Volkswagen Sweden have announced that they will support two teams in the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Marklund Motorsport, who came close to winning the 2014 Teams Trophy, will be joined by Kristoffersson Motorsport in an expanded WorldRX programme.
Marklund Motorsport confirmed that 2014 WorldRX of Belgium Winner Toomas “Topi” Heikkinen will return for a second season in the VW Mk5 Polo Supercar, where he will be joined by for Junior WRC Champion Per-Gunnar Andersson, who sampled the Audi S1 of EKSRX and the Skoda Fabia of Hedstrom Motorsport during two appearances in WorldRX in 2014.
Kristoffersson Motorsport moves up to become full time competitors in WorldRX with Johan Kristoffersson driving for his father’s team. Kristoffersson took part in several EuroRX events in 2014 as well as a full season in the Swedish Rallycross Championship.
His talent is well known after securing a triple title spree in 2012 consisting of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, Scandinavia Porsche Championship and the International Superstars Series. He will be joined by Tord Linnerud who will pilot the second KMS VW Polo. Linnerud has driven a Renault Clio Supercar in EuroRX which has now been sold to Helmia Motorsport.
But the challenge doesn’t end there. Tommy Rustad has already confirmed his 2015 FIA European Rallycross Championship entry for 2015 through a combined effort from HTB Racing and Marklund Motorsport and he will be joined by WRC3 star Ole Christian Veiby who has moved across from Rallying to drive a KMS Polo in the 2015 EuroRX series.
With Tanner Foust confirming earlier in the year that he will contest at least four rounds of WorldRX in a VW Polo, there could be up to seven of the VW Supercars taking part in at least one round.
Sten Forsberg, Manager of Volkswagen Sweden, explained how Rallycross was an exciting prospect to be in at the moment, saying: “Rallycross is the hottest motorsport just now, and we and our dealers think it feels incredibly exciting to be able to support a bid where two of Sweden’s best teams are aiming at becoming world champion.”
Jost Capito, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport, added: “The World Rallycross Championship enjoys increasing popularity: The races are compact, spectacular and varied. With Marklund Motorsport and Kristoffersson Motorsport, Volkswagen is represented by two extremely professional privateer teams who develop and race their Polo RX Supercars independently.
“The line-up and the calendar promise an exciting World RX season and we are confident that the Volkswagen drivers will be up there battling for races and the championship.”
Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director for IMG, concluded: “It is an honour to welcome not only one but two Volkswagen teams to our growing list of World Championship teams competing in World RX this season.
“It’s also very encouraging to see the continued growth of Euro RX as Veiby and Rustad will both fight for the European title in another two Polos. Marklund Motorsport was very close to winning the Teams’ Championship in 2014 and will be strong contenders for taking the coveted title in 2015.
“Both teams have a very strong driver line-up: Heikkinen won our Belgian RX round last year and finished runner-up in the World RX Drivers’ Championship while Johan Kristofferson secured second place at the same event.”
The 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship kicks off at Montalegre in Portugal on 24-26 April, whilst the 2015 FIA European Rallycross Championship kicks off at Mettet in Belgium on 15-17 May.
