World Rallycross Championship 2018

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by J.U.

Disappointing. Where is Albatec Racing? Where are Tommy Rustad, Tomás Pál Kiss and Magda Andersson...?

Andersson couldn't get a budget unfortunately. Wasn't Albatec supposed to run a car in BRC?

But yes, it is an disappointing entry list. I thought for sure there would be more cars.

Rallycross must be the sport were most talents and drivers can't get a seat and has to opt for something else or quit.

[MANU MATADOR]

https://www.autosport.pt/maismotores...peu-ralicross/

[MANU MATADOR]

https://www.autosport.pt/maismotores...peu-ralicross/

[Stephen H]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

So where's Ken Block?

Ford pulled the plug on the WRX programme, but wonder if he will appear as a Wildcard at the COTA round, as I`m sure the promoters would like to see an American on the Entry list with "Monster" connections.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Stephen H

Ford pulled the plug on the WRX programme, but wonder if he will appear as a Wildcard at the COTA round, as I`m sure the promoters would like to see an American on the Entry list with "Monster" connections.

I hope so, be a real shame for those cars to sit gathering dust.

Incidentally does anyone know if all three cars that M-Sport built went to Block, or did M-Sport or Ford Performance take one of them?

[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I hope so, be a real shame for those cars to sit gathering dust.

Incidentally does anyone know if all three cars that M-Sport built went to Block, or did M-Sport or Ford Performance take one of them?

As far as I remember the two that were used for racing belonged to hoonigan racing division ie ken block and the test car belong to ford performance

Ken block said in a interview "sometimes a chassis doesnt work" think that they didn't have the budget to design completely new cars and had no faith they could develop that chassis any faster

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[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Marcopolo

As far as I remember the two that were used for racing belonged to hoonigan racing division ie ken block and the test car belong to ford performance

Ken block said in a interview "sometimes a chassis doesnt work" think that they didn't have the budget to design completely new cars and had no faith they could develop that chassis any faster

Ah, that would make sense. Someone (I think on here?) said that Block had put a lot of money into the program, so figures that he would get the race cars.

I guess it was a marketing led decision, but it's a shame that the Hoonigan effort didn't use the tested Fiesta. The M-Sport Fiesta was a well sorted car and the HRD might have been more competitive from the outset if they had started with that.

Not strictly World Rallycross news, but IMG have just launched the ARX: Americas Rallycross Championship. Opening round will be part of the World round at Silverstone.

[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Ah, that would make sense. Someone (I think on here?) said that Block had put a lot of money into the program, so figures that he would get the race cars.

I guess it was a marketing led decision, but it's a shame that the Hoonigan effort didn't use the tested Fiesta. The M-Sport Fiesta was a well sorted car and the HRD might have been more competitive from the outset if they had started with that.

Not strictly World Rallycross news, but IMG have just launched the ARX: Americas Rallycross Championship. Opening round will be part of the World round at Silverstone.

Should be interesting with 3 of the 4 rounds being in conjunction with world Rallycross events, I've always wanted a GRC car to go head to head with a WRX car, but doubt that's gonna happen

GRC plan for the Platinum class might actually work in WRX favour, with the plan to go electric in 2020 I can see the need for a spec supercar category to support the manufacturer backed electric supercars, and then the RX2 cars for the younger development drivers


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[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Marcopolo

Should be interesting with 3 of the 4 rounds being in conjunction with world Rallycross events, I've always wanted a GRC car to go head to head with a WRX car, but doubt that's gonna happen

Yeah, I assume that, like the European Championship, they will run the ARX heats separately. I guess they will use the World event format as well?

Originally Posted by Marcopolo

GRC plan for the Platinum class might actually work in WRX favour, with the plan to go electric in 2020 I can see the need for a spec supercar category to support the manufacturer backed electric supercars, and then the RX2 cars for the younger development drivers

I am just struggling to see how the numbers stack up. The ARX is talking about Supercars and RX2, so I assume they are attempting to grab as many drivers from last years GRC line up (and based on the first press release, it looks like they may have as many as 4 Supercar drivers already).

Vying for the same drivers you also have the GRC. Are they hoping that last years Supercar drivers will go into "Gold", or that the RX Lite guys will find more budget (because I assume quicker Lites are going to cost more) for "Gold"? Assuming the latter is the case, who are the Polaris buggies aimed at? Is there sufficient interest/finance there to fill a whole field of buggies?...

...then on top of that, you've got Platinum coming at the end of the year. Is that for this years "Gold" guys? Or is the hope to maybe bring in Europeans?

I am possibly not seeing the whole picture but, as I see things now, I can't see there being enough drivers/budget to go around.

[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Yeah, I assume that, like the European Championship, they will run the ARX heats separately. I guess they will use the World event format as well?


I am just struggling to see how the numbers stack up. The ARX is talking about Supercars and RX2, so I assume they are attempting to grab as many drivers from last years GRC line up (and based on the first press release, it looks like they may have as many as 4 Supercar drivers already).

