FIA World Rallycross Championship 2018

[F2CMaDMaXX 505]

Sounds like the main drivers were already asking for less rounds, they wanted 10, not too far apart, and were given 11, all over the earth.

[KingOfCoins 286]

They will still use the track. They are just making it ARX exclusive like Estering is ERX exclusive. Better than nothing I suppose

[JorritVD 1,236]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_9ankBJkFU

EKS says again farewell. Although not certain, it seems the cars will be sold to a new team, but behind the scenes EKS will still support that team, possible with mechanics and engineers. My guess (or hope) is that ComToYou or WRT will be doing an Audi programm now the WTCR introduced the rule that a maximum of four cars of each manufacturer are allowed. Though WRT will also do DTM, so maybe than ComToYou is more logical. 

Other options I have in mind are the PSRX  team if VW decides to leave and the team needs new competive cars,
or maybe All-Inkl Munnich. Their WTCR programm also might being reduced and they have the funding. Though they have a history of building their own cars. But with buying the Audi's, they also immediately buy all the know-how. Imagine a Red-Bull All-Inkl backed Audi for Bakkerud. That would looks serious cool i think. 

[JorritVD 1,236]

Looks like its likely Loeb will be part of the Hyundai factory team in WRC and also will race with GRX and Hyundai in WRX.

My guess for the 2019 World RX entries:
- 2x PSRX - VW Polo 
- 3x GCK - Renault Megane
- 2-3x GRX - Hyundai i20
- 2x Hansen - Peugeot 208
- 2x WRT/Comtoyou - Audi S1 (ex-EKS)
- 2x ES - Skoda Fabia
- 1x XITE - MINI Cooper S
- 1-2x STARD - Ford Fiesta
- 1x SLR - Peugeot 208
- 1-2x All-Inkl/Munnich - SEAT Ibiza

[Janneman60 154]

JorritVD said:

Looks like its likely Loeb will be part of the Hyundai factory team in WRC and also will race with GRX and Hyundai in WRX.

My guess for the 2019 World RX entries:
- 2x PSRX - VW Polo 
- 3x GCK - Renault Megane
- 2-3x GRX - Hyundai i20
- 2x Hansen - Peugeot 208
- 2x WRT/Comtoyou - Audi S1 (ex-EKS)
- 2x ES - Skoda Fabia
- 1x XITE - MINI Cooper S
- 1-2x STARD - Ford Fiesta
- 1x SLR - Peugeot 208
- 1-2x All-Inkl/Munnich - SEAT Ibiza

Well, a very optimistic guess ☺ personally I think the non eurooean rounds will be a disaster.

[JorritVD 1,236]

Looks like Timo Scheider will return full time in World RX next year. He is looking for a race-engineer. https://www.facebook.com/scheider/photos/a.345632215564084/1804410509686240/

[Oscar97 25]

Isn't Loeb supposed to still be with Hansen RX?

[tbtstt 2,387]

Oscar97 said:

Isn't Loeb supposed to still be with Hansen RX?

There are a few different rumours; Loeb was apparently looking at running the 2018 Peugeot Sport cars as an independent entry, Hansen (Kenneth) has also apparently been looking at those cars as well. I have also read that Kenneth was considering an entry using updated versions of the older 208's. 

If Kenneth were to put a private entry in next year I can't see him having the budget for Loeb. 

With Loeb signing his new contract there is an outside chance he might appear at GRX. I wonder if we will see him at all next year though. 

[tbtstt 2,387]

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

[RallyDriven 398]

tbtstt said:

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

Wow that’s a big shame! I had a small group planning on doing Logeac next year, but will probably be giving it a miss with the way things are going. The fact Solberg says ‘2 years’ suggests he’s talking about vw instead of just himself

[tbtstt 2,387]

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

Wow that’s a big shame! I had a small group planning on doing Logeac next year, but will probably be giving it a miss with the way things are going. The fact Solberg says ‘2 years’ suggests he’s talking about vw instead of just himself

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what he is saying (but it is a Friday, so perhaps I am just being a bit slow). 

If he is talking about VW then this could be the best thing that could happen: if PSRXVW are gone then that leaves the door wide open for a non-works team to take the title. Assuming a privateer team can find the budget to do all the international rounds of course...

[RallyDriven 398]

tbtstt said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

Wow that’s a big shame! I had a small group planning on doing Logeac next year, but will probably be giving it a miss with the way things are going. The fact Solberg says ‘2 years’ suggests he’s talking about vw instead of just himself

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what he is saying (but it is a Friday, so perhaps I am just being a bit slow). 

If he is talking about VW then this could be the best thing that could happen: if PSRXVW are gone then that leaves the door wide open for a non-works team to take the title. Assuming a privateer team can find the budget to do all the international rounds of course...

This is the trouble, the season needs the budget of a manufacturer, but now has no manufacturers left! Don’t know how privateers can afford to ship ->Abu Dabai->Europe->Canada->Europe->South Africa

[tbtstt 2,387]

This press release clarifies that it is the team who is out for 2019:

https://mailchi.mp/8b6475b38a17/psrx-volkswagen-sweden-pauses-rallycross-programme?e=f22fc1ce7f&fbclid=IwAR2A5ihaqahkOqZiezR2uNuBRmz3M5ZaFGn3MWGg79gy9SmtXE-2zaFxH4k

A "pause" on the program: perhaps awaiting the arrival of electric before returning? 

