For the first time in the illustrious 57-year
history of the dual-surface discipline, drivers in electric and sustainably-fuelled combustion-engined cars will go
head-to-head in 2024, for the honour of being crowned world champion come
season’s end.
As one of
rallycross’ most iconic circuits, Höljes Motorstadion – nestled deep in
Sweden’s Värmland forest, close to the Norwegian border – is a fitting location
for such a ground-breaking première, and excitement levels are
approaching fever-pitch.
There have been a
raft of changes over the winter off-season. Hoosier Racing Tire enters the fray
as the championship’s exclusive tyre-supplier, and a revised format means
drivers will now compete for position rather than time across the board, with
championship points to play for in every single race.
Pre-season testing
offered an early glimpse of the form guide, and there was a familiar name at
the top of the timesheets, albeit in a less familiar car. Six-time world
champion Johan Kristoffersson has traded his electric Volkswagen RX1e for a
sustainably-fuelled, combustion-powered VW Polo KMS 601 RX for 2024, and the
Swede set the pace on both days earlier this week as he kick-started his quest
for an extraordinary seventh title in commanding fashion.
Kristoffersson will
be partnered at the freshly-renamed KMS - HORSE Powertrain squad by Ole
Christian Veiby, with the Arvika-based outfit’s pair of electric RX1e cars
entrusted to three-time podium-finisher Gustav Bergström and World RX debutant
Sondre Evjen, an event-winner in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s
top-tier.
Hansen World RX
Team is seeking to reclaim the Teams’ trophy it last clinched in 2021, with
brothers Kevin and Timmy Hansen once more on the driving strength in its two
Peugeot 208 RX1es. After placing a career-best second in the standings last season,
Kevin Hansen is aiming to go one better this year, while 2019 world champion
Timmy Hansen is bidding to bounce back from a disappointing 2023.
CE Dealer Team by
Volvo Construction Equipment similarly remains firmly committed to the electric
path, as Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson return for a third consecutive
campaign. The Finn is targeting a title tilt after finishing third three times
in a row, with his Swedish stablemate looking to build upon the impressive
progress that saw her achieve a podium finish in Portugal in 2022 and top a
heat session for the first time in Hong Kong last November.
Euro RX1
event-winner René Münnich is back with a striking new SEAT Ibiza at
ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport, and Frenchman Anthony Pelfrene rounds out the
field in his boldly-liveried JDM Raptor Racing Peugeot 208 WRX.
In addition to a
double-header of unmissable World Championship action, Ferratum World RX of
Sweden will similarly host the curtain-raising contests in support series RX2e,
Euro RX1 and Euro RX3, with the non-stop thrills set to be broadcast live on
the pioneering Rally.TV broadcast platform.
For more
information about the event, including the weekend timetable and entry lists
for all four categories, see here. Tickets can still be purchased on
the gate.
Europe
Poland
Turkey