Home hero Bakkerud headlines European entry list in Hell

Hell will make its eagerly-anticipated return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar next month (13-14 August), with an action-packed weekend featuring World RX, RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 – and the entry lists for the two European categories have now been officially released.

Anton Marklund tops the Euro RX1 title standings in his SET Promotion Hyundai i20, with the Swede unbeaten so far in 2022 as he chases a third career crown. Marklund was denied a maiden World Championship victory in Hell three years ago, so heads back there with unfinished business.

Jānis Baumanis is aiming to turn the tables – and the 18-point deficit currently separating him from Marklund – in his #YellowSquad Peugeot 208 at a circuit where he secured his first podium finish in World RX in 2019, with Enzo Ide bidding to quickly bounce back from a disappointing result last time out and rediscover the form that propelled him to second place in the Nyirád curtain-raiser with EKS.

Similarly, Ulrik Linnemann will be keen to banish the bad luck that hounded him at Höljes, while Linus Östlund strives to build upon a promising Euro RX1 debut and Jamaican crowd-pleaser Fraser McConnell makes his own bow in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s headlining class.

The lion’s share of spectator support, however, will surely be saved for the six homegrown heroes on the 19-strong entry list, with reigning champion Andreas Bakkerud certain to receive a rapturous welcome at a track where he famously won in World RX back in 2016.

Expect Sivert Svardal and Sondre Evjen to be similarly in the fight; the former was a finalist in Hungary, and the latter came within a whisker of matching that performance in Sweden following an impressive run in a high-calibre field.

In Euro RX3, Belgian teenager Kobe Pauwels pulled ten points clear in the championship hunt at Höljes courtesy of a second consecutive rostrum result. The Volland Racing ace’s closest challenger is now João Ribeiro – a model of consistency so far this season, after finishing third in each of the opening two rounds.

Damian Litwinowicz will be seeking to raise the tempo as he sets his sights on a champagne celebration, with Škoda star Jan Černý firmly focussed on getting his title bid back on-track after a bruising ‘Magic Weekend’. Marius Solberg Hansen, meanwhile, will be boosted by home support as he endeavours to continue his winning ways following his breakthrough triumph in Sweden.

Amongst the other Norwegian contenders in the Euro RX3 field, Per Magne Egebø-Svardal, Martin Kjær and Espen Isaksætre are all very capable of springing a surprise.

World Championship and RX2e entries for Ramudden World RX of Norway are still open, and will be published in due course.