The sport of rallycross dates back decades, but its worldwide popularity is currently on the rise. Now that it’s on its way to South Africa, you may want to learn a little more about it…
If you’re an ardent motorsport fan, you’ve probably watched those crazy Havoc videos that were all the rage in the 1990s. They featured crashes and incidents from various forms of motorsport around the world, but there always seemed to be plenty of action from the European Rallycross Championship.
Rallycross is a unique form of racing dating back to the 1960s when British television producer Robert Reed had the brilliant idea to couple the rough-and-tumble action of rallying with the wheel-to-wheel combat of circuit racing. The very first event took place at Lydden Hill in 1967. Unsurprisingly, it was a hit with fans and it took just two years before the sport was exported to Europe where, in 1973, the various series were given European Championship status – a title contest that has been running successfully ever since.
It’s little surprising, then, that, while rallycross dates back over 40 years, the formalisation of a world championship took place only two years ago when, in 2014, the governing body for motorsport, the FIA, granted rallycross international status. The FIA World Rallycross Championship (RX) was formed, with five rounds of the European series incorporated into the international series.
As with all worldwide sporting codes, the rules had to be set and, to this end, the FIA decided on four classes: Super 1600, Touring Cars, RX Lites and Supercars. Super 1600 is a front-wheel-drive class based on production hot hatches, while Touring Cars resemble the original ethos of rallycross, a class for rear-wheel-drive cars, regardless whether they left the factory as front or rear drivers, featuring naturally aspirated 2,0-litre engines. However, RX Lites is where things get really interesting.
This class features identical machines that are fitted with naturally aspirated 2,4-litre mid-mounted motors producing 230 kW that is sent to all wheels. RX Lites is just one step below the fire-breathing Supercars. Vehicles competing in this class are similar to the RX Lites in layout, except that engine power is increased to a capped 450 kW. Coupled with low mass, these are among the fastest accelerating racecars in the world (see Fast facts). Among the machinery that compete in the top-flight Supercar class are heavily modified versions of Audi A1s, Citroen DS3s, Ford Fiestas, Peugeot 208s and Volkswagen Polos.
Rallycross races are held on relatively short circuits that don’t measure much more than 1 km. This ensures that trackside spectators can see all the action without the need for large viewing screens sited round the track. Drivers have to contend with a mixture of gravel and asphalt sections, and then varying grip conditions as the former is dragged onto the latter. To add to the spectacle, courses feature jumps and drivers have to take a joker lap at least once during a heat. The joker lap is longer than the regular lap and can be used strategically by the drivers to avoid traffic, an accident or later in the race after a driver has built a significant lead.
Race events are held over a weekend and there are four qualifying heats on day one; up to 20 cars contest the qualifying rounds to earn points. The top 12 points’ earners then progress into the two semi-finals with six cars taking part in each. The top three finishers from both rounds proceed to the six-car final. The world champion is the driver who scores the most points over the entire season. The inaugural champion in 2014, and champ again in 2015, is a familiar name – former WRC champ, Petter Solberg, who is enjoying something of a career reboot behind the wheel of a Citroen DS3. Thanks to his RX and 2003 WRC titles, Solberg is the first person to claim world titles in two different FIA-sanctioned series.
FAST FACTS
FIA RX Supercar
Engine: 2,0-litre, inline-4, turbocharged (45 mm restrictor)
ECU: Pectel (mandated)
Max engine speed: 8 000 r/min
Power: 450 kW
Torque: 900 N.m
Drivetrain: AWD
Trans: 6-spd sequential
Wheels: 17-inch
Tyres: 225 mm Cooper
Suspension travel: 250 mm
Min mass: 1 320 kg (incl. driver)
0-100 km/h: 1,9 sec
Top speed: up to 190 km/h (gearing dependent)
Rumours we’ve been hearing…
- The FIA will host a trial event in the early part of 2017.
- Most likely we’ll see FIA RX Lites cars competing.
- Circuit construction begins before the end of 2016, which could pave the way for a local rallycross series.
