Reigning European RX Super1600 Champion Rokas Baciuska makes leap to World RX with ESMotorsport-Labas Gas

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media.

Reigning European Rallycross Champion in Super1600 Rokas Baciuska will compete in the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship with ESmotorsport-Labas GAS. 

Baciuska will drive the newly built Skoda Fabia Supercar.

ESmotorsport-Labas GAS team founder and former rallycross driver, Ernestas Staponkus has revealed that his team has covered over 1,000kms in testing in 2018 and has prepared well for the challenges ahead.

“We developed our car with the help of many different drivers from different categories, not only rallycross. But at the end we decided to start with young talent from our country," Staponkus said.

“Last year, Rokas Baciuska won European Rallycross Championship in the Super1600 class," he adds. "We are sure that he will be able to fight with the fastest drivers in the world this season.”

The young  Lithuanian is looking forward to his first World Rallycross season. 

“From the very first full season in Super1600 class I won the European rallycross championship straight away," said Baciuska. "Of course, I don’t expect to do the same this season in World RX, but we will fight for the highest places. Not from the very first race maybe but during the season we believe we can go to fight for the podium.”

Staponkus has also revealed that the ESmotorsport-Labas GAS team are working on a second car that will be driven by Kevin Abbring. 

“The second car is on the way. We want to introduce it in World RX during the season and to be able to fight for the team championship from the next season," said Staponkus.

“To my mind Kevin Abbring is one of the fastest drivers in World Rallycross. He can win World Championship and we are happy that he will try to do it with us,” he concludes.

TEXT - Junaid Samodien

GC Kompetition expands to a four-car World RX entry

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

GC Kompetition (GCK) rallycross team has revealed a four-car line-up for the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The GCK team will grow their operation to include four permanent drivers in 2019. The four-car line-up will be split into two separate but permanent teams - GCK and GCK Academy. 

Guerlain Chicherit (team owner) will be partnered by European Rallycross Champion Anton Marklund. The pair will be competing in Pro-drive built and developed GCK Megane R.S. RX Supercars. 

The all-new GCK Academy team will field RX2 Champion Cyril Raymond and RX2 Vice-Champion Guillaume de Ridder who will compete in a 2019 evolution of the successful GCK Renault Clio R.S. RX Supercars. 

FORS Performance has been appointed by the GCK team to facilitate all its race operations from 2019 for both teams.

Chicherit has revealed that he has created the "GCK Academy" team with a vision to provide an opportunity for junior drivers to compete on the world championship stage. 

“2019 is a really big year for GCK," said  Chicherit. "We debuted the team in the FIA World Rallycross Cham­pionship in 2018 and have been working really hard to further develop the GCK Megane R.S. RX, the first car to have been designed and built from scratch to compete in rallycross."

“To now enter the Championship with four cars is a big step," he adds. "It allows me to compete in the GCK Megane R.S. RX alongside Anton who I’ve been working with clo­sely over the last few months but also to support two super talented junior drivers in Cyril and Guillaume to develop in a World Championship driving the GCK Clio R.S. RX. I’m really excited to see what the season will bring.”

Swede Anton Marklund has been working with the GCK outfit since July 2018 and has helped the team develop the cars for the 2019 campaign.

“I raced the GCK Megane in the last three races of the 2018 season and worked with Guerlain to further put together a development list for the car," said Marklund. "Then FORS Performance offered me to help them develop the GCK Clio during the winter which means I got to spend a lot of time and work closely with the team operating the cars this year."

“With all those opportunities ahead of this season, I already feel very much at home in the team. I’m sure that with the development and preparations we all have done during the winter, we have a good chance to race for top spots in the 2019 season," the Swede concluded. 

Following a successful 2018 rookie season in the FIA European Rallycross Championship, Cyril Raymond has set his sights on consistently competing for top six positions in 2019, and working closely with his new team-mate de Ridder to bring success to the GCK Academy programme.

“My vision for 2019 is to improve my driving in Supercars and to be a good teammate,” the Frenchman said. “I would like to show my potential behind the wheel but also in the paddock at work. My target is to be in the final of the every race."

"Joining GCK Academy is a really important moment of my career. I have finally become a race driver of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. It’s a dream come true. I’ll never forget this moment.”

Belgium’s Guillaume de Ridder completes the GCK Academy line-up. Team owner Chicherit believes that de Ridder is a fu­ture World Rallycross star. Throughout 2018 season the GCK owner monitored De Ridder closely with the intention of presenting a Supercar opportunity to the Belgian.

