RallycrossRX 2015

[Distracted]

They're doing a RX talent search:

RX TALENT SEARCH LAUNCHED IN THE UK

FirstCorner – the company behind RX Lites – has helped IMG, the organisers of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, launch a UK-wide talent search. The initiative is also being held in conjunction with the UK’s official governing body, The Motor Sports Association (MSA), and aims to find future rallycross stars.

The RX Talent Search will allow 12 selected finalists the opportunity to prove themselves behind the wheel of an RX Lites car. The winner will be awarded with a fully paid entry into the RX Lites Cup round staged at the former F1 venue, Intercity Istanbul Park from 3-4 October.

The programme aims to provide potential competitors with a first-hand insight into the latest motorsport discipline to achieve FIA World Championship status. Further support for the initiative has come from Lydden Hill where the British RX round is staged,

RX Lites are identical 310bhp, mid-engined, four-wheel drive cars designed by Olsbergs MSE in co-operation with Avitas Motorsport and produced in Turkey. Featuring strictly controlled spec vehicles, the series is designed to provide an affordable platform to showcase the talent of emerging young drivers.

Any MSA competition licence-holder aged between 18 (born after 1 January 1985) and 30 (born before 31 December 1997) interested in entering the RX Talent Search can put themselves forward for consideration by completing a simple form on the MSA’s official website here.

From these applicants – who can come from a racing, rallying or, of course, rallycross background – a shortlist of between ten and 12 people will be selected.

As a curtain raiser to the FIA Motorsport News World RX of Great Britain taking place at Lydden Hill (22-24 May), these chosen finalists will be invited to a special evaluation event at the Kent circuit on Thursday 21 May, with the most impressive performer winning the coveted prize drive in Turkey.

Olsbergs MSE will be providing two RX Lites cars and the judging panel will include: Robert Reid, MSA Performance Director; Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director for IMG Motorsport; Andreas Eriksson, Team Principal of Olsbergs MSE and Andrew Jordan, the 2014 British Touring Car Champion who secured a podium finish in last year’s World RX of Great Britain as a wildcard entry.

Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director at IMG, commented: “An RX Talent search is something that has been on our radar for some time and thanks to the FirstCorner, OMSE and Lydden Hill, we’re now able to get this project off the ground in the UK. We believe that this is something we can roll out to other markets in the coming years as we continue to position rallycross as an attractive and affordable option for young drivers who are looking at a future career in motorsport. The FIA World Rallycross Championship offers incredible return on investment and we pride ourselves on having an extremely diverse range of drivers – we’ve had champion drivers competing from all motorsport disciplines including F1, rally, TouringCar and drift in our Championship. The RX Lites Cup currently runs at seven rounds in support of the World Championship and is the perfect stepping stone for young drivers to hone their rallycross skills before looking at the other FIA categories such as TouringCar, Super1600 and eventually the headline Supercar category.”

[tbtstt]

Post on the Michaël De Keersmaecker RX Facebook page confirming his 2015 livery...



...and participation in "as many rounds as possible of the World Rallycross Championship".

PSRX - Citroen DS3 - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX - Citroen DS3 - ? (World RX)
Team Austria - Ford Fiesta - Manfred Stohl (World RX)
Team Austria - Ford Fiesta - Max Pucher (World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - PG Andersson (World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Tord Linnerud (World RX)
Muennich Motorsport - Audi S3 - ? (World RX)
Muennich Motorsport - Audi S3 - ? (World RX)
EKSRX - Audi S1 - Anton Marklund (World RX)
EKSRX - Audi S1 - ? (World RX)
OMSE - Ford Fiesta - ? (World RX)
OMSE - Ford Fiesta - ? (World RX)
Peugeot Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen? (World RX)
Peugeot Hansen - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
Larsson RX - Audi A1 - Robin Larsson (World RX)
Pauwels Motorsport - Ford Focus - Koen Pauwels (World RX)
Michaël De Keersmaecker RX - Ford Fiesta - Michaël De Keersmaecker (Select World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - Tanner Foust (Select World RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Mark Flaherty (Select World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Ole Christian Veiby (Euro RX)
Nyborg Motorsport - VW Polo - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Team RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX)
Helmia Motorsport - Renault Clio - Lukas Walfridson (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jerôme Grosset-Janin (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - James Grint (Euro RX)
Pailler Competition - Peugeot 208 - Fabien Pailler (Euro RX)
Pailler Competition - Peugeot 208 - Jonathan Pailler (Euro RX)

