FIA Champions crowned virtually.

18 February / Steve Harris becomes the first driver to commit to racing an electric car in the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy. Harris is having a Mini converted to accept STARD’s 450kW ERX powertrain. Sim-Tech Solutions is carrying out the conversion and working closely with STARD. The car is one of the ex-Prodrive Minis subsequently run by JRM in World RX events.
“I’ve had the Mini for a while, but it needed money spending on an [ICE] engine and transmission to make it competitive, which could have been out of date in two or three years’ time. The initial price wasn’t a lot different to convert the car to using an electric powertrain, and then the running costs are less , so I thought I’d jump in to have the first electric Supercar on the grid in the UK. When I test drove the STARD Fiesta at Lydden Hill last year, like everyone who drove it that day, I just had a big smile on my face. That’s what rallycross is all about. The acceleration was unbelievable and the running cost is about 60% cheaper than a petrol Supercar. I’m a petrol head, I’ve still got my Group B Ford RS200 but this is a way to embrace the future and the electric technology fascinates me, so it’s the best of both worlds!” said Harris.

18 February / The planned fifth event is confirmed for the Finnish Rallycross Championship. The Rallicross SM series will now include a round at Oulu Zone on 20 August. The previously announced four dates are not affected.

19 February / The FIA Off-Road Prize-Giving takes place as a virtual ceremony. Originally planned to be hosted by the Czech ASN in Prague, COVID restrictions eventually forced the event to be carried out remotely and with filmed content. As well as the champions from the FIA’s rallycross and autocross championships being awarded, the best event in the FIA World Rallycross Championship was also recognised with World RX of Riga Latvia collecting the award again.

20 February / World RX Champion Johan Kristoffersson and new teammate Michaela Ahlin Kottulinsky win the opening Extreme E event of the year. After a red flag caused when Tanner Foust crashed, the race was restarted over a single lap shootout, Kristoffersson taking the win with a bold move in the dying seconds of the race. Kevin Hansen crashed the JBXE entry and spent some time in hospital before being allowed home on the Wednesday after the race.

23 February / The British Rallycross Championship announces that Slaven Dedic will become its Race Director and that officials will also be assisted by the adoption of a new CCTV system provided by Chronomoto. Dedic is the World RX Race Director and Chronomoto’s system is based on that it supplies in World RX. Chronomoto will also once again become the championship timekeeper, a role it last fulfilled in 2019. The series also plans to adopt World RX-style fixed penalties.