FIA World Rallycross south Africa 2018

R50

EVENT PROGRAMME

CAPE TOWN 24/25 NOV

OFFICIAL LUBRICANT PARTNER OFFICIAL SUPPLIER

ARRIVE ALIVE WITH Intelligent Solutions. Mastered

MASTERDRIVE

Specialized Corporate Advanced Driver Training



CONTENTS

03 Welcome Messages 30 What is Rallycross?

04 Message from the City of Cape Town 32 Driver Profiles

07 Disclaimer 40 Driver Points

08 Venue Map 42 Not just a Dirty Word

10 Schedule 44 The French Connection

12 Know the sport 48 From Rally with Love

14 Speak the Language 50 Driving Lessons with the Hansen Bros

18 Twice the Triumph for Sweden 52 The Living Room Racer

20 Duel for the Crown 55 The Magic Mechanics

22 Classes 57 The Race Behind the Scenes

24 Team Sheets 60 Catching up with Andreas Bakkerud

26 Circuit Guide 65 The Diary of a Rallycross Driver

28 A Killarney Creation 68 Cape Town Welcomes You

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 01

DRIVEN BY SUCCESS.

Cooper are acclaimed for designing and manufacturing some of the best off road
tyres in the world. Tyres driven in world rallies such as the punishing Dakar rally
and centre stage in the FIA World Rallycross Championships. The same successful
chemistry and technology can also be found in our superb range of passenger car
tyres. Tyres made for people who recognise performance, safety and quality, vital for
maximising the total driving experience. Cooper tyres are the fitting choice.
www.coopertire.eu Cooper Tires established 1914.

WELCOME FROM JEAN TODT

FIA PRESIDENT

The FIA World Rallycross Moreover, the quality and ver- al reach, reinforced by the series’
Championship continues satility of the driver line-up is tes- hugely successful first visit to
to go from strength to tament to World RX’s appeal as South Africa last season and this
strength, as it enters its fifth a championship, with competi- year’s much anticipated inaugural
season as a fully-sanctioned FIA tors from various motorsport dis- World RX of USA at the Circuit
World Championship. ciplines coming together to fight of The Americas, the growth of
it out for this prestigious title. World RX is unrelenting.
 With spectacular cars capa-
ble of accelerating to 60mph In 2018, the competition I look forward to watching
in less than two seconds and promises to be closer and more World RX across the 12 rounds
a fast-paced programme of spectacular than ever, as Johan this season. Under the guidance
action-packed races, World RX Kristoffersson bids to defend of the promoter IMG, the series
represents a truly thrilling experi- his crown from a field brimming offers a fantastic package to
ence for fans. with World Champions and race both competitors and spectators
winners, including Sebastien and I hope you enjoy your time
Loeb, Petter Solberg and Mattias seeing this most exhilarating of
Ekstrom. motorsport disciplines first hand.
I wish all competitors, drivers and
With increased manufacturer fans a safe and successful 2018.
involvement and a widening glob-

WELCOME FROM PAUL BELLAMY

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
MOTORSPORTS FOR IMG

The FIA World Rallycross brand-new purpose-built tracks Johan Kristoffersson, plus nine-
Championship presented join the calendar at the iconic time World Rally Champion
by Monster Energy con- Circuit of the Americas and Sebastien Loeb, not to mention
tinues to break new ground as Silverstone venues. Marking our the presence of the Volkswagen,
we embark on our fifth season first visit to the United States, Audi, Peugeot, Ford, Renault
as a fully-fledged FIA World we are thrilled to bring the world and Hyundai brands in the
Championship. championship to American soil headline World Championship
in what promises to be a hugely Supercar category
In that time, we have seen the popular addition to the schedule,
FIA World Rallycross Champion- while the Speedmachine festival In addition to the World
ship firmly establish itself as one at Silverstone is an exciting new Championship, four support
of motorsport’s most exciting take on the traditional motor- categories will feature at select-
and commercially attractive se- sport event for fans. ed rounds; the FIA European
ries’ having routinely registered Rallycross Championship for
significant growth with each On track, the strength in Supercars, Super1600, Touring-
passing season. depth from this year’s field is Car and the Cooper Tires RX2
demonstrated by the number of International Series (RX2).
In 2018, the FIA World Rally- World Championships shared
cross Championship will see two between our drivers, including On behalf of IMG, we are
World Rallycross Champions delighted to be returning to the
Petter Solberg, Mattias Ekstrom Killarney International Raceway
and last year’s title winner for the Gumtree World RX of
South Africa.

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 03

MESSAGE FROM THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN
The City of Cape Town is a
proud host and supporter Mountain Cableway and the event, the increased spending
of the 2018 FIA World V&A Waterfront represent the at our attractions and across
perfect combination of dramatic the hospitality industry, cou-

Rallycross Championship, a scenic beauty, enthralling histo- pled with the need for local

highlight on City’s annual Events ry and exhilarating activities. associated services that benefit

calendar. Cape Town is the Events Cap- directly from the event, are all a

We are delighted and look ital of Africa and was recently welcome injection into the local

forward to hosting the world’s nominated to be recognised economy.

top international RX drivers, as the ‘World’s Leading Festi- To the organisers, thank you

their families, fans and thou- val and Events Destination’, an for choosing Cape Town as

sands of spectators for a week- achievement we are immensely your Host City. We wish you a

end of exhilarating rallycross proud of. successful event.

action. Apart from adding to our dy- To those from out of town,

Cape Town is home to some namic events calendar, the FIA take time to explore our beau-

of the world’s most beautiful World Rallycross Championship tiful city and experience the

sights and experiences. Our delivers economic value for the warmth of Cape Town’s diverse

Big 6 attractions: Cape Point, City and its residents. people.

Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, The ripple effect by way of www.capetown.gov.za/visit

Robben Island Museum, Table job creation during and after the www.investcapetown.com

04 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

NOORDHOEK BEACH

VOTED 1 OF THE TOP 10 CITIES
IN THE WORLD FOR TRAVELLERS

LONELY PLANET 2017

Cape Town is the place to go if you want something
completely different. Let your hair down, see things you’ve
never seen before and take a moment to reflect.

WELCOME FROM KILLARNEY

Des Easom, Executive Manager,
Killarney International Raceway

WE AGAIN WELCOME ca’s finest motorsport facilities spectators.
you to Killarney with its iconic backdrop of Many of our staff and mar-
International Race- Table Mountain. Killarney is a
way, home of speed, passion, multi-purpose venue with a shals come from the surround-
competition and family, for the 3.267 kilometre main circuit, ing neighbourhoods and a sig-
Gumtree World Rallycross of a one-kilometre short circuit, nificant racing and performance
South Africa - spectators, a drag strip, a tar oval and a industry has grown up, not only
drivers, teams, sponsors, karting circuit - and once a year at and around the circuit but
visitors, international and we create the 1.07km rally-cross also across the Western Cape,
South African media. venue you see here today. creating much-needed employ-
ment and imparting valuable
World Rallycross is the fastest We host local regional, skills ‘on the job’ - anybody
growing form of motorsport in national and now international who can fix a car, motorcycle or
the world; the second running motorsport events for cars, mo- scooter will never lack for work!
of this two-day extravaganza torcycles and karts, for an ever
of racing, rivalry and entertain- more representative corps of As in 2017, during this year
ment, with its format of world- competitors and their enthusi- Killarney has also hosted more
class drivers in potent cars on astic supporters - we even have than 60 fund-raising, chari-
a mix of tar and dirt, marks a a spinning pitch, a 4x4 and ty and no-income events for,
milestone in the 71-year history adventure biking facility plus a among others, the Toy Run
of our circuit. skidpan! to collect Christmas gifts for
needy children, the Sunflower
Last year’s inaugural hosting Every Wednesday night, Foundation for bone marrow
of this event was broadcast to weather permitting, our Robot research, the Truckers Convoy
160 countries and seven million Racing drag series for street-le- for Cancer, an All-Terrain
followers on social media, gal cars promotes road safety Cycling event in support of
showcasing one of South Afri- by taking illegal street racers
off the public roads and into Rotary, the Blind Navigators’
a safer, legal arena, while the Rally in aid of Lions and the
Killarney Motor Show attracts Moonlight Dog Walk for the
a range of new models as well Cape Animal Welfare Forum’s
as hundreds of vintage, classic, sterilisation programme.
and racing cars and motorcy-
cles, drawings thousands of  Welcome to the home
of motor sport in the
Western Cape.

