FIA World Rallycross Championship 2018

[tbtstt 2,387]

With the 2017 season now over and the 2018 season a few months away, I thought I'd start a new thread! Few drivers already confirmed for 2018:

GCK - Renault Megane RS RX - Guerlain Chicherit (World RX)
GCK - Renault Megane RS RX - ? (World RX)
Peugeot Sport? - Peugeot 208 - Sebastien Loeb (World RX)
PSRXVW - Volkswagen Polo - Johan Kristoffersson (has mentioned World RX next year, but I can't find the source!)
PSRXVW - Volkswagen Polo - Petter Solberg? (World RX?)

G-FORS - Renault Clio RS RX - Jere Kalliokoski (Euro RX)
G-FORS - Renault Clio RS RX - ? (Euro RX)

Couple of interesting stories on the Autosport website. Firstly, Ekstrom, is making positive noises about returning next year:

https://www.autosport.com/wrx/news/133176/ekstrom-hopes-of-staying-in-rx-with-audi-rising

And Marcus Gronholm is apparently in talks with Hyundai about running a two car team:

https://www.autosport.com/wrx/news/133202/gronholm-in-talks-with-hyundai-for-world-rx

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Another story on the Scheider/BMW rumour. Would be a great bit of news if it comes through! 

https://www.motorsport-news.co.uk/news/rallying-news/rallycross/scheider-discussing-bmw-world-rx-programme/

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No Toomas Heikkinen in EKS next year and Liam Doran has purchased the MINI rallycross cars from JRM. Wonder if he will do the British or European Championship with those next year? 

[ChristinaMc 784]

tbtstt said:

No Toomas Heikkinen in EKS next year and Liam Doran has purchased the MINI rallycross cars from JRM. Wonder if he will do the British or European Championship with those next year? 

Sincerely hoping this means that Bakkerud will get a drive with EKS! If they can sort out the Red Bull/Monster problem. 

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ChristinaMc said:

tbtstt said:

No Toomas Heikkinen in EKS next year and Liam Doran has purchased the MINI rallycross cars from JRM. Wonder if he will do the British or European Championship with those next year? 

Sincerely hoping this means that Bakkerud will get a drive with EKS! If they can sort out the Red Bull/Monster problem. 

Given the sponsorship issue I'd be surprised to see Bakkerud appearing at EKS, but that's not to say I don't want it to happen!

After his Andros Trophy appearance in a DA Racing car, they (DA Racing) seem to be the favourite guess for Bakkerud in 2018. My money is still on the new GCK team though: they already have one Monster driver as part of the team and, in my opinion, they need an experienced rallycross driver to develop the new car. Bakkerud is the perfect choice!

[KingOfCoins 286]

I cant shake off the feeling that D.A. Racing is going to have proper support from Renault next year. There were rumors some time ago about them wanting to enter the WRX and they have no part of the megane project prodrive is doing I believe

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KingOfCoins said:

I cant shake off the feeling that D.A. Racing is going to have proper support from Renault next year. There were rumors some time ago about them wanting to enter the WRX and they have no part of the megane project prodrive is doing I believe

I thought there was some official connection between Renault and GCK? If full Renault works backing goes the way of DA Racing though, they would definitely become my new top bet for Bakkerud! 

[Janneman60 154]

I don't think it ia that good foir Bakkerud to again join a team which have to start from scratch.

On the other hand it is better as no drive at all.

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Fingers crossed we get some positive news from Ekstrom next week: 

https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/press-conference-with-audi-driver-mattias-ekstroem-9784

[Janneman60 154]

Rumour hss it that the 4 audi's are sold to Belgium to a new formed team to do wrx.
That would leave eks with some cash...

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Nitiss confirms he won't be with EKS in 2018:

https://www.facebook.com/ReinisNitissOfficial/posts/2021803938037747

Going to be an interesting announcement on Monday! Seen a few rumours about Timerzyanov at EKS now, apparently he wasn't at the STARD test session so seems like he may be going elsewhere? 

[sqdstr 107]

Official statement from Hyundai Motorsport, an agreement between them and Marcus Grönholm.
2 Hyundais will be run in WRX 2018, without official manufacturer support though.

“We can confirm that this is a private arrangement between Marcus Grönholm and Hyundai Motorsport. Two chassis and parts have been sold to the team, but there is no manufacturer involvement.”

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Great to see another new shape on the grid next year. I assume Niclas will be driving one, but I wonder who will be in the second car? 

EKS announcement at 1 today!

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Forgive the double post, but Ekstrom confirms that he is leaving the DTM and concentrating on World Rallycross in 2018. 

[Janneman60 154]

Well that are both good messages.
Looks like building some new cars is peanuts nowadays. There is not that much time left.

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Janneman60 said:

Well that are both good messages.
Looks like building some new cars is peanuts nowadays. There is not that much time left.

