Global Rallycross Championship 2012

[USRallycross]

Verena Mei would certainly add some glamor to the field! Can you share source of the rumor?

[rx-guru]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...NEWS/111209990

[tbtstt]

Block confirms he'll be doing the full GRC season next year...

http://www.rallybuzz.com/exclusive-r...ala-ken-block/

...hope his new Fiesta fares better than it did at X-Games 17!

[rx-guru]

http://www.rallycrossworld.com/2011/...ms-rallycross/

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

...hope his new Fiesta fares better than it did at X-Games 17!

I do not expect too much from a for RX use converted Fiesta WRC. But maybe it's good enough for the GRC series…

[Down F0rce]

Glad this thread popped up! Turns out I'll be in New York in time for the Global Rallycross round... are venues mentioned yet? Will it be held in New York City itself or some obscure track in the state somewhere?

[USRallycross]

Wow - is that Guru throwing some smack talk that GRC front of field is easier than ERC??? Think Gronholm and Foust would do just fine in the ERC but then they wouldn't be on TV. In fact, didn't Foust come second in the ERC this year?

Re New York, no venue has been announced yet. Doubt Bloomberg will be closing any streets (ESPN doesn't own NYC like it does LA) but hopefully somewhere close to Manhattan. The RA events at NJMP (closest race track) didn't really draw from the city plus it is in New Jersey

Should be announced soon.


Mark
Best Buy RallyCross Team

[rx-guru]

Mark, I just guess that Block would not be a regular A finalist in the ERC (even with 8 cars from now on) while he can be one in the GRC. And Foust has a true RX Fiesta, Block a converted WRC. Last not least I rate Foust a better RX driver.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

I do not expect too much from a for RX use converted Fiesta WRC. But maybe it's good enough for the GRC series…

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the GRC cars are running slight more power than their ERC counterparts aren't they?...

My comment was perhaps a little unfair in that it was a virtually new car at X-Games 17 (I was surprised he chose there to debut it). He has been touring with that "HFHV" and its been reliable enough, so hopefully it'll provide a decent platform for him to have a stab at the GRC. I personally think that Blocks "HFHV" is a very clever design, but its essentially a compromise, so its never going to be quite as honed to the task as the MSE Fiesta's (in my opinion anyway).

Still - and as I'm sure we all agree - Block is a great marketing tool and obviously not entirely useless behind the wheel, but I wouldn't put him in the same league as Foust and especially not Gronholm!

[I Rosputnik]

I do hope when things go global we get to see some of the traditional venues being used. Plus I also hope the calendar does not clash with the ERX this year or next year, because I would love to see some of the ERX teams appearing every now and then racing against the GRX teams.

Part me is wondering if we might see Liam Doran return with the C4, or hopefully when it's ready the DS3.

[NaBUru38]

rx-guru, Block won't run a WRC-converted Fiesta at the GRX, but this "hybrid function hoon vehicle".

[chunder]

Real shame for ERC, one of my fave drivers Holte is only running in the US this year

Damn shame as I think he could challenge with Isachsen maybe running a new car and having issues hopefully!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

rx-guru, Block won't run a WRC-converted Fiesta at the GRX, but this "hybrid function hoon vehicle".

The HFHV is based on a converted WRC Fiesta: you are both talking about the same car!

[FIRE]

---

[I Rosputnik]

Here's the story about Frode Holte making the switch.

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

The HFHV is based on a converted WRC Fiesta: you are both talking about the same car!

Right, an M-Sport 3-doors Mk7 crashed by Mikko Hirvonen near Torsby during tests for the 2011 Sweden Rally and later converted to RX specs for Ken Block by the people around Henning Solberg.

BTW, as far as I know the GRC cars use a 45mm restrictor, same as the Supercars in the ERC.

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Here's the story about Frode Holte making the switch.

http://www.rallycrossworld.com/2011/...grc-programme/

More easy to read?

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

BTW, as far as I know the GRC cars use a 45mm restrictor, same as the Supercars in the ERC.

Yeah, I thought this, but then I've seen quite a few articles (and seen a couple of driver interviews) quoting the power output of the GRC cars as 575 - 600 BHP (I guess that could just be slightly exaggerated for the purpose of marketing though).

