World Rallycross Championship 2017

[CS1]

Originally Posted by The Eye

The third Megane is for Customer drivers.

Google translation from Robin Larsson's Facebook

“We succeeded together with you private & our amazing sponsors, new and old, to get the necessary economical for a place in the factory team during the winter we had contact with. It's been tough to get it all together and on Monday we were unfortunately told that the place was not ours. This time it was someone else who got the chance. A heavy answers and while we waited for the decision, several other chances disappeared. We have since rethinked and decided to start afresh with our own team, Larsson Jernberg Motorsport, another season. We will focus on the European Championships next year, when it is too difficult for us as a private team to compete in the World Cup.”

Shame for Larsson - wonder which teams he had been talking to

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by CS1

Shame for Larsson - wonder which teams he had been talking to

Exactly the same thing I was going to ask! Peugeot-Hansen perhaps? I wondered if they might run four cars in the World Championship in 2017 (so both Timmy and Kevin can compete in the World Championship), if Loeb is back then that would potentially leave a fourth car up for grabs?

In other news, Andrew Jordan will drive an MJP Racing Team Austria Fiesta at Lydden Hill:

http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/ar...urns-to-lydden

Jordan will be in place of Timo Scheider who has a date conflict.


PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)

RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
GCK - Renault Clio/Renault Megane - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
GCK - Renault Megane - ? (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[tbtstt]

Forgive the double post, but Peugeot-Hansen have announced a three car World Championship entry for 2017:

http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/ar...hree-car-entry

Who will be the more successful Hansen?

EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Kevin Hansen (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)

Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)

GCK - Renault Clio/Renault Megane - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
GCK - Renault Megane - ? (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[J.U.]

rallye-magazin.de reports that Kevin will have a 208 WRX with 2016-specification while Séb and Timmy get 2017-specification. So it´s difficult to compare...

[tbtstt]

Just had an error pointed out to me. The latest article on Guerlain Chicherit...

https://motorsport.com/world-rx/news...ounds-873944/?

...actually states that the Megane will be shown at Loheac, but not raced. List amended accordingly!

EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Kevin Hansen (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)

Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)

Fors Performance - Renault Clio - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[J.U.]

Awesome news! Reinis Nitiss joins EKS RX for a full season in the Audi S1 quattro!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by J.U.

Awesome news! Reinis Nitiss joins EKS RX for a full season in the Audi S1 quattro!

Excellent news! Glad EKS are making use of those spare S1's they have!

EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Reinis Nitiss (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Kevin Hansen (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)

Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)

Fors Performance - Renault Clio - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[Hickey]

So, will it be best 2 of 3 that counts for manufacturers or will they have to specify 2? If the former, will three car teams become more common?

What are the plans for All-Inkl team this year then? Doubt we will see them out in WRX.

[1975DCS]

But what about the secondary Hansen team?

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by Hickey

So, will it be best 2 of 3 that counts for manufacturers or will they have to specify 2? If the former, will three car teams become more common?

No, not this season at least. Only Peugeot and EKS got three cars at the moment. Would be an unfair advantage to have the best two allowed to score points. EKS commented on facebook that Topi and Ekström will score points for the manufacture championship.

I think this seat was the one Larsson was after. Got told a few weeks ago that Nitiss and another driver had bought Solberg's DS3's.

Further, there was a "Twitter joke" where WRX drivers tweeted a screenshot with a missed call from Ekström and Nitiss was one of them. However, Nitiss retracted the joke today and thanked Ekström for the call back since it was important after all.

[tbtstt]

Manfred Stohl has a new team - STARD World RX Team - and will enter two cars in the 2017 World Championship:

https://www.motorsport.com/world-rx/...r-2017-875445/

Great news as I feared they wouldn't be back this year.

EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Reinis Nitiss (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Kevin Hansen (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)
STARD World RX Team - Ford Fiesta - Timur Timerzyanov (World RX)
STARD World RX Team - Ford Fiesta - Janis Baumanis (World RX)

Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)

Fors Performance - Renault Clio - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[CS1]

Originally Posted by J.U.

Awesome news! Reinis Nitiss joins EKS RX for a full season in the Audi S1 quattro!

Would have preferred to see Robin Larsson in this seat personally

[1975DCS]

Originally Posted by CS1

Would have preferred to see Robin Larsson in this seat personally

I have mixed feelings about this as I like the Larsson-Jernberg family involvement and the fact he is the underdog.

[chunder]

There is no place for private teams in WRX anymore, IMG have sen to that. Even Isachsen of old would struggle to compete now.

Series is now basically pro, with ERX stragglers at the profitable rounds.

