Breen tries rallycross. Historic success for Solbergs. Retro Renault racer.

16 February The Irish Rallycross Championship has a launch event at Mondello Park ahead of the new season starting on 3 March. The championship is set to be run over seven rounds, one at Tynagh, the rest at Mondello which will be used in various configurations during the year.

16 February Craig Breen speaks enthusiastically about rallycross having sampled Derek Tohill’s Ford Fiesta Supercar at Mondello Park. Without a regular drive in the World Rally Championship the former Citroen driver did ten laps in Tohill’s car. “I want to get back into rallying again … but I’d like to try rallycross. I enjoyed driving a Supercar and I’d like to have a race in one. If it works out it would be great,” said Breen.

16 February Petter and Pernilla Solberg win Rally Sweden Historic in their Group 4 Ford Escort RS1800. The couple won every stage of the event and beat Mats Jonsson’s Mazda 323 by more than a minute.

19 February World RX announces Swiss watch brand EDOX as timing partner for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

18 February Phil Collard reveals the Renault Five Turbo in which he will return to racing this year in the Retro Rallycross Championship. Collard has spent just over a year rebuilding the car that was originally built and raced by Kevin Stones. Now equipped with a two-litre engine, Collard will test the car before his first event in it at Silverstone in March.

20 February Leading into its third season, the RX Academy will add online video coverage of each event. A highlights show will be aired online following each of the RX Academy’s six events. World RX commentator Andrew Coley will be the voice of the show. The RX Academy offers training and racing in equal Renault Clio cars with the champion winning a season in RX2.