World Rallycross Championship cuts costs by axing Circuit of the Americas

The World Rallycross Championship has dropped the American round in Texas from its calendar for the next two years.

The series had announced its 2019 schedule in October, but presented a revised 10-event calendar to the World Motor Sport Council in St Petersburg last week. The series’ first US event, held at the Circuit of the Americas, was run in September but has now been postponed until the planned electric switch in 2021.

Promotor IMG has cited a reduction in costs for teams as the reason for dropping the event, having come under increasing pressure in recent weeks to cut costs. “After consulting with the FIA and our World Championship teams, we have decided to reduce the number of events in our 2019 calendar,” said World RX managing director Paul Bellamy.

“This decision has been made to help control costs for the teams and ensure the series remains as competitive as possible. We are planning the return of the World Championship to the USA in 2021 when we add electric cars to the series.”

The planned September event will still host the Americas Rallycross series, while World RX’S South African finale has been moved forwards to November 9/10.