Timmy Hansen crowned World RX champion, while Gronholm claims race win in Cape Town.

PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA/Junaid Samodien

Timmy Hansen was crowned 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion after a dramatic season finale in South Africa, while Niclas Gronholm claimed his second win of the season. 

Hansen started on the front row for the title-decider having won semi-final two, with Andreas Bakkerud alongside. The Norwegian had the best start compared to Hansen and went around the outside and later shut the door on the Swede into turn one. With eight points available for victory in the final and five points for second place, Bakkerud could have been crowned champion, but it was not to be for the Norwegian. 

Drama soon followed when Bakkerud slid wide at turn six on lap one, and Timmy Hansen slid alongside the Norweigan. The two made contact and Bakkerud bounced off the concrete barrier and into Hansen, who spun around. The RX Cartel driver was also facing the wall on the outside, while Kevin Hansen spun at turn six and ended up on the inside of the track seeing him drop to the tail end of the field.  

While Bakkerud was facing the wrong way, Niclas Gronholm claimed the lead and Bakkerud rejoined in second. 

Timmy Hansen later recovered to fourth-place after Scheider had technical issues, and that was enough to see the Swede to go level on points with Andreas Bakkerud meaning a countback was required and after winning four events this season, Timmy was crowned FIA World Rallycross Champion.

Gronholm never looked back after claiming the lead and took his joker lap at ease on lap five and claimed his second event win of the season. 

"Its been quite good. No big issues with the car and I could enjoy my driving," Gronholm said. "It's been trouble-free and maybe I have been operating under the radar or maybe they have not focussed on beating me and maybe they just focused on scoring as many points as possible for the championship. It is nice to get a proper win after coming close on many occasions."

"Overall, I am really happy with how the car has been feeling this season and how big of a step our team has taken. There is a lot of effort going into this and they have been working their butts off to give us a good car, and they have really done a good job all season long."

Gronholm leads Bakkerud in the World RX final.

 "From the driving side of things, I have taken a step forward and I have been able to do better launches and being a bit more consistent," he adds. "So, it's a mix of many things that have improved our pace."

As the six cars arrived at the podium, Andreas Bakkerud stepped out of his car and went straight to an FIA delegate to point out damage on Timmy Hansen's Peugeot 208 Supercar. An investigation was launched, but after two long hours, the FIA decided that 'no further action' will be taken.

"I know Andreas [Bakkerud] is not happy about the overtake and I wouldn't be happy either if I make a mistake like that from the lead and I went on the inside and in the end, it was me that came out worse," Timmy Hansen said. "My father [Spotter] came onto the radio and told me that I need to make up one place to be champion and I pushed harder than I have ever before. There was a huge gap to Timo [Scheider] obviously he had some problem and I crossed the line in fourth."

"It is not the dream way to end the championship. This season has been the best in my entire career despite two races not going according to plan for me. We have taken four race wins and coming from nowhere at the start of the year, and making it to the grid was a huge achievement. This is what we dreamt of coming into the year. It feels amazing." 

An unhappy Bakkerud was quick to point out that he won the battle this weekend having had the best start in the final.

"I just want to say a huge thank you to Monster Energy RX Cartel for being a great team supporting me throughout the whole year and at the end of the day, I am proud of myself for finding the best in me," he said. "I feel that I won the battle this weekend after having the fastest reaction by far in the final." 

"Having everything in my pocket and unfortunately...  I won't go any further. It was a strong event."

RESULTS OF FINAL:
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM
2. Andreas BAKKERUD
3. Timur TIMERZYANOV
4. Timmy HANSEN
5. Kevin HANSEN
6. Timo SCHEIDER

Written By: Junaid Samodien

Will Liam Doran make it out for Q3?

Photo credit: FIAWorldRallycross.com

The question on many Capetonian fan's lips this morning is whether Monster Energy RX Cartel’s Liam Doran will make it out onto the grid for Q3 in the World RX season finale. 

Doran failed to make it to the grid in Q1 due to engine issues, those issues persisted in Q2 after the Brit had a sluggish start and was unable to keep up with those in his qualifying race.

The team has however confirmed that all the issues have been solved after overnight work and he will be out on track for Q3 and the remainder of the day.  

