This weekend begins a new season of the World Rallycross Championship or World RX as it is known. Since last year this competition migrated to electromobility, with 100% electric cars and very high performance. This year there will be more power and more emotion, throughout a calendar of 10 dates spread over three continents (Africa, Asia, Europe), with a mix of familiar locations with completely new ones.
Here we give you a summary with everything you need to know about this competition.
Where and when do you run?
This 2023 season begins this weekend with the double round of Portugal at the Montalegre International Circuit. It will all end in November in Hong Kong. The schedule looks like this:
| Round | Place | Date |
| 1 | World RX of Portugal (Montalegre) | 3/6 – 4/6 |
| 2 | World RX of Norway (Hell) | 6/17 – 6/18 |
| 3 | World RX of Sweden (Höljes) | 1/7 – 2/7 |
| 4 | UK World RX (Lydden Hill) | 7/22 – 7/23 |
| 5 | Benelux World RX (Mettet) | 5/8 – 6/8 |
| 6 | World RX of Germany (Estering) | 8/19 – 8/20 |
| 7 | World RX of South Africa (Cape Town, double date) | 7/10 – 8/10 |
| 8 | World RX of South Africa (Cape Town, double date) | |
| 9 | World RX of China (Hong Kong, double date) | 11/11 – 11/12 |
| 10 | World RX of China (Hong Kong, double date) |
Each date includes practice sessions, a SuperPole session, four race sessions, two heats and a final. Points are awarded based on the performance of each driver over the weekend.
The cars
Participating models feature the same electric powertrain:
- Two electric motors that add 500 kW (680 Hp) and 880 Nm of maximum torque
- They can reach 100 km/h in just 1.8 seconds.
- 52 kWh battery pack, with liquid cooling and weighing close to 330 kilos
The figures
klara andersson
- The legend: Sebastien Loeb returns to Rallycross after participating between 2016 and 2018. He won two races and achieved 15 podium finishes, although his most important achievements are well known: nine-time WRC champion, three-time Dakar finalist, four-time winner times in the Race of Champions and also has a podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As if that weren’t enough, he was the Extreme E champion. He will also race with a car at his level, a spectacular Lancia Delta Evo-e RX from the Special ONE Racing team, owned by another great star, Guerlain Chicherit.
- The King of Rallycross: Swedish Johan Kristoffersson has won the World RX five times (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022) and will defend his title aboard his Volkswagen Polo RX1e.
- He who subdued the King: The only one capable of interrupting Kristoffersson’s championship run is Timmy Hansen, who was Loeb’s teammate and took the 2019 championship. Hansen competes alongside his brother Kevin in two Peugeot 208 RX1e.
- The Rising Star: Klara Andersson has made news in recent years for her outstanding performances with the Extreme E Cupra team, although her resume is forged in the world of rallycross. This is her second season in the world championship, so she knows very well how these electric cars work, especially the PWR RX1e with which she will race. She will be joined in her team by Niclas Grönholm, son of the brilliant Marcus Grönholm and who already has seven World RX victories.