06 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

Stewards
Mr Trond bakkom (NOR) Mr Ludek Kopecky (CZE) Mr George Avvakoumides (ZAF)

Race director Mr Slaven Dedic (HRV)
Clerk of the course Mr Steve Harding (ZAF)
Deputy clerk of the course Mrs Arlene Brown (ZAF)

FIA observer
Mr André Slotboom (NLD)

FIA judge of fact
Mr André Slotboom (NLD)

Organiser
Western Province Motor Club

Organising committee
Chairman Mr Gavin Cerff
General Manager Mr Des Easom
Circuit Construction and Maintenance Mr Tim Moffit
Venue and Paddock Manager Mr Paul Simon
Maintenance Manager Mr Ernest Leite
Accreditation Manager Mrs Mariska Radyn
Finance Manager Mrs Monica Volcko
Marketing Manager Mr Paul Edmunds
National Press Officer Mr Pieter Cronje

DISCLAIMER

Warning Motorsport is dangerous. In view of the high speeds attained by the
competitors, accidents can happen. The promoters and organisers of this race
meeting/event/competition cannot guarantee your safety. You are present at your
own risk.

Vrywaring Motorsport is gevaarlik. Weens die hoë snelhede wat deur deelnemers
bereik word, kan ongelukke gebeur. Die promoter’s en organiseerders van hierdie
byeenkoms kan derhalwe nie die veiligheid van toeskouers waarborg nie. U is
teenwoordig op u eie risiko.

Isilumkiso Ukhuphiswano lwe-moto luyinggozi Kangangohlobo lokuba abaqgatsi
abaqhuba iimoto ngamendu aphakamileyo nengozi zingenzeka. Abaxhasi
nabagqugquzeli bolu khuphiswano abanaso isiqinisekiso sokuphepha kuwo wonke
umntu ongumbukeli wolu khupiswano. Ngokuba apha ubomi bakho busengozini.

Isexwayiso Ngobungozi bomjaho wezimoto Maqondana nesivinini esiba emjahweni
wezimoto ingozi ingenzeka kalula. Abagqugquzeli nabahleli balomjaho abanaso
isiqinisekiso sokuphepha kwezi bukeli. Ukuphepha kwakho kusezandleni zakho.

VENUE MAP

4xN4ISTSRAANCK4xN4ISTSSRAAATNCCOCKTSAPLREESXASTECCONICLTTSLAEIPUDLRMEEB4XSYxNEC4INISLTTSLREAIUADNMCBKY SACCS PRESENTED BY
TOTAL EXCELLIUM

PE F HOVESILPLIAATAGFLEEHITMNOVYEOSILRPNLGIAATSYATGERLEERIITGMNYEODRNGHSYVOTEGIESRLRAPRLINGVAIDTSIGATPAFNELDHITHBHOYVVOSGIISLLRPAPLLNIAVAIADTTSIAGTGPANLELEDEIISTTHBMNTPYYOOEORWTNGTESEYTRRERSRISGTPOOW
D
D

OFFICAL C OFFICAL C
EVENT FOAOEFNVFFFZEIICONCANTELEFANZCONE EVENT FANZONE B
OFFICE OB FFICE
B

P GRANDSTANGDRQANDSTANVDIETWAQERIANEMGA

ON 3 TICKET VERIFICATION 3 VIETWAERIANEMGAGRAGNRDASTNADNSDTAQNGDRPANDVSITEATWAENCRRIANEAODMGACNPETR

P PADDOCKPADDOCK BEFAVORPEOEARADDA1DG&OEBCEFAVKOREOERADA1G&E BEFAVOREOERADA1G&E
GUMTREE PIT LANE
P

GUMTREE PIT LANE
GUMTREE PIT LANE

MEDICAL TICKET ME
MEDICAL CENTICTKRETE VERIFICATION 1 CE
CENTRE VERIFICATION 1

08 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

OWTHTEEVORRISLSPLVAITIGAPELITBY STPOOWTTEERRS FOOD &
FOOD & BEVERAGE
FOOD &BEVERAGE
BEVERAGE FOOID &
BFEOVOERDA&GEBEAVREERAA2GEJ
GRANDSTAND H I KAREA 2

I J L FOOD &
M BEVERAGE
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AREA 2
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ROL RACE RACE DISABLED APCUCBELISCS DISABLED APCUCBELISCS
CONTROL DISABLETDEAM SEATING APCUCBELISCS SEATING
CONTRAVOTGIREELREAWAAMINNGDSTANAVTDIREEEAWPAMING SEATINAGVIREEWAING

TICKET&DRGOOP TICKET &DRGOOP
&DRGOOP VERIFICATION
TICKET VERIFICATION
2 2
VERIFICATION

2

EDICAL TICKET DISABLED PARKING DISABLED PARKING
ENTRE VERIFICATION 1 DISABLED PARKING

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 09

EVENT SCHEDULE
SATURDAY 24.11.18

0800 Doors open to the public

0915 Practice for all categories

1200 – 1230 Silver Falcons display

1200 – 1300 Gumtree Pit Walk #1

1230 – 1250 Monster Energy Rig Riot

1300 National Support Race Qualifying 1

WPMC Rallycross

1324 RX2 Qualifying 1

MasterDrive demo

1400 World RX Qualifying 1
Qualifying 2
Total Excellium SACCS demo Qualifying 3
Qualifying 4
Monster Energy Drift demo
Final
1440 – 1520 Gumtree Pit Walk #2

1500 National Support Race Qualifying 2

MasterDrive demo

1524 RX2 Qualifying 2

Total Excellium SACCS demo

1605 World RX, Speedcar

WPMC Rallycross

1650 – 1800 Gumtree Pit Walk #3

1730 – 1800 Autograph session

SUNDAY 25.11.18 Doors open to the public
0800

0900 Warm-up, Total Excellium SACCS demo

1000 World RX

MasterDrive demo

1045 RX2 Qualifying 3

National Support race Qualifying 3

Total Excellium SACCS demo

Monster Energy Drift demo

1110 – 1150 Gumtree Pit Walk #4

1200 World RX

Speedcar

MasterDrive demo

1250 RX2 Qualifying 4

National Support race

1315 – 1430 Gumtree Pit Walk #5

1320 – 1350 Silver Falcons display

1330 – 1355 Autograph session

1345 – 1405 Monster Energy Rig Riot

1416 RX2 Semi-Finals

National Support race Final

1500 World RX Semi-Finals

RX2

World RX Final

1550 Podium

1600 – 1700 Gumtree Pit Walk #6

10 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

SPONSORS

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
BELOW FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS EVENT:

CM

CHAMPIONSHIP PARTNERS

OFFICIAL LUBRICANT PARTNER

OFFICIAL SUPPLIER

EVENT PARTNERS

ARRIVE ALIVE WITH

MASTERDRIVE

Specialized Corporate Advanced Driver Training

Intelligent Solutions. Mastered

FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS 2018 09

RALLYCROSS

KNOW THE SPORT
RALLYCROSS IS

head-to-head, short, sharp
racing on mixed surfaces
(dirt and asphalt) contained
within amphitheatre venues.
High profile drivers are equipped
with RX Supercars with over
600bhp and have the ability to
accelerate from 0-100kph in less
than two seconds – that’s faster
than an F1 car. Race meetings
include four action-packed
qualifying heats (Q1, Q2, Q3 and
Q4) with the most successful
drivers progressing through to
the semi-finals and a final.