Written By: Junaid Samodien

Gronholm takes TQ after day one, while Timmy Hansen leads the charge for championship glory.

Niclas Gronholm has claimed the overnight top qualifiers spot at the 2019 SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa

Gronholm just about made the grid in Q1 after a gearbox issue in Free Practice, but did not let that slow him down. He claimed a third-place finish overall in that session. In Q2, the Finn lead the way in the first race of the session and comfortably hung on to win ahead of the World RX Championship contenders – Timmy Hansen, Kevin Hansen and Andreas Bakkerud.

“It’s been a good day. The car has been feeling okay, not perfect, but we have had good launches and clean races. So, I think that has been key that we have been in front and not in the dust. I am hoping to continue with this form tomorrow, but as we know it's not that easy,” said Gronholm. “We need to keep our heads down and let’s see what we can do… There are a few tenths that we can gain on pure race speed compared to a few guys in front.”

“Having a day like this here, it's a bit sad that we aren’t involved in the championship fight, it would have been nice to join the top 3 and be in the fight, but that’s how it is. The only thing that we can do is win this race. Its been a tough season, but I think we have shown good pace that we can continue here. The only thing that we can win is this race, so we will work hard on that.”

Timmy Hansen took top honors in Q1 after setting the fastest time of the session, however, the Swede wasn’t able to match the pace due to track watering (wet gravel). In Q2, Hansen only managed to claim a ninth-place finish and he is second in overall overnight standings.

“I have had a lot of bad Saturdays lately. For me, it's a great result for me to be in the top 3 again (on Saturday) because it means that I have had a solid start to the weekend, which is exactly what I have hoped for,” Hansen said. “We have had great speed in practice on a dry track when its super high grip and we struggled a bit in Q2 with the watering (of the track). Niclas [Gronholm] put in a super impressive run and although he was in the same race as me there was lots of water and track dried outright at the end and he still managed to be faster. I struggled – I came ninth.”

“Overall, I am happy about the day and the car is feeling fantastic. I am relieved that it started well, but its really tough because I am focusing so hard on what I am going to do and that is tough, but I am doing it again tomorrow – and I will take it race-by-race. That is how I intend to tackle this weekend, and I am sure that it's going to take everything that I have – all my energy. I am super focused.”

Timur Timerzyanov made it a GRX Taneco one-two in Q2 with a race win, which sees the Russian slot into third overall after day one. 

“I didn’t expect this because practice went well. We tried to find some adjustments to the car. It was like the speed was going up-and-down,” the Russian said. “In Q1, I was fourth after the first corner and it was really disappointing -  it was a really tough fight because the guys in front of me was not a clear fight and I just tried to follow them.”

“I think that I need to focus on the start more. In Q2, there was action in the first corner and then there was a clear run for me. It would be better to have someone driving in front of you as a reference because they will know the situation on the track, which helps you in terms of water in some corners and that helped me on the first lap and then from there I need to improve,” he added. “That information helped me a lot on this track. I just have to improve myself. We are in the top 3 overall, and we need to continue to fight for the win tomorrow. We await a party on Sunday.”

Championship contenders’ Kevin Hansen and Andreas Bakkerud ended day one in fifth and sixth respectively. The younger of the two Hansen brothers, Kevin claimed a fourth-place finish in Q1, while title rival Andreas Bakkerud claimed a second-place finish, but Q2 was a different story. The Norwegian finished behind the Hansen brothers and ended the session in eleventh place.

Bakkerud will have to launch an all-mighty fightback on day two, as he currently trails the Gronholm (TQ) by 14 points, but we have seen that before, and we are guaranteed to see a fightback. 

The Norwegian’s team-mate Liam Doran has had a day to forget after he failed to make it the grid in Q1 due to engine issues. The engine issue returned in Q2, with the Brit struggling to get it off the line and keep up with those ahead. RX Cartel will work overnight to solve the issue before Q3 tomorrow morning. 

Doran had one target this weekend and that was to perform in order to assist Andreas Bakkerud in claiming the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

Further down the grid, Xite Racing has had a lot to contend with this weekend. From saltwater damage and replacing a number of mechanical components to losing 10 championship points for a change of a turbo seal. 

