ESmotorsport cites sustainability as a key factor in its decision step up to World RX in 2022.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

European Champions ESmotorsport joins Kristoffersson Motorsport and ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport in confirming its 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship plans. 

The Lithuanian squad was founded by ex-racer Ernestas Staponkus, who competed in Euro RX’s Super1600 category and claimed a podium finish in Germany in 2014 before hanging up his helmet two years later to focus on establishing his own team.

ESmotorsport entered the World Championship scene for the first time in 2019, with Kevin Abbring driving their Škoda Fabia to fourth place in both Norway and Sweden that year.

Former FIA European Rallycross Champion and World RX race winner Reinis Nitišs stepped up and climbed behind the wheel of the Fabia Supercar for the double-header in Riga last year. 

In 2021, the team ran Andreas Bakkerud and Jānis Baumanis in Euro RX1, the Latvian famously winning on home soil last month and the Norwegian clinching the title at Spa-Francorchamps at the end of a thrilling season-long battle – although the primary aim of its combustion-engined activities was always to accumulate experience before embarking upon World RX’s exciting electric era, which is Staponkus’ overriding passion.

"After long internal discussions, we are excited to confirm that ESmotorsport will enter World RX in 2022. Even just a couple of years ago, it seemed inconceivable that we would have this kind of evolution in rallycross but here we are, with a brighter future just around the corner and we are excited to be a small part of this big transition," Robertas Maneikis, Team Manager, ESmotorsport, said.

"The results that we have managed to achieve in Euro RX1 this season ignited a new fire for us to fight amongst the most skilled and experienced competitors in the world next year – and whilst that will clearly not be easy, we are more than up for the challenge. 

"We believe that the new promoter alongside the FIA,  Kreisel and the other teams are doing a fantastic job looking at ways to make improvements for 2022, and Ernestas [Staponkus] is delighted by the decision to make the championship more sustainable – not to mention the awesome new RX1e beasts. Jaws are definitely going to drop when people see these cars on-track..."

Bakkerud crowned Euro RX Champion on 30th birthday.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media

Andreas Bakkerud was crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion for the third time in his career at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.  

At first, the 29-year-old looked destined to miss the 2021 season after struggling to put the budget together, but with all the pieces of th puzzle falling into place. Andreas was able to ink an 11th-hour deal to join the grid in the Euro RX1 category with ESMotorsport.

Having clinched a podium finish at round one in Sweden. There were signs that Bakkerud had the potential to fight for victories, if not the title, but the question remained: Would he return for the full season? Well! As the weeks progressed it became fairly clear that he would return for a few more events, which in the end resulted in him completing the full season. 

With one podium finish under his belt, Andreas found himself in championship contention with one round remaining. The scene was set... the title would be decided at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuits. 

The ESmotorsport driver claimed the top qualifiers spots and won his respective semi-final setting the scene for a thrilling finale in the Ardennes. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

A lights-to-flag victory cemented a hugely popular title triumph for Bakkerud, as Pailler followed him home to seal the runner-up spot with Jānis Baumanis in the second ESmotorsport Škoda Fabia completing the top three in both the event and the championship standings.

"This is absolutely crazy!" Andreas Bakkerud said. "I owe ESmotorsport a big ‘thank you’ for giving me the opportunity to compete in Euro RX1 this year – it really didn’t look like that would be happening before the start of the season. Everybody in the team has done such a great job. I’m very proud of them all, and there’s more to come."

"Hopefully, we have an even brighter future together."