Xlerate – Motorsport Magazine

WRX | RD5 – HELL – NORWAY

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019 Andy CFIA WORLD RX, Hell RX, WORLD RALLYCROSS, WRX

In the World Rallycross’ 6th year at its 66th event the teams fittingly travelled to Hell. This is the first of only 3 traditional rallycross tracks still on the calendar and with its rolling slopes it could not be more different to Silverstone so the running order was going to be anything but easy to predict. A number of driver changes had occurred since round 4 with Kevin Abbring debuting for ES Motorsport after Rokas Baciuška had left the team and was now driving a 5th Renault run by GCK…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

WRC | RD8 – RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA

June 16, 2019June 16, 2019 Andy CRALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA, RALLY SARDINIA, WRC

For round 8 of the FIA World Rally Championship it was time to “Jump in the dust” on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sardinia; where Italy’s round of the championship has been held since 2004. But this was to be no relaxing beach holiday for the WRC crews as this tough event would once again deliver a cruel blow in a dramatic end to the rally. Last year this event delivered a thrilling end on the final power stage where Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville snatched the win from Sébastien Ogier by…

NEWS & FEATURES RACE

BRITGT | RD3 – SILVERSTONE 500

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 Andy CBRITGT, BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIPS, SILVERSTONE

The third round of the British GT championship descended on Silverstone for the first of the seasons longer endurance races, the three hour Silverstone 500. After a successful double race win at Snetterton, Barwell Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan piloted by Phil Keen and Adam Balon sat atop the GT3 championship standings, ahead of their sister car driven by Sam de Hann and Jonny Cocker. Looking to improve on the last two rounds would be the TF motorsport Aston Martin Vantages, which were victorious in this event last year. In the GT4 class…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLYCROSS

PREVIEW | WRX | RD5 – WORLD RX OF NORWAY

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 Andy CFIA WORLD RX, RX OF NORWAY, WORLD RALLYCROSS, WORLD RX

As we reach the mid-point of the season, the next stop on the FIA World Rallycross calendar is surely one of, if not THE highlight of the year. Hell, Norway is most certainly the place to be as large crowds of motorsport fans flock to this iconic RX circuit for a taste of the World’s best RX action, surely it should be named Heaven? Currently it’s a Scandinavian lock out at the top of the standings heading into Round 5, with the Hansen brothers from the Neighbouring Sweden leading local…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLYCROSS

ARX | RD1 – MID-OHIO

June 9, 2019June 9, 2019 Andy CAmericas Rallycross championships, ARX, RALLYCROSS, RX

The first ARX event of the year held at the Mid-Ohio circuit saw Tanner Foust top the tables after the four qualifying sessions following a close fight with former teammate Scott Speed. Going into the final round of qualifying the two drivers were separated by just one point. The final race of qualifying was led by Foust after breaking early to tuck up the inside of turn one to take the lead at the start and recording the fastest time of the weekend. Last year’s champion had to recover from…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLYCROSS

PREVIEW | ARX 2019

June 7, 2019June 7, 2019 Andy C

Americas Rallycross (ARX) 2019 is all set to get underway with a bang this weekend at the Cooper Tires ARX of Mid-Ohio, where the wide-open fight to become the next champion will commence Much has changed amongst the ARX teams over the off-season, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will shine in the first round this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Course’s brand-new rallycross facility. Reigning ARX Supercar Champion Scott Speed made a major move over the off-season from the Andretti Rallycross team to Subaru Motorsports USA and will…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

BTRDA | RD4 – PLAINS RALLY

June 5, 2019June 5, 2019 Andy CBTRDA, PLAINS RALLY

With a revised format this year, the Plains Rally organised by the Knutsford & District Motor Club returned to the forests of Mid Wales for Round 4 of the 2019 Jordon Road Surfacing BTRDA Rally Championships. Opting to give the Dyfi Forest Complex a rest this year, the forestry allocation for the event featured five gravel stages totaling some 42 competitive stage miles. With double use stages in Dyfnant & Aberhirnant and a single stage in Llangower to round the day of with for the crews to contend with. After…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

WRC | RD7 – RALLY DE PORTUGAL

June 2, 2019June 2, 2019 Andy CRALLY DE PORTUGAL, WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, WRC

One of the oldest and most supported rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally De Portugal signified the start of a string of European events. First held in 1967, this classic rally was one of the founding WRC events in 1973 and has been awarded “Best Rally in the World” on no less than five occasions and always delivers an atmosphere out on the stages. After the recent addition of Rally Chile to the calendar Portugal moved to a couple of weeks later this year. This means temperatures were…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLYCROSS

WRX | RD4 – DAYINSURE WORLD RX OF GREAT BRITAIN | DAY 2

May 30, 2019June 5, 2019 Andy CFIA WORLD RX, WORLD RALLYCROSS, WORLD RX, WORLD RX OF GREAT BRITIAN

Opening up the second day of the Daysinsure World RX of Great Britain with a win in the first race of Q3 was Timmy Hansen. There was a tiny bit of contact with brother Kevin at Turn 1, but not enough to cause any upset. Timmy led the race from start to finish; but the time was some 3 seconds slower than Q2 of yesterday afternoon. The second race of the morning was a little bit more eventful, Monster Energy RX Cartel’s Andreas Bakkerud was clean away in the Audi…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLYCROSS

WRX | RD4 – DAYINSURE WORLD RX OF GREAT BRITAIN – DAY1

May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 Andy C

Returning to Silverstone, The Home of British Motor Racing; the FIA World Rallycross Championship arrived in the UK for the fourth round. As part of the SpeedMachine festival the rallycross forms the main highlight of this action packed, high performance, adrenaline filled weekend, which is tailored for the petrol heads and motorsport fans alike. Joining the World RX regulars, was current British Rallycross Champ, Mark Higgins in the Albatec Racing Peugeot 208. Although Higgins has not raced this season, he at least has previous here at Silverstone; which is where…