All systems go for World RX
COMPETITORS ANNOUNCED: EIGHT RACE-WINNERS AND THREE CHAMPIONS IN LINE-UP
15 permanent drivers, joined by up to 10 round-by-round drivers at each event.
The list of permanent competitors for this year’s World Rallycross Championship has been revealed by the FIA with 15 drivers, including eight proven race winners, set to fight it out for top honours.
The permanent competitors, who will be joined by up to ten round-by-round drivers at each event, comprise six teams and three individual entries.
Cars from six separate manufacturers will feature.
Reigning World RX Champion Johan Kristoffersson will carry the coveted number one on his PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo R as he defends his title.
The Swede will once more be joined by 2014 and 2015 champion Petter Solberg.
Mattias Ekstrom, 2016 World Champion, returns with the EKS Audi Sport equipe.
Having previously dovetailed his rallycross efforts with commitments in the DTM, Ekstrom will focus solely on World RX in 2018.
He is joined in the team’s second Audi S1 by Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud, a six-time World RX event winner who races an Audi for the first time this year.
Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen return as Peugeot's chosen drivers, with Team Peugeot Total now a full factory entry for World RX.
A pair of new Peugeot 208s are at the disposal of its drivers who are seeking both individual success and to regain the Team title Peugeot won in 2015.
GC Kompetition joins the World RX field for the first time, with the French outfit led by owner and racer Guerlain Chicherit who has recruited European Championship event winner Jerome Grosset-Janin to the new team.
Their striking new Renault Megane RS has been developed and built by Prodrive.
Stepping up its involvement after running an individual entry last year, GRX Taneco will introduce Hyundai to the World Rallycross Championship with a pair of i20s for Finn Niclas Gronholm and Russian Timur Timerzyanov.
Returning to the championship after a year away, 2014 Team Champions Olsbergs MSE will run a pair of new Ford Fiestas for its all-Swedish line up of Kevin Eriksson and Robin Larsson.
The three individual entries will compete for the drivers' title but do not claim team points.
Building on selected outings in 2017, Belgian Gregoire Demoustier lines up for a full season with a new Peugeot 208 run by Sebastien Loeb Racing.
Team Peugeot Total has an individual entry for former European champion Kevin Hansen while Team Stard will provide a new Ford Fiesta for Latvian Janis Baumanis.
World RX Managing Director Paul Bellamy commented: “With 15 drivers – including eight race winners and three champions – the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship represents exceptional strength this year.
“PSRX Volkswagen Sweden proved formidable with Johan Kristoffersson in 2017, but they are sure to face a huge challenge from their rivals this year, not least EKS Audi Sport, Team Peugeot Total and Oslbergs MSE.
“Then of course there are the exciting additions from GC Kompetition’s Renaults and the new Hyundais from GRX Taneco Team, all of which give this year’s field immense variety.
“With new events for 2018, rapidly growing support and increasing involvement from manufacturers, World RX is set for another memorable season,” he added.
The 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship will comprise 12 events this season, including the series’ first visits to Silverstone for the World RX of Britain and Circuit of the Americas in Austin for the first ever World RX of USA.
The season begins with the World RX of Catalunya on April 14 and 15.