EVENTS SEMI-FINALS lowed by the other semi-final
winner. The same procedure
Each event is made up of open There will be six starters will be used between the two
practice sessions, four timed arranged on a two-by-two grid second-placed drivers and two
qualifying heats, two knockout and each semi-final will be run third-placed drivers.
semi-finals and one final. There over six laps. The top 12 scor- The winner of the final will
are four qualifying heats with a ing drivers in the intermediate be the winner of the event.
maximum of five cars starting classification will qualify for the Positions one to six in the final
abreast in each race over semi-finals. The winner, second classification will be accord-
four laps. and third placed drivers in each ing to the result of the final.
semi-final will qualify for the final. The remaining drivers will be
Q1. Starting positions in the classified according to points
races are determined by a draw FINALS scored in the event.
that is carried out beforehand.
Q2. Race starters are deter- Finals will also have six start- JOKER LAPS
mined according to timed ers, arranged over three rows
classification of Q1. This follows and will be run over six laps. An alternative section of track
the same format until Q4. The semi-final winner with that adds at least two seconds
the highest number of points to the lap time, and through
After the qualifying heats, in the event will start on the which every driver must pass
there will be an intermediate ‘pole’ side of the grid, fol-
classification according to each
driver’s total points scored in
the four heats.

12 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

once in each race, semi-final points starting from 16 for the • 4th: 3 points
and final. Failure to take the best placed, down to one point • 5th: 2 points
Joker Lap is penalised by for 16th place. • 6th: 1 point
30-seconds in the qualifying
heats, and by being classified The top 12 progress to two six- Maximum score in an event is
last and loss of points in a car semi-finals in which points 30 points (16+6+8). All points
semi-final or final. (from six for the winner to one scored in all 12 rounds count. The
point for sixth place) are award- team’s Championship will include
POINTS ed. The top three from each all points scored by the two team
semi-final then enter the final. drivers at all events. At least one
Drivers score Championship driver in a team must start in all
points at three stages of the Scoring for the finals 12 events. The second car can be
event. are as follows: driven by different drivers and
will score points for the team no
The top 16 drivers after the • 1st: 8 points matter who is driving.
four qualifying heats (Inter- • 2nd: 5 points
mediate Classification) score • 3rd: 4 points

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 13

FOR THE FANATICAL FAN

SLAPENAGKUATGHEE
Anti Lag/ALS categories. Drivers can use up FIA
to 8 new tyres per event.
A system that keeps the turbo- Stands for Federation Internatio-
charger spinning, and producing Double Joker nale de l’Automobile. The World
boost, at low throttle by igniting governing body of motorsport.
air and fuel in the exhaust. Penalty imposed for making
a false start, where the guilty First Reserve Driver
Boost driver must pass through
the Joker Lap twice in that The 13th placed driver in the
The pressure of air forced race. Intermediate Classification re-
into the engine, and increased places any top 12 driver should
power potential, created by the ECU they be unable to start in the
turbocharger. Semi-Finals. The highest points
Engine Control Unit. Electronic scoring of the two fourth-
Cooper Tires system that controls engine placed Semi-Finalists will be
functions. first reserve for the Final.
Single supplier of tyres for all

14 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

G Force the pressure of air entering informing his or her driver on
the engine is at natural at- position, timing and advising on
Where G refers to the ‘weight’ mospheric pressure (also see joker lap strategy.
created by gravity. So 2.5G Turbocharger).
experienced under acceleration, Supercar
deceleration or cornering force, Parc Fermé
etc. refers to 2.5 times ‘normal’ Pinnacle of Rallycross, 600bhp
weight. ‘Closed Park’ where cars four-wheel drive car.
can be isolated after a race
Gravel/asphalt for controlled checks by Supercharge
Scrutineers.
Generalised term for the mixed Award for driver who leads
surfaces of a rallycross circuit. Practice at the first corner during the
World RX final.
HANS Track session at the beginning
of each event for all partici- Suspension
Device Acronym for Head and pants to run as many time as
Neck Support, a specific form they wish to learn the circuit. The combination of springs,
of Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) dampers and fixing links that
which is compulsory for all driv- Pre-Grid connect the wheel to the car
ers to wear during races. and by which wheel movement
Area behind the start line where is controlled.
Intermediate cars line up before a race.
Classification Top Qualifier/TQ
Ready to Race
Classification after all four sets First placed driver in the
of qualifying. Classification Board or sign notifying drivers Intermediate Classification.
which determines the order of on the start line that the start of Starts on pole in Semi-Final 1.
the drivers for the Semi-Finals. the race is imminent.
Torque
Joker Lap RX2
The rotational force of an
Longer section of the circuit Single make 310bhp four-wheel engine. Most usually measured
which all participants have to drive cars that have their own in Newton-metres.
take at least once during each International Series which is
race. part of the support programme Turbocharger
at the World Championship
Jump/False Start events. A method of forced induction
(opposite of Naturally Aspirat-
Caused by a driver starting Scrutineering ed) which uses a compressor
before the green light is shown. driven by exhaust gasses to
Controlled by an automated Pre-and post-event technical increase the pressure and quan-
system that monitors every car and safety checks of cars to tity of air entering the engine,
on the grid. The race is then re- ensure their compliance with allowing an increased power
started and the driver will have the regulations. Carried out by output.
to take the Joker Lap twice. scrutineers.
Tyre Cleaning
Kerbs Sealed/Unsealed
Non-compulsory process prior
Raised and painted track edge Various surfaces of the circuit, to lining-up on the grid where
marker placed on corners and sealed typically being asphalt drivers warm their tyres and
chicanes. and unsealed fine gravel. rehearse their start proce-
dure, the resulting wheelspin
Naturally Aspirated Spotter ‘cleaning’ the surface of the
tyre.
Referring to an engine, where Member of the race team

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 15





IN THE NEWS

Twice the
triumph for

Sweden
Two championships in two years in a record-breaking

PSRX VOLKSWAGEN season for the Swede.
Sweden’s Johan Krist-
offersson was crowned at COTA, Kristoffersson passed secure the Championship here,”
Ekstrom at the first corner in explained Kristoffersson.
his Volkswagen Polo R and set
“Q2 was strong, the team

the 2018 FIA World Rallycross about his pursuit of leaders gave me a very good car again

Champion in the inaugural Solberg and Bakkerud. Solberg for Q3. I won Q4 and then in

World RX of USA at the Circuit took his joker on lap two and the semi-final I had a really

of The Americas (COTA) in stayed ahead of Kristoffersson, good tyre strategy. I made the

Austin, Texas. While the Swed- then retook the lead on lap four pass on Mattias in the final

ish team took the Constructors when Bakkerud took his joker. which was crucial to be on

Championship title in Germany, Kristoffersson moved into the the podium, then Petter had a

just one round ago. lead when Solberg made a small, small mistake and that

Kristoffersson wrapped up mistake on lap five and won was enough to win. I have to

the championship in style, the race ahead of Solberg give a big thanks to Petter and

clinching a dramatic victory and Bakkerud. the whole team for making this

over teammate and two-time “The team gave me a great car possible.”

