Former European champion Pauwels joins RX2e grid for Mettet

After finishing runner-up to Volland Racing team-mate Yury Belevskiy in his rookie campaign in car racing in Euro RX3 in 2021, Pauwels dominated proceedings in 2022, winning four rounds out of five and coming within just four points of a completely perfect score.

Since then, the 19-year-old has been showcasing his skill and versatility in both touring cars and sportscars. Last season, Pauwels contested TCR Europe in a Comtoyou Racing-run Audi RS 3 LMS, claiming three late-season victories on his way to third in the overall classification and clinching the Rookie Trophy. He simultaneously achieved a best finish of fourth in the TCR World Tour.

This year, the Diest native – the son of former FIA World Rallycross Championship driver Koen Pauwels and grandson of national competitor Benny Pauwels – is competing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe’s Bronze Cup behind the wheel of an AMR Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, reaching the rostrum in the curtain-raising outing at Paul Ricard in France.

He is dovetailing that with a programme in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux for D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. Currently fifth in the title table, the talented teenager additionally leads the Rookie standings.

This weekend, however, he will return to his rallycross roots, piloting an RX2e car for the first time since the Nürburgring in 2021, when he missed out on the podium on his debut in the single-spec electric series by less than five hundredths-of-a-second in a dramatic photo-finish...

“It’s been a long time, but damn, it feels good to be back – especially at my home track!” Pauwels enthused. “I’m really excited. I certainly didn’t expect to be racing at Mettet this weekend. We received the call on Monday morning, and by Monday evening, the deal was done!

“I’ve been out of rallycross for almost two years now, so I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’ve only ever raced at Mettet in a buggy before, and there’s plenty I’ll need to get used to. From the new Hoosier tyres – which will be a huge challenge for me – to push-to-pass, I’ll have a lot to learn. I know Nils [Andersson] and Isak [Sjökvist] are very fast, so if I can somehow stay within touching-distance of them, I think we’ll be able to call it a successful weekend.

“Most of all, I just want to enjoy being back on a rallycross track and in the World RX paddock catching up with old friends. Hopefully we’ll see some good weather and a big crowd, and I’ll be aiming to put on a great show for everybody. I know I’m biased, but Belgian fans really are the best!

“Like I said two years ago, the door to rallycross will never be closed. It will always have a very special place in my heart, and if more opportunities present themselves and I’m available, I will jump at them. Right now, this is just a one-off, but who knows what will happen in the future...”

Tickets for World RX of Benelux can be purchased here.