The overnight top qualifiers press conference - Timmy Hansen (left), Niclas Gronholm (middle) and Timur Timerzyanov (left)

While GCK’s Guerlain Chicherit has also had a nightmare start to day one after suffering from a loss of power in Q1 and gearbox issues in Q2. 

“It’s been a tricky day with technical issues putting us on the back foot and keeping us from being able to join the battle properly," Chicherit said. “The guys are working hard now to try fix the gearbox issues overnight, so we can get off the start line and retain consistent power and speed through the gear changes tomorrow.”

It did not get any better for the GCK squad, as Cyril Raymond (GCK Academy driver) was disqualified in Q2 for a track marker infringement. 

“I’m frustrated because we put down really competitive pace but I got a 5-second penalty in Q1 and then was disqualified from Q2 for making the same mistake - hitting the track markers,” Cyril Raymond said. “It’s hard because the Clio is running well and showing great speed but we still have one more day to go, so tomorrow I will give my best and try to reach the top 12 to be in the semi-finals. Despite today’s results, I really enjoyed racing Killarney race track and I think we have shown good potential.”

While Timmy Hansen leads the way in the drivers’ standings and has a strong footing for day two. The question on many people lips is: 'Who will be the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion?'

Written By - Junaid Samodien

TRACK WALK: 2019 SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa.

The 2019 SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa gets underway tomorrow at the Killarney International Raceway, with 16 of the best World Rallycross drivers and 13 RX2 International series stars of the future. 

A new FIA World Rallycross and RX2 Champion will be crowned in Cape Town this weekend

So, let's take a walk around the 1.067 KM circuit, which consists of 60% asphalt and 40% dirt. 

The staging area before heading to the grid. 

Once the drivers have cleaned up their tyres... they line-up in their grid slots. 

GRID BOX sensor.

POLE POSITION.

A long run to Turn One.

Drivers have now reached the sweeping Turn One.

Turn 1 continues for a while before a tight Turn 2 and 3.

Sharp kerbs and a tight line is taken into Turn 2 to open up Turn 3.

Turn 3 before the jump. 

The Cape Town jump.

Following the jump... there is another straight dipping into another tight set of corners.

Another tight set of corners and we are certain that the tyre barrier will not be orange after the race weekend.

The tight sharp kerb'ed corner before the joker/standard lap.

A decision to take... standard gravel lap or the long tarmac joker lap.

We have taken the joker lap and there is a new patch of asphalt on the joker lap. A touch bumpy.

While you are running on the inside... your competitors might opt for a different strategy and take the standard lap.

At the orange tyre wall turn right.

The joker lap continues with the merge fast approaching.

The Joker vs. Standard lap merge.

After the merge... they will run onto dirt before the final corners.

Its best to keep to the right on approach to the next tyre barrier.

Keep it close to the barrier as you aim for the yellow track markers.

One final burst of speed.

AND... across the line for a lap around the Killarney International Raceway (RX track).

Xite Racing faces unforeseen set back ahead of World RX season finale.

Xite Racing faced an unforeseen situation when they unpacked the Mini SX1 Supercar to find saltwater in the shipping container. 

The real extent of the damage was only discovered once the car was removed from the shipping container earlier this week, and after hours of labor, the team were able to repair and replace all the affected components. 

“The silica gel bags that we use in the containers to protect the car from humidity were all soaked. They were all dripping wet,” said Kevin Spencer, Xite Racing.

“Water got inside the car and into the engine bay. It meant that we had to take out the ignition coils and replace them. We changed the transponder, alternator and many other components as well.”

“We had to remove the seats and all of the internal stuff and put it back in again and dry it. So, it was disappointing really.”

After learning about the seatback, the other teams agreed that Xite Racing can do two shakedown laps (today) in order to rectify any other technical issues that may not have been found. 

“The car is running again. The other teams have agreed that we can do two shakedown laps today, and nobody has objected because they know that we have had a technical problem," Spencer added. "It doesn’t give us an advantage but it gives us an opportunity to rectify any faults because we need to run at speed in order to check if the ignition is going to work properly.”

Written By - Junaid Samodien

"We need to put it all on the line in Cape Town" - Andreas Bakkerud.

Three drivers have a chance to claim the FIA World Rallycross Championship crown in 2019, and Andreas Bakkerud is one of them. 


