norway (12/13 June), Höljes in Sweden (3/4 July), Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain (24/25 July), the Nürburgring in Germany (31 July / 1 August) and Lohéac in France (4/5 September).

Jointly developed by Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies and Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE, the bespoke, lightweight, four wheel-drive RX2e car is built around a spaceframe chassis and incorporates two independent powertrains alongside a 32kWh battery, with the motor generating up to 250kW (335bhp) of power and 460Nm torque. As an overall rpm range average value, this represents respectively a 24% and 14% increase over the existing Supercar Lites car, narrowing the gap to rallycross’ headlining Supercar class.

What’s more, the emphasis will be placed firmly on ability behind the wheel as – in a first for rallycross – drivers will have three key parameters to play with before and between races, injecting an extra element of skill into the equation.

From inside the cockpit, competitors will be able to manually adjust the amount of torque produced by the front and rear motors, the total torque deployed by all four wheels during the launch and the degree of regenerative braking on the front and rear axles.

The car has been tested and refined extensively in recent months by two-time RX2 International Series title-winner and reigning RallyX Nordic Champion Oliver Eriksson, as well as namesake and FIA World RX event-winner Sebastian Eriksson. The former has high hopes for the pioneering new championship.

“It’s like an electric rollercoaster – you step on the throttle, and the car simply takes off and then keeps on accelerating,” enthused Eriksson, RX2e’s official test-driver and ambassador. “That’s the advantage of electric, and it’s all about learning how to handle and harness that power.

“As a driver, that’s really exciting and it will generate very close, competitive racing. The great thing about RX2e is that it will be entirely new for everybody – nobody will go into it with a prior advantage. That means that ultimately, it will be the driver that makes the difference, not the size of somebody’s wallet. I genuinely believe it will be the most talented and hardest-working driver that wins the championship.”

Cars will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, with full-season registration set to close five weeks ahead of the first event. Round-by-round registration will open on 5 April and will similarly close five weeks before each race weekend. Once this process has been successfully completed, entries must be formally registered with the FIA.

The initial registration form – as well as the official Championship Manual and accompanying Appendices – can be found in the ‘Regulations’ and ‘How to Register’ sections of the new FIA RX2e Championship website: fia-rx2e.com

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