“Joining the GCK Academy is an incredible opportunity for me," said de Ridder. "Being selected as one of the two junior drivers representing the team is an awesome recognition."

"It has been many years now that I have been working so hard and have given everything I had (sometimes even more than that!) in order to reach the highest level in motorsport, so it is finally a dream come true."

TEXT BY - Junaid Samodien

The Abu Dhabi World RX circuit layout is revealed

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

The circuit layout for the first round of the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship has been revealed. 

The purpose-built 1.2 kilometre rallycross circuit, which has been constructed in the stadium section of the Yas Marina Circuit comprises of 63 per cent asphalt and 37 per cent gravel, a series of wide tarmac areas, tight turns including a hairpin and a daunting jump section.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media.

“Yas Marina Circuit is always innovating when it comes to hosting thrilling motorsport races that attract fans and entertainment seekers to Abu Dhabi and FIA World Rallycross Championship is the latest in our portfolio of world-class events," said Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit.

“Our new track and weekend-long itinerary of some of the wildest racing the Middle East has ever seen promises to deliver something unique to the circuit.”  

World RX drivers Oliver Bennett (Xite Racing) and GRX Taneco trio Niclas Gronholm, Timur Timerzyanov and Reinis Nitiss were on hand to offer media and VIP guests passenger rides.

Briton's Oliver Bennett drove the circuit in his World RX Ford Fiesta Supercar and said: “The track is awesome. It has a lot to offer with big, wide tarmac turns which is going to be great for overtaking. It is going to be a tough track to race but it’s going to be fun to watch."

TEXT: Junaid Samodien

EKS Sport returns to World RX with Krisztian Szabo.

PHOTO CREDIT: EKS Sport/FIA World Rallycross Media.

Two-time European champion Super1600 Krisztian Szabo will compete in the full FIA Rallycross World Championship with EKS Sport in 2019. 

Mattias Ekstrom's team withdrew from the World Rallycross Championship in December, but the former World RX Champion did not fully close the door on his teams future. 

Ekstrom announced his intention to sell the teams Supercars and offered support to the buyer. The end of EKS seemed near when JC Raceteknik announced the acquisition of two EKS Audi Quattro's, but the outfit purchased two 2017 Audi S1 Quattro's. 

The team was formerly known as EKS, now EKS Sport finished second in the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Teams’ World Championship standings and in 2019 the team intends to continue with their Audi S1 EKS RX Quattro Supercar.

After making his European debut at the end of the 2014 season, Krisztian Szabo finished a strong third in the 2015 FIA European Rallycross Championship for Super1600 before sealing the European title twice consecutively in 2016 and 2017.

The Hungarian made an impressive debut for EKS Sport at the Euro RX of France in the Supercar category, racing to second place and subsequently reaching the Final on his second outing with the team in Latvia, in a year old S1 Quattro.

“Since the beginning of my career, I have been dreaming about racing in the World Championship," said Szabo. "Mattias Ekstrom announced last year that he will stop racing in 2019, which means he has more time to focus on managing the EKS Sport team." 

“It is going to be different in 2019 with a much more balanced championship. Everyone has a bigger chance, including me," he said. "I have one of the best teams and cars behind me. I have the right background – a world championship-winning team, the professional support of Mattias and I feel well-prepared."

“It is a now or never for me in 2019 and I start my first World Championship season with title hopes,” the Hungarian concludes.

EKS Sport team owner Mattias Ekstrom predicts that Krisztian Szabo has a bright future and can have a successful season with his team 

“I wanted to work together with Krisz this season because his results were quite promising last year and I predict a bright future for him," said Ekstrom. "The World RX field has changed for 2019 and I think Krisz has a big chance to be one of the best and win many races." 

“This is why I suggested that he races in the World Championship instead of the European Championship."

"I will help him as the team leader, I still have vivid memories from last year and I believe it will be useful for the team," said the Swede. "I think that Krisztian will surprise many people because they still don’t know what he can do.”

Testing for the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship will begin shortly. 

TEXT: Junaid Samodien

Grönholm RX announce a three-driver programme for the 2019 World RX season.

The 2019 GRX Taneco driver line-up: Niclas Gronholm (left), Timur Timerzyanov and Reinis Nitiss.

The Finnish-based GRX Taneco have today announced their driver line-up and programme for the 2019 World Rallycross Championship. 

The team has retained their two permanent drivers – Niclas Grönholm and Timur Timerzyanov, who will drive the 2019 Hyundai i20 Supercars – while development driver Reinis Nitišs will be taking part in several World RX outings. 