The Monster Energy RX Cartel team principal and driver Andreas Bakkerud has had a lot on his plate to contend with this season, including the dramatic season opener in Abu Dhabi that cost him over 60,000 euros worth of damage after colliding with Timmy Hansen in Q3. But despite that setback, the Norwegian fought back and claimed victory in Canada.

The pressure is certainly on, but the ice-cool Norweigan sees the title showdown at the Killarney International Raceway like any other race weekend. 

"I think it's just like every other race weekend, you need to go in there and perform," he said. "You need to do your best and not have any thoughts of anything else. That is the hardest part sometimes."

"You need four good starts in all the qualifying sessions, you need two good starts in the semi-final and the final. And you need "four times, four laps" in qualifying and "two times, six laps" without any mistakes."

While quietly confident, Bakkerud is aware of the challenges he faces at the Killarney, because recent history has shown that the Peugeots have strong pace around the Cape Town circuit, and he hopes that the changes they have made to his Audi S1 Quattro will aid in beating the Hansen brothers. 

"We’ve seen that the Peugeots have been very fast at Killarney the last couple of years, but we’ve made some changes to the car and hopefully we can give them a good run for their money," he said. "If I get good starts and limit my mistakes, I’ll be in good shape to win."

“For sure, the Hansens will both be fighting at the front. As for us, Liam (Doran) will be on my side. We are racing as a team and we win and lose together. It’s an important race for both of us. The Monster Energy RX Cartel needs a good end to the season.

"It's going to be an interesting and exciting race weekend and we need to put everything on the line."

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Liam Doran will "do everything to help" Bakkerud's title bid.

Monster Energy RX Cartel's Liam Doran heads to Cape Town with one target in mind, and that is to help teammate Andreas Bakkerud claim the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

Doran joined forces with Bakkerud for the 2019 season having competed for Guerlain Chicherit's GCK squad in 2018. While Bakkerud got off to a slow start having been disqualified from the Abu Dhabi season opener, the Brit claimed his best result of the season, a third-place finish.

The British bomb's aggressive driving style has not paid off for him this season, but it could be a matter of gelling with the Audi S1 Quattro. It's quite evident that despite Doran's performance this season, the RX Cartel team have been improving over the course of the season. 

"We have worked really hard as a team this year to get Andreas there again [top of standings], and I would like to be there too, but I can't," said Doran.

Trialing his teammate by 73 points and not in contention for the World RX title, Doran aims to do everything he can to help Andreas Bakkerud claim the title. 

"These three [Andreas, Timmy and Kevin] are racing for themselves - they have to, and I am not. So, I can really do whatever I need to do to make it work [for Bakkerud]," he said. "I have a lot of pressure on me because I think if I can't perform he is going to struggle a little bit. We have a team and they work really well together and I have to perform really well this weekend to help out."

"We want this more than anyone else, and they also want it more than anyone else. He's definitely capable of doing it and I am capable of performing at his level. It's on!"

Written By - Junaid Samodien

"I have a goal, its going flat out!" - Kevin Hansen.

Team Hansen MJP's Kevin Hansen aims to go flat out in pursuit of the FIA World Rallycross Championship title at the Killarney International Raceway this weekend. 

It's all to play for with 30 points available at the season finale. Kevin Hansen is eight points behind the championship leader (and his brother) and a mere seven points behind Monster Energy RX Cartel rival Andreas Bakkerud. 

Kevin arrives in Cape Town having claimed the Titans RX and Nitro RX championships, and adding the FIA World RX championship would be another feather in his cap. 

"It's a really easy situation for me. I'm third, I have no pressure from behind, I have a goal ahead, so it's just a case of going flat out!" Hansen said. "We have done good preparation and we are ready for battle."

"I think it's nice to be a bit behind, and I will do what I need to do! I have been in plenty of championship battles before, so it's nothing new for me. I am a few points behind which puts me on the back foot, but I am sure that I will have plenty of good opportunities."

The path to the FIA World Rallycross Championship was filled with hurdles in 2018 after Peugeot withdrew from the championship, which left the Hansen brothers without seats for the 2019 season. It looked likely that the Hansens would not be competing in rallycross at all, but after weeks of hard work the team secured an entry into the World RX championship and the rest is history. 

Team Hansen MJP needs to score eight points this weekend to claim the teams’ title irrespective of what championship rivals GRX Taneco achieve.

