EX-F1 MAN HEIDFELD KEEN TO SAMPLE MORE RALLYCROSS OUTINGS
German racer keen on another challenge after Spanish RX outing
Former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld is eyeing more rallycross opportunities, following his debut in the mixed-surface discipline within the Spanish round of the World Rallycross Championship last month.
German driver Heidfeld competed in the RX2e support series for allelectric, single-specification spaceframe machines and finished the event 10th, and last, overall.
Having progressed his pace, with minimal testing pre-event, the ex-F1 podium finisher would like to build on those experiences.
“It was a huge challenge,” he said. “There are some things that become like reflexes from 35 years of racing in other series, but which don’t work in rallycross. I knew what I needed to do, but then when the situation came, I didn’t do it. I need to change something in my brain to react automatically rather than having to think about it – because the one thing you certainly don’t have in rallycross is time to think. That said,
I was pleased with the weekend overall. I felt I improved throughout and the other drivers were very helpful – which probably means I’m still not quite quick enough to threaten them.”
A former Formula E racer, Heidfeld enjoyed competing in the four-wheeldrive electric rallycross machine and would like to try World RX’s new top-flight electric machinery.
“I’m also obviously a big fan of electric racing,” he added. “The transition to alternative energies is happening globally, and of course it’s important that the leading motorsport championships set an example.
I think it shows to the world that it the technology is readily there and that it can be exciting, too. Being very serious, I would definitely like to do some more – and it goes without saying that I would love to try out a World RX car should the opportunity arise.”