Be cool if Block did a bit of rallycross testing in Europe (though I suspect the ERX regulars would run rings round him!) though I seem to recall (perhaps wrongly) that his "Hybrid" car is ineligible for use in the ERX?

I'm surprised by Holte jumping ship, out of interest has anyone heard what Jernberg is planning for 2012? Given he has been a part of the GRC for a year I wondered whether he wants to stay there or if he'd rather return to the ERX again?

Don't know if you guys have already seen it (I don't think its been posted here), but some updated marketing blurb for the 2012 season...

http://www.global-rallycross.com/wp-...memo_FINAL.pdf

[rich_cooper]

Big shame for ERX that Holte wont be there in 2012, But great for Global Rallycross to have him and 2 other C30's intime for X-Games.

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Yeah, I thought this, but then I've seen quite a few articles (and seen a couple of driver interviews) quoting the power output of the GRC cars as 575 - 600 BHP (I guess that could just be slightly exaggerated for the purpose of marketing though).

Be cool if Block did a bit of rallycross testing in Europe (though I suspect the ERX regulars would run rings round him!) though I seem to recall (perhaps wrongly) that his "Hybrid" car is ineligible for use in the ERX?

I'm surprised by Holte jumping ship, out of interest has anyone heard what Jernberg is planning for 2012? Given he has been a part of the GRC for a year I wondered whether he wants to stay there or if he'd rather return to the ERX again?

Don't know if you guys have already seen it (I don't think its been posted here), but some updated marketing blurb for the 2012 season...

http://www.global-rallycross.com/wp-...memo_FINAL.pdf

Interesting clear up about the GRX and the FIA. I'm guessing if the GRX wants to go truly global, they will need to talk to the FIA about it.

[rx-guru]

@ tbtstt: When the Group B cars had "driveable" 650bhp a lot of people were talking about 800+bhp. These days it is nearly the same with 600+bhp. I bet no Supercar with 45mm restrictor has more than 560bhp while racing.

@ I Rosputnik: FIA will defo "wake up" when some people are trying to establish a World Rallycross Championship, no matter if 'World' is replaced by 'Global'.

[NaBUru38]

I keep thinking that they should use GRX rather than GRC. It's more unique, more X Gamesy.

I hope that Latin Americans get all races live with Agulla and Pombo narrating.

Originally Posted by Stakeholder memo

prevent conflict with other relevant race series schedules including European Rallycross, Rally America, Formula Drift and WRC

That's very sensible, that helps to attract entries from those championships. At this point I'd try not to force teams to run just the GRX.

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Be cool if Block did a bit of rallycross testing in Europe (though I suspect the ERX regulars would run rings round him!)

LOL

[rx-guru]

GRX for Global Rallycross?
GRC = Global Rallycross Championship.
So GRXC would actually be what you prefer?

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I keep thinking that they should use GRX rather than GRC. It's more unique, more X Gamesy.

I hope that Latin Americans get all races live with Agulla and Pombo narrating.

That's very sensible, that helps to attract entries from those championships. At this point I'd try not to force teams to run just the GRX.

LOL

I concur, I wonder if we might see Liam race again. He's been doing some things in the USA with Monster and he's recently done a round in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. What would be cool to see would be Kenneth Hansen Motorsport enter the X games with two DS3's next year rather then just the one C4, but then I have no idea how much it would cost to do that.

[USRallycross]

In 2011, the ERC spec engines were slightly higher than the GRC ones. Think that will change in 2012 given the new engine rules in the ERC. The higher output figures are for marketing purposes. Not as many purists here checking the facts!

Don't think any historic tracks will feature in 2013 as ESPN want to keep this in the streets as much as possible and learnt that the closer rallycross is to the X Games venue the better it is for sponsors and production logistics.

I am sure the FIA will take notice. But they will also recall the battle with CART in the early 1990's. American laws re restriction to work are very different from Europe and the FIA learnt that fighting the US could be very expensive and painful.

Roll on April 15 when the talking stops and we get the cars out. Not heard anything on Liam for RX but know the off-road guys love him! Did Citroen care that he won X Games?

Mark