[RallyDriven 398]

tbtstt said:

This press release clarifies that it is the team who is out for 2019:

https://mailchi.mp/8b6475b38a17/psrx-volkswagen-sweden-pauses-rallycross-programme?e=f22fc1ce7f&fbclid=IwAR2A5ihaqahkOqZiezR2uNuBRmz3M5ZaFGn3MWGg79gy9SmtXE-2zaFxH4k

A "pause" on the program: perhaps awaiting the arrival of electric before returning? 

I also feel sorry for all the tracks like silverstone and spa who have invested time and money in the series for next year

[carpa 303]

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

Wow that’s a big shame! I had a small group planning on doing Logeac next year, but will probably be giving it a miss with the way things are going. The fact Solberg says ‘2 years’ suggests he’s talking about vw instead of just himself

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what he is saying (but it is a Friday, so perhaps I am just being a bit slow). 

If he is talking about VW then this could be the best thing that could happen: if PSRXVW are gone then that leaves the door wide open for a non-works team to take the title. Assuming a privateer team can find the budget to do all the international rounds of course...

This is the trouble, the season needs the budget of a manufacturer, but now has no manufacturers left! Don’t know how privateers can afford to ship ->Abu Dabai->Europe->Canada->Europe->South Africa

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

This press release clarifies that it is the team who is out for 2019:

https://mailchi.mp/8b6475b38a17/psrx-volkswagen-sweden-pauses-rallycross-programme?e=f22fc1ce7f&fbclid=IwAR2A5ihaqahkOqZiezR2uNuBRmz3M5ZaFGn3MWGg79gy9SmtXE-2zaFxH4k

A "pause" on the program: perhaps awaiting the arrival of electric before returning? 

I also feel sorry for all the tracks like silverstone and spa who have invested time and money in the series for next year

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you nearly kill a promising Championship by overdoing it big time... And alongside WEC, it's a solid 2/2 from the FIA while trying to go ecological/electric

[dwkGravey 0]

carpa said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Forgive the double post, but a statement from Petter Solberg:

"I have some news for you all: after 2 incredible years it's time to press pause on our FIA World Rallycross Championship adventures. But this isn't the end, and as a team we continue and we work together. And yes, those future plans include me behind the wheel... ?

We'll share more info soon but until then I’d like to thank every single team member, our partners, Volkswagen Motorsport, Monster Energy and Volkswagen Sweden for the support through 2017 and 2018. We have written a fantastic story together, and there's still more chapters to come!"

Not sure if this is saying that Petter isn't back next year or if PSRXVW are out? 

Wow that’s a big shame! I had a small group planning on doing Logeac next year, but will probably be giving it a miss with the way things are going. The fact Solberg says ‘2 years’ suggests he’s talking about vw instead of just himself

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what he is saying (but it is a Friday, so perhaps I am just being a bit slow). 

If he is talking about VW then this could be the best thing that could happen: if PSRXVW are gone then that leaves the door wide open for a non-works team to take the title. Assuming a privateer team can find the budget to do all the international rounds of course...

This is the trouble, the season needs the budget of a manufacturer, but now has no manufacturers left! Don’t know how privateers can afford to ship ->Abu Dabai->Europe->Canada->Europe->South Africa

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

This press release clarifies that it is the team who is out for 2019:

https://mailchi.mp/8b6475b38a17/psrx-volkswagen-sweden-pauses-rallycross-programme?e=f22fc1ce7f&fbclid=IwAR2A5ihaqahkOqZiezR2uNuBRmz3M5ZaFGn3MWGg79gy9SmtXE-2zaFxH4k

A "pause" on the program: perhaps awaiting the arrival of electric before returning? 

I also feel sorry for all the tracks like silverstone and spa who have invested time and money in the series for next year

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you nearly kill a promising Championship by overdoing it big time... And alongside WEC, it's a solid 2/2 from the FIA while trying to go ecological/electric

2/3 to be fair, FE is doing excellently.

[Oscar97 25]

It's the manufacturers that were pushing for electric supercars. Now that they're gone, I don't think it's going to happen. Privateers couldn't afford it.

And with all the money spent on getting new tracks, I think the series is going to have some financial trouble. I guess they saw it coming, and that's why Euro RX is becoming its own thing again. They'll even stream all the races this year.

[KingOfCoins 286]

But on a positive side, the competition might be much closer now

[JorritVD 1,236]

They should have WRX and eWRX. 

About Solberg, I think he will do WRC2. Also Kristofferson familie team KMS got a Polo R5

[RodgerDavies 933]

Hoping this means a bit more rallying for Petter and Johan too; they both have an R5. It wouldn't surprise me if Kristofferson finds a private driver though.

[Janneman60 154]

Kristofferson is also heavily involved in touringcar racing, even won a title in TCR this year. Woyld not be surprised if he makes a switch to that for 2019 and maybe be back for eWRX.

[JorritVD 1,236]

Janneman60 said:

Kristofferson is also heavily involved in touringcar racing, even won a title in TCR this year. Woyld not be surprised if he makes a switch to that for 2019 and maybe be back for eWRX.

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2018/12/15/johan-kristoffersson-likely-to-make-world-touring-car-switch/

[RodgerDavies 933]

Yeah, that makes a lot more sense, unfortunately...

[Oscar97 25]

I wouldn't see Kristoffersson in rally, he's a track racing driver.

[RodgerDavies 933]

Oscar97 said:

I wouldn't see Kristoffersson in rally, he's a track racing driver.

Agreed, but his family team do own a Polo R5 and he is entered in a few local events this winter.