GRX Taneco successfully debuted their Hyundai i20 Supercars in 2018 claiming fourth in the World RX standings.

“We knew that our first season with a new car would be tough, but we exceeded our expectations in 2018 and throughout the winter break we have been working hard to improve our i20 Supercars and take the next step in 2019,” said Marcus Grönholm, Team Principal - GRX Taneco.

The team recently tested their 2019 Supercar in Southern France, and after trying out the first updates the drivers and management are confident for the season ahead.

“This will be the first time I will drive the same car for a second consecutive season and I will start it with a good knowledge of the i20 Supercar," said Niclas Grönholm. "The base performance was already there and we have worked on tweaks around the car to shave off crucial tenths of a second."

Timur Timerzyanov returns with GRX Taneco in 2019 after finishing 10th overall in the driver's standings. 

“Rallycross is my passion and I believe in it, so naturally I am pretty thrilled to start my sixth season of World RX and to do a second year together with GRX Taneco," said Timerzyanov. "This season will offer more opportunities for privateer teams, meaning that we also have a bigger chance to show our supporters good results and great action for the fans." 

The Russian is raring to go racing and feels that the 2019 season is going to be exciting. "It’s just 10 rounds, so there will be no sandbagging and everyone will be trying to claim the podium positions,” he concludes.

The GRX Taneco team have added a third car for several rounds this season. GRX Taneco Team Manager Jussi Pinomäki explains: "For further improvements we have also added a third car for several rounds with Reinis as our development driver, to help us gain data and continue the car’s evolution.” 

“I’m happy to be back in World RX, even though it’s not a full-season programme," said Reinis Nitišs. "Together with Jussi Pinomäki I have claimed two Euro RX titles and I know the people working in the team - everyone is professional, dedicated and passionate."

Nitišs explains his role with GRX Taneco: "Part of my season will be spent working together with the engineers and team behind the scenes, or testing car updates."

"But be assured, when I’m racing you can expect no giveaways,” he concludes.

The ten round 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship gets underway on 5 April in Abu Dhabi. 

Spa-Franchorchamps reveals World RX circuit layout.

PHOTO CREDIT: Unknown Source.

Spa-Francorchamps has today revealed the layout of its purpose-built FIA World Rallycross track that will host the third round of the World RX championship on 11 and 12 May.


The layout features a challenging, 913-metre track, which incorporates one of the most iconic corners in world motorsport – Eau Rouge.

Drivers will ascend Raidillion and its 15% gradient followed by a hairpin bend, before hurtling down Eau Rouge.

The stadium section of the layout features a banked corner and two "jumps", with an aim to allow the driver's take on various racing lines.

The Joker Lap is located in the last corner of the circuit layout, which will create some thrilling racing and merges. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Spa World Rallycross of Benelux.

PHOTO CREDIT: Spa World Rallycross of Benelux.

Americas Rallycross reveals expanded 2019 calendar.

PHOTO CREDIT: Americas Rallycross.

Americas Rallycross (ARX) have today announced an expanded 2019 ARX and ARX2 calendar, including two events in the Midwest at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Gateway Motorsports Park.

“Our new multi-year partners at Mid-Ohio and Gateway Motorsports Park are great additions to our ongoing partnerships with Circuit of The Americas in Austin and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Canada as we expand our presence in North America," said Paul Bellamy, Senior Vice President of IMG Motorsports (promoter).

The season begins at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 8-9. The 10-turn, 0.7-mile ARX circuit will be located in the legendary “keyhole” section, with an aim of providing fans with a view of the entire rallycross course.

ARX will then travel to Gateway Motorsports Park in July. The 1.25-mile oval, just outside of St. Louis, Missouri will mark Gateway’s first-ever rallycross event. 

In August, Trois-Rivieres in Canada will host the ARX and ARX2 series alongside the FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

ARX also returns to Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on September 28 before concluding the season with a second trip to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Cooper Tires ARX of Mid-Ohio, October 5-6. 


“It’s super important to get these tracks off the ground and to get grassroots rallycross racing off the ground and going,” said Scott Speed, 2018 ARX Supercar Champion. “I think it speaks well for the future of the sport and I feel like the timing is right for this sport to really take off in our country.”

CALENDER CREDIT: ARX Rallycross.

JC Raceteknik acquire two Audi S1 Supercars from EKS.

PHOTO CREDIT: JC Raceteknik

Swedish rallycross team, JC Raceteknik have confirmed the acquisition of two Audi S1 Quattro Supercars from Mattias Ekstrom's EKS team. 

