The FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to Germany this weekend as competitors take on the famous Hockenheim circuit for the third year running, joining the opening weekend of the DTM series.
22 Drivers will be vying for the top sport including reigning champion Mattias Ekstrom, who will be once again be taking on both World RX and DTM duties throughout the weekend. Last season saw Ekstrom take victory ahead of team-mate Topi Heikkinen and the Swede will be looking to repeat this success to take his 2017 win tally to three.
“The weekend last year was an incredible experience,” explained Ekstrom, “Thinking about the full grandstands and atmosphere still gives me goose bumps but the competition is even fiercer this year and victory means having to give your all, plus a perfect team performance. Now we have done two out of 12 races, round three in Hockenheim is like my second home race – it will be a tough battle against the clock in more ways than one.”
Last time out the VW Sweden Polo’s of Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson showed their pace but missed out in the final of the World RX of Portugal, this time around they will be pushing all of the way until the finish and surely challenging for victory.
Former World RX of Argentina winner Robin Larsson joins the field for the first time this season and will be rubbing panels with the frontrunners from the word go in his A1 Supercar as he gets in the chance to compete before the next FIA European Rallycross race. Joining Larsson for this round is Rene Muennich and Martin Kaczmarski, in their Seat Ibiza and Ford Fiesta Supercars respectively.
Guerlain Chicherit will be in a positive mood after taking victory in the French Rallycross championship last weekend as he takes on the Hockenheimring in his Renault Clio Supercar.
“It’s always exciting to return to Hockenheim where we can showcase rallycross to a new motorsport enthused audience.” said Paul Bellamy, World RX Managing Director for IMG. “There is always a fantastic reaction from the tribune when the rallycross is out on track and the sound of the 600bhp Supercars in the Sachs Arena is an incredible spectacle.
“Once again Mattias Ekstrom will race again in DTM and World RX and it will be interesting to see whether he can repeat his incredible feat from last year when he won a race in both DTM and the World RX final.”
Event Timetable (local time)
Friday 5 May
1030-1130: Free practice
1500: Q1, World RX Supercar
1605: Q2, World RX Supercar
Saturday 6 May
1730: Q3, World RX Supercar
1830: Q4, World RX Supercar
Sunday 7 May
1045: World RX semi-finals in pre-grid
1110: World RX semi-finals
World RX Final
