Stars of the sport hail new FIA rallycross pyramid

It was announced yesterday following a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council that the series’ current format will expand to include four tiers from next season, with the existing Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 classes to be joined by Euro RX4 for Rally4 machinery and Euro RX5 for Cross Cars. 

The aim is to reduce barriers to entry, broaden participation, increase technical diversity and create opportunities for drivers who already own eligible vehicles – all with the ultimate goal of developing the next generation of rallycross talent. Two-time FIA World Rallycross Championship runner-up and former FIA European Rallycross Champion Kevin Hansen is firmly in favour. 

“I love the new rallycross pyramid,” enthused the Swede, the youngest driver ever to compete in a World RX event when he made his debut at the tail-end of 2015. “I think it’s something that has been missing and needed for a long time. Back when I started, I raced in the JRX Junior Rallycross Cup before progressing into RX Lites and then European Rallycross. 

“For me, Cross Car is a great initial step onto the international scene, especially with the FIA’s commitment to affordable competition, and Euro RX4 has been very well thought-out, too – front wheel-drive, more manageable power, comparatively cheap and being based on a rally car, you can easily install a passenger seat and run corporate days for sponsors.

“Rallycross represents a good opportunity to forge a long-term career in motorsport, and it’s fantastic that we’ve now got a really clear path to the top. I hope it encourages lots of young drivers to come in and bring more attention to this great sport, as we build towards the return of World RX in two years’ time.”

In addition to his rallying exploits – being crowned world champion in both 2000 and 2002 – Marcus Grönholm has also achieved success in rallycross, triumphing on his Euro RX debut in Sweden in 2008 and claiming multiple victories in America’s GRC series in 2011 and 2012. Like Hansen, the Finn is a fan of the sport’s new direction.

“Niclas [Grönholm – multiple World RX event-winner] and I both love rallycross, and we really hope to see the return of a strong World Championship soon,” he commented. “For that to happen, keeping costs down is essential. That seems to be one of the FIA’s major priorities, and bringing Rally4 cars into the equation is a smart move in my opinion as they are cost-effective to buy and run and relatively easy to drive. Hopefully there will be big grids next season across the board.”

Minimal adaptations will be required for the Rally4 cars – primarily the removal of the co-driver’s seat and associated equipment – and by drawing upon a well-established platform used across national and international rallying, Euro RX4 will provide a low-cost entry point for competitors graduating from domestic series’.

Moreover, the introduction of Rally4 machinery into international rallycross competition represents the first tangible step towards the FIA’s 2028 vision for the discipline, in which cars used in the top-tier of the FIA World Rally Championship will similarly become eligible for the premier category of rallycross.

Adopting the same technical specification as the FIA European Cross Car Championship, meanwhile, Euro RX5 will offer an accessible route for younger competitors embarking upon their international careers, while supporting the continued growth of the grassroots discipline across Europe.

Teenage Swedish sensation Lukas Andersson – who stunned by vying for victory on his Euro RX1 bow at Höljes back in the summer, finishing second only to eventual champion Yury Belevskiy – is a former RallyX Junior Cross Car title-winner, while countryman Martin Enlund lifted the laurels on the domestic Cross Car scene in 2019.

The latter – who impressed in his own three Euro RX1 appearances in 2025 and is now targeting a full season in the series – believes the addition of Cross Car to the FIA European Rallycross Championship package offers a great springboard for the stars of tomorrow, providing the perfect stage for them to earn their spurs and showcase their skills.

“There hasn’t really been a ladder to climb on the European Rallycross scene for some time, so to have Cross Car as an entry-level category is something I regard very positively,” remarked the 24-year-old.

“We all know motorsport isn’t cheap, but for juniors, this is a more cost-effective way to get into the sport in what is a proper race car – almost as fast as a Supercar, with great handling characteristics and proper suspension. To be in the same paddock as the drivers you look up to also helps you to grow as a person.

“I came from Cross Car originally – that’s where I learned to race, developed my racecraft in wheel-to-wheel situations and gained all my early experience. It teaches you the basics and probably a little bit more, which prepares you very well to move up into cars and ensures it’s only a small step when you do so. It’s unquestionably one of the best stepping-stones into rallycross, and I really hope it proves to be a popular addition.”