JC Raceteknik have competed in a number of rallycross events to date, including: the FIA ​​European Rallycross Championship, the RX2 International Series, the RallyX Nordic and the Winter RallyX on Ice.

The Swedish team has exclusively confirmed to Slipstream SA that they have purchased two 2017 EKS Audi S1 Quattro supercars, and will announce their 2019 plans in due course. 

But, with the acquisition of the two Audi S1 Quattro's, the team could enter the FIA World Rallycross Championship or even go for glory in the FIA European Rallycross Championship. 

The Audi S1 [EKS World RX] Technical Specification. 

Information: FIA World Rallycross

Ford Performance are assessing a potential World RX return.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook has revealed that Ford are assessing a potential return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship when the series switches to electric power in 2021. 

Ford competed in the World Rallycross Championship for two seasons with Ken Block's Hoonigan Racing Division team. However, Ford announced its withdrawal from the championship in October 2017. 

Rushbrook spoke to Motorsport Magazine and has indicted that Ford Performance are interested in the full electrification of the World RX championship. 

“We continue to talk to IMG and the FIA and other OEMs to see who is committing to it, and we’ll come to a decision in March,” said Rushbrook.

“We withdrew in 2018 because that programme has served its purpose well for the Focus RS."

The Hoonigan Racing Division (with Ford Performance factory support) claimed three wins, two second place finishes and two third place finishes in the 2016 World RX championship. 
In 2017, the team were only able to secure two second place finishes and two third place finishes. 

“We do continue to study the possibilities for electrified motor sport, and rallycross is one of them.

“It makes sense as a good place to race full electric cars given what the event is: the performance, the duration and the passion or explosiveness of the cars.

“We think that could work really well on a full electric platform for motor sport. There’s a deadline coming up to commit to that.”

The FIA have informed World RX promoters [IMG] that they are required to sign at least three OEMs [Original Equipment Manufacturers] by March 2019, or the series will have to continue to use internal combustion engines. 

Source: Motorsport Magazine 
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/news/nascar/ford-boss-hybrid-nascar-horizon

Hansen Motorsport to compete in 2019 GRC Europe championship

The Hansen Family - Kenneth Hansen (left), Kevin Hansen, Timmy Hansen and Susann Hansen (right).
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media.

Global Rallycross Europe have today announced that Hansen Motorsport will compete in the new GRC Europe Series in 2019.

The Hansen Motorsport team will be run by 14-time European Rallycross Champion Kenneth Hansen. 

Kenneth Hansen's sons, Timmy and Kevin Hansen will be driving for the team.

The Swedes have been in the Rallycross discipline since the late 1980's. From 2014 onward, Hansen and Peugeot Sport joined forces to compete in the World Rallycross Championship under the banner: Team Peugeot Hansen. The team won the FIA World Rallycross Teams Championship in 2015.

In 2017, Peugeot Sport announced their intention to compete in the 2018 FIA World Rallycross championship with full factory support, but in October 2018, Peugeot Sport announced their withdrawal from the World RX Championship leaving both Hansen brothers without a seat for the 2019 season. 

Timmy Hansen competed in 350 World RX races and claimed 5 event wins, while his brother Kevin Hansen competed in 163 World RX races. 

“I am very happy and excited about joining GRC Europe in 2019," said Timmy Hansen. "The cars will be fast and the calendar features iconic circuits."

"I can’t wait for the season to begin," he adds. "I want to thank Max (Pucher, Series CEO) for taking the initiative to launch GRC Europe, a high profile championship with a vision to take Rallycross back to its roots. It is exactly, what our sport needs right now.”

Hansen's younger brother Kevin is ready to fight for wins in the 2019 GRC Europe series.

“I am young, I am fast and I am hungry for success," says Kevin Hansen. "I am eager to show my true potential and get back to the Victory Lane.”

It is still unclear which cars Hansen Motorsport will be using in the GRC Europe series.

“One can only be impressed by the passion and commitment with which Max (Pucher) has embraced the big challenge of pushing GRC Europe through to reality," said Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal. 

"Having both Timmy and Kevin compete for the full season feels right and motivating, because Rallycross is where we belong."

"The vibe GRC Europe has approaching its premiere, is the kind of spirit we like. Rallycross is excitement, thrill, and nerves, extreme and never ever boring – these values we have found in GRC Europe. We think that Kevin and Timmy will love racing there!," he concludes.

PHOTO CREDIT: Global Europe Rallycross.