World RX Champion Petter Sol- [at COTA] and I felt really strong The one-two finish for the

berg, and EKS driver Andreas from the first practice. Then I PSRX Volkswagen Sweden

Bakkerud. got a little bit stuck in traffic in team extended its lead in the

Starting on the second row Q1, so it didn’t look so good to Teams’ Championship. “It was

18 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

very close, I made a mistake risen dramatically in recent Kristoffersson winning the final
on the brakes and that’s it. But years and it’s damned good fun to claim a 10th victory in a
I’m still really pleased with the racing here.” record-breaking season.
performance this weekend,”
said Solberg. The newly crowned double Senior Vice President, Mo-
World Champion gave praise torsports for IMB, Paul Bellamy
“Congratulations to Johan, to his team. “A big thank you congratulated the Swedish
I’m very happy for him to be goes to Petter, Pernilla and team for a stellar performance
World Champion in my team. the entire PSRX Volkswagen throughout the season.
For me it means a lot that he Sweden team, who have always
has been so consistent with no supported me fantastically. “Congratulations to Johan
technical failures which is good And, of course, to the Volkswa- (Kristoffersson) for winning the
from Volkswagen’s side.” gen Motorsport team, which final and to PSRX Volkswagen
provides Petter and me with Sweden for wrapping up the
An ecstatic Kristoffersson the best car in the field – the Teams’ Championship.
added, “This is absolutely Polo R Supercar."
incredible. At the moment, “We’re really excited to now
everything is working out One round later, and PSRX go to Cape Town for the final
perfectly for me. Volkswagen Sweden took the round, we had a brilliant event
Team Championship Title at in South Africa last season and
“The quality in the World the Estering in Germany with we expect it to be even better
Rallycross Championship has this season.”

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 19

IN THE NEWS

Duel for the
Crown
It’s been a cracker of a year for RX2, and it’s not even over yet
Following six pulsating,
high-octane rounds, the I enjoy fast tracks so I feel very in mid-summer to fire himself
destiny of the coveted comfortable and I loved driving firmly into title contention in
here in 2017. There are these his sophomore campaign in the

crown in the 2018 RX2 Inter- big kerbs and you can go flat official World RX feeder series.

national Series presented by out over them, jumping from The Belgian – whose

Cooper Tires will be decided at kerb to kerb. I’m sure it’s going full-time job is a Powertrain

Killarney International Race- to be just as fun this year,” Engineer for the Renault Sport

way this weekend – with an says Eriksson. Formula One Team – set the

intra-team scrap for suprem- Going down to the final pace on the opening day in

acy between Olsbergs MSE round of a title fight is familiar South Africa 12 months ago,

stablemates Oliver Eriksson and territory for the championship and he returns full of confi-

Guillaume De Ridder. leader, but in a sport where dence as he bids to thrill the

‘Super Swede’ Eriksson has anything can happen, he’s Killarney faithful by taking the

led the championship since keeping his feet on the ground. battle with his team-mate right

round two at Silverstone back “I’ve been in this situation down to the wire.

in May, winning three-times to before when I drove in a dif- Given the pair’s history in

date as he chases another title ferent series in 2015 and then contrasting styles of motor-

to add to his burgeoning career in 2016 too. Both times I was sport, De Ridder believes their

CV – having already lifted the leading the championship and differing experience sets the

laurels in GRC Lites and RallyX my teammate was just behind stage for a captivating

on Ice. me.” The RX2 driver adding, showdown.

The 19-year-old competed “I do have some points in the “Of course it’s easier to chase

in Cape Town last year in the lead but it’s going to be a fight than to be chased. But out

headlining Supercar class, in every lap of this race and it’s there on track we are comple-

finishing 16th overall in the ul- not over by far.” mentary of each other. I’m fast-

tra-competitive 22-strong field De Ridder sits 14-points er than him on asphalt because

courtesy of a brace of top ten adrift of Eriksson in the stand- of my single seater background

qualifying race results. He even ings with 30 left up for grabs. on the tarmac. Oliver has

impressively outpaced World Although, playing catch-up always been on dirt, so he’s

Champions Johan Kristoffers- after a slow start to the season maybe more comfortable on

son, Petter Solberg and Mattias blighted by ill-fortune, he dug the gravel sections than I am.”

Ekström along the way. deep with back-to-back tri- Looking forward to Killarney,

“Killarney is a fast track and umphs in Norway and Sweden De Ridder’s previous success

20 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

“I do have some points in the lead but it’s going to be
a fight in every lap of this race and it’s not over by far.”

in Cape Town puts him in good fident about the event dre Evjen and William Nilsson
stead for a strong result, and and hopefully I will have the are joined by Sports Racing
may even give him a compet- same pace as last year,” says Technologies interloper Vasiliy
itive edge. “Yes it’s true that I De Ridder. Gryazin, with all five eager to
know the track well. Last year conclude the campaign on the
Oliver drove the track here The excitement is far from top step of the rostrum.
but in Supercars so I think that confined to just the top two,
gives me a slight advantage however, with five drivers dis- Whichever way you look
over him, even though I think puting the third place ‘Bronze at it, the action on-track this
he will still be quick. Medal’ – four of them from weekend amongst the rally-
the same team. JC Raceteknik cross superstars of the future is
“Last year it worked out quite quartet Henrik Krogstad, sure to be red-hot – you won’t
well for me, so I am pretty con- Ben-Philip Gundersen, Son- want to miss a moment!

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 21

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22 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

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2018 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS
CHAMPIONSHIP

NO DRIVER NAT. CAR COMPETITOR NAT.

1 Johan Kristoffersson SWE Volkswagen Polo R1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden SWE

4 Robin Larsson SWE Ford Fiesta Olsbergs MSE SWE

5 Mattias Ekström SWE Audi S1 EKS Audi Sport SWE

6 Janis Baumanis LVA Ford Fiesta Team stard AUT

7 Timur Timerzyanov RUS Hyundai i20 Grx taneco team FIN

9 Sébastien Loeb FRA Peugeot 208 Team peugeot total FRA

11 Petter Solberg NOR Volkswagen Polo R PSRX Volkswagen Sweden NOR

13 Andreas Bakkerud NOR Audi S1 EKS Audi Sport SWE

21 Timmy Hansen SWE Peugeot 208 Team Peugeot Total SWE

36 Guerlain Chicherit FRA GC Kompetition Renault Mégane RS FRA

42 Oliver Bennett GBR Oliver Bennett Bmw Mini Cooper GBR

44 Timo Scheider DEU Seat ibiza All-inkl.Com Muennich Motorsport DEU

66 Grégoire Demoustier BEL Peugeot 208 Sébastien Loeb Racing FRA

68 Niclas Grönholm FIN Hyundai i20 GRX Taneco Team FIN

71 Kevin Hansen SWE Peugeot 208 Team Peugeot Total FRA

77 René Münnich DEU Seat Ibiza All-inkl.Com Muennich Motorsport DEU

92 Anton Marklund SWE Renault Mégane RS GC Kompetition FRA

96 Kevin Eriksson SWE Ford Fiesta Olsbergs MSE SWE

RX2

NO DRIVER NAT. COMPETITOR NAT.

