Seb Eriksson on top of the World in Holjes. FIA launches electric tenders.

05 July    The FIA launches tenders for the planned electrification of rallycross. Three separate documents deal with the powertrain supply for electric cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (the new breed of cars will initially race head-to-head with the current Supercars), a Junior eRallycross category and the recharging for both series.

7 July  Sebastian Eriksson wins the sixth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Holjes. Driving alongside his unrelated team mate Kevin Eriksson in OMSE’s one-off return to World RX, Sebastian Eriksson qualifies second (behind Andreas Bakkerud) in the Intermediate Classification, but goes on to win semi-final two and take pole for the final ahead of Kevin Hansen as Bakkerud falls by the wayside because of a broken driveshaft. In the final, Eriksson leads from the start and fends off a late challenge from Hansen who closes on the leading Fiesta when it slows because of an overheating problem. Reinis Nitiss finishes third in the event; a remarkable achievement from the European Champion who ended his first qualifier upside-down in the sand trap at turn one, but fought back by topping Q2. Hansen leaves the event with a six point lead over older brother Timmy who does not progress beyond the semi-finals.

The third round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship for Supercar is on the bill in Sweden and Robin Larsson dominates proceedings to take his third win of the year. Fastest in all but Q2 – where local star Peter Hedstrom sets the pace – Larsson is stamps his mark on the event. Pontus Tidemand makes good use of the Eklund Motorsport VW Beetle to place second ahead of JB Dubourg. Larsson now leads the championship by ten points over Tidemand with Dubourg one point further adrift in third place.

The third round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship for Super1600 is won by Marius Bermingrud. The Norwegian becomes the first driver to defeat Volland Racing Ausdi driver Aydar Nuriev and scores a notable result for the classic owner/drivers of the category. Fourth at at the intermediate after a costly error in Q4, Bermingrud fights back to win semi-final two and then lead the final from lights to flag after overhauling pole sitter Gergely Marton in the race to T1. Nuriev comes through to second place and maintains his series lead.

RX2 got a new winner in the Sweden where Ben-Philip Gundersen won. Oliver Eriksson was top qualifier and led semi-final one until the belt came off the water pump in his car. Linus Ostlund won the race and took pole for the final ahead of Gundersen who then raced ahead in the final to lead home Ostlund and Jesse Kallio.

Obituary    BTRDA Clubmans rallycross competitor Shaun Buckley, 41, died in a road traffic accident on 6 July in North Wales when the recovery truck he was driving was involved in an accident with a car towing a caravan. The 2016 Clubmans Historic class champion, who began his competitive career in banger racing before switching to rallying on tarmac and gravel, Buckley made his rallycross debut in 2016, racing a Ford Escort MkII in the Historic class. A regular podium contender for the last three years, Buckley had been working on a new Hillman Imp for the series, and had planned to debut the car at Lydden Hill in September. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.