Christine GZ "had a blast testing" the new "insanely fast" RX2e car.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA RX2e Championship.

Fresh from the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Extreme E racer Christine Giampaoli Zonca has been left impressed by the newly developed RX2e rallycross car.

The newly developed FIA RX2e Championship car is set to make its competitive debut this season. The four-wheel-driver 'pocket rocket' was built around a spaceframe chassis and incorporating two independent powertrains alongside a 30kWh battery, with the motors generating 335bhp (250kW) and up to 510Nm of torque. 

In the weeks leading up to the opening race of the season, tests were held at the Châteauroux in France and Spain’s Circuit Calafat, where a number of drivers tested the new electric race car, including Giampaoli Zonca, Cyril Raymond, Dani Clos, Johan Kristoffersson, Guillaume de Ridder, etc.

Speaking directly after testing the RX2e rallycross car, Giampaoli Zonca said, "I had a blast testing the new RX2e rallycross car! It’s insanely fast and light, with impressive acceleration."

The 27-year-old Italian has also highlighted the key qualities of the RX2e car.

"Another key quality to point out is the braking performance with the [energy] regen system, meaning you can adjust the balance based on each driver’s style," she said. "That’s really cool!" 

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Kristoffersson returns for RallyX Nordic season opener.

PHOTO CREDIT: Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS

Three-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson will return for the RallyX Nordic season opener in Denmark next month. 

Fresh from victory in the inaugural Extreme E race in the Saudi Arabian desert, Johan Kristoffersson has confirmed his participation in the 2021 RallyX Nordic season opener in Nysum, Denmark on 1-2 May. 

"It's nice to get going and to visit a track I have never been to before," Kristoffersson said.

Despite not being able to race the Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R supercar that he has used in the World RX championship, the Swede is quite confident of the improvements that have made to the KMS-built and updated Polo GTI RX car last year. 

"The car has a high capacity after last year's updates," he said. 

The team has confirmed that Johan will take the wheel of the Polo GTI RX in a test session next week at the Westombanan track. 

As we all know from his successful motorsport career, the 32-year-old does not aim for anything higher than victories. 

"[The aim is to] take the starts and stay away from problems as much as possible", he says. "The starting field looks to be good, so nothing is given."

At the moment, Johan is only registered to compete in the Danish double-header in Nysum next month, but it's rather clear that he wants to be able to complete the entire Nordic season.

"I hope so. We have that as a goal in any case," Kristoffersson said.

Will Johan return to the World Rallycross Championship in 2021? It does not seem likely at this point in time, as the team waits for the transition to electric power in 2022. But instead of waiting around, KMS aims to compete in the full RallyX Nordic season which consists of four race weekends and a total of seven races. 

"It's good to keep going. We are waiting for electric in rallycross, so this will be good driving training for that, and also for upcoming competitions in Extreme E," he concludes.

Sondre Evjen joins Ide at EKS JC for RallyX Nordic.

PHOTO CREDIT: JC Raceteknik

Sondre Evjen has signed up to race a Supercar in the RallyX Nordic series this season with EKS JC, joining Enzo Ide in the team. 

"It feels really nice to be back with the team. It was with Joel that I started my rallycross career, and we have always had a good dialogue," Evjen said. 

"I’ve had two educational years in the European Championship with the Kristoffersson team, where I developed as a driver and was able to improve the pace in the car. Aside from some tests, Nysum will be my first time in the Audi."

"The car is known for being strong and reliable, but it is also a demanding car to drive. It will be exciting to see if I can get into it straight away and be on the pace immediately in Denmark."

The 23-year-old Norwegian will race an Audi S1 ​​EKS RX Quattro and has already completed some testing pre-season. However, the opening rounds of RallyX Nordic in Nysum, Denmark will be his series debut with the Audi. 

Joel Christoffersson is thrilled by his strong driver line-up for the 2021 RallyX Nordic series. 

"It feels really good to strengthen the team with another strong driver. We have a good line-up and are excited to get to the first round," Joel Christoffersson, EKS JC Team Principal, said.

"Sondre has been on a short trip with the KMS team for a couple of years, and we’re pleased to have him back with us again. We know each other so it will be fun to work together and for the first time really focus on Supercar. Sondre’s a fast driver who has developed enormously during his two years in Supercar, so we will definitely be trying to fight for the top three at the end of the year."

