Belevskiy 'planning to step up'

Yury Belevskiy was unquestionably one of the standout performers on the FIA World Rallycross Championship package in 2021, and after proving his mettle against the ‘big boys’ in the Nürburgring season finale, his sights are solidly set on ‘stepping up’ this year.

Having scored maximum points in 2020 but not been awarded the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s Super1600 title due to the Covid-shortened schedule, Belevskiy was the man to beat from the outset last season in Euro RX3, going on to win four events out of five and tallying an astonishing 147 points out of a possible 150.

The Russian came under pressure along the way from Volland Racing team-mates Kobe Pauwels and Marat Knyazev – the Belgian the only driver to get the better of him, at Lohéac in September – but so metronomic was his consistency that he was still able to put the destiny of the coveted crown beyond the reach of any of his rivals midway through the final weekend at Montalegre.

“It was a fantastic season,” he acknowledged, as he collected his Euro RX3 champion’s trophy at last weekend’s annual FIA Off-Road Prize-Giving Ceremony in Zurich. “I had some really fun fights with Kobe and Marat, who both pushed me very hard.

“Each weekend seemed to get tighter and tighter the further we got into it, but the team always did a brilliant job and I tried to stay as consistent as I could. That was a challenge in itself in such a competitive field, but I’m super happy with the outcome.”

Off the back of that success, Belevskiy then took the plunge by making his debut at the top level at the Nürburgring, stunning observers by racing to the runner-up spoils on the opening day, behind only multiple world champion Johan Kristoffersson. That performance catapulted the 27-year-old firmly into the international spotlight – and now he is aiming to build upon his burgeoning momentum during the forthcoming campaign.

“It was a good weekend at the Nürburgring,” he reflected with characteristic understatement. “It was my first ever time going up against the big boys and I had very little experience in that kind of car, but we got a great result – better than anybody could have expected, I think.

“We are in discussions with some teams now for 2022, and hopefully you will see me in a higher category than Euro RX3. The plan is definitely to step up...”