Scheider, Baumanis, Dubourg, Hansen, Gronholm, Speed. DiRT Rally. Audi at JC Raceteknik…

21 December ALL-INKL.COM Munnich Motorsport confirms that Timo Scheider will drive a new Seat Ibiza in a full World RX campaign in 2019. “It’s no secret that I was bitten by the rallycross bug a long time ago,” said Scheider. “I am very pleased to be taking my involvement in the rallycross scene to the next level. For me too, this very special discipline is the perfect arena for tough, spectacular motorsport – and that goes for the fans and drivers in equal measure.” Team owner Rene Munnich will drive in selected rounds of the championship and said: “Despite the withdrawal of some manufacturers, I firmly believe in the future of the World Rallycross Championship, because for private teams it provides a massive opportunity to showcase themselves on a global and professional platform with a huge following.”

28 December Neste World RX of Latvia, the Latvian round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship is named the Latvian Sport Event of the Year. “In 2016 and 2017, the FIA deemed our event to be the best in the calendar, but this award gives a special and unique emotions – this shows that our event is appreciated here in Latvia and that you all enjoy it. In the name of the whole Latvian motorsports community, I would like to thank you all for this award – it really means a lot,” said event director Raimonds Strokss.

29 December Janis Baumanis is confirmed to remain at STARD for the 2019 FIA World Rallycross Championship. The Austrian team retains the Latvian driver and is working hard to secure a second entry in the series. Baumanis will drive a new car in 2019, with the thrust of the development for this focused on new suspension developed with TEIN Inc. “It is an honour to continue for a third consecutive year with STARD, and their fantastic engineers and mechanics. Over the last two years it was a very tough to fight against the works supported teams, and I see a big opportunity to achieve very good results in 2019,” said Baumanis.

5 January Niclas Gronholm says he will take part in the Arctic Lapland Rally on 24-26 January. The Finnish World RX star will drive an R5 Skoda Fabia which he tested during December.

10 January Rallycross is much in evidence at Autosport International at Birmingham’s NEC. British RX Champion Mark Higgins drives his Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 in the show’s live arena while cars on display in the show include Ollie O’Donovan’s Ford Fiesta – which is fitted with Toyo Tires’ new rallycross product – Oliver Bennett’s World RX Mini and British RX Fiesta. The show also features new Cross Car products from Semog and Planet Kart-Cross.

11 January GRC Europe announces that Timmy and Kevin Hansen will drive in the new series in 2019. “I am young, I am fast and I am hungry for success. I am eager to show my true potential and get back to the Victory Lane,” said Kevin Hansen. GRC Europe will feature the new Pantera RX6 one-make racecar as well as Supercars which are to be subject to a Balance of Performance formula. Hansen Motorsport boss Kenneth Hansen continues to work on plans to run his team in World RX in 2019. “Timmy and Kevin are professional drivers and want to race as much as possible, this does not change our plans for World RX or their ambition to be World Champion,” he said.

11 January Subaru of America confirms that Scott Speed will join its ARX team for 2019. Speed will join Patrik Sandell and Chris Atkinson in a trio of new Subaru WRX STI VT19x cars prepared and run by Vermont Sportscar.

12 January After three events, JB Dubourg takes the lead of the Andros Trophy. Dubourg has one win in the first Elite Pro race at Andorra (round two) while younger brother Andrea gained a victory in round three at Isola 2000. The series moves on to Serre-Chevalier this weekend.

15 January RallyX Nordic names Tierp Arena as the venue for the final round of its 2019 calendar. The original race schedule had been released with the final round TBC after a difficult event at Tierp for the 2018 finale. The new track is to be upgraded before the 2019 event.

17 January World RX is all over the latest version of DiRT Rally. With more cars, more tracks and the option to choose weather conditions among the new features, DiRT Rally 2.0 also offers online players the optic of racing in groups of eight. 

17 January JC Raceteknik reveals that it has two of the 2018 EKS Audi S1 World RX Supercars. The Swedish team will release details of its race programme later.