FIA World Rallycross Championship

The FIA World Rallycross Championship (official abbreviation is World RX) is a rallycross series organised by the FIA in conjunction with series promoter Rallycross Promoter GmbH (founded by Red Bull and KW25).[1] From the inaugural season in 2014 to 2020, IMG Motorsport fulfilled the role of promoter.

FIA World Rallycross Championship
CategoryRallycross
CountryInternational
Inaugural season2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Tire suppliersCooper
Drivers' championSweden Johan Kristoffersson
Teams' championSweden Kristoffersson Motorsport
Official websitefiaworldrallycross.com
Current season

Format

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The series currently consists of 12 two-day events driven on closed circuits with mixed surface (mostly asphalt and gravel). Each event consists of:[2]

  • 4 Qualifying heats. In each of the 4 series there are smaller races containing 3 to 5 cars, and the driver with the fastest overall race time after 4 laps (including one Joker Lap) is declared the qualifying winner of Q1, Q2, Q3 and/or Q4. Drivers earn 'intermediate points' based on their positions. After the 4 qualifying series, the points are added up and the 12 drivers with the most points in the 'intermediate standings' move into the next round.
  • 2 Semi-Finals. 6 cars race in each of both semi-finals, which are run over 6 laps (incl. one Joker Lap). The top 3 drivers in each semi-final move into the final round.
  • Final. Like the semi-finals, this race is contested by 6 cars over 6 laps (incl. one Joker Lap). The winner of the final is deemed to be the event winner. However, the final winner has not necessarily claimed the most championship points from the whole event.

Categories

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During the first FIA World Rallycross Championship season in 2014, two classes were run, Supercar (later RX1) and the supporting RX Lites series (later RX2).[3] RX Lites teams raced identical cars prepared by OlsbergsMSE.[4] The World RX Championship series was introduced to distinguish it from the FIA European Rallycross Championship, which has been contested since 1976 and was renamed in March 2013.[5]

 
The Projekt E electric rallycross car

An electric category was planned to be introduced in 2020,[6][7] but it was announced in August 2018 that the introduction of a fully electric Championship would be delayed until 2021 to allow manufacturers more time to submit an interest to join following the rules change.[8][9] Instead, the Projekt E class was run in 2020 as a special parallel series using a spec racer.[10] The Projekt E spec electric rallycross car was revealed in September 2019 at the Riga Motor Museum in Latvia.[11] FIA announced in August 2020 that RX2e would be replacing the RX2 category for the 2021 season.[12] The top World Rallycross Championship series switched to electric cars (RX1e) in August 2022, making World RX an all-electric race series.[13]

For 2022, there are two World Rallycross Championships and two European Rallycross Championships:[14]

  1. FIA World Rallycross Championship, using cars from the RX1e class
  2. FIA Euro RX1 Rallycross Championship, using cars from the RX1 class
  3. FIA RX2e Rallycross Championship, using cars from the RX2e class
  4. FIA Euro RX3 Rallycross Championship, using cars from the RX3 class
FIA World Rallycross class summary
Class Output Weight Years
Power Torque
RX1[a] 430–450 kW (570–600 hp) 840–920 N⋅m (620–680 lb⋅ft) 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) 2014–2021
now Euro only[b]
RX2[c] 230–240 kW (310–320 hp) 300 N⋅m (220 lbf⋅ft) 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) 2014–2020
RX3[d] 160–190 kW (220–250 hp) 190–200 N⋅m (140–150 lbf⋅ft) 920–1,000 kg (2,030–2,200 lb) Euro only[b]
Projekt E 450 kW (600 hp) 2020
RX1e 510 kW (680 hp) 880 N⋅m (650 lbf⋅ft) 1,300–1,330 kg (2,870–2,930 lb) 2022–present
RX2e 270 kW (360 hp) 510 N⋅m (380 lbf⋅ft) 1,290 kg (2,840 lb) 2021–present
Notes
  1. ^ Formerly Supercar, 2014–20
  2. ^ a b Exclusively contested in Euro RX
  3. ^ Formerly RX Lites, 2014–16
  4. ^ Formerly Super 1600, 2001–10

