The FIA World Motorsport Council has confirmed a 13th Round will be added to the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship after a multi-year deal was agreed with DTM organisers ITR and FIA WorldRX organiser IMG Motorsport to hold a WorldRX event on the same weekend as the DTM opening round at Hockenheim.
Hockenheim is famous for being the venue for the German Grand Prix, but it was also the track that saw the first ever DTM race take place back in 1984. Since 2011, the circuit has held the opening and closing rounds of Germany’s Domestic Touring Car Championship, where last year EKSRX Team Principle Mattias Ekstrom won the final round of the series in his Audi A4 DTM.
There will be a packed weekend of racing for fans as both WorldRX and the DTM will be joined by a support package consisting of The Porsche Carerra Cup Deutschland, The FIA European Formula 3 Championship and the new-for-2015 Audi Sport TT Cup.
Working closely with Apex Circuit Design, a purpose built rallycross circuit is being built in the famous “Sachs Arena” stadium section of the impressive German venue.
The new partnership between IMG Motorsport and ITR is part of a multi-year deal which sees the F1 circuit added to the growing list of world-famous race circuits that now boast purpose-built rallycross circuits including Barcelona in Spain, the Istanbul Park Circuit in Turkey and the Franciacorta circuit in Italy.
Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director for IMG, spoke positively about the latest boost for the FIA’s newest World Championship event.
“It is a great honour to partner with DTM at their 2015 season-opening weekend at the Hockenheimring,” said Mr Anayi. “We have been extremely impressed with the professionalism we have seen from ITR in running DTM and we can’t wait to show the German motorsport audience just how special World RX is.
“There is a natural link with Mattias Ekstrom competing in both Championships and also with permanent World RX driver Anton Marklund competing in the new Audi Sport TT Cup. We were thrilled when the opportunity arose to build a purpose built rallycross circuit in one of the world’s most famous venues.
“Coupled with the fact that an RX event would be held on such an important weekend in the German motorsport calendar was the icing on the cake. As a result, we now have a fantastic chance to showcase World RX and our sport to a brand new audience. We are very excited about developing our relationship with ITR and look forward to future collaborations.”
ITR Chairman Hans-Werner Aufrecht is delighted about the signing of the deal for this multi-year partnership.
“Whatever we do, we always do it allowing for the interests of the fans we want to provide a unique experience, at the circuit,” said Mr Aufrect.
“In consideration of this fact, the FIA World Rallycross Championship suits us perfectly: the DTM high-tech touring cars and the rugged compact World RX racers represent two different, fascinating motor-sport facets. I am convinced that the motor-racing enthusiasts will love this combination.”
The WorldRX & DTM Double-header will take place over the weekend of May 1-3, whilst WorldRX will then return to Germany on June 19-21 at the Estering RX Circuit.