2 Ben-Philip Gundersen NOR JC Raceteknik SWE

6 William Nilsson SWE JC Raceteknik SWE

12 Anders Michalak SWE Anders Michalak SWE

15 Reinis Nitišs LVA Sports Racing Technologies LVA

16 Oliver Eriksson SWE Olsbergs MSE SWE

21 Conner Martell USA Team Färén SWE

22 Sami-Matti Trogen FIN SET Promotion FIN

50 Nathan Heathcote GBR Team Färén SWE

52 Simon Olofsson SWE Simon Olofsson SWE

53 Cole Keatts USA Olsbergs MSE SWE

55 Vasiliy Gryazin LVA Sports Racing Technologies LVA

59 Ashley Haigh-Smith ZAF SET Promotion FIN

65 Jami Kalliomäki FIN SET Promotion FIN

69 Sondre Evjen NOR JC Raceteknik SWE

77 Henrik Krogstad NOR JC Raceteknik SWE

96 Guillaume De Ridder BEL Olsbergs MSE SWE

24 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

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KILLARNEY

A KILLARNEY CREATION
Course Clerk Steve Harding shares the secret specs of

Killarney Raceway in blueprint detail.
WITH HIGH OCTANE
action racing to the circuit designer from UK based wide, which lets cars race right
tune of 600bhp, company, Apex Circuit Design,” the way through it and doesn’t
says Harding. thin the field out. We can have

Rallycross is amphitheatre “The preliminary design and up to three cars abreast. And

entertainment at its best. Titanic how the circuit turned out are then it tightens towards Turn 2,

battles and epic rivalries take actually not too dissimilar, and and the road takes you to the

place over three continents, with the only real difference is in the big jump.

the scene set for the season’s detail. “But what really makes Turn

close in South Africa. After its “Every metre of asphalt and 1 so exciting is the dust that

first edition in 2017, Cape Town’s dirt is part of a special feature,” gets onto the surface making

layout is a calendar highlight for Harding elaborates. “What the corner unpredictable, ever

many a driver. Killarney Course makes the circuit great is the evolving and never quite the

Clerk Steve Harding, shares the relatively long straight at the same from lap to lap,” adds the

details of this impressive track. start to the first corner. When I course clerk.

“The layout process start- say ‘relatively long straight’, this Surprisingly, there is very little

ed over a year before the first is, of course, in Rallycross terms. in the way of specs from the

event. International promoter “What I like about the first FIA, barring a few parameters.

IMG brought out a professional corner is that it’s quite fast and The minimum length of the cir-

28 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

cuit must be 800m and cannot a little bit with breakup last year. the other in Turn 6A, which are
exceed 1400m while the asphalt The cars would travel over it and there to restrict the water table
percentage must be between 35 put 600bhp through two wheels getting too high in the area.
to 60%. on gravel. So this year we have Those are pumped and used
extended the concrete founda- regularly through the year.
Here at Killarney, it’s 60% tion under the two corners that
asphalt and 40% gravel, as is the broke up. That’s the only sub- “The water found in these
case for many of the newer cir- stantial change from last year.” wells is extremely brackish,
cuits. The length of the standard and totally non-potable. You
lap is 1067m and the joker lap is Fans might notice that water can’t even use it on the grass,
98m longer at 1165m. The track is drizzled onto the dirt surface because you’d end up killing it!
is 15m wide at its maximum and before heats. Harding says that So we are quite green as far as
10m wide at its minimum. organisers are well-equipped that’s concerned.”
to follow procedure between
“The rest of the circuit is grav- heats, as well as respect the Harding, along with thousands
el, but it’s dust suppressed with water crisis. of fans cannot wait for the first
a product called Dustex which start lights to go out. Killarney’s
is made of lignite. Although, it “The circuit has a source of fantastic features create some
looks like a tar, it’s actually de- grey water from the municipal- of the best, most competitive
rived from tree sap and is fully ity, and uses this non-potable racing, not just in Rallycross, but
biodegradable.” water. When not running an in world motorsport. The lap
event, we still regularly water record was set by World Cham-
However, the FIA stipulates the circuit and what we use are pion, Johan Kristoffersson with
that the joker lap must be slow- the two wells: one in Turn 6 and a time of 40,393 seconds.
er than a standard lap, and only
one small change was made to
the joker here in Cape Town.
Interestingly, the FIA had con-
cerns that should the event be
wet, the joker lap could actually
be quicker than the standard
lap, and thus a kink was added
to slow it down.

“Then you get the circuit
homologation process done,
and that’s where you get the
concept approved and that’s
where all the safety stuff comes
in. Things like, where you must
have armco, concrete, tires, it’s
quite a comprehensive process.”

There have been some chal-
lenges too. Last year, Turn 6
suffered unusual breakup, but
Harding explains the diagnosis
was simple, and the problem
solved for this year’s edition.

“We used a relatively new
kerb concept, and it had only
previously been used against an
asphalt surface, so we struggled

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 29

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THE JOKER
THE JOKER

FFAASISTTNEEURRN0-0-6600

IN UN

INIENAECAHCRHARCAECE 13

PSRX VOLKSWAGEN SWEDEN

Johan Kristoffersson

Car Volkswagen Polo R
Date of birth 06/12/1988
Nationality Swedish

Defending World RX Champion Johan Kristoffersson may be relatively new to rallycross racing but the 29
year-old Swede is already a record-breaking title winner. Prior to making his World RX debut in 2013, Kristof-
fersson enjoyed success on the circuit racing scene with prestigious title wins in the International Superstars
Series, the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) and the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, all of
which he achieved during a single season in 2012.

Following a handful of European RX and World RX outings in 2013 and 2014, Kristoffersson made the
full-time switch to the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2015 with Volkswagen Team Sweden and won the
curtain raising World RX of Portugal event and four more podiums before going on to claim third in the overall
standings. 

A second career success followed at the World RX of France round in 2016 for Kristoffersson en route
to clinching the runners-up spot behind countryman Mattias Ekstrom, a breakthrough season that would
ultimately set him up for his dominant title-winning World RX campaign in 2017. 

Paired with Petter Solberg in the rebranded PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team and driving a factory-devel-
oped Volkswagen Polo Supercar, Kristoffersson swept to seven victories – including five-in-a-row – to win
the 2017 drivers’ title by a sizeable margin. For 2018, Kristoffersson will defend his drivers’ title with PSRX

PSRX VOLKSWAGEN SWEDEN

Petter Solberg

Car Volkswagen Polo R
Date of birth 18/11/1974
Nationality Norwegian

The first person to be crowned an FIA World Champion in two different motorsport disciplines, Petter Solberg
followed up his 2003 World Rally Championship success by winning the FIA World Rallycross Championship for
two consecutive seasons in 2014 and 2015. Having begun his motorsport career with rallycross outings in his
native Norway, Solberg – known as ‘Hollywood’ to his many fans for his crowd-pleasing antics – made his World
Rally Championship debut in 1998 before a switch to Subaru for 2000 preceded his first win, on the 2002 Rally
GB. A year later he’d win again in Wales to wrap up the World Rally Championship title.

During a WRC tenure spanning 14 years, Solberg amassed 13 WRC wins prior to turning his attentions to
a what has become a hugely successful career in rallycross. Making his Supercar debut in the 2013 European
Rallycross Championship, Solberg would go on to make history by winning the inaugural FIA World Rallycross
Championship in 2014 at the wheel of a Citroen DS3 before successfully defending his title in 2015. Having
competed under his own PSRX banner since 2013, Solberg joined forces with Volkswagen Sweden to form the
PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team in 2017.  

Driving the Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar, Solberg was a dominant winner at the British RX round at Lydden Hill
and despite missing out on the runners-up spot overall to Mattias Ekstrom by just three points, he complemented
team-mate and 2017 champion Johan Kristoffersson by sealing the teams’ title for PSRX Volkswagen Sweden.