Internal combustion

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The top-level RX1 Supercars division use 2.0 L, turbocharged, four-cylinder engines, which produce approximately 570–600 hp (430–450 kW), and between 620–680 lb⋅ft (840–920 N⋅m) of torque,[15] while using a 45 mm (1.8 in) intake restrictor.[16][17][18]: 5/41 [19][20][21][22] The engines run 50 psi (3.4 bar) of boost pressure,[23][24] and completely unrestricted, are capable of making about 1,000 hp (750 kW) and 1,100 lb⋅ft (1,500 N⋅m) of torque.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] They are four-wheel-drive, and use a Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox. They use launch control, and are capable of accelerating from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in under 2 seconds; which is faster than a Formula One car. Fully prepared, the cars weigh about 1,300 kg (2,900 lb), including the driver, and with oil and fuel.[33][34]

The second-tier RX2 Supercar Lites division uses a 16-valve, 2.4 L, naturally aspirated, Ford Duratec inline-four engine, making between 310–320 hp (230–240 kW) and 300 N⋅m (220 lbf⋅ft) of torque. They are also four-wheel-drive, and also use a 6-speed sequential gearbox.[35][36] They have a minimum weight of 1,100 kg (2,400 lb), including the driver.[37][38][39]

The RX3 (formerly Super 1600) class uses 1.6 L (1600 cc), naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engines; generating between 220–250 hp (160–190 kW) and between 190–200 N⋅m (140–150 lbf⋅ft) of torque. They are only two-wheel-drive (front-wheel-drive), and use either a 5- or 6-speed sequential gearbox. They weigh between 920–1,000 kg (2,030–2,200 lb) including the driver, depending on how many valves per cylinder the engine has. They are capable of a 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) time in just under 4.5 seconds.[40][41][42]

Electric

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The top-level all-electric RX1e Supercar division uses two electric motors, each producing 340 hp (250 kW) and 440 N⋅m (320 lbf⋅ft) of torque; for a total of 680 hp (510 kW) and 880 N⋅m (650 lbf⋅ft) of instant torque.[43][44] They are four-wheel-drive, weigh between 1,300–1,330 kg (2,870–2,930 lb), and can accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 1.8 seconds.[45][46]

The second-tier all-electric RX2e division uses two electric motors, each producing 167.5 hp (124.9 kW) and 255 N⋅m (188 lbf⋅ft) of torque; for a total of 335 hp (250 kW) and 510 N⋅m (380 lbf⋅ft) of torque. They are also four-wheel-drive, and weigh 1,290 kg (2,840 lb).[47][48][49]

Projekt E used electric powertrain kits supplied by STARD. The first car used a Ford Fiesta bodyshell; the STARD ElectRX was a three-motor, all-wheel drive car with 450 kW (600 hp) combined output.[50]

Points system

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Points are scored as follows:

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
Points 20 16 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2014-2021 World Championship points were scored as follows:

Points Scale Position
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th
Heats 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Semi-Finals 6 5 4 3 2 1
Final 8 5 4 3 2 1
  • A red background denotes drivers who did not advance from the round

Drivers

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Events

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Results

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Records correct up to and including the 2022 World RX of Germany.

Champions

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FIA World Rallycross Champions (Supercar / RX1 / RX1e)
Season Championship for Drivers Championship for Teams
Driver Team Car Team Car
2014   Petter Solberg   PSRX   Citroën DS3   Olsbergs MSE   Ford Fiesta ST
2015   Petter Solberg   SDRX   Citroën DS3   Team Peugeot-Hansen   Peugeot 208
2016   Mattias Ekström   EKS RX   Audi S1   EKS RX   Audi S1
2017   Johan Kristoffersson   PSRX Volkswagen Sweden   Volkswagen Polo GTI   PSRX Volkswagen Sweden   Volkswagen Polo GTI
2018   Johan Kristoffersson   PSRX Volkswagen Sweden   Volkswagen Polo R   PSRX Volkswagen Sweden   Volkswagen Polo R
2019   Timmy Hansen   Team Hansen MJP   Peugeot 208   Team Hansen MJP   Peugeot 208
2020   Johan Kristoffersson   Volkswagen Dealerteam   Volkswagen Polo   KYB Team JC   Audi S1
2021   Johan Kristoffersson   EKS KYB JC   Audi S1   Hansen World RX Team   Peugeot 208
2022   Johan Kristoffersson   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo
2023   Johan Kristoffersson   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo
2024   Johan Kristoffersson   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo   Kristoffersson Motorsport   Volkswagen Polo
FIA RX Lites / RX2 / RX2e Champions
Season Championship for Drivers
Driver Team Car
2014   Kevin Eriksson   Olsbergs MSE OMSE RX Lite Car
2015   Kevin Hansen   Hansen Junior Team OMSE RX Lite Car
2016   Cyril Raymond   Cyril Raymond OMSE RX Lite Car
2017   Cyril Raymond   Cyril Raymond OMSE RX2 Car
2018   Oliver Eriksson   Olsbergs MSE OMSE RX2 Car
2019   Oliver Eriksson   Olsbergs MSE OMSE RX2 Car
2020   Henrik Krogstad   Olsbergs MSE OMSE RX2 Car
2021   Guillaume De Ridder   Guillaume De Ridder ZEROID X1
2022   Viktor Vranckx   Bert Vranckx ZEROID X1
2023[a]   Nils Andersson   Team E ZEROID X1
2024   Nils Andersson   Team E ZEROID X1

