Rallycross will celebrate this year its 49th anniversary, but only in the last few years, it has reached a really serious popularity worldwide. The first in the history of the world championship in this sport took place only in 2014, but the past two seasons have shown — such progress did not achieve neither racing series in recent years. And every year it is changing for the better!
What is the secret of success of world rallycross? A dozen steps on three continents, a large — and growing — audience is, plain and simple rules, the sharpest struggle, the large number of participants. And finally, most importantly — an equal chance for all riders, because each race can beat any of them, and a favorite with ease at risk to fail and drop out at the stage of the qualifying heats.
It would seem, what else can surprise and please the fans of the already popular series in the start from day to day, season? New stages? Yes, I add a race in Latvia — this is good news not only for the Baltic but also for the Russian fans, because it is the next phase to the borders of our country. But this was not the main news of the off-season — the main surprises contained in the list of participants.
World Rally Champion Petter Solberg by their participation makes a great advertisement to the world rally-cross — not hurt rally-cross even the dominance of the Norwegian, who won two world titles in 2014 and 2015. But now among his rivals will be two even more famous rally driver — nine time world champion Sebastien Loeb and never a champion, but a great entertainer Ken Block. Having two such strong trump organizers Series can relax — the interest for the championship only increase.
But what we are talking only about those participants who plan to perform in World RX in full. It is possible that at some stages of his former colleagues in the WRC and will join the charismatic mega Gianluigi «Gigi» Galli and double world champion Marcus Gronholm. Finn yet entered the role of a manager Olsberg MSE team, one of the riders that his son Niklas, but after the test «Boss» team admitted that thinking about the performances in the World Cup...
But this is still only plans. If we return to the discussion of the events that have already occurred, then the benefit of the series will clearly massive transitions riders from team to team — will not list all of the pilots who changed teams, otherwise it will take the rest of the volume of the article.
Special mention deserve the cars participating in the championship. Representatives of the main Supercar standings appear on the all-wheel drive cars 600 hp and a torque of 900 Nm — power characteristics are at constant full drive allow pilots to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in two seconds on any type of surface. The organizers are aware that such a crazy machine by themselves attract spectators to the grandstands and TV screens. Why not go and talk about any «choking» cars for the sake of fashion on the fuel economy and hybrid technology — Formula 1 drivers can only sad sigh, looking at the rally motocross championship.
Russia in this class is Timur Timerzyanov — Kazanets in the offseason and was replaced by the team in 2016 will be the driving Ford Fiesta team World RX Team Austria.
But the representation of Russians in the World Championship in rally-cross does not end there. In monoprivodnom standings Super 1600 will serve just three representatives of Russia.
Timur Shigabutdinov and Dmitry Malakhov lead into battle Renault Twingo, but before Yegor Sanin is an interesting and difficult task — he will become the first rider, who will lead to the start of the global rallycross Russian Lada Kalina 2 built TT Motorsport team. The debut of the car will take place at the first stage in Portugal.
Total Montelegro on the track, which will host the first race of the season, will perform 56 participants — 23 in the standings and 33 Supercars driver (this record result) will lead the fight for victory in the Super 1600.
Do you know what the most amazing thing? During the struggle the participants of this very interesting championship, you can watch for free on the air directly from the screens of their computers — the official website of the series holds live broadcast. Lovers of all the other championships this can only dream...
