BOOSTED RX2E FIELD HEADLINES WORLD RX OF BENELUX

An elite-level RX2e field will headline action in Mettet, Belgium this weekend for the penultimate round of the RX2e season with leading RX1e stars committing to compete in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s main support category.

Organisers of World RX of Benelux, scheduled to take place from 5 – 6 August, confirmed today (Monday) that while RX2e and Euro RX will run as scheduled in Mettet, RX1e cars will not compete as investigations into the cause of a fire at Lydden Hill, United Kingdom on 21 July continue.

It means there will be added competition in Mettet for RX2e championship frontrunners with World RX1e regulars Johan Kristofferson, Ole-Christian Veiby and Kevin and Timmy Hansen all confirming their RX2e entries for Benelux on Sunday.

Five-time World RX champion Kristoffersson currently tops the overall standings while his Kristoffersson Motorsport team-mate Veiby lies in fourth overall, squeezed between the Hansen brothers with Kevin in third and Timmy in fifth.

Hansen World RX Team boss Kenneth Hansen stressed the importance to race in Mettet, saying: “We are a race team and we like to race and give the fans the best possible show they can get. That is why we want to be there and to compete in RX2e.

“That is a big challenge. They are fast guys and girls there. It will be interesting, hopefully we can put on a good show together.”

His words were echoed by those of Volkswagen Dealerteam Bauhaus boss Tommy Kristoffersson: “The show must go on! We are very positive about this possibility and want to put on a great show in a very competitive and tight series.”

Waving the home flag among the expanded field is current joint RX2e leader Viktor Vranckx. He shares the top spot with Sweden’s Nils Andersson while another Swede, Isak Sjökvist, is one point behind.

World RX of Benelux organiser Freddy Tacheny insisted the show must go on despite the absence of the RX1e cars.

“We took the decision to maintain the event despite the absence of the RX1es, because we want to give the best support possible to our sport and in particular the rallycross category,” he said. “In collaboration with the FIA and the Promoter, we’ll do our utmost to put on a magnificent show.”

The focus of the racing will now be centred around Saturday and Sunday. Adults who have already purchased tickets for the weekend will be offered a 20 Euro voucher for catering or merchandise while children will be offered a 10 Euro voucher upon entering the Jules Tacheny Circuit.

An updated race schedule will be announced in due course.