Enzo Ide commits to full World RX campaign.

PHOTO CREDIT: JC Raceteknik

Enzo Ide will contest the full 2021 FIA World Rallycross Championship at the wheel of an Audi S1 EKS RX Quattro for EKS JC. 

The Belgian driver has had a successful circuit racing career having won the Blancpain Sprint Series and finishing third in FIA GTE. He then switched to rallycross in 2018 and has since contested selected rounds of World RX, RallyX Nordic, and British RX. 

Ide made his return to World RX in 2020 for the season finale Barcelona double-header in where he claimed a 13th and 12th place finish respectively, but this time around he will return for the full season. 

He will also compete in the full RallyX Nordic series this year with EKS JC. 

"I’m very happy to announce my second championship campaign for 2021. Already last year I dreamed of racing in two full championships, but due to different circumstances, it wasn’t possible," Enzo Ide said. "I’m very happy to be able to drive a full season in both the World Championship and RallyX Nordic together with EKS JC this year in my Audi S1 ​​EKS RX. I know it will be tough because only the top drivers compete in World RX, but for me, it's just about gaining experience and learning by competing against these professional drivers."

Enzo has confirmed that his testing programme started with EKS JC last week. 

"We have started testing and it’s very exciting to be back in a rallycross car. I want to take this opportunity to thank both Joel (Christoffersson) and Mattias (Ekström) for believing in me. Without them, this would never have been possible. This is a dream come true and I will enjoy it one hundred percent. I hope I can have many years with this strong team, and continue to create memories with all the fantastic people that are part of it," he adds.

In 2021, Joel Christoffersson collaborated with Mattias Ekström’s EKS team to create a new team "EKS JC", and will race in World RX this year with Ide – who was announced last week as also racing in the RallyX Nordic season.

"It's fantastic that we can enter a full World Championship season with Enzo, and to be part of him making that step. He will race in two championships this year and I feel that we will be well prepared for both," Joel Christoffersson, EKS JC Team Principal, said. 

"RallyX Nordic will be good practice for him to help improve his pace as much as possible for World RX. Enzo showed a strong development curve last year and finished the season with two really good results. He definitely has the speed to be in the semi-finals and that will be the goal throughout the season."

The 2021 World RX season is set to take place over eight rounds at seven circuits, starting at Hell, Norway on June 12-13.

EKS JC to field Enzo Ide in RallyX Nordic

PHOTO CREDIT: Jan-Kåre Rafoss

Belgian racing driver Enzo Ide will continue his rallycross venture with the newly formed EKS JC team in the full RallyX Nordic season. 

Ide has a successful circuit racing background with a Champion’s title in Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup and several podium finishes in various GT endurance races. In 2018, he made a switch to rallycross and since has competed in selected World RX, RallyX Nordic, and British Rallycross Championship rounds. He finished the 2020 season with a double 2nd place in British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill and also qualified for Semi-finals at two FIA World RX races.

The 29-year-old Belgian has committed to the full RallyX Nordic championship season in 2021 with EKS JC, in the EKS built and prepared Audi S1 EKS RX Quattro Supercar. 

"I am really happy to commit to a full RallyX Nordic season this year. Last year at Höljes I had good fun, but it was also quite tough. At the time I had very little time in the car and I was not fully ready. It will be different this year, as I have had a chance to adapt to the car and it suits me very well. I feel really excited to get back in the rallycross car, and enjoy RallyX Nordic, which features very nice race tracks and has good competition," Enzo Ide said. 

"I am pleased that I can continue to drive the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro with the EKS JC team. It is important for me to have a good atmosphere in the team, like we always have. It makes me feel comfortable and it helps to improve my result on track, while we still have a good fun in the paddock."

EKS JC Team Manager Joel Christoffersson says the team will begin their preparations with a pre-season test session, in order to be fully ready for the race in Denmark. 

Christoffersson adds that the main goal for Enzo in the RallyX Nordic championship is "to show a consistent and growing pace." 

"If he [Enzo] can continue from where we left last year in Lydden, he will have no problems fighting for the Final and podiums in every race," he concludes.

The championship will consist of four races, starting in May at Nysum (Denmark), that will be followed by rounds at Höljes (Sweden), OuluZone (Finland), and Arvika (Sweden).