USA dropped from World RX calendar to save costs.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

A revised 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar was announced yesterday by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council [WMSC] in Russia. The American round was dropped from the calendar for the next two years. 

The inaugural World RX of USA was held at the Circuit of the Americas in September earlier this year, and PSRX Volkswagen Sweden's Johan Kristoffersson won the event. 

IMG, the championships promoters have said that a reduction in costs for teams was the leading factor for dropping the World RX round.

“After consulting with the FIA and our World Championship teams, we have decided to reduce the number of events in our 2019 calendar," said World RX Managing Director for IMG, Paul Bellamy. "This decision has been made to help control costs for the teams and ensure the series remains as competitive as possible."

The WMSC have also approved a number of measures to control costs during the two-year transition to Electric Rallycross, including reduction in the calendar [10 rounds], a new limit on the number of personnel per team and shortening events to two days.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

In the current FIA Sporting Regulations, 21 personnel are permitted to attend a World RX race weekend. Sixteen are engineering personnel, two crew chiefs per car and a the team manager. 

World RX Managing Director for IMG, Paul Bellamy has confirmed that the Americas Rallycross [ARX] championship will go ahead as planned on September 28-29, and World RX teams will be allowed to compete in the race weekend. 

“We will run a round of the Americas Rallycross Championship at COTA on September 28-29, which World Rallycross teams will be welcome to compete in, but it will not be part of the World Championship," says Bellamy. 

Despite Americas absence from the World RX calendar for the next two years. The promoter is adamant that the championship will return to America in 2021. 

"We are planning the return of the World Championship to the USA in 2021 when we add electric cars," said Bellamy. "We are still very much committed to growing rallycross in the USA and will continue to build audiences and platforms through our Americas Rallycross Championship."

Exclusive Interview with Timmy Hansen.

Timmy Hansen speaking at the Saturday top 3 post-qualifying press conference.
PHOTO CREDIT: JunaidSamodien.

Timmy Hansen, son of Kenneth Hansen (14-time FIA European Rallycross Champion) competes in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

Hansen began his motorsport career in circuit racing, where he claimed the Swedish Karting Championship in 2008 and won races in Formula BMW, Formula Renault 2.0 Alps and the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. 

In April 2011, Timmy competed in his first ever rallycross event in France in a borrowed Citroën Xsara Supercar. 

In 2012, Kenneth Hansen (his father) offered him a one-off drive in the FIA European Rallycross Championship. 

The Swede started his rallycross career by taking part in the entire 2013 Euro RX series, after nine rounds finishing in 3rd place overall.

Timmy Hansen claimed one win and three podiums in the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship, and fourth overall in the championship standings. 

The Swede joined Team Peugeot-Hansen in 2015, and took three wins. He went on to claim second in the championship behind Petter Solberg.

In 2016, Hansen claimed a win at the World RX of Canada. He continued with the team in 2017 and claimed four more podiums. 

At the end of the 2017 season, Peugeot announced full factory support for Team Peugeot-Hansen. With the factory support came a name change. The teams name changed to Team Peugeot Total. 

In 2018, Team Peugeot Total got off to a competitive start, but later introduced an evolution of its baseline model - 208 WRX Evo. The new car was introduced in Sweden and showed strong pace.

Timmy claimed a third place in Belgium and a second place finish in Canada. He ended the 2018 season in sixth in the drivers' standings. 

Peugeot Sport announced their withdrawal from the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the end of the 2018 season, leaving Timmy Hansen, Sebastien Loeb and Kevin Hansen without a seat for the 2019 season.

TIMMY HANSEN - FIA World Rallycross Championship STATISTICS:
- 351 Races
- 5 Event Wins
- 24 Podiums
- 38 Qualfiying Round Wins
- 43 Finals Appearances
- 1045 Total Points

Being granted the opportunity, I conducted general interview with Team Peugeot Total's Timmy Hansen. 

Junaid Samodien: Who inspired you to become a racing driver? Was it your father? [14-times FIA European RX champion]

Timmy Hansen: I guess, it was my father. You know, I was always travelling to races. I grew up in the paddock, so must have been there. Its always been with me somehow. I can't remember a time, you know. Its been obvious for me. 

