Swift champ Heathcote eyes RX Lites graduation
Recently crowned Swift Sport Rallycross champion Nathan Heathcote is targeting a move to the RX Lites World Rallycross Championship support class.
The category will be rebranded next season as RX2.
Heathcote won the British Rallycross Swift title this year under the guidance of experienced engineer Graham Rodemark, who also ran Kevin Hansen in the British Championship before moving with the Swede to RX Lites in 2014, winning the crown in 2015.
“After two years in the Swift championship I definitely feel it’s time to move up. It has been a great footstep into rallycross for me,” said Heathcote. “After discussing the future with Graham and the team, my ideal plan for next season would be racing RX Lites. I feel I could gain a lot of experience in that championship, out there on a bigger stage. Graham is very enthusiastic to stay onboard with me but it all depends on what I race next year, as he has commitments in World RX too.”
Heathcote had initially considered racing a Supercar in British RX next season, but decided on the world stage.
“I feel I could make a bigger name for myself and gain a lot more experience racing against drivers from around the world in RX Lites,” he added.
“My long-term goal is to be driving a World Rallycross Supercar. It has always been a dream to race cars around the world as a career.”
The 2017 RX2 championship will run alongside World RX at seven events next year, including the flyaway rounds in Canada and South Africa.