? - VW Scirocco - Ramona Karlsson (Select World RX?)
Events RX (Marc Laboulle) - ? - ? (Select World RX)

Eklund Motorsport - VW Beetle - ? (World RX)
Eklund Motorsport - Saab 93 - ? (Euro RX?)
Eklund Motorsport - Saab 93 - ? (Euro RX?)
JRM - Mini Countryman - Riko Tahko? (Select World RX?)
JRM - Mini Countryman - ? (Select World RX?)

Ulrik Linnemann (Select World RX?)
Andrew Jordan (Select World RX?)

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Although I can think of a number of reasons as to why it wouldn't work, I still keep coming back to the idea of a Monster PSRX team with Liam Doran in the second car...

...I wonder if there will be any more big team announcements before the official press launch next month?

I still put my money on Monster JRM Mini with Liam Doran and Guerlain Chicherit.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I still put my money on Monster JRM Mini with Liam Doran and Guerlain Chicherit.

I think yours is a more feasible guess, especially as Liam (and Monster) already have a connection with the MINI's.

New article on ERC24, Guttorm Lindefjell to drive "Stina" in at least four World Rallycross rounds. Not too sure on the livery...



...but good to see the Focus in use again.

PSRX - Citroen DS3 - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX - Citroen DS3 - ? (World RX)
Team Austria - Ford Fiesta - Manfred Stohl (World RX)
Team Austria - Ford Fiesta - Max Pucher (World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - PG Andersson (World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Tord Linnerud (World RX)
Muennich Motorsport - Audi S3 - ? (World RX)
Muennich Motorsport - Audi S3 - ? (World RX)
EKSRX - Audi S1 - Anton Marklund (World RX)
EKSRX - Audi S1 - ? (World RX)
OMSE - Ford Fiesta - ? (World RX)
OMSE - Ford Fiesta - ? (World RX)
Peugeot Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen? (World RX)
Peugeot Hansen - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
Larsson RX - Audi A1 - Robin Larsson (World RX)
Pauwels Motorsport - Ford Focus - Koen Pauwels (World RX)
Marklund Motorsport - VW Polo - Tanner Foust (Select World RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Mark Flaherty (Select World RX)
Michaël De Keersmaecker RX - Ford Fiesta - Michaël De Keersmaecker (Select World RX)
? - Ford Focus - Guttorm Lindefjell (Select World RX)
Kristoffersson Motorsport - VW Polo - Ole Christian Veiby (Euro RX)
Nyborg Motorsport - VW Polo - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Team RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX)
Helmia Motorsport - Renault Clio - Lukas Walfridson (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jerôme Grosset-Janin (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - James Grint (Euro RX)
Pailler Competition - Peugeot 208 - Fabien Pailler (Euro RX)
Pailler Competition - Peugeot 208 - Jonathan Pailler (Euro RX)

? - VW Scirocco - Ramona Karlsson (Select World RX?)
Events RX (Marc Laboulle) - ? - ? (Select World RX)

Eklund Motorsport - VW Beetle - ? (World RX)
Eklund Motorsport - Saab 93 - ? (Euro RX?)
Eklund Motorsport - Saab 93 - ? (Euro RX?)
JRM - Mini Countryman - Riko Tahko? (Select World RX?)
JRM - Mini Countryman - ? (Select World RX?)

