The 2023 FIA European Rallycross Championship returns to a different rallycross monitor on 3/4 June. Montalegre, Portugal, performs host to the second spherical of this thrilling championship, with a big portion of the sphere eager to seize the highest spot of the rostrum.
A staple of the European rallycross scene, and a daily fixture within the FIA World Rallycross Championship as nicely, Montalegre is understood for its stunning views and internet hosting spectacular racing. The lengthy begin end straight splits prices into the primary hairpin, the previous Joker part. The Joker part now follows on from this opening flip. Who can neglect the spectacular contact on the Joker merge between present championship chief Janis Baumanis and reigning champion Anton Marklund in 2022? With an excitingly close-fought battle at Nyirád, Hungary, final trip, we may nicely see equally spectacular battles this time.
The opening spherical was an occasion that defied odds. Baumanis battled to victory regardless of battling an sickness for a lot of the weekend; Marklund, having described his Ford Fiesta RX as one of many worst he’d ever driver, managed to complete second; and rising star Patrick O’Donovan took his Peugeot 208 RX to 3rd on the rostrum on solely his second Euro RX1 outing.
Marklund was additionally concerned in a heavy crash with Sivert Svardal in warmth three, which many thought would finish his weekend – together with Marklund. Talking after the ultimate, Marklund mentioned “To be sincere, I nonetheless can’t actually imagine what we did. We determined that we couldn’t proceed with the injury after warmth three – it shouldn’t have been doable to restore the automobile in that timeframe – however then there was a second, the place we sat and mentioned and everybody stood as much as a minimum of attempt. The fellows labored flat-out. I believe the group was shocked too that we acquired out once more, however they did it, and this P2 is sort of a victory for all of us. It was exhausting and a tricky couple of days, however we did what we wanted to do.“
Regardless of his disappointing finish to the weekend, Svardal additionally believes he can combat for victory. Reflecting on the probabilities for the second spherical, Svardal mentioned “We had been actually pleased with the efficiency of the brand new automobile at Nyirád – it’s nonetheless not the quickest on the grid, but it surely’s positively a step ahead and one of the best feeling I’ve ever had in a rallycross Supercar. I clearly have extra expertise now too, which provides me the arrogance to push tougher. If issues go nicely, I truthfully imagine we will compete with the highest guys this 12 months and trigger them some bother. It’s a very robust area in Euro RX1 and the main 4 drivers within the championship will all be in Portugal, however my objective is to get by means of to the ultimate – and from there, something is feasible.”
In the meantime, British rallycross celebrity O’Donovan impressed everybody together with his second Euro RX1 outing. His Hansen Motorsport-built Peugeot at his arms appears to be a pressure to be reckoned with this 12 months. O’Donovan is relishing the prospect of racing at Montalegre, saying “Although I clearly need to win each time I am going out, it was nonetheless an excellent first weekend for us and now I’m actually wanting ahead to Montalegre, which is clearly a totally completely different sort of circuit to Nyirád. It seems to be just like the quickest approach by means of the corners there’s both sideways or backwards, so carry it on!“
Elsewhere on the grid, Máté Benyó, the Hungarian who dazzled in his residence race, can be hoping to show that his expertise can unfold throughout the continent. 11-time Euro RX occasion winner Ulrik Linnemann can be hoping to battle for victory, having taken the helm of Marklund’s 2017 title-winning Volkswagen Polo. Enzo Ide can be making an attempt to capitalise on his spectacular tempo from the opening spherical as Montalegre was the scene of his first Euro RX1 victory in 2022. René Münnich, having simply introduced Timo Scheider as his World RX driver for this 12 months, achieved a warmth win in Hungary and can purpose to indicate off his tempo as soon as extra and battle for general victory.
With such expertise and ambition on show all through the 17-strong area, count on spectacular racing from the second the lights exit at Montalegre. The motion takes place on 3/4 June, and you could find the complete Euro RX1 entry checklist under.