Statistics

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Event wins by driver

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The drivers champion of the first two seasons, Petter Solberg
 
2016 champion Mattias Ekström
 
Six time champion Johan Kristoffersson
 
2019 champion Timmy Hansen

Key

Driver is a World Champion
Bold Driver has competed in the 2024 season
Wins Driver First win Last win
44   Johan Kristoffersson 2015 World RX of Portugal 2024 World RX of Benelux
14   Timmy Hansen 2014 World RX of Italy 2024 World RX of Benelux
12   Mattias Ekström 2014 World RX of Sweden 2020 World RX of Latvia
10   Petter Solberg 2014 World RX of Portugal 2017 World RX of Great Britain
8   Niclas Grönholm 2019 World RX of Norway 2024 World RX of Hungary
7   Andreas Bakkerud 2014 World RX of Great Britain 2019 World RX of Canada
3   Kevin Hansen 2019 World RX of Abu Dhabi 2024 World RX of Portugal
2   Davy Jeanney 2015 World RX of Germany 2015 World RX of Canada
  Toomas Heikkinen 2014 World RX of Belgium 2015 World RX of Belgium
  Sébastien Loeb 2016 World RX of Latvia 2018 World RX of Belgium
1   Reinis Nitišs 2014 World RX of Norway
  Tanner Foust 2014 World RX of Finland
  Robin Larsson 2015 World RX of Argentina
  Kevin Eriksson 2016 World RX of Germany
  Timur Timerzyanov 2019 World RX of Belgium
  Sebastian Eriksson 2019 World RX of Sweden
  Timo Scheider 2023 World RX of South Africa
  Ole Christian Veiby 2024 World RX of Turkey
  Juha Rytkönen 2024 World RX of Turkey

Event podiums by driver

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Podiums Driver
59   Johan Kristoffersson
46   Timmy Hansen
30   Petter Solberg
  Andreas Bakkerud
27   Mattias Ekström
23   Kevin Hansen
19   Niclas Grönholm
17   Sébastien Loeb
12   Ole Christian Veiby
8   Toomas Heikkinen
  Reinis Nitišs
6   Robin Larsson
  Timur Timerzyanov
  Timo Scheider
4   Anton Marklund
  Gustav Bergström
3   Davy Jeanney
  Klara Andersson
2   Ken Block
  Tanner Foust
  Kevin Eriksson
  Jānis Baumanis
  Krisztián Szabó
1   Andrew Jordan
  Liam Doran
  Jean-Baptiste Dubourg
  Jerome Grosset-Janin
  Joni Wiman
  Richard Göransson
  Juha Rytkönen
  Sebastian Eriksson
  Kevin Abbring
  Yury Belevskiy
  Patrick O'Donovan
  Jankó Wieszt

Event wins by car

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Wins Car
45   Volkswagen Polo
21   Peugeot 208
16   Audi S1
9   Citroën DS3
7   Hyundai i20
6   Ford Fiesta
4   ZEROID X1
3   Ford Focus
2   PWR RX1e
1   Audi A1

Event wins by manufacturer

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Wins Manufacturer
45   Volkswagen
21   Peugeot
17   Audi
9   Citroën
  Ford
8   Hyundai
4   QEV Technologies
2   PWR Racing

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The 2023 RX2e series was part of the European championship, rather than the world championship as it had been previously.

