Red Bull Global Rallycross heads back to Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina this weekend for the third of four double header events on the 2016 calendar.
With 2015 winner Ken Block moving on to pastures new in 2016, this weekend will guarantee at least one new winner of what is the only motorsport event in the world to take place on an active military base.
Compared to last year, the track is now shorter at 0.713 miles, with a longer, more complex dirt section which takes up more than 40 per cent of the lap. Another change is the joker lap, which is uncharacteristically longer than the regular lap.
Championship leader Tanner Foust won last time out in Daytona – Credit: Louis Yio/Red Bull Global Rallycross
Championship leader Tanner Foust, who along with Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team mate Scott Speed missed out on the final at The Base this time last year is confident he can carry on his strong form – which has seen him win three out of five events so far this year – into this weekend.
“Daytona was a difficult weekend from everyone, but the VARX team rally showed what it was made of, getting us back to the top step of the podium on Sunday,” said Foust, who led a VARX one-two at the second Daytona race two weeks ago. “With that sort of effort and determination, we’re capable of anything, so I’m looking forward to a less stressful event.”
Subaru will make their long-awaited return to the series at MCAS New River, after missing the opening five rounds of the season.
The Japanese marque opted to sit out of the majority of the first half of the year in order to further test their new WRX STI GRC Supercar. Last season Bucky Lasek won the last chance qualifier in what was a bright moment in a difficult season for the team.
“New River has been awesome with the support of the military and the fans. It’s one of the best events because of all the heart and passion with motorsports that the military personnel.” Lasek said ahead of his, and his team’s return to action. “Aside from that, the track is fast and that’s always nice. It did give us our only class win last year, so that was awesome. I think all in all it’s just a great event and it’s for the right reasons—we are here to support the troops this weekend, and the patriotic weekend that it is, it seems fitting to be here.”
Bucky Lasek and Subaru are set to make their first start since Las Vegas last year (pictured) – Credit: Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
