What is Rallycross?

Introduction

Rallycross combines the very best elements of rallying and circuit racing, with a history stretching back more than half-a-century. Blending cutting-edge innovation with family-friendly spectator appeal, the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) showcases head-to-head racing on mixed surfaces (gravel and asphalt) within amphitheatre-like venues.

An evolution of the popular and prestigious FIA European Rallycross Championship – which traces its roots back to 1973 – World RX was launched in 2014 and represents the international pinnacle of the discipline, visiting some of the most iconic venues in the sport where high-profile drivers duel wheel-to-wheel in cars capable of catapulting from 0-100km/h faster than Formula 1.

No-holds-barred contests between motorsport’s modern-day gladiators. Breathless races delivering breathtaking action. Non-stop thrills from the moment the lights go out to the moment the chequered flag falls. A platform for developing and showcasing ground-breaking technologies. This is World RX.

In evidence of its commitment to cutting-edge innovation, the series entered a new era in 2022 by embracing electric technology, while 2024 heralded the beginning of the ‘Battle of Technologies’, seeing the series’ powerful EV cars take on their sustainably-fuelled combustion counterparts on equal terms for the first time.

Short, sharp racing and intense duels are inherent in rallycross’ DNA, and the headlining World RX show-stoppers are supported at different events by the all-electric FIA RX2e Championship and combustion Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 categories, ensuring a full package of exhilarating entertainment.

Racing Format

Each race weekend begins with free practice sessions, to allow competitors to settle into the groove, refine their set-ups and get to grips with the track if it is new to them.

Next up are the heat races, with pre-determined starting positions as up to five competitors line up side-by-side on the same row of the grid. What this means is that – in the instance of a 16-car field – every driver competes in the first race of a heat once, the second race of a heat once, the third race of a heat once and the fourth race of a heat once. They also start one race from pole position, one race from second on the grid, one race from third on the grid and one race from fourth on the grid. This is adapted accordingly for races featuring more or less than four cars, and double-header events comprise fewer heats. 

Competitors race for position rather than against the clock. Championship points are awarded in all heat races, from five for the winner down to a single point for fifth place. Non-finishers receive one point, while non-starters do not score. Failure to take the joker lap results in a one-point deduction, with disqualification penalised by the loss of at least two championship points.

The points scored during the heats form the basis for the Ranking, with tie-breaks resolved in favour of the driver who achieved better results from starting positions further from pole.

The top 12 drivers in the classification advance to the semi-finals, with those placed first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and 11th participating in semi-final one and those placed second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and 12th lining up in semi-final two. Each semi-final takes the form of a six-car race on a two-by-two grid, and like the heats, runs over five laps.

Ten championship points are awarded to each semi-final winner, with eight points going to the runner-up and then six points, four points, two points and one point respectively for the remaining finishers. Non-finishers receive one point, while non-starters do not score. Failure to take the joker lap results in a one-point deduction, with disqualification penalised by the loss of at least two championship points.

The same format and scoring system applies to the final, contested by the top three finishers from each semi-final. The positions in the Ranking determine which of the semi-final winners begins the final on pole – with the higher-ranked driver taking precedence. The same logic decides the grid positions for the second and third-placed semi-finalists.

The maximum possible score from a race weekend is therefore 40 championship points, with all points counting towards the overall classification. Should two drivers end up tied on points, they are separated by most wins in finals (and then second places, third places and so forth if necessary).