Seven days in rallycross, January 1

The New Year is here and the only place to start the new motor sport season is Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham next week.

As usual the full show runs over four days with the weekend dedicated to public  features after the two trade days that open the showcase event as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Rallycross will feature prominently in the show with FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg the headline attraction. Solberg’s title winning DS3 Supercar will be on display while the man himself will do his thing in the Live Action Arena in another of his cars. The Live Action Arena will also include rallycross action from the other end of the spectrum as the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship will showcase entry-point and amateur participation categories in a series of exhibition races. There will be a handful of rallycross cars featured around the show which uniquely caters for industry professionals and motor sport fans alike, incorporating two trade-only days (8 & 9) to allow visitors and exhibitors to meet in a business to business environment and two busy and more relaxed public days (10 & 11) dedicated to motorsport enthusiasts, to buy tickets click here.

In the lead up to the Christmas and New Year break a group of 22 drivers took part in a major RX Lites test at Intercity Istanbul Park. Using the World Championship rallycross track layout, drivers from a number of countries and different disciplines were able to try RX Lites cars and benefit from advice of experienced drivers and technicians in test conditions as well as getting the chance to visit the Avitas Motorsport factory where the cars are built.

In Itlay one of europe’s finest autocross venues is being adapted for rallycross. With an Italian national rallycross series on the cards for 2015, the Sport Club Maggiora has taken the plunge and commissioned work at its autocross track that will allow it to be used for rallycross. The Trofeo Rallycross Maggiora will take place in May with the final round of the Rallycross Challenge Europe placed at the Italian track in October.

We don’t usually do this stuff, but it seems appropriate to mark the 70th birthday of one of the greatest rallycross stars ever, Martin Schanche enters his eighth decade today, which seems like an ideal opportunity for a couple of classic images of the man himself.

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[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE1SWfbYxqQ[/tube]