Ten Reasons you need to check out World RX in 2018

The gloves are set to come off as defending driver and team world champions (Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden) fight to defend their titles against the competition. In fact Johan won’t have to look any further than his own pit garage for his biggest rival. World Rally legend and former double World RX Champion Petter Solberg will be snapping at his heels at every turn in the fight for the championship spoils. All that is without arch rivals Loeb, Ekström, Hansen, and Bakkerud throwing spanners in the works.

Incase the lure of a year long fire-spitting turbo-charged showdown of champions wasn’t enough to grab your interest, we’ve pulled together the top 10 reasons to check out World RX this year…

SPEED:

Capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds, and then on to well over three figures; your drivers licence definitely isn’t safe anywhere near the cockpit of a World RX Supercar. Despite being originally based on every-day road going machinery, once the engineers have worked their magic, the Supercar class boasts some of the fastest and most intimidating machinery in motorsport.

POWER:

Take a regular family hatchback, tune the engine to within an inch of its life; bolt on a turbo and enough computing power to launch the space shuttle; and then you are getting close. A World RX Supercar pushes out roughly 600bhp and 900nm of torque. That’s well over six times the average power of its road going equivalent. Not bad for a 2-litre, right?

CHAMPIONS:

Double champions to be precise; and repping the claw. Last season our own Johan Kristoffersson, Petter Solberg, and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden did the unthinkable, and locked down both championship titles in their maiden season together as a team. With eight victories, 12 podiums to their names in 2017 records were made; and are ready to be smashed this year.

NOISE:

There’s no fancy acoustic exhaust trickery needed here. Anti lag, launch control, and raw horsepower redlines are all available in full uncensored glory. Volume is turned up to 11 at World RX, so maybe bring some ear protection. Don’t say we didn’t warn you...

GIRLS:

Unlike some of the other championships we kept our grid girls; and they rock. The awesome Monster Energy girls keep the order on the grid, help light up the paddock, and raise a riot on the Monster Energy stage in the paddock. Speaking of which…

RIG RIOTS:

When our athletes aren’t working with their team engineers in between races they will be at the Monster Energy rig riots stage show. A blast of music, smoke, free merch plus a chance to see the drivers away from their cars. Make sure you definitely check this out in between the action.

FLAMES AND AIR:

Not that the rallycross has ever lacked visual drama, but there’s nothing quite like a race car catching air and spitting flames while the drivers bang through the gears and push their machinery to the limit. Lucky for you Supercars specialize in all of this, and our trackside photographers are always on hand to capture the action. Make sure you check back with us on MonsterEnergy.com to see it all after the dust has settled.

RUBBING IS RACING:

In a race that lasts no more than four minutes, there isn’t any time to mess around. Drivers go for the gaps and get the moves done. With carbon-fibre bodywork, finely tuned aero parts, and a place in the finals at risk though, the stakes are high. Going out and wrecking the opposition isn’t allowed either, but there’s definitely no room for politeness on track.

COVERAGE:

If you really can’t make it out to one of the 12 events this season, then don’t sweat it. The championship boasts a comprehensive programme which beams the action out online and through the small screen. Check out http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/tv_listings# for TV coverage, and https://www.facebook.com/fiaworldrallycross/ for the latest online coverage.

BLINK AND YOU WILL MISS IT:

As a fan, you’ve got to stay sharp watching World RX. The competition is short sharp and intense. Qualifying races are four laps and the finals on Sunday are just six laps. There’s plenty to go around though, with 15 drivers and six permanent teams registered, an average weekend will see 19 Supercar races, and that’s without counting practice sessions and the action in the RX2 support class. As the saying goes, to the victor go the spoils.