"It was a lot of hard work to get here and compete this year, so it feels amazing to have made it here and be so close to the teams' championship title," he said. "I believe we will secure the teams' title this year, we are only a few points away, and it will be incredible if it does happen." 

"But it was already a win just to be there at the start line in Abu Dhabi. That spirit has been our key to being successful this year, so to be part of the team and put this run together with everyone is such an amazing feeling."

"It's going to be an amazing feeling, hopefully after the qualifying sessions are over, to have secured one championship and then just a few hours later we can secure the next one as well!"

Written By - Junaid Samodien

"Whoever wins will be a deserving champion!" - Timmy Hansen.

After nine grueling rounds all across the globe, everything comes down to this: the FIA World Rallycross Championship title decider at Killarney International Raceway in South Africa.

For the first time in history, the FIA World Rallycross Championship will be decided at the season finale. And, guess what? There are three in line for the ultimate crown in motorsport - Timmy Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud and Kevin Hansen. 

From hunter to hunted, Timmy leads the championship by a single point from Andreas Bakkerud, while younger Hansen brother, Kevin is still in contention but eight points behind.  

"It's the last race of the season, it's been a hectic year, and I want to enjoy this last race, enjoy being in the car again for the last time this year and no matter how it goes, we have a lot to celebrate on Sunday evening," Hansen said. "It's been a fantastic year so far and hopefully, we can end it with a good result."

It hasn't been the easiest year for the Hansen family after just about securing an entry to the FIA World Rallycross Championship following Peugeot's withdrawal from the championship in 2018. The team dug deep and partnered with Max J. Pucher [MJP Racing] and secured their future in the premiere class. In addition to the World RX championship, Team Hansen MJP entered the Titans RX European and Nitro Rallycross Championships, and they won both championships. 

"I'm proud of what we have done this year as a family and as a team, to achieve all these great results that we've already scored. It's been super enjoyable: we've done more races this year than any other year with Titans RX and Nitro RX, and we've been more successful than any other year," he added. "So far me and Kevin has scored half the wins in World RX, five in total, plus Kevin won Nitro RX and Titans RX, with a 1-2 in Titans."

"It's been by far the most successful year in our history, so if we could win the world championship as well, it would be the perfect end to the season."

"Whoever wins will be a deserving champion!"

Written By - Junaid Samodien

World RX title fight set for thrilling finale in Cape Town as three drivers battle for glory.

The FIA World Rallycross Championship title fight is poised to be a thrilling encounter, as Swedish brothers Timmy and Kevin Hansen and Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud vie for the World RX glory in Cape Town. 

Heading into the season finale, Timmy Hansen leads the drivers' championship by a single point ahead of Andreas Bakkerud, while Kevin Hansen is eight points behind Timmy with a maximum of 30 points on the table. 

So, who are the three World RX championship contenders, and what must they do to take the crown on Sunday? 

The championship leader Timmy Hansen began his motorsport career in circuit racing before moving over to rallycross in 2012. After finishing third overall in the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship, Timmy moved over to the FIA World Rallycross Championship and claimed his maiden World RX victory in 2015.  

Andreas Bakkerud, second in the championship started karting at the age of 8 before switching to rallycross. He finished runner-up in the 2009 Norwegian RX championship before stepping up to the Super1600 European Championship in 2010 and went on to secure back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. The Norwegian graduated to the European Rallycross Championship in 2013. In 2014, he joined the FIA World Rallycross Championship and has remained in the premier class ever since. 

Third, in the title race, Kevin Hansen, younger brother of Timmy, started his career in karting in 2005 before becoming World Champion in ROK Junior in 2010. Kevin won the JRX Series in 2012 as well as Junior Championships in Britain and Sweden before stepping up to RX2 in 2014. In 2015, he won the RX2 title and stepped up to Supercars in 2016. 

These three title rivals and the rest of the World Rallycross field will line up for four action-packed qualifying heats on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Each crucial heat sees five cars starting alongside one another and racing to determine the twelve semi-finalists through a series of four-lap races. Sixteen points are awarded to the top-qualifier with 1 point for a 16th place finish. 

The two Semi-Finals will see six cars in a two-by-two grid formation and race for six laps, with the top three from each of those races going through to a similar six car, six lap final.

