Kiss and Pucher claim titles, Jansen wins in Belgium, CARX expands

European Rallycross Championship contender Tamas Pal Kiss secured his second successive national title by claiming victory at Mariapocs, as the Hungarian Rallycross Championship was joined by the FIA Central European Zone Rallycross Championship (CEZ). Kiss scored victory ahead of fellow Euro RX racer Tamas Karai, while MJP Racing Team Austria driver Max Pucher claimed the final podium position to secure the CEZ crown, driving of the Austrian’ squads Ford Fiestas. Pucher was the only non-Hungarian driver in the Supercar final, Csaba Spitzmuller beating Attila Mozer for fourth, while Zoltan Harsanyi finished sixth, just four seconds shy of the podium. Racing his unique Skoda Citigo, Czech driver Josef Susta beat Hungarian Janki Wieszt, driving a Set Promotion-built Renault Twingo, for victory in the Super1600 category. Results here.

The final round of the Belgian Rallycross Championship was held at Maasmechelen, where three Supercars made an appearance for the last race of the year. In the Supercar final, former World Championship racer Jos Jansen claimed victory after Jochen Coox was forced out with a technical problem. Driving his Volvo S40, Wil Teurlings finished second. In the Supernational +2000cc category that is often the headline class in the series, Kristof Bex dominated by setting the fastest times in qualifying and winning the semi-final and final to secure the title. His main rival, Luc Maris, had to settle for third, Steve Volders opting to race in the over two-litre division having already secured the Supernational -2000cc title and finished second with his FIA TouringCar machine. Super1600 champion Davy Van Den Branden won the last race of the year, and Guillaume De Ridder won the final round of Ssanyoung Cup but it was Loris Cencetti Jr from Luxemburg who claimed the inaugural pickup title. Results here.

Organisers of the MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix have adjusted the format of the 2017 running of the annual event at Croft Circuit next week. The finals for the conclusion of the Supercar and Supernational categories in the MSA British Rallycross Championship will be held first thing on Sunday morning, to give fans a full day of action, before the 40-car Grand Prix and support classes get underway, a day after the last British RX event of the year. The Grand Prix will be formed of two qualifying races, with the top 32 drivers going through to four eight-car quarter-finals, the top four from each moving into two eight-car semi-finals and the top four from the semis will progress to the Grand Prix.

The Argentine Rallycross CARX Championship, which grew on the back of the first World Rallycross Championship appearance in the country at the San Luis circuit in 2014, is to go international in 2018 and is expected to include events in Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil. On September 30, CARX’s plans were approved by the South American Automobile Sports Confederation to join the CODASUR Championships for 2018. A new class will also be introduced alongside the Maxi Rally and N4 (Group N) categories, called ‘Super CARX’ for cars with around 500 horsepower, expected to be similar to a conventional rallycross Supercar. The calendar for the series will be announced soon. “We have been working for some time on CARX becoming a South American Championship,” said Alejandro Levy, president of CARX. “It is very important for u  to move to an international level that is also in tune with the arrival of the Super CARX class for next season”.

Former rally driver Andrew Coley will make his second ever MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix appearance with the XtremeRX team next week at Croft Circuit, following his maiden start in the event in 2015. Coley will take over former Super1600 champion Craig Lomax’s Citroen C2 a day after Lomax races in the last round of the British RX series. The World Rallycross television commentator raced in the seventh round of the RX150 buggy championship at Pembrey recently.