2018 Rallycross ThreadRally 

This apparently emerged on Facebook before the official announcement but here is our first look at the Lite 2.0 GRC Gold. Once again takes reference from the Fiesta, now much more of a go-between of the Fiesta RX and WRC.

s95os8q550i01.jpg
 
Sooo, they've completely killed manufacturer involvement in the GRC because...?

It's not like rally and rallycross are already less-than-popular disciplines in the US.

Also, why are GRC and WRX moving to Electric? I don't have a problem with electric rallycross cars, but I feel like the change was made craps and laughs rather than any real environmental reason given how sudden the changes seem to be.
 
Team Peugeot Total's 2018 lineup, now with full factory backing. Loeb and Timmy will debut brand new cars, whereas Kevin will race with one of last year's chassis.

DXgbWR2WsAIMC-g.jpg:orig
 
Grönholm RX debuts their first Hyundai i20 Supercar. The team will field two cars, with Niclas Grönholm and Timur Timerzyanov.

DXm2pb2WkAAOjMO.jpg


....and Jérôme Grosset-Janin will partner Guerlain Chicherit in the Mégane RS RX.

 
The first official World RX test was today. EKS are sticking with the S1, but with a mighty amount of nuanced aero. Things are getting serious

DXrCkY8XUAARyhu.jpg


DXrCkZGW0AIsIon.jpg


....and Olsbergs return to World RX full-time following GRC's purge, with all new Fiestas driven by Kevin Eriksson and Robin Larsson. Including a front-mounted radiator (à la the VWs) and inboard suspension, developed on the GRC Civic. Funnily enough they actually turned up to the test today with one of the Civics, but this doesn't appear to factor into their plans. The Civics and their previous Fiestas are up for rental/sale, and can legally be raced in World RX, Euro RX and RallyX Nordic.
 
Last edited:
The first official World RX test was today. EKS are sticking with the S1, but with a mighty amount of nuanced aero. Things are getting serious

DXrCkY8XUAARyhu.jpg


DXrCkZGW0AIsIon.jpg


....and Olsbergs return to World RX full-time following GRC's purge, with all new Fiestas driven by Kevin Eriksson and Robin Larsson. Including a front-mounted radiator (à la the VWs) and inboard suspension, developed on the GRC Civic. Funnily enough they actually turned up to the test today with one of the Civics, but this doesn't appear to factor into their plans. The Civics and their previous Fiestas are up for rental/sale, and can legally be raced in World RX, Euro RX and RallyX Nordic.
I kinda hope the Hondas end up in World RX even without factory backing. That said, I really hate it for DeJong and Wiman, both of them never really got a chance to show their stuff (that and the Civic was easily the best looking car out there in the series).
 
The 2018 World RX and Euro RX entry lists are here. The world championship will have fifteen permanent drivers, which will be bolstered by up to ten wildcard entries per event. The Euro RX entries are littered with names we've come to expect from World RX, including (probably most notably) one Reinis Nitišs.

- - - - -

Andreas Bakkerud will join Hansen and Loeb at the British RX opener next week, in his new S1. Place ur bets on who gets on the podium at the end of it all...

 
IMG, promoters of World RX, have announced the Americas Rallycross Championship (ARX). It will run across four rounds for 2018, three being alongside World RX. Volkswagen-Andretti and Subaru-VTR have been announced as the first teams to field cars. Yes, they will be Supercars.

- - - - -

Mark Higgins and Albatec, who were originally only entered for British RX Rd. 1, have committed to a full season

 
Last edited:
IMG, promoters of World RX, have announced the Americas Ralllycross Championship (ARX). It will run across four rounds for 2018, three being alongside World RX. Volkswagen-Andretti and Subaru-VTR have been announced as the first teams to field cars. Yes, they will be Supercars.

Interestingly, that article makes it sound like the OEMs jumped rather than got pushed. The plot thickens...
 
the thought of the big teams (except for Olsbergs-Honda, though those cars will likely be bought up for this series) running a new series that's more affiliated with World RX is reassuring, I just hope the coverage is decent. That said, What's gonna happen to Loenbros (Arpin) and whatever Austin Dyne and Bryan Herta have been passing off as teams? IMO DeJong is just gonna fade away into the sim series.
 
the thought of the big teams (except for Olsbergs-Honda, though those cars will likely be bought up for this series) running a new series that's more affiliated with World RX is reassuring, I just hope the coverage is decent. That said, What's gonna happen to Loenbros (Arpin) and whatever Austin Dyne and Bryan Herta have been passing off as teams? IMO DeJong is just gonna fade away into the sim series.