In the Semi-Finals, six points is awarded to the winner with 1 point for sixth place, while the final is a bit different. Eight points is awarded to the winner, 5 points for second with 1 point for sixth place.

Get those calculators out.... Every point will count!

The pressure is on: Who will be crowned the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion?

Written By - Junaid Samodien

GRX Taneco all-in for victory at World RX of SA.

The 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship comes to an end this weekend at the  Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town, and GRX Taneco are heading to the season finale with one target in mind "winning".

GRX Taneco is currently placed second in the Teams' Standings, while Niclas Grönholm in fourth and Timur Timerzyanov sixth in the drivers' championship. 

Its a story of what could have been had Grönholm not missed two championship rounds earlier this season. Upon his return from appendicitis surgery, the Finn claimed the Norwegian event win after Anton Marklund was disqualified for a technical infringement.

Last time out in Latvia, he claimed a strong second-place finish behind championship leader Timmy Hansen. This weekend, however, Niclas has one target and that is to win. 

"It’s been a long break since Latvia and I can’t wait to race in South Africa," the Finn said. "Sure, it’s a bit sad that I don’t have so much at stake in this race, but on the other hand I want to end the season on a high and win the race, so I will go All-in."

The 2019 Hyundai i20 Supercar powered their drivers to 7 podium finishes and 2 event wins. 

"It has been a very strong season for us, with my first World RX win at SPA and always fighting for the Top positions," said Timur Timerzyanov.

GRX Taneco did not have an easy run at the 2018 World RX of South Africa failing to crack the top 10, but in 2019 they have been among the strongest teams on the grid. 

The Killarney International Raceway (rallycross track) is 1,067 km in length and has a 60%/40% split between tarmac and gravel sections.

"Cape Town is quite interesting track and we have seen some memorable moments there in the past, and I hope for a good show this year – hopefully we get to play the lead part in the race results," Timerzyanov adds.

Jussi Pinomäki, GRX Team Manager believes that his team can give the top teams a good run for their money in Cape Town. 

"Even though we are not in the Driver’s Title fight anymore, we will give those guys a run for their money and I am confident that our drivers, our cars and crew will perform at the highest," he said. 

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Volkswagen Motorsport retires Beetle from Rallycross.

After five years Volkswagen Motorsport has confirmed that it will be retiring the Volkswagen Beetle R from the Americas Rallycross scene. 

The popular VW Beetle R has been one the most successful rallycross cars of its era, winning 29 of the 52 races entered across Global Rallycross, X Games, Americas Rallycross, and Nitro Rallycross. 

The Beetle's success story started in 2015 when Scott Speed claimed the GRC drivers' championship. In 2016 and 2017, he repeated that feat, with Foust finishing runner-up and the Manufacturer title going to Volkswagen in both years. Speed also claimed a prestigious victory in the Rallycross competition at the X Games in Austin (Texas).

After GRC folded in 2018, American Rallycross took its place and the Beetle continued its dominant run with Scott Speed claiming his fourth championship and Tanner Foust finishing in second. 

In 2019, Tanner Foust fended off the Subaru Motorsport and claimed the ARX title, bringing a fitting end to the success story of the VW Beetle R Supercar. 

Five drivers' titles were won in a row and two Manufacturer championships.

"Adapting such a loveable car as the Beetle for the contact sport that is Rallycross was by no means an everyday task for us," says Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.

"With four-wheel drive and 560 PS under the bonnet, the Beetle raced its way into the history books of US motorsport. Congratulations to the Volkswagen Andretti Motorsport team, which was virtually unbeatable with the Beetle for five years."

Written By - Junaid Samodien

The Hansen brothers join forces with Team Färén for 2020 RX2 Entry.

The Hansen brothers will take their #YellowSquad development programme to the next level in 2020, by entering their team into the RX2 International Series. 

In February this year, Kevin and Timmy Hansen formed the #YellowSquad with the aim of discovering the next generation of rallycross stars. The RX2 project will be the second stage of their driver development programme.

The Hansen brothers formed a partnership with former RX driver Eric Färén and his Team Färén, who will oversee the operational element of the #YellowSquad team.

Team Färén has managed RX2 event winners in the past and will add the experience of Kevin and Timmy to present a complete package for young drivers to succeed and be prepared for their next steps towards World Rallycross.

