RX Cartel has confirmed it is staying in the World Rallycross championship for 2020 in a new partnership with GC Kompetition.
Andreas Bakkerud and Liam Doran will again drive for the team in a pair of Renault Mégane R.S. cars.
“First off, I’m proud to sign my eighth season in a row in a Supercar – it’s pretty insane,” said Bakkerud, who missed out on the 2019 world title on a tiebreaker to Timmy Hansen. “I’m very pleased that I’ll be driving with GCK in 2020, continuing the Monster Energy RX Cartel story too.
“GCK has been a breath of fresh air in World RX since joining the sport, and I know the potential this car and this team have.
“I tested the GCK Mégane R.S. RX after Cape Town RX 2018 and have been in contact with GCK ever since, so it’s great to finally be able to work together. Plus, last time I drove a Renault I became European Champion, so why not bring the title home again this time?”
Earlier this week title-winning squad EKS announced that it was parting ways with the Monster Energy-supported outfit, having run the program during its inaugural campaign last year.
Following that announcement, RX Cartel moved to quash rumors of an exit from the category by announcing a tie-up with GCK. The move effectively means that GCK will continue to run five cars in World RX, with Guerlain Chicherit and Rokas Baciuška running Renault Clios for the team, while Anton Marklund has already been confirmed to be continuing in the team’s other Mégane R.S.
Doran is no stranger to the Mégane, having driven it in both World RX and Americas Rallycross in 2018, and he’s looking forward to being back behind the wheel of the familiar car.
“Teaming up with GCK will be great. I drove the Mégane RS RX in 2018 and we really got on, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back behind the wheel,” said Doran. “Last year I struggled to get to grips with the car (the Audi S1), so to get back in something I know will be great – and with all the developments made on the car since I last drove it, I have high expectations.
“We ended last year on what seemed like a bit of a low with Andreas missing out on the title, but all in all 2019 was a massive success for us and I’m sure we can carry that momentum into 2020 with GCK.”