Peanuts if you have the Audi or VW Motorsport division building the cars for you! :smiley:

[KingOfCoins 286]

Well would you look at that. Bakkerud is joining EKS for this season

[tbtstt 2,387]

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

[RallyDriven 398]

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

[carpa 303]

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

I think he's saying Audi EKS are sponsored by Red Bull while Bakkerud was sponsored last year by Monster Energy and having these two sponsors together would create a bit of a conflict...
Probably the Monster sponsorship was related just to Ken Block and his Team, and not to Andreas himself

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carpa said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

I think he's saying Audi EKS are sponsored by Red Bull while Bakkerud was sponsored last year by Monster Energy and having these two sponsors together would create a bit of a conflict...
Probably the Monster sponsorship was related just to Ken Block and his Team, and not to Andreas himself

Yep, exactly! Bakkerud was sponsored by Monster when he was in Hoonigan Racing Division and LD Motorsport, but then the main driver in both of those teams was a Monster athlete, so I think the Monster branding might have come as a consequence of the team principle rather than because Bakkerud himself was sponsored. 

There was a similar situation with Timur Timerzyanov a couple of years ago: he was Red Bull backed when he was driving for Hansen, but Red Bull stuck with the team when Timur left. 

[RallyDriven 398]

tbtstt said:

carpa said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

I think he's saying Audi EKS are sponsored by Red Bull while Bakkerud was sponsored last year by Monster Energy and having these two sponsors together would create a bit of a conflict...
Probably the Monster sponsorship was related just to Ken Block and his Team, and not to Andreas himself

Yep, exactly! Bakkerud was sponsored by Monster when he was in Hoonigan Racing Division and LD Motorsport, but then the main driver in both of those teams was a Monster athlete, so I think the Monster branding might have come as a consequence of the team principle rather than because Bakkerud himself was sponsored. 

There was a similar situation with Timur Timerzyanov a couple of years ago: he was Red Bull backed when he was driving for Hansen, but Red Bull stuck with the team when Timur left. 

Oh sorry! I meant why would he be a better teammate than Topi! I knew the redbull/monster thing!

[tbtstt 2,387]

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

carpa said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

I think he's saying Audi EKS are sponsored by Red Bull while Bakkerud was sponsored last year by Monster Energy and having these two sponsors together would create a bit of a conflict...
Probably the Monster sponsorship was related just to Ken Block and his Team, and not to Andreas himself

Yep, exactly! Bakkerud was sponsored by Monster when he was in Hoonigan Racing Division and LD Motorsport, but then the main driver in both of those teams was a Monster athlete, so I think the Monster branding might have come as a consequence of the team principle rather than because Bakkerud himself was sponsored. 

There was a similar situation with Timur Timerzyanov a couple of years ago: he was Red Bull backed when he was driving for Hansen, but Red Bull stuck with the team when Timur left. 

Oh sorry! I meant why would he be a better teammate than Topi! I knew the redbull/monster thing!

I thought Topi was rather underwhelming last year. He didn't look that much quicker than Nitiss despite having a lot more seat time in the EKS S1. I think Bakkerud deserves a shot with EKS, the line up of Ekstrom and Bakkerud makes them serious challengers to PSRXVW for the team title. 

Would like to see EKS add another two cars now for Timur and Robin Larsson. :smiley:

[Janneman60 154]

tbtstt said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

carpa said:

RallyDriven said:

tbtstt said:

Yeah, didn't think that would be possible with the sponsors involved! I note that there is no Monster branding in the first video of Bakkerud driving the S1 though, so perhaps the Monster backing only came from the teams Bakkerud was in rather than him being sponsored as an individual? 

Irrespective, it's great news. Should be a much better team mate for Ekstrom than Topi. 

Why do you say that? We’re there problems in the team? I had a feeling he would go to Audi the other day

I think he's saying Audi EKS are sponsored by Red Bull while Bakkerud was sponsored last year by Monster Energy and having these two sponsors together would create a bit of a conflict...
Probably the Monster sponsorship was related just to Ken Block and his Team, and not to Andreas himself

Yep, exactly! Bakkerud was sponsored by Monster when he was in Hoonigan Racing Division and LD Motorsport, but then the main driver in both of those teams was a Monster athlete, so I think the Monster branding might have come as a consequence of the team principle rather than because Bakkerud himself was sponsored. 

There was a similar situation with Timur Timerzyanov a couple of years ago: he was Red Bull backed when he was driving for Hansen, but Red Bull stuck with the team when Timur left. 

Oh sorry! I meant why would he be a better teammate than Topi! I knew the redbull/monster thing!

I thought Topi was rather underwhelming last year. He didn't look that much quicker than Nitiss despite having a lot more seat time in the EKS S1. I think Bakkerud deserves a shot with EKS, the line up of Ekstrom and Bakkerud makes them serious challengers to PSRXVW for the team title. 

Would like to see EKS add another two cars now for Timur and Robin Larsson. :smiley:

I think you are spot on with this comment. Offcourse both Topi and Nitiss are very good drivers but somehow they lack the ability to be a constant factor.

[tbtstt 2,387]

Comtoyou racing have confirmed a two car entry into the World Rallycross Championship with two ex-EKS S1's, so that should give us at least 12 permanent entries now. Hopefully that number will rise some more though!