Move on and watch something else, I have.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by 1975DCS

I have mixed feelings about this as I like the Larsson-Jernberg family involvement and the fact he is the underdog.

Unfortunately they are only doing ERX.

[RichP]

You can add Guy Wilkes to the WRX list. Loco sponsorship in Johan's car from last year.

[Hickey]

Great news to have a Brit to support in the WRX and in a very competitive car . I hope he has a good team behind him as he will need it to keep pace with the leaps that the other teams will have made over the winter!

[tbtstt]

Unexpected but excellent bit of news to start the day! I wonder who will be running the car?

EKS - Audi S1 - Mattias Ekstrom (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Toomas Heikkinen (World RX)
EKS - Audi S1 - Reinis Nitiss (World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Timo Scheider (World RX except UK)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Kevin Eriksson (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Timmy Hansen (World RX)
Peugeot-Hansen - Peugeot 208 - Kevin Hansen (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg (World RX)
PSRX/VW Sweden - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (World RX)
STARD World RX Team - Ford Fiesta - Timur Timerzyanov (World RX)
STARD World RX Team - Ford Fiesta - Janis Baumanis (World RX)
? - Volkswagen Polo - Guy Wilks (World RX)

Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
Albatec Racing - Peugeot 208 - Tommy Rustad (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Peter Hedström (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Alexander Hvaal (Euro RX)
Hedström Motorsport - Ford Fiesta - Joachim Hvaal (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Thomas Bryntesson (Euro RX)
JC Raceteknik - Ford Fiesta - Ola Froshaug (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Magda Andersson (Euro RX)
Marklund Motorsport - Volkswagen Polo - Anton Marklund (Euro RX)
RX Racing - Ford Fiesta - Ollie O'Donovan (Euro RX & Select World RX)

Fors Performance - Renault Clio - Guerlain Chicherit (Select World RX)
MJP Racing - Ford Fiesta - Andrew Jordan (UK only)

DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)
DA Racing - Peugeot 208 - ? (World RX?)

[chunder]

SO 13 or 15 WRX factory cars then so far with only a few weeks to go before first round.

Looks awesome.

[J.U.]

With the confirmation of Hoonigan, DA Racing and Grönholm still missing, I think that we can expect at least 18 full-season entrants. That's good.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

SO 13 or 15 WRX factory cars then so far with only a few weeks to go before first round.

Looks awesome.

Including the two Hoonigan cars it should be 15 minimum. If the two DA Racing cars do the full Championship that's 17. Gronholm Jnr. Fiesta in an M-Sport makes 18, then perhaps the Munnich cars as well. JRM and Gigi Galli are also potential World entrants, though they seem less likely at this stage.

18 seems a feasible number at the moment. I think that's the same number of regulars as last year? With those 18 all being very competitive entrants.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Including the two Hoonigan cars it should be 15 minimum. If the two DA Racing cars do the full Championship that's 17. Gronholm Jnr. Fiesta in an M-Sport makes 18, then perhaps the Munnich cars as well. JRM and Gigi Galli are also potential World entrants, though they seem less likely at this stage.

18 seems a feasible number at the moment. I think that's the same number of regulars as last year? With those 18 all being very competitive entrants.

It was 17 last year. Never thought there was going to be so many new entries now.

[Hickey]

The quality this year is arguably better isn't it. Who's the weak link? Duborg? Hardly a weak link though!

I don't mind the WRX being elitist provided that there is sufficient interest to keep the field looking this good. Which we all doubted would happen this year but fingers crossed it looks OK. Most if not all other top sports have an elite category, so I see no problem with the ambition here.

My big gripe that I keep coming back to is that, with Rex proving so popular for the "smaller" teams, it needs to he at every European round (other than Hockenheim which I could give a toss about as there is already a German round). Even if the increased costs of the extra three rounds means that a few drop out, it would still have about 25 regulars and 8 or 9 rounds, and then would deserve the title of European Championship. If this happens then I'd be very content.

[1975DCS]

Yeah, if all European rounds would have the ERX as well I would be very content!

[J.U.]

Artis Baumanis and Krisztian Szabo confirmed for Volland Racing in Euro RX (S1600) with Skoda Fabia/Audi A1: http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/ar...volland-racing

More entrants for this year are:
Ulrik Linnemann (Peugeot 208)
Mario Barbosa (Ford Fiesta)
Janko Wieszt (Renault Twingo)
Kasparas Navickas (Skoda Fabia)
Vaclav Veverka (Peugeot 208)
Ondrej Smetana (Ford Fiesta)
Ernestas Staponkus (VW Polo)
Rudolf Schafer (Peugeot 208)

Anyone to add?