Mettet, Belgium makes a welcome return to the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship, however with a really totally different entry checklist to the one initially anticipated. With the cancellation of the RX1e class, 4 top-flight rallycross legends are transferring to the feeder collection for a battle royale towards the subsequent era of rallycross superstars.
Following the dramatic fireplace at Lydden Hill, which sadly put Particular ONE Racing out of the 2023 championship, the choice was taken by the organisers of the World RX of Benelux to not run the RX1e class on the occasion (5/6 August). The investigation remains to be ongoing into the exact reason behind the hearth, and, because of this, it was deemed unsafe to run the top-flight vehicles.
Nonetheless, the present should go on, and a mouth-watering deal with is lined up for rallycross followers. Kevin and Timmy Hansen, themselves enormous advocates for electrical rallycross, might be leaping into the fray, as will Ole Christian Veiby and his teammate, 5-time world rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson. Each Hansen World RX Workforce and Kristoffersson Motorsport have junior groups entered in RX2e and so have the chance to proceed racing.
RX2e Defined
RX2e was the primary FIA electrical rallycross championship. Devised as a feeder collection for world rallycross, it options equivalent vehicles designed to place the motive force first. The battery sits subsequent to the motive force for excellent 50/50 weight distribution, and produces the equal of 362bhp. As was proved at Lydden Hill, the vehicles are greater than quick sufficient to ignite some really thrilling racing. For sceptics involved concerning the noise, the RX2e vehicles have gotten you coated. The drivetrain howls at greater than 12,000rpm and the vehicles sound like spaceships as they scream across the monitor.
Entrants
Lydden Hill winner Tommi Hallman is not going to be participating at this weekend’s occasion, as he’s solely a brief entrant. Extra stunning is the information that joint championship chief and Belgian residence favorite Viktor Vranckx is not going to be participating. On his official social media, the staff mentioned “VMV Racing may be very unhappy to announce Viktor Vranckx’s withdrawal from the RX2e championship following WRX promoter’s choice of reinforcing our 2 important competitor groups. VMV Racing joined the RX2e championship based mostly on the fairness values embodied by the RX2e class, providing the identical possibilities to all of the groups and drivers concerned within the championship.”
This looks like a most uncommon transfer. Whereas an extra 4 drivers could skew the championship outcomes slightly, there was no difficulty with Hallman coming in for one spherical. This presents an actual alternative for Vranckx to show himself towards the very best world rallycross have to supply. Tommy Kristoffersson, boss of Kristoffersson motorsport, has tried to influence him on social media to not pull out.
The title combat is now between Nils Andersson for Workforce E (supported by Kristoffersson motorsport) and Isak Sjökvist for #YellowSquad (supported by Hansen World RX Workforce). Neither had wonderful outcomes at Lydden Hill, with Sjökvist lacking out on a spot within the ultimate for the primary time this yr. Andersson was the one one capable of problem Hallman for a big portion of the weekend till a suspension difficulty cruelly knocked him out of rivalry within the ultimate. Andersson is decided to bounce again, saying “I’ve been in title fights like this earlier than, so hopefully that have will assist and staying cool might be key. With the velocity we’ve got now and the way in which the staff is working, I actually really feel we’re transferring in the fitting route – so let’s do that!”
Elsewhere on the grid, Molly Taylor is about to make her debut for #YellowSquad. The 2016 Australian rally champion isn’t any stranger to competitors, driving alongside Kevin Hansen in Excessive E, however remains to be studying the ropes with on-track racing. Talking of the problem she is anticipating, she mentioned “Coming from a rally background, the side-by-side racing is one thing that’s new to me so this can be a wonderful means for me to extend my expertise with one of these racing, which I’m positive will translate throughout to Excessive E.” In the meantime, Ole Henry Steinsholt would be the solely podium finisher from Lydden Hill competing in Belgium, and might be hoping to keep up that kind.
Workforce Supervisor Response
Talking concerning the choice to carry RX1e drivers into RX2e, Tommy Kristoffersson mentioned “The present should go on! We’re very optimistic about this risk and need to placed on a terrific present in a really aggressive and tight collection”. Hansen boss Kenneth Hansen echoed these sentiments, and is conscious of the problem of getting into such a aggressive area: “We’re a race staff and we wish to race and provides the followers the absolute best present they’ll get. That’s the reason we need to be there and to compete in RX2e. That may be a massive problem. They’re quick guys and women there. Will probably be attention-grabbing, hopefully we will placed on present collectively.”
The World RX of Benelux takes place 5/6 August.
