Guerlain Chicherit’s full-time return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship was unfortunately cut short by the events of Lydden Hill during the summer – just as the Frenchman was really beginning to settle back into the groove.
Not far off the pace of illustrious team-mate Sébastien Loeb on occasion, Chicherit lapped eighth-quickest in the SuperPole session in Portugal – faster than Niclas Grönholm and Timo Scheider – before improving to seventh in Sweden, where he got the better of eventual championship runner-up, Kevin Hansen.
Indeed, the legendary ‘Magic Weekend’ witnessed the 45-year-old’s finest performance of the season behind the wheel of Special ONE Racing’s evocative Lancia Delta Evo-e RX, as Chicherit pipped CE Dealer Team duo Grönholm and Klara Andersson to reach the final for the first time in 2023.
Both driver and team were continuing to build momentum when the fire in Kent stopped them abruptly in their tracks. It is hoped they will be able to rejoin the fray to continue the adventure next year.
2023
Stats
World
RX Starts:
3
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Finals
Reached:
1
Best
Result: 6th
Points: 27
Championship
Position:
10th
Finland
Italy
Hungary