JS: What has been the highlight of your career to date?

TH: I don't know, probably when we became Team World Champions in 2015, and when I finished runner-up. 2015 was a good year for me. 

JS: What is your favourite World Rallycross circuit?

TH: For World Rallycross, its probably Sweden [Holjes]. Its a fantastic circuit! 

JS: With Peugeot Sport leaving the World Rallycross championship this year (2018). Where do you see yourself next year? World Rallycross without the Hansen surname [Hansen brothers] is not World Rallycross.

TH: I agree. I hope we make it, but a lot of pieces have to come together and right now its very far from being finished. We are working as hard as we can.

JS: Goodluck!

JS: What would you say to your fans who have supported you through your entire career? As they wait for the news on your future?

TH: I really appreciate their support. And, that is so important to have the support from them [Fans]. I am happy with all the comments that they have given me on social media and everywhere, and wishing me goodluck and hoping to see me back. That is super important and I need that support through the winter.

JS: The Peugeot 208 RX Evo has looked quick this season, since its introduction. Is there anything that you would change or could have done differently to achieve success this season [2018]?

TH: I think we've had performance wise, a very strong year. Especially, the beginning of the season, we were always qualifying well and so-on. I have 30-points minused for engine changes. Also, we have had quite a lot of DNF's [Did Not Finish]. So, performance wise, its been really good and without the points that I've lost. I think we would have been in this fight for second place.

Timmy Hansen out on track in his Peugeot 208 WRX Evo.
PHOTO CREDIT: Junaid Samodien

JS: With World RX changing from more traditional circuits to more festival styled venues. If you could change one thing about World Rallycross. What would it be and why?

TH: Nothing, I think its really good! I think its fantastic!

JS: What are your thoughts on the Electric Rallycross championship in 2021? Do you think it will be a success? 

TH: I am very excited. I think the car's will be super fast. Really, really fast! 

JS: Do you think that the reduction of sound compared to the current series will be an issue in 2021 [Electric Rallycross]? 

TH: No... No... I have driven a Formula E simulator, and honestly It took me like 20 minutes before I was like: "Ohh yeah... this is electric car". Because inside the car you still hear the rev of the engine, its a different sound. So, you know the electric sound, but you still hear the rev of the engine and it still sounds the same, but it is different. 

Of course, when we look at the next generation, I have a son now. And, probably when I am old, I am going to tell him about back in the day, how we had such loud cars and you know this V8 [engine]. Hear the sound of this and his going to be like, he does not understand. 

JS: You have spoken about your son? Would you let him continue the Hansen legacy and let him race when he is older?

TH: [Laughs] Whatever, he wants!  

Thank You to Timmy Hansen for answering my questions. Also, a big thank you to Alison Fyfe-Turck [Fyfe PR] and Charlotte of Team Peugeot Total for setting up the interview. 

Statistics and History Source: FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

TOP 30 PHOTOGRAPHS: 2018 Gumtree World Rallycross of South Africa - DAY 2.

The 2018 Gumtree World Rallycross of South Africa has come and gone, but the memories will last forever, and so will photographs taken at the event. 

Over the course of the World RX event, I captured an incredible 5215 photographs on a  Nikon D3100 (body) with two lenses - 18-55mm and 55-200mm.

Day Two promised to be exciting after Sebastien Loeb took the overnight top qualifiers spot, and the 2018 Champion Johan Kristoffersson would have to launch a fight back to claim the overall top qualifiers spot. 

The Swede fought back and claimed wins in the two qualifying heats, and on count back claimed the overall top qualifiers spot. 

Oliver Eriksson was crowned the 2018 RX2 Series World Champion.

Kristoffersson claimed his 11th win from 12 rounds in Cape Town, with Mattias Ekstrom in second, Sebastien Loeb third, Kevin Hansen in fourth, DNF's for Timmy Hansen and Petter Solberg. 

Timo Scheider chatting outside the Munnich Motorsport garage.

Timur Timerzyanov initiating a slide to enter the dirt corner perfectly. 