Well, I don't think Austin Dyne will be appearing in ARX, since his father Colin Dyne owns GRC and ARX looks to be trying to put GRC out of business!
Arpin has been getting really good, I imagine he has been talking to IMG. ARX needs more than 2 Subarus and 2 VW! Arpin needs ARX and ARX needs Arpin, so i'd imagine they will try to make it work. Bryan Herta, was that Cabot Bigham? I'd imagine they will run if they have a funded driver. Hopefully the Honda's will be running in the new series.
 
Well, I don't think Austin Dyne will be appearing in ARX, since his father Colin Dyne owns GRC and ARX looks to be trying to put GRC out of business!
Arpin has been getting really good, I imagine he has been talking to IMG. ARX needs more than 2 Subarus and 2 VW! Arpin needs ARX and ARX needs Arpin, so i'd imagine they will try to make it work. Bryan Herta, was that Cabot Bigham? I'd imagine they will run if they have a funded driver. Hopefully the Honda's will be running in the new series.
Yep, Cabot Bigham drove for Herta in that neon/chrome/whatever colored #2 Fiesta
 
Final World RX Pre-Season Test / Season Launch Day business!

In all its glory, EKS Audi Sport's 2018 S1 quattro. They're referring to it as a "second generation" car, so the differences are likely more than skin-deep.

A182287_full.jpg


- - - - - - - - - -

The GCK Mégane breaks cover:



Livery will be revealed in Paris next week.

- - - - - - - - - -

World RX highlights will be broadcast free-to-air in the UK; Saturdays on Channel 4:



- - - - - - - - - -

Anton Marklund's fetching new livery for his Euro RX title defence. He'll also be appearing at the World RX of Britain and Norway.

DY-BhuAXUAAKN3l.jpg
 
Speaking of the US, you lot over there will be able to stream each round of the 2018 World RX season live with a FloSports subscription. I understood some of those words

- - - - - - - - - -

COTA RX:

igctlLn.jpg


eu0bbqq.jpg


Onboard lap with Petter Solberg:



- - - - - - - - - -

Foust, Speed, and the Andretti Beetles are alive and kicking in their 2018 ARX specification

DZ_P5wDUMAAbpF8.jpg


- - - - - - - - - -

They knocked up a quick and dirty World RX USA/ARX livery for this RX2. Pretty fetching

DaAfA_iXUAUnUq3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Another year another Chicherit livery

DaA8eFtX0AEQUGS.jpg


DaA8eFtWkAA3sqb.jpg


DaA8eFnX0AAVIrU.jpg


Good looking car, crap paint. Certainly a shame because the Mégane makes a mighty fine looking race car without the riveted, gunmetal-effect tear tat.

Looks aside it is fitted with inboard brakes, which is a first for a rallycross supercar. The engine and gearbox are entirely custom. They took this seriously, then again it was built by Prodrive, so what less would you expect?
 
Speaking of the US, you lot over there will be able to stream each round of the 2018 World RX season live with a FloSports subscription. I understood some of those words

- - - - - - - - - -

COTA RX:

igctlLn.jpg


eu0bbqq.jpg


Onboard lap with Petter Solberg:



- - - - - - - - - -

Foust, Speed, and the Andretti Beetles are alive and kicking in their 2018 ARX specification

DZ_P5wDUMAAbpF8.jpg


- - - - - - - - - -

They knocked up a quick and dirty World RX USA/ARX livery for this RX2. Pretty fetching

DaAfA_iXUAUnUq3.jpg

1. Now I reeeeaallyy wish I could go there
2. The track reminds me of the old GRC layout there from a few years back.
3. This ARX thing is gonna be legit. Let's hope the other manufacturers/teams bring the action.
 
Probably one of the strongest openers in years. New cars showing their pace from day one



Rough driving results in a stewards enquiry....



- - - - - - - - - -

Another ARX entry: Block buddies up with Steve Arpin to further develop the Focus RS. We'll see them at ARX COTA, GP3R and World RX USA. The greyscale livery is mean to boot.

 
Well that sucks. GRC was great, because they actually had events all over the US.

https://www.motorsport.com/world-rx...p-for-new-american-rallycross-series-1014517/

Now, ARX is the only big rallycross series in America, but that only has 4 rounds, and only 2 will be in the United States (Austin and another that's not confirmed yet). The majority of rallycross fans won't be in the same state as these events.

The other race has been listed on the series website, its a TBC date in July at COTA.
https://www.arxrallycross.com/calendar
 
Back