The FIA World Rallycross Championship’s ‘Battle of Applied sciences’ has arrived in Belgium for the World RX of Benelux (17-18 August)
The FIA World Rallycross Championship’s ‘Battle of Applied sciences’ has arrived in Belgium for the World RX of Benelux (17-18 August), with one other thrilling double-header race weekend between all-electric and sustainably-fuelled inner combustion engined vehicles happening on the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet.
Johan Kristoffersson arrives main the championship as he ramps up his quest for a unprecedented seventh World RX title. Driving his sustainably-fuelled Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX, the Swede has gained thrice out of 4 this season – with only a first nook collision with Kevin Hansen final outing in Hungary denying him a clear sweep.
Kristoffersson is the one driver within the present World RX pack to have beforehand triumphed at Mettet – on the best way to the primary of his world championship titles again in 2017.
His KMS – HORSE Powertrain team-mate Ole Christian Veiby arrives sitting second within the general classification, 25 factors in arrears and wanting to make up floor. The Norwegian reached the podium at Mettet within the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2015, and he holds the report for probably the most podium finishes in World RX with out a victory – a tag he will likely be aiming to shake off this weekend.
Tied for third within the title desk are CE Supplier Crew by Volvo Development Gear duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson. The Finn profited from Kristoffersson’s misfortune to prevail in Hungary – claiming the primary win for electrical energy in 2024 in his PWR RX1e – along with his Swedish stablemate coming inside a whisker of triumphing for the primary time within the Höljes curtain-raiser, earlier than including one other rostrum outcome to her more and more spectacular CV at Nyirád.
Hansen World RX Crew siblings Timmy and Kevin Hansen are equally carefully matched in fifth and sixth positions. 2019 world champion Timmy is a three-time World RX podium-finisher at Mettet, whereas youthful brother Kevin dramatically barrel-rolled out of competition there in 2017. The pair are nonetheless looking for the squad’s first prime three end of the season, which they hope to attain this weekend.
The sector is accomplished by skilled campaigner René Münnich in his ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport SEAT Ibiza and Frenchman Anthony Pelfrene in his JDM Raptor Racing Peugeot 208, each piloting sustainably-fuelled combustion-powered vehicles.
World RX of Benelux additionally hosts the penultimate spherical of the 2024 FIA RX2e, Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 championships, spearheaded by respective class leaders Nils Andersson, Patrick O’Donovan and Nils Volland.
Former Euro RX3 champion Kobe Pauwels is a ‘wild card’ entry in RX2e, because the proficient Belgian teenager returns to rallycross for the primary time in nearly two years at his residence observe.
Followers can view the motion on Rally.TV