"Part of what makes #YellowSquad so important to us is the fact we are investing so much towards getting young drivers into rallycross, which this expansion will allow us to do," said Team Principal Kevin Hansen. "Everyone in the Hansen family loves rallycross, so to be able to create a ladder for drivers to move up into RX2 and then Supercars – whether this is in World RX or Euro RX, or even Titans RX – makes us really proud."

#YellowSquad will provide valuable assistance to the team's young drivers, covering everything from driving development, physical training, working with partners and the media as well as fine-tuning the skills needed to win races and championships.

"In my career I was lucky to grow up in a family that lives and breathes rallycross, and in my parents Kenneth and Susann, I had two great teachers! But not everyone has a multiple rallycross champion in the family, so I was keen to work with Kevin in finding and developing the next generation of rallycross talent ourselves, using all the lessons I have learned from my years in European and World RX," said Timmy Hansen, Head of Driver Development. 

"There are so many elements that go into being a great rallycross driver beyond what happens in the driver’s seat, and I will be working with the #YellowSquad drivers as much away from the car as in it."

The #YellowSquad Team Manager Eric Färén believes that the Hansen brothers' expertise will help younger brothers in the RX2 series. 

"Like Kevin and Timmy have said, their expertise is helping the drivers and that will be their focus, while I take care of the operations of the team. By focusing on the areas we are each best at, we have a better package for everyone next year," said Eric Färén. "RX2 for me is the best place for drivers to start: the cars are all the same and I would say 90% of the result is down to the driver, so it’s easy to see who the best driver is."

"RX2 cars are built so that you learn all you need to be good in a Supercar, so that’s why you need to have a good team, to understand the setup and to have a good car," he adds. "A lot of World RX drivers have come from RX2 and I feel like it’s the last step before a driver is ready for World RX, so it fits perfectly into #YellowSquad’s development ladder."

The final stage of #YellowSquad's 2020 expansion will be announced at a later date.

Written By - Junaid Samodien

WP Rallycross joins the bill for World RX showdown in Cape Town.

PHOTO CREDIT: Motorsport Media

The increasingly popular WP Rallycross class joins the 2019 SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa support bill.

The local rallycross scene has been growing over the past year and this weekend fans will get to see the two-liter front-wheel-drive class go head-to-head, as well as the E36 Cup for 3-liter rear-wheel-drive BMW 3 Series treating fans to thrilling sideways action.

The E36 cup should be spectacular with a high-quality field set to deliver robust, hard-fought antics as drivers toss their BMW's sideways through every bend. Pedalled by Killarney stalwarts the likes of Zack Groenewald, GTi champions Marco Busi and veteran Peet van der Walt and tuning wizard Robby Ferroli; Glen Phillips, Riaan Smit, Ryan Kat, Jason Kriel and Jacques Victor, expect local rallycross action of the highest order among that rear-drive gang. 

And while those sideways sixes will deliver action-packed racing at its best, expect the front-drive brigade to deliver point-perfect driving as the likes of Steve Humble and his quick Kadett fights off the likes of Shawn Cope’s Volkswagen Golf stockie, Sean Kriel in a Daihatsu-engined pipe car and a gang of Golfs, Opels and Toyotas in chase.

The local rallycross classes will race two four-lap five-car qualifying races each on Saturday and another on Sunday morning, with the top six going through to a six-lap final in front of thousands of fans on Sunday afternoon. 

RX2 title showdown set for Cape Town.

For the second consecutive season, Cape Town will play host to the title-decider in the RX2 International Series, as Olsbergs MSE team-mates Oliver Eriksson and Jesse Kallio will go head-to-head for the coveted crown at the Killarney International Raceway.

This time last year, Eriksson lifted the crown in South Africa following a season-long duel with team-mate Guillaume De Ridder.

Twelve months on, Eriksson returns to the ‘Mother City’ once again firmly in contention for championship glory, holding a 21-point advantage over rookie team-mate Kallio in the overall standings, with 30 points up for grabs. That means Eriksson could theoretically wrap it all up as early as the qualifying stages – but in rallycross, it is always wise to expect the unexpected...