Ulrik Linnemann (Select World RX?)
Andrew Jordan (Select World RX?)

[Distracted]

Does that car have HUMAN TEETH?! Bet I'm not the only one hoping that bumper falls off early in the race!

[FIRE]

Off-topic:

Maggiora autocross track turned in rallycross track looks good:
https://www.facebook.com/autocrossma...type=1&theater

[CS1]

What's the odds of Timur turning up at PSRX....?

[tbtstt]

Latest post on Liam Doran's Facebook page...

Originally Posted by Liam Doran Official Facebook

Grinding hard getting this new HotRod built at @ldmotorsports HQ!
We will be ready to start testing next week!!!
The countdown to the @fiaworldrx 2015 Championship begins here!!
@methodracewheels

...looks like he will be in a DS3 again after all?

[tbtstt]

Forgive the double post (especially as I have already posted this information in the GRC thread), but I see that Vermont have taken the wraps off the GJ chassis WRX STI for the GRC:



The full story on the GRC website mentions a few words on the build of the car:

Originally Posted by GRC Official Site

The new car will meet GRC and FIA Rallycross homologation standards.

I wonder if this means both Lasek and Isachsen will run in the Canadian World Rallycross round this year?

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by CS1

What's the odds of Timur turning up at PSRX....?

Try another guess.

[CS1]

Im going to stick my neck out and say EKSRX with Ekstrom in a 3rd car making selective appearances

Am I warmer guru????

[rx-guru]

Nope! Colder...

[tbtstt]

Hypothetical question: could you have a World Rallycross team comprising of two cars run individually?

[CS1]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Nope! Colder...

This is getting intriguing!!

[BigNut]

If the deadline for Championship Registration was 27/03/2015 what are teams/drivers waiting for before making the announcements??

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BigNut

If the deadline for Championship Registration was 27/03/2015 what are teams/drivers waiting for before making the announcements??

The official media day next month I would think?

(I wish they'd all hurry up and announce their plans though!)

[96121402]

Originally Posted by CS1

This is getting intriguing!!

What about Hedström? I think the car will fit him quite well.

[CS1]

Originally Posted by 96121402

What about Hedström? I think the car will fit him quite well.

It's possible but a seat at PSRX will be expensive so its whether he can raise the budget

[CS1]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Nope! Colder...

Well there's not many options left as to which team Timur is going to or is it a bluff guru and he has bought a PSRX car and set up his own team, unlikely but not impossible........?

[BigNut]

Timur to JRM Mini ??
If they're serious about competing they need a competitive driver

[CS1]

Couldn't see TT going to an unknown quantity such as the mini.

[tbtstt]

Can we expect any big announcements before the official Championship launch Guru, or are they all waiting until then?

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by CS1

Couldn't see TT going to an unknown quantity such as the mini.

Mini has been previously developed by Liam Doran / Prodrive and has won an event in the States. Also JRM are very, very professional and have acquired the head engineer from Prodrive that developed the MINI.
I wouldn't be shrugging them off just yet.......

[tbtstt]

I'm not sure I'd put too much confidence in the MINI based on its GRC success, JRM are an experienced team though (and they seem to be recruiting the relevant talent from Prodrive) so I hope they can be competitive.

Latest post from the EKSRX Facebook page:

Originally Posted by EKSRX Official Facebook Page

Ready for some action! Mattias Ekström and Anton Marklund will fight for the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship title in our two ‪#‎Audi‬ S1 EKS RX quattro.

Looks like that's Ekström confirmed for the whole Championship then?

[CS1]

Originally Posted by BigNut

Mini has been previously developed by Liam Doran / Prodrive and has won an event in the States. Also JRM are very, very professional and have acquired the head engineer from Prodrive that developed the MINI.
I wouldn't be shrugging them off just yet.......

Not discounting them I just cant see TT going to them. They may be good, they may have recruited good personnel and they may have decent cars but they are unproven and I cant see TT risking a reputation.