EKS AUDI SPORT

Mattias Ekström

Car Audi S1
Date of birth 14/07/1978
Nationality Swedish

016 World RX Champion and two-time DTM title winner Mattias Ekstrom grew up with rallycross and spent a
large part of his youth in RX paddocks watching his dad Bengt, who competed in the European Championship.

A stalwart of the Audi fold, the Swedish driver won the 2004 and 2007 DTM touring car titles for the manu-
facturer before turning his attention to World RX in 2014 with the creation of his own EKS RX team. 

Immediately competitive at the wheel of an Audi S1, Ekstrom would claim a win on home soil at the
Sweden RX round in 2014 ahead of his first full-time campaign in 2015, one that yielded another success in
his native homeland.

Four wins (Germany, Belgium, Britain, Spain) the following year would see Ekstrom sweep to the 2016
drivers’ title, with Finnish team-mate Topi Heikkinen contributing to his EKS outfit wrapping up the teams’
championship too. 

Rewarded with factory backing from Audi Sport for his title defence in 2017, Ekstrom scored four more
wins in the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro last season en route to the runners-up spot behind Johan Kristoffersson.
Having previously dovetailed his rallycross efforts with his DTM commitments – where he was a runner-up
as recently as last year -, Ekstrom will now focus solely on his driver-owner World RX role in 2018 as he looks
to reclaim both trophies

EKS AUDI SPORT

Andreas Bakkerud

Car Audi S1
Date of birth 10/10/1991
Nationality Norwegian

Norwegian racer Andreas Bakkerud competed in karting from the age of eight until 15 when he switched
disciplines to rallycross. He clinched second in the Norwegian Championship in 2009 before stepping up
to the Super1600 European Championship in 2010 and going on to secure back-to-back titles for the Set
Promotion team in both 2011 and 2012.

From here, Bakkerud graduated to Supercar machinery in the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship
with Monster Energy and LD Motorsport, finishing fourth overall driving a Citroen DS3 and winning in Sweden
and France. In 2014 he moved to Ford Olsbergs MSE for the inaugural FIA World Rallycross Championship,
winning two events and playing a pivotal role in spurring the team towards the FIA Teams’ Championship title. 

Retained by Olsbergs MSE in 2015, Bakkerud claimed another win at World RX of Italy before switching to
Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division team for 2016. Completing a hat-trick of victories in Norway, Sweden and
Argentina on his way to third overall in the Ford Focus RS RX Supercar, Bakkerud would add four more podiums
to his career tally in 2017 to secure another top six finish overall.  

To date, Bakkerud remains the only driver in World RX history to have amassed maximum points through
each stage of an event weekend after he winning all four qualifying sessions, the semi-final and the final at
World RX of Norway in 2016.

TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL

Timmy Hansen

Car Peugeot 208
Date of birth 21/05/1992
Nationality Swedish

Son of Kenneth Hansen, the most successful rallycross driver to date with 14 FIA European Rallycross
titles to his name, Timmy Hansen has gone on to establish himself as a master of the discipline in his
own right too. 

Despite his roots, Hansen began his motorsport career in circuit racing before focusing on rally-
cross in 2012. After finishing third overall in the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship, Hansen
progressed to the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 WRX and scored
his and the car’s maiden success in the World RX of Italy on his way to fourth overall before a success-
ful 2015 World RX season yielded three more wins (Norway, France, Turkey) and the runners-up spot
behind Petter Solberg. 

In 2016, Hansen was joined at Team Peugeot-Hansen by nine-time WRC Champion Sebastien Loeb
with the Swede taking a win at World RX of Canada. Picking up four more podiums in 2017, Hansen
will enter into a fifth consecutive season with the French manufacturer in 2018, but the first since
Peugeot’s decision to take its World RX effort in-house. Utilising resources from the firm’s winning
Dakar Rally programme, Hansen will compete alongside Loeb under the Team Peugeot Total banner.

TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL

Sébastien Loeb

Car Peugeot 208
Date of birth 26/02/1974
Nationality French

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb is the world’s most successful rally driver having amassed a staggering nine
consecutive WRC titles and 78 wins before branching out into sportscars, touring cars, rally raid and rallycross
disciplines in recent years. Originally from Haguenau in north-east France, Loeb is nevertheless no stranger to
rallycross. He competed at his home round in Loheac back in 2013 and picked up a rallycross gold medal at the
2012 X Games in California.  The versatile racer also secured a second place finish in the Le Mans 24 Hours in
2006, claimed six World Touring Car Championship victories, is the Pikes Peak record holder and has won several
stages of the gruelling Dakar Rally. 

In 2016, Loeb contested his first full-time campaign in World RX driving a Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar
alongside 2015 runner-up Timmy Hansen, clinching an impressive maiden rallycross victory at the
inaugural World RX of Latvia. 

Amassing six podiums on his way to fourth overall in 2017, Loeb will continue with the French
manufacturer as Peugeot takes its World RX programme in-house under the Team Peugeot Total banner.
In addition, Loeb will also bring his successful Sebastien Loeb Racing team to World RX entering young
Belgian Gregoire Demoustier in a Peugeot 208.

OLSBERGS MSE

Kevin Eriksson

Car Ford Fiesta
Date of birth 16/07/1996
Nationality Swedish

Kevin Eriksson returns to his father’s Olsbergs MSE team for a third season in the FIA World Rallycross
Championship, the 21-year-old setting his sights on more race winning success.

Son of Andreas Eriksson, OMSE as a team was already a success before Eriksson Jr turned his first
competitive wheel at the age of 15 so it was only natural for the Swede to spend much of his early career
competing as part of the family business. Success nonetheless came swiftly for Eriksson, winning only his
second European Super1600 Rallycross event in 2013 on his way to eighth in the standings. 

A successful move to RX Lites in 2014 led to his first major title and was complemented by a superb podi-
um result on his debut in the World RX Supercar class at the season-ending event in Argentina. Returning to
RX Lites in 2015, where he’d finish runner-up, 2016 heralded Eriksson’s first full-time campaign in Ford Fiesta
World RX machinery, as well as competing in RallyX on Ice and the Swedish Rallycross Championship.  

Eriksson marked his maiden World RX campaign with a shock win in Germany after a legendary overtake
around the outside of the first corner of the final at the Estering, a move that has since attained ‘viral’ status
after quickly amassing millions of views online.

With Olsbergs MSE stepping back from World RX for 2017, Eriksson was snapped up by MJP Racing Team
Austria where he’d achieve consistency en route to 11th in the standings for the second consecutive year.

OLSBERGS MSE

Robin Larsson

Car Ford Fiesta
Date of birth 08/07/1992
Nationality Swedish

Robin Larsson grew up in the rallycross paddock with his father’s team before beginning a motorsport
career of his own at the age of 15 in folkrace. From here, the Swede progressed to the TouringCars
class in the FIA European Rallycross Championship, finishing fourth after a part season in 2012 and
runner-up in 2013. 

The following year, Larsson stepped up to the headline Supercar category of the FIA European
Rallycross Championship and marked his debut with title success driving an Audi A1. 

Having made a handful of World RX appearances that same season, Larsson moved up to the
international stage full-time in 2015 and proved competitive from the off, scoring a podium in Norway
before notching up a first victory at the Argentina finale.

After a return to Euro RX for 2017, Larsson will race in World RX in 2018 having swapped his faithful
Audi for a Ford Fiesta as part of the successful Olsbergs MSE team.

GRX TANECO TEAM

Niclas Grönholm

Car Hyundai i20
Date of birth 25/05/1996
Nationality Finnish

Niclas Gronholm, son of two-time WRC Champion Marcus, is a former Finnish Rallycross Champion
entering his third season of FIA World Rallycross Championship competition. At just 21-years-old, he is
one of the youngest permanent Supercar drivers in World RX.