“It’s cool to be back in Cape Town to fight for the RX2 title for the second year in a row,” said Eriksson. “It’s been a tough but very rewarding season so far – I’ve had two very quick new team-mates to keep me on my toes and we’ve achieved some great results, particularly the four back-to-back wins earlier in the year.

“I’ve got a decent margin in the points, but rallycross is nothing if not unpredictable and in this sport, you can never take anything for granted – like last year in South Africa, when an electrical problem put me out from the lead in the final. Hopefully we will have a cleaner weekend this time around, and I can promise you we’ll keep on pushing right the way to the last chequered flag!”

Former Super1600 star Jesse Kallio has turned heads throughout 2019, with rostrum finishes in each of the opening five rounds and coming within a whisker of claiming his maiden RX2 Series win at Spa-Francorchamps back in May. The Finn might be the underdog this weekend, but he has promised to put up a stern fight.

“I can’t wait to take to the track at Killarney!”, said Kallio. “It’s my first time in South Africa, and it’s a fantastic place to finish what for me has been a real whirlwind of a first season in RX2. I’ve learned so much and had a lot of fun along the way, and to take five podiums straight off the bat was far more than I could have expected – particularly given how competitive the field is.

“The most recent round in France was actually the only time I’ve not been on the podium this year, so I’m doubly fired-up to get back up there and spray some champagne next weekend. The title might be a tall order given the points situation, but giving up is not in my nature and I am fully focussed on signing off the season with the only result I’ve not achieved in RX2 so far – victory.”

It is not just the championship showdown that will grab the attention, either, with battles to be fought and scores to be settled right the way down the order. JC Raceteknik’s Ben-Philip Gundersen leaped ahead of OMSE rival Fraser McConnell into third in the classification courtesy of his second win of the season at Lohéac last time out. 

Elsewhere in the 13-strong field, SET Promotion’s Sami-Matti Trogen is another ‘Flying Finn’ well capable of springing a surprise. Sports Racing Technologies star Vasiliy Gryazin is a consistent contender and regular podium threat, while Linus Östlund arrives fresh off the back of clinching the championship runner-up spoils in RallyX Nordic. 

Fellow speedy Scandinavians Simon Olofsson and Anders Michalak, 2018 EuroRX TouringCar champion Steve Volders, Sweden’s Niklas Aneklev, former X Games snowmobiling gold medallist Petter Nårsa and America’s Lane Vacala – both of whom made consistent improvements on their series debut in France – complete the entry list.

Written By - Junaid Samodien

FIA World Rallycross parade at the V&A Waterfront

PHOTO CREDIT: Motorsport Media.

South African motorsport fans will have the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with true titans of motorsport at the V&A Waterfront on Thursday [7 November] at 12:00. 

The most exciting weekend on Cape Town's motorsport calendar shifts gear with the World Rallycross Parade, where race fans are free to mingle with the championship contenders and their cars in anticipation of a seismic weekend of the FIA World Rallycross Championship action at the Killarney International Raceway this Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November.

Thursday will see a convoy of 400kW World Rallycross Supercars that normally accelerate to 100km/h in under two seconds, setting off at walking pace from behind the Table Bay Hotel, through the streets of the Waterfront before assembling at the Amphitheatre by the Big Wheel.

There you will have the unique opportunity to meet, mingle, chat and take a selfie of a lifetime with title fighters, the Hansen brothers Timmy and Kevin, and Andreas Bakkerud; his teammate Liam Doran and Oliver Bennett and Janis Baumanis.

The parade should prove a hoot too — those evil-tempered World Rallycross Supercars do not run very well at all at low revs, while their severely race-limited steering lock will make the drivers sweat for all the wrong reasons to make it among the more interesting parades you've ever witnessed. They clearly won't be doing much waving until they get to the Amphitheatre!

With the parade done and dusted, it will be back to Killarney International Raceway to start preparing the weekend's real action as Timmy Hansen starts the weekend with a single point lead over Andreas Bakkerud, with younger brother Kevin also in with a real shout of the title, just eight points adrift.

So, take this awesome opportunity to meet the men and machines on Thursday and make sure you book your tickets well in advance to witness one of the biggest racing attractions ever to hit the Cape as South Africa’s only FIA World Championship motorsport event goes down at Killarney International Raceway this weekend!

Tickets are available at www.quicket.co.za