Guerlain Chicherit attacking the barriers. 

Kevin Hansen attacking the kerbs.

RX2 driver Oliver Eriksson landing his jump.

National Rally demo.

South African Cross Country Series demo with Renault. 

South African Cross Country Series buggy demo lap.

Janis Baumanis flirting with the barriers. 

Niclas Gronholm with the stunning Table Mountain in the background.

Johan Kristoffersson leading the qualifying 3 session.

Andreas Bakkerud flirting with the barriers in pursuit of Petter Solberg.

Synchronized RX2 jumping.

Jason Webb drifting his MONstang. 

Robin Larsson turned around by his teammate Kevin Eriksson.

Kevin Eriksson being chased down by Guerlain Chicherit.

Andreas Bakkerud defending Turn 2 with Kevin Hansen and Timo Scheider attacking from behind.

Kristoffersson taking the kerb, while Solberg and Ekstrom are trying a different line in Turn 2.

RX2 driver Trogen leading the way. 

Timmy Hansen leading the way while Bakkerud has a sideways moment on the jump.

Some serious air for Petter Solberg.

RX2 driver Gryazin got caught off-guard by Oliver Eriksson and rear ended him. Gryazin continued racing with the damage. 

Johan Kristoffersson and Petter Solberg neck and neck with the Loeb, T. Hansen, Ekstrom and K. Hansen chasing.

Ekstrom leading Loeb and Hansen. 

Johan Kristoffersson celebrating his win. 

The PODIUM with WINNER Kristoffersson, Ekstrom and Loeb. Including Petter Solberg with the Supercharge Award.

Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson celebrate their results.

Sebastien Loeb and Mattias Ekstrom gate crash the celebratory photo. 

Oliver Solberg hugging his father after the World RX final retirement (after an incident on lap 2).

The 2018 FIA World Rallycross Champions - PSRX Volkswagen Sweden.

The TOP THREE drivers in the FIA World Rallycross PRESS CONFERENCE. 

I truly hope that you have enjoyed these photographs and the galleries!

TOP 20 PHOTOGRAPHS: 2018 Gumtree World Rallycross of South Africa - DAY 1.

The 2018 Gumtree World Rallycross of South Africa has come and gone, but the memories will last forever, and so will photographs taken at the event. 

Over the course of the World RX weekend, I captured an incredible 5215 photographs on a little Nikon D3100 (body) with two lenses - 18-55mm and 55-200mm.

Day One was rather thrilling with Aerobatic display's, National Rally demos, RX2 and the World RX supercars taking to the track. 

Sebastien Loeb topped the day, while Johan Kristoffersson was languishing in 16th overall after Q1, but staged a masterful come back after suffering with turbo issues in the first qualifying heat. Kristoffersson claimed victory in the second qualifying heat climbing from sixteenth overall to sixth on day one. 

The Silver Falcons aerobatic team at work.

Oliver Solberg giving his father [Petter Solberg] a hug ahead of Q1.

Petter Solberg leading Kevin Eriksson and Mattias Ekstrom [Three cars in the air]

Norwegian RX2 driver Sondre Evjen climbing the kerbs.

Guerlain Chicherit coming out of the jump sideways.

Johan Kristoffersson spinning in Q1 after suffering turbo issues.

Kevin Hansen leading Timur Timerzyanov and Anton Marklund over the jump.

Petter Solberg signing a 2010 Citroen Xsara C4 WRC.

Petter Solberg, Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen chatting before the press conference.

The World RX of South Africa signing session.

Mattias Ekstrom leading Marklund and Timerzyanov.

Ben Philip Gunderson launching off the kerbs.

Kenneth Hansen driving Timmy Hansen and Sebastien Loeb after they were called to the stewards.

Petter Solberg leading Timmy Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud and Janis Baumanis in Q2.

EKS Audi Sport preparation.

Kevin Eriksson coming withing millimeters of hitting the barrier.

PSRX Volkswagen Sweden system set-up.

RX2 driver Oliver Eriksson cleaning his front bumper after hitting yellow pylons on the circuit.

GCK Kompetition's rear end assembly.

The race into Turn 1.