Abu Dhabi to host the opening round of the 2019 World RX championship.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

The 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship will begin in Abu Dhabi on 5/6 April, following the agreement of a long-term deal with Yas Marina Circuit announced today (2 October).

Next year, Abu Dhabi it will break new ground as it plays host to the first competitive rallycross event ever to be held in the Middle East. The rallycross track will utilise part of the legendary Formula 1 circuit, integrated into a challenging new purpose-built layout.

In line with recent additions to the World RX calendar – most notably Speedmachine at Silverstone and Circuit of The Americas – the Abu Dhabi season curtain-raiser will also be a festival of entertainment, incorporating live music.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Yas Marina Circuit, which enables us to bring rallycross to a part of the world the discipline has never visited before," said Paul Bellamy, SVP & Managing Director, Motorsports, IMG. "The Middle East is renowned for its enthusiasm for motorsport, and there is no championship more exciting and action-packed than World RX.

“With so much planned both on and off-track, the Abu Dhabi weekend will be a high-octane weekend of fast drivers, even faster cars and major music acts – the perfect way to kick-start another thrilling season of World RX competition.”

Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “Yas Marina Circuit is proud of its long track record of hosting thrilling internationally acclaimed motorsport races that attract fans from across the globe to Abu Dhabi and we are delighted to welcome the FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP to the ‘Meeting Place of Champions’.