In 2014, Gronholm finished third in the autocross class of the Finnish Championship and in 2015 he
drove an Olsbergs MSE run Ford Fiesta Supercar with which he won the Finnish Championship. In 2016,
he contested a full World RX campaign with Olsbergs MSE – picking up a best finish of 11th in Sweden
- as well as all rounds of RallyX on Ice in Sweden and the 2016 Finnish Rallycross Championship,

In 2017, Gronholm competed as an independent as part of the GRX (Gronholm RallyX) team
managed by his father, securing a maiden final appearance and a career best result of fifth place in
Germany. For 2018, Gronholm remains with GRX but will make use of Hyundai i20 machinery for the
first time alongside new team-mate Timur Timerzyanov in an expanded line-up.

GRX TANECO TEAM

Timur Timerzyanov

Car Hyundai i20
Date of birth 31/01/1987
Nationality Russian

Timur Timerzyanov made his racing debut after choosing motorsport over a burgeoning career in
gymnastics, the Russian racer switching first to karting before pursuing rallycross as his chosen
discipline. Success came quickly for Timerzyanov with a maiden first European title coming in the
Super1600 category in 2010 prior to a move into the Supercar category the following year.

Joining Namus Hansen Motorsport, Timerzyanov secured back-to-back Euro RX titles driving a
Citroen DS3 in 2012 and 2013 prior to the series evolving into the world championship.

One of the most experienced rallycross drivers on the grid, Timurzyanov continued to notch up
podiums during stints with Namus OMSE (2015), MJP Team Austria (2016) and Team STARD (2017) but
will embark on a fresh challenge with the GRX TANECO outfit in 2018, driving a Hyundai i20 alongside
Niclas Gronholm.

GC KOMPETITION

Guerlain Chicherit

Car Renault Megane R.S
Date of birth 20/05/1978
Nationality French

Monster Athlete Guerlain Chicherit steps up to the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2018 with his
own GC Kompetition team driving the new Prodrive-developed Renault Megane RS.

A professional skier and four-time world champion in freeriding, Chicherit holds the record for
becoming the first man in history to complete an unassisted backflip in a car. More recently Chicherit
has focused his attentions on motorsport having amassed several starts in the Dakar Rally over the
last decade.

Chicherit made his World RX debut in the JRM Mini RX Countryman in 2015 and has gone on to
make a handful of appearances on the international stage in preparation for this season’s full-time
tilt with his own two-car GC Kompetition outfit. Driving the all-new Renault Megane RS, Chicherit will
be joined by fellow Frenchman Jerome Grosset-Janin.

GC KOMPETITION

Anton Marklund

Car Renault Megane R.S
Date of birth 09/12/1992
Nationality Sweden

Swedish rallycross driver Anton Marklund started his racing career at the age of 15. After 4 years com-
peting nationally, Anton raced in a European Championship for the first time in 2011 in the rear-wheel
driven RX category Touring Cars, where in 2012 he secured his first European title.

In 2013, Anton switched to Supercars and raced in the European championship as well as
competing in X-games. The following three years, Anton was asked to drive the FIA World Rallycross
Championship for different teams, grabbing a 2nd place in Canada in 2014.

In 2017, Marklund decided to focus on the European Championship and to combine it with racing
the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, to develop as a driver. Later in 2017, he became FIA European
Rallycross Champion for the 2nd time.

This year, Anton finished 2nd in the 2018 FIA European Rallycross Championship, and has already
secured the title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia with one more race to go.

INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES

TEAM SÉBASTIEN LOEB RACING

Grégoire Demoustier

Car Peugeot 208
Date of birth 26/01/1991
Nationality Belgian

Competing in his first full season of World RX, Gregoire Demoustier makes the move to rallycross
following stints in single-seaters, sportscars and touring cars.

Born in France, but racing under the Belgian flag in World RX, Demoustier competed in Formula
BMW and Formula Renault before enjoying a successful term in the GT1 World Championship, picking
up four podium results at the wheel of a McLaren MP4-12C.

Switching to the World Touring Car Championship for two seasons in 2015 and 2016, Demoustier
made his World RX debut in 2017 driving an independent DA Racing Peugeot 208 in a selection of
events.

For 2018, Demoustier will compete as a full season individual entrant, once more at the wheel of a
208 prepared by the Sebastien Loeb Racing team.

TEAM STARD

Jānis Baumanis

Car Ford Fiesta
Date of birth 15/06/1992
Nationality Latvian

Janis Baumanis kicked off his motorsport career in crosskarts at the age of 15 before trying his hand
at rallycross for the first time in 2008 in the NEZ Rallycross Championship. Over the next two seasons
Baumanis won two championship titles in his native Latvia and one Baltic championship title, follow-
ing it up with European Super1600 and Estonian Rallycross Supercar titles in 2015.

Following a handful of World RX Supercar starts in 2014 and 2015, Baumanis received a full season
campaign in 2016 as part of the World RX Team Austria outfit, securing a final appearance and a best
finish of fourth place in Barcelona. A move to Team STARD for 2017 yielded a popular run to the final
on home soil in Latvia last season, as well as a season’s best fifth place and 12th overall.

This season, Baumanis will continue at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta with Team STARD with a view
to securing his first World RX podium

TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL

Kevin Hansen

Car Peugeot 208
Date of birth 28/05/1998
Nationality Swedish

Kevin Hansen, younger brother of World RX driver Timmy Hansen and son of rallycross legend
Kenneth Hansen, started his career in karting in 2005 before becoming World Champion in ROK
Junior in 2010. 

In 2012, Hansen won the JRX Series as well as Junior Championships in Britain and Sweden
before stepping up to RX Lites full-time in 2014 where he finished runner-up.  In 2015, he went
one better and won the RX Lites Cup before reaching the final at the season-closing World RX of
Argentina on his Supercar debut. 

In 2016, Hansen moved up to Supercar full-time to contest the FIA European Rallycross
Championship where he dominated by winning four out of the five events and becoming Euro RX
Champion.

For 2017, Hansen made the next step by moving up to World RX to compete in all 12 rounds
of the World Championship driving a third Team Peugeot-Hansen, where he reached the final in
Germany and secured an eighth place finish in the overall standings. Hansen will continue to drive
a Peugeot 208 in 2018 as an individual entry under the Team Peugeot Total banner.

LOG

DRIVERS POINTS

SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

POS NAME COUNTRY POINTS
1 Johan Kristoffersson
2 Mattias Ekström Sweden 311
3 Andreas Bakkerud
4 Petter Solberg Sweden 228
5 Sébastien Loeb
6 Timmy Hansen Norway 224
7 Niclas Grönholm
8 Kevin Hansen Norway 221
9 Jānis Baumanis
10 Timur Timerzyanov France 205

Sweden 177

Finland 42

Sweden 128

Latvia 88

Russia 77

RX2 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

POS NAME COUNTRY POINTS 
1
2 Oliver Eriksson Sweden 154
3.
4 Guillaume De Ridder Belgium 140
5
6 Henrik Krogstad Norway 108
7
8 Vasiliy Gryazin Latvia 95
9
10 Ben-Philip Gundersen Norway 90

Sondre Evjen Norway 88

William Nilsso Sweden 78

Conner Martell USA 69

Jami Kalliomäki Finland 69

Sami-Matti Trogen Finland 63

40 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA



Q&A

NOT JUST
A DIRTY
WORDWelcome to the art

and science of dirt

To many people, dirt is just a nuisance. When it’s wet, things get
muddy. When it’s dry, dust blows everywhere. But for a Rallycross

driver, it’s knowledge, opportunity, and even art, and car no. 5
driver Mattias Ekström, says there’s method to the madness.

