The FIA World Rallycross Championship is primed
for a double-header duel in Cape Town this weekend (7-8 October). All of the
action will be broadcast on Rally.TV – here’s why you really don’t want to
miss it...
Return to the ‘Mother City’
World RX visited Cape Town’s Killarney
International Raceway on three occasions between 2017 and 2019, delivering a scintillating
spectacle that captivated South African fans. Following a four-year absence,
the world’s fastest and most fearless rallycross drivers are back in the ‘Mother
City’ for another feast of frenetic thrills ‘n’ spills – with electrifying
action guaranteed at the oldest racetrack in the country.
Equal Opportunities
For the first time in World RX history, all
drivers will have exactly the same equipment at their disposal this weekend, in
the shape of the ZEROID X1 – usually used in the supporting FIA RX2e
Championship and benefitting from a power upgrade for the forthcoming South
African showdown. With parity between the cars, it all comes down to the
drivers to make the difference behind the wheel, as every team’s engineers focus
in on the finer details.
Double points – and double the drama?
World RX of South Africa will be the first
double-header of the 2023 campaign, offering fans watching trackside and those following
from afar a full bill of racing on both Saturday and Sunday, with three heats,
two semi-finals and a final on each day. For drivers, there is a bumper haul of
points up for grabs – meaning there is much to be gained, but conversely, just as
much to be lost...
Hansen returns to scene of greatest success
Four years ago at Killarney, Timmy Hansen accomplished
a lifetime dream, when he defeated Andreas Bakkerud by the narrowest possible
margin to be crowned FIA World Rallycross Champion following an acrimonious
final that saw the pair collide on the opening lap.
The Swede has yet to scale the same heights
again, but he knows he has a big opportunity this weekend to close the gap to Johan
Kristoffersson in the points table as he bids to halt his countryman’s seemingly
inexorable march towards a sixth career title.
Flying Finn poised to pounce?
Niclas Grönholm’s second World RX triumph in the 2019 season finale in Cape
Town was overshadowed somewhat by the tense title
tussle between Hansen and Bakkerud, but it nonetheless gave him a welcome boost
at the end of a campaign that – had it not been for illness that ruled him out
of two early rounds – could have ended very differently indeed.
The CE Dealer Team star has since gone on to
add five further victories to his tally, and he returns to Killarney sitting
second in the standings. With a race weekend in the ZEROID X1 already
under his belt, he is poised to pounce...
Finland
Italy
Hungary