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Press conference at World RX Barcelona.
NEWS

World RX 2017 set for battle in Barcelona

Mar 312017

Strap in and hold on. After a long winter the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy is buzzing on launch control, and ready to shred the first round of the season.

And what a season it’s set to be. Now celebrating its fourth year as a world championship; with one of the best lineups of drivers, teams, and race machinery, World RX 2017 is set to be a record breaker in more ways than one.

18 Supercar class racers loaded with a combined 10800bhp will compete for the coveted drivers and teams FIA World titles throughout an awesome 12-round calendar. Mixing up the competition, and repping the M-Claw, will be Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson, racing for PSRX VW Motorsport Team Sweden, and Hoonigan Racing’s Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud.

Press conference at World RX Barcelona.
The season starts on the sun-scorched asphalt of the legendary Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya normally home to F1 and MotoGP. After that, all roads lead to South Africa, with stops in Portugal, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Belgium, Norway, Latvia and the UK.

The Monster Energy Super Charge is turning up the tension too; with a new look award, and a new target all about reaction time. No longer is it the hole-shot into the first corner that wins the prize, instead drivers will have to have the fastest reaction time off the lights to snag the award.

Don’t just take our word for it though, check out what Petter, Johan, Ken and Andreas had to say ahead of the weekend’s action:
Press conference at World RX Barcelona.
Petter Solberg:

“The partnership with VW a dream come true, but I’m trying to stay focused on the goals for the season. We’ve got a very good plan and structure in place and I’m feeling very positive about the racing ahead. We have to be realistic though; we started the [VW] programme very late in December, and got as much testing done as possible. The competition is going to be tough, but we will be pushing flat out. We have a lot of plans in terms of development too, and have a lot of good people behind us. So much has gone into this season so far and we haven’t even started the first race! There is a lot to look forward to this season for sure!”

 

 

Johan Kristoffersson:

 


“It’s a brand new car, and very different to what I drove last year – with no center-diff and a transverse engine - but I am very excited to get going. I’ve had to change my driving style a little bit too – it’s more like a circuit racing car style, but that suits me well. Petter and I have been working well together so far on- and off- the track, and we both understand that if we want to achieve the goals of a world championship (team and drivers) then we need to work together. It’s going to be a tough season for sure, but we are ready.”

 

 

Press conference at World RX Barcelona.
Ken Block:

“All the work we have done in the off season has made a big difference. Last year I struggled with the car all season, and now I have a car that drives a lot more like the Fiesta did – and I’m a lot more comfortable in it. I can throw it in like a rally car and the feedback it gives me has boosted my confidence. We had so little testing last year – and all of the development was done in public at the actual races. I’m really starting to feel like I’m getting the most out of it and looking forward to the new season.”

 

 

Andreas Bakkerud:

 


“New cars, new shirt, new season; it’s going to be great. The level is just insane this year. All the teams are developing, but as we keep saying – testing is testing and racing is racing, so you aren’t going know the full story until everyone hits the first race in Q1. I can’t wait to get out there to be honest. We’ve worked with the car over the winter and developed what we can, and I think we are in pretty good shape. I don’t want to give anything away at this stage, but I’m certainly happy! Bring it on!”

 

Press conference at World RX Barcelona.

Make sure to tune in on Sunday for the livestream here at monsterenergy.com/rxlive

 

 

THIS ARTICLE FEATURES:

KEN BLOCK DEBUTS GYMKHANA EIGHT – THE ULTIMATE EXOTIC PLAYGROUND: DUBAI Ken Block

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Images from Round 7 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, in Trois Rivieres Canada Petter Solberg

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