Why is it important to rutted, you have to keep to the What’s South African dirt like?
line of the rutt and drive your car The dirt section in Cape Town
understand dirt and gravel? in it. In a way, I’m still learning Last year was a challenge be-
Everybody thinks dirt is dirt, but to drive in those gravel ruts and cause this was ‘young’ dirt. The
that isn’t the case. Some dirt, we use those track conditions to my tracks that have been sitting
can call clay, and when you press advantage. there for many years have ap-
clay with some salt, magnesium plied a lot of dust binders. This
and other special liquids togeth- The last type of dirt surface we makes the surface really hard
er, it becomes a bit like concrete face is artificial gravel, which is a for up to half a metre under-
on the bottom and a little looser mix of concrete and gravel with ground. When you build a new
on top. I would compare it to some sand on top and this can track, it gets very rutted, so last
something like polished ice, with have some incredible grip. But year there were lots of ruts that
some flower on top of it! It’s it’s also really difficult to read the created sharp edges and made
slippery and dusty, so it requires grip because you can have a lot punctures common. It’s a real
a certain driving style of its own. of grip in some spots or you hit challenge racing on new dirt.
too much sand in another and
Then you get gravel, which is you’ll find no grip. So you have What is the dirt like at
a bit of sand that doesn’t bind to be really tidy and not slide other venues?
very well, but it can have a lot the car that much because you’ll In Sweden we don’t have much
more grip even though it gets have high tire wear.
rutted easily. When gravel gets

42 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA

“Some venues have loads of stones and this
doesn’t create much dust which is pretty cool,

but it destroys the car.”

clay – the tracks there are dition. You’ll find that when they conditions of the dirt so much.
mainly built with gravel, but in water down the track in Rally- Rainy days are tough too, like
central Europe and in the US, cross, the lap times differ hugely, when it rains on the clay at
they use more clay. The dust especially on the clay. When you Silverstone, you’re driving
that comes from gravel is very wet it, it gets super slippery and around at much slower speeds,
thin while the dust that comes as it dries, the grip just comes but you’re managing to still slide
from clay can be very thick. back to life, but when it becomes all over the place!
Each type of surface is very ultra-dry, those super slippery
different from the other. Some conditions return. For me, this is How will you approach the
venues have loads of stones especially tricky.
and this doesn’t create much finale in CT?
dust which is pretty cool, but it Sunny, windy days are difficult Like any other race! We will
destroys the car. It’s enough to for organisers to keep the race come to CT and race like we do
do a track walk and you’ll see fair because it’s changing the any other weekend. There’s no
what type of gravel and dirt magic to it. I have the same pro-
sections are there and just what cedure for 20-years and I’m not
their characteristics are. going to change it! We aim to
finish 2nd and 3rd in the champi-
How do you deal with a wet onship. If that means taking risks
then we will; if it means we will
surface come each new heat? drive conservatively and smart
The races go by pretty fast, and then we will do that; if it means
as a driver, you’ll know what to we must win, then we will try
expect for every changing con- to win.

GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA 2018 43

DRIVER Q&A

CThoennFercetniochn
What Rallycross means to motorsport legend
Sébastien Loeb, and why he’s not done yet.

SÉBASTIEN LOEB IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND HIGHLY DECORATED DRIVERS
in all of motorsport. With nine WRC titles and 79 event wins to his name, the 44-year-old
has enjoyed stints at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, had several outings in Formula One cars, set
records at Pikes Peak, and extended his talents at the Dakar Rally. At 44, Loeb has shown no intention
of stopping just yet, and continues to challenge himself in racing. His latest playground? Rallycross.

What sets Rallycross apart from because there’s less travelling it, I have to be competitive, so
than in rallying and other cham- it’s all linked. It’s not a question
other forms of motorsport? pionships that I have done. of one or the other.
Rallycross is spectacular and
incredibly intense with a lot of You’ve had so much success For a driver that makes it look
adrenaline, especially as you in racing, do you feel there’s so easy, what’s the most chal-
get ready for the start. Gener- still more to prove here in lenging aspect of Rallycross?
ally you have to get everything Rallycross? You have to drive at 110% all the
absolutely right but there’s also Above all it’s for fun, but I’m mo- time, there’s absolutely no room
a really nice atmosphere in the tivated by results, so of course, for error as you won’t get away
whole sport. Rallycross also I want to do well. To really enjoy with it. You also have to fight at
gives you a bit of an easier life,

44 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA



DRIVER Q&A

close quarters with your rivals. because that’s the area where so used to driving in such close
It’s a big challenge for me as it’s proximity to the other drivers
not something that I have grown you feel what the car is doing and following them so closely.
up with. What I like less is the That’s something that I’m still
fact that there’s a bit too much most. Is this still the same learning and adapting to. And,
that depends on the start. If you of course, you have to drive
make a bad start, then your race case in Rallycross and do you while keeping one eye on the
is effectively already decided, rear view mirror as well, so that
so the driver’s performance isn’t have to fine-tune your bum you can close the door when
always rewarded as it should be. you need to and avoid people
to new categories of motor- driving into you. But, in terms
You once said that you owe of the actual driving, I feel
your success to your bum, sport? quite comfortable.
In terms of driving style,
there’s still a lot that I carry
over from rallying: in the end,
the car is still quite similar to a
rally car and you have to slide
it and so on. But I’ve not been

46 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA



Q&A

FROM RALLY
WITH LOVE
Both sports might go sideways,
but Petter Solberg compares Rallycross
to his previous adventures in World Rally Championship.

AT 44 YEARS OF AGE, is going to work over a longer cult to get a really precise feeling
Petter Solberg has distance where there are varying from the car. This is because
shown no signs of conditions across stages. So your the slick tyre needs to work on
slowing down, literally. In 2003, chassis might not be built for gravel and tarmac. Too much
the legendary driver won his first maximum speed. aggression and you’ll just cook
and only WRC championship. the tyre so you have to change
A little over a decade later and “In Rallycross, you need to the way you drive.”
the Norwegian joined WRX in analyse every corner rather than
2014, winning the championship the whole journey, so your setup Conditions master
on debut and then collecting is very important. I like to con-
a second in the following year. centrate on a couple of corners Getting your head around two
Solberg has impressively fine where I can gain the most time different surface types over the
tuned his talents to make a him and then give up the car a little course of roughly 1000 metres
a fearsome force in World Rally- bit in some of the other places.” requires a driving style based on
cross. We look at the difference skill and intuition. For Solberg,
between the two, and just what Tyre whisperer it’s all about keeping it neat
it takes to be successful in WRX. and tidy.
When the five red lights go out,
Setup wizard primal instinct takes over and “On asphalt you have to be
it becomes a fight for first. But quite smooth and not have too
“First of all you can’t compare it’s also all about managing your much oversteer compared to
rally and Rallycross, it’s a huge the tyres, adds the two-time what maybe you will find in rally,”
difference. The smaller, more champion. “From the first metre says Solberg, adding that ‘gravel’
compact style of Rallycross is you have to be very aggressive in is just another word for ‘side-
because for an entirely differ- Rallycross, that’s for sure.” ways’, and it’s time to get kick
ent approach to setup,” says up some dust. “On gravel it’s all
Solberg. “In rally you have to “The tyres in Rallycross are about the attack and that’s prob-
have a very adaptable car that quite different to rally because ably closer to the rally style that
they’re very soft but they still works well for Rallycross.”
move a lot on track, so it’s diffi-

48 GUMTREE WORLD RX OF SOUTH AFRICA