World RX's electric era to start in Norway next month

The 2022 FIA World Rallycross Championship will begin at Hell in Norway next month (13-14 August), following the postponement of Germany’s Nürburgring event to allow teams maximum time to prepare for the sport’s exciting new electric era.

World RX will adopt full electrification in the headlining category this year as the series moves towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future. Not only that, but the cars will be the most powerful and spectacular ever seen in the championship, generating 500kW – the equivalent of 680bhp – and 880Nm of instant torque at the touch of a pedal, resulting in eye-watering acceleration faster even than Formula 1.

Teams have been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes in advance of the electric switch, but global events over the past couple of years have caused supply chain issues leading to unforeseen delays in car builds.

In order to launch this new generation of rallycross beasts in fitting fashion, the decision has consequently been taken to grant teams two further weeks to perfect their preparations. The opening round has duly switched to Norway on 13-14 August, with Germany becoming a double-header weekend and staging the season finale on 12-13 November.

The calendar* has also been bolstered by the addition of a fully electric double-header in Catalunya on 29-30 October at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which has hosted World RX every year since 2015.

Arne Dirks, Executive Director, Rallycross Promoter GmbH, said:

“We are taking a major step this year and have no doubt that electric technology will elevate World RX to the next level, but such a significant evolution takes time and nobody has been immune to the global challenges of the past two years. Together with the teams, we are committed to presenting the new cars to fans in the best way possible, and we are confident the extra two weeks’ preparation time will enable everybody to do that.

“We look forward to returning to Catalunya in October and ending the season in style at the Nürburgring, but first, our focus is on Hell – and to getting World RX’s new era underway with a truly electrifying event!”

Ingo Böder, CEO, Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG, said:

“We had a wonderful first World RX event last year, with some superb racing and a fantastic title battle that went right the way down to the wire – and while it is a shame not to be able to host the first round of the sport’s new electric era, we are very much looking forward to staging the season finale again – now with double the on-track action! Hopefully spectators will enjoy a similarly close fight this year – and who knows, with the new November date, perhaps we will see a sprinkling of snow again to add to the excitement...”

Tor Helge Forbord Slind, CEO, HELL RX AS, said:

“There has been tremendous interest and excitement around World RX’s return to Hell this year, and to get to stage the eagerly-awaited premiere of the championship’s new electric era really is the icing on the cake.

“We are proud in Norway to be leading the energy transition in the automotive industry – 90% of new cars sold here now are either electric or hybrid – so there are plenty of synergies with what Rallycross Promoter is doing and we look forward to putting on an incredible event for fans next month with sensational action in all four classes.”

Victor Casanovas, General Manager, SevenMila, Promoter of RXCatalunya, said:

“Catalunya is characterised by its close association with motorsport, and the eighth edition of CatalunyaRX – already a classic stop on the international calendar – is proof of this. We are very pleased to continue this relationship in the discipline’s new, fully electric era, with a mixed-gender competition that enables local fans to watch and learn from first-class international drivers, thereby keeping the motorsport vibes growing in the territory.”

*Updated calendar subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval