FIA approves World Rallycross calendar

Today’s meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris has approved the calendar for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The 12-round series will include three events outside Europe. Trois-Rivieres in Canada as announced last week  will take place on August 7-8, the main event being a Friday evening race, while the season will conclude with events at Istanbul Park in Turkey (Oct 11-12) and a yet to be confirmed venue in Argentina on November 22-23.

The championship will get underway at Montalegre, Portugal on May 3-4, a further eight events will be held in Europe, including two new venues; Mettet in Belgium (July 12-13) and the Autodromo di Franciacorta in Italy (Sept 27-28). The Italian ASN will use the introduction of a World Championship event as a focal point of its plan to create a National rallycross championship in the country during 2014.

The World Rallycross Championship will be for Supercar drivers and teams – a new team championship introduced along with the individual driver’s title – and will run across all events.

“Achieving FIA World Championship status was a huge step in the development of the sport and today’s approval of the calendar for 2014, which sees us operate across four continents, proves its growing presence on the international motorsport scene,” said Martin Anayi, Managing Director of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg returned to rallycross in 2013 and has already confirmed his commitment to the World Rallycross Championship next season; “I had many options in motor sport that I was considering a year ago. However, when I met IMG and looked at its plan, I saw a lot of passion from people who wanted to take the rallycross to the next level. What I experienced during 2013 co-operating with IMG Motorsport, is impressive. The professional attitude and determination to achieve the objective made the World RX Championship a reality within one year. I firmly believe that IMG Motorsport together with FIA will steer the sport in the right direction – worldwide – with huge success.”

The FIA European Rallycross Championships will continue to run alongside the World championship, the Supercar championship being revised and run over a shorter five-event schedule at Lydden Hill (GBR), Hell (NOR), Mettet (BEL), Buxtehude (GER), Franciacorta (ITA) so as to provide a clear step between national and World championships. Permanent World championship drivers will not score points in the European championship. All events run in Europe will be part of the World championship and entry to them will be open to all suitably licenced drivers with eligible cars.

2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship

May 3-4 Portugal, Montalegre

May 24-25 Great Britain, Lydden Hill *

June 14-15 Norway, Hell *

June 28-29 Finland, Kouvola

July 5-6 Sweden, Holjes

July 12-13 Belgium, Mettet*

August 7-8 Canada, Trois-Rivieres

September 6-7 France, Loheac

September 20-21 Germany, Buxtehude *

September 27-28 Italy, Autodromo di Franciacorta *

October 11-12 Turkey, Istanbul Park

November 22-23 Argentina, TBA

* = FIA European Rallycross Championship for Supercar drivers

(New tracks subject to inspection and license)

[portfolio_slideshow]