FIA European Rallycross Championship

Tracing its history back to 1973, the FIA European Rallycross Championship currently offers two titles – one for drivers of RX1 cars (2,000cc) and one for drivers of RX3 cars (1,600cc). At events in Europe, the series provides the main support to the FIA World Rallycross Championship. 

Until the advent of World RX in 2014, to be European Champion was the ultimate accolade to which any rallycross driver could aspire. Winning the championship 14 times, Kenneth Hansen is the most successful rallycross driver ever. The Swede brought new levels of professionalism to the discipline and eclipsed the six titles won by Norway’s Martin Schanche.

The European Rallycross Championship enjoyed one of its finest eras between 1987 and 1992, when Group B cars ruled the roost. That period witnessed a hat-trick of titles for Finn Matti Alamäki in a Peugeot 205 T16 E2, and was closed out when Englishman Will Gollop became champion in 1992.

The Group A-based cars introduced in 1993 are the direct ancestors of today’s leading cars. That year’s title was won by Frenchman Jean-Luc Pailler in a Citroën BX. Rallying and rallycross veteran Per Eklund clinched the crown with a Saab in 1999 – at the age of 53 – while Russia’s Timur Timerzyanov won in 2012 and 2013 before stepping up with the creation of the World Championship in 2014.

RX3 is the current ‘feeder’ series at European level. A full FIA European Championship, it has been the proving ground for numerous World Championship drivers.