References

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  1. ^ "Rallycross Promoter GmbH builds team for World RX future". FIA World Rallycross. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Championship". Fiaworldrallycross.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  3. ^ Bristow, Matt (December 4, 2013). "FIA World Rallycross Championship Announces 2014 Plans". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ Bristow, Matt (January 23, 2014). "FIA World Rallycross Championship Adds RX Lites As Support Class". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. ^ Bristow, Matt (March 26, 2013). "New Look European Rallycross Under Starters Orders This Weekend". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ Ridge, Hal (2 August 2017). "World Rallycross to introduce electric cars as early as 2020". Autosport.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. ^ "World Rallycross set to add electric cars in future". Motorsport.com. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. ^ "World Rallycross delays electric switch until 2021". Motorsport.com. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  9. ^ Kinch, Phil (August 16, 2018). "World RX postpones move to Electric until 2021". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. ^ Cunnane, Jack (January 28, 2020). "World RX to run Electric and Petrol Powered supercars in 2021". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  11. ^ Ridge, Hal (2019-09-13), First Projekt E electric rallycross car unveiled at Latvian WRX, autosport.com, retrieved 2019-09-17
  12. ^ Lindroos, Pontus (August 1, 2020). "FIA eRX2 Championship Unveiled". The Checkered Flag.
  13. ^ Huntley, Ben (August 4, 2022). "Premiere of the new era of World Rallycross to take place next week". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Sporting Regulations of the FIA World Rallycross Championship | Appendix 1: Supplementary Regulations, Part 1" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  15. ^ "An Inside Look at mountune's GRC Ford Duratec Engine!". 26 February 2015.
  16. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Championship Regulations". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Appendix J – Article 279: Technical Regulations for Rallycross Cars" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. December 15, 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  18. ^ "RX1, Supercar, What's in a name? RallycrossWorld.com". RallycrossWorld.com. October 16, 2020.
  19. ^ "Technical details of FIA World RX1e powertrain revealed". 4 December 2020.
  20. ^ "New Polo for driving thrills: The Volkswagen Polo R Supercar". Volkswagen Newsroom.
  21. ^ "PSRX Volkswagen Sweden reveals 2017 World Rallycross Polo GTI Supercar". 21 March 2017.
  22. ^ "WRC vs World Rallycross Cars | Petter Solberg's VW Polo [TECH TALK]".
  23. ^ "How Global Rallycross cars hit 60 mph in 1.9 seconds". Motor Authority. 13 October 2016.
  24. ^ "FIA Turbo restrictors".
  25. ^ "Citroen DS3: Going beyond WRC". Racecar Engineering. 16 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Ds3 Supercar: Like Being Thrown Out of a Plane… Only Faster". 18 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Subaru Cars, Sedans, SUVs | Subaru of America".
  28. ^ "Audi S1 makes rallycross debut". Racecar Engineering. 19 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Garage".
  30. ^ "About RallyX | RallyX".
  31. ^ "The Art of a World RX Supercar". 8 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Subaru shows new RX Supercar". Racecar Engineering. 31 March 2015.
  33. ^ "What is Rallycross?".
  34. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Championship: Glossary". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021.
  35. ^ "7 reasons why World Rallycross' RX2 cars are serious pieces of kit". Red Bull.
  36. ^ "WESMO COSWORTH Duratec 2.4 | Westermann GMBH Motorsport – official Partner of Caterham Cars, Cosworth and Brian James Trailers".
  37. ^ "The Car | SuperCarLites".
  38. ^ "Supercar Lites – OMSE".
  39. ^ "Supercar Lites | RallyX".
  40. ^ "Categories".
  41. ^ "2003 Citroën C2 Super 1600 Specifications".
  42. ^ "Rallycross". Ferratum World RX of Rīga-Latvia.
  43. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Moving Forward with All-Electric Series in 2022". 30 September 2021.
  44. ^ "The future starts here: 14-car grid to electrify World RX action in 2022". FIA World Rallycross Championship.
  45. ^ "E-Motorsports".
  46. ^ "Mikkelsen: World Rx's Electric Future 'On Another Level'".
  47. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Championship".
  48. ^ "Explaining eRX2's potential to revolutionize rallycross". 4 August 2020.
  49. ^ "FIA World Rallycross Championship".
  50. ^ Ridge, Hal (July 13, 2020). "Electric rallycross car makes winning debut with Stohl". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  51. ^ Scammell, David (2 July 2015). "DiRT Rally partners with FIA World Rallycross Championship for World RX update". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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