Vying for the same drivers you also have the GRC. Are they hoping that last years Supercar drivers will go into "Gold", or that the RX Lite guys will find more budget (because I assume quicker Lites are going to cost more) for "Gold"? Assuming the latter is the case, who are the Polaris buggies aimed at? Is there sufficient interest/finance there to fill a whole field of buggies?...

...then on top of that, you've got Platinum coming at the end of the year. Is that for this years "Gold" guys? Or is the hope to maybe bring in Europeans?

I am possibly not seeing the whole picture but, as I see things now, I can't see there being enough drivers/budget to go around.

The way I see it, the modified lites cars (gold class) are just a stop gap till they can launch the Platinum class cars that MJP Racing are building for them to race in 2019, wonder how many cars they will be able to develop and build in just over a year and a half though. Everything seems a bit rushed on GRC side

I see the numbers problem also, just hoping there will be a class between the electric RX and RX2, more racing the better.

Sure the racing will still be amazing but the sound is gonna be missing in e-RX, but it's the way that the manufacturer backed teams wanna go, IMG spoke of 9 teams interested, Audi, VW and Peugeot seem to have committed to RX in view of going electric so will be interesting to see who else decides to join in. Hopefully the Cape Town RX event will happen in 2020 and will be able to see what they are like live!


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[PhergAthor]

François Duval has tested with Cometoyou yesterday.
If the budget finalises, he will team up with Enzo Ide for WRX Mettet.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Marcopolo

The way I see it, the modified lites cars (gold class) are just a stop gap till they can launch the Platinum class cars that MJP Racing are building for them to race in 2019, wonder how many cars they will be able to develop and build in just over a year and a half though. Everything seems a bit rushed on GRC side

I see the numbers problem also, just hoping there will be a class between the electric RX and RX2, more racing the better.

Well they have talked about retaining traditional Supercars for the World Championship if there is enough interest. I think I'd rather see those cars directed into a pumped up European Championship rather than a sparse grid of petrol Supercars accompanying the electric cars.

As you say, things seem very rushed on the GRC side. I wonder if the Supercar situation was out of their hands?

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

IMG have just launched the ARX: Americas Rallycross Championship. Opening round will be part of the World round at Silverstone.

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I am just struggling to see how the numbers stack up. The ARX is talking about Supercars and RX2, so I assume they are attempting to grab as many drivers from last years GRC line up (and based on the first press release, it looks like they may have as many as 4 Supercar drivers already).

Exactly. This new ARX seems to be attracting manufacturers that left GRC.

Originally Posted by tbtstt

As you say, things seem very rushed on the GRC side. I wonder if the Supercar situation was out of their hands?

With this ARX announcement, yes. It's possible that GRC manufacturers decided to leave for IMG, and in response GRC invented this Gold class.

[FIRE]

.....

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Marcopolo

The way I see it, the modified lites cars (gold class) are just a stop gap till they can launch the Platinum class cars that MJP Racing are building for them to race in 2019

If that's the case it doesn't make much sense to upgrade current cars. Upgrading results in higher costs.

Or is GRC no longer allowed to run current Lites because the concept is protected and owned by OMSE or even IMG?

[Distracted]

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...mpression=true

I've heard he's not the only driver who isn't happy.

[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by FIRE

If that's the case it doesn't make much sense to upgrade current cars. Upgrading results in higher costs.

Or is GRC no longer allowed to run current Lites because the concept is protected and owned by OMSE or even IMG?

As far as I know they are keeping the lites category

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[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by Distracted

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...mpression=true

I've heard he's not the only driver who isn't happy.

Hopefully they can make some changes, the Cape town RX track had to make some changes after Petter Solberg tested it earlier in the year.

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[tbtstt]

VW Motorsport have unveiled the 2018 car:













Front bumper looks different, as does the rear wing, but otherwise there doesn't look to be any other cosmetic changes from last year. Seems like the front mounted cooling package has been retained as well.

[Marcopolo]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

VW Motorsport have unveiled the 2018 car:













Front bumper looks different, as does the rear wing, but otherwise there doesn't look to be any other cosmetic changes from last year. Seems like the front mounted cooling package has been retained as well.

So both cars are gonna look the same again... Great!


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[mivec]

Not the latest model Polo, so "just" an evolution from the car from last year.
Front bumper looks impressive!

[tbtstt]

Couple of shots of the World guys from Silverstone:

[Marcopolo]

Say hello to the new Audi S1 EKS RX quattro


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[tbtstt]

I'm really not sure about that rear wing, looks a bit out of place! I assume they have positioned it like that to put it in clean air.

GCK have also (finally!) revealed the Prodrive built Megane RS RX this morning:

GCK Official Facebook - Megane Launch Video

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I'm really not sure about that rear wing, looks a bit out of place! I assume they have positioned it like that to put it in clean air.

GCK have also (finally!) revealed the Prodrive built Megane RS RX this morning:

GCK Official Facebook - Megane Launch Video

They aren't allowed to change the wing wither.

The GCK looks like a WRC car. Doubt that Chicherit and JGJ will be frontrunners though.

Live timing from todays test at Silverstone. Surprisingly, Eriksson is second and just +0.017 behind Solberg. http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/times