Further details of World Rallycross’s all-electric second-tier championship have been revealed by its promoter RX Promotion.
The new eRX2 series – a joint venture between Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies, leading rallycross outfit Olsbergs MSE, and the promoter – will replace the current RX2 series on the World RX support bill from next year.
Olsbergs, which builds the cars used in the single-make RX2 series, is once again developing the vehicles for the new series, in conjunction with QEV, and they will be similar to the Lites cars they’re effectively superseding.
A prototype of the car, based on a Lites car, was unveiled at RallyX Nordic’s ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend at Höljes earlier this month and has since been tested on-track in Spain.
“This is a tremendously exciting time for electric motorsport, and here at QEV, we all firmly believe that the FIA eRX2 Championship can play a major role in helping to shape the future of rallycross’ electric landscape,” said Joan Orús, COO, QEV Technologies.
“Since winning the tender back in October, our team has worked tirelessly to develop the new eRX2 car.
“With short, sharp races, rallycross is the ideal discipline for electric cars, and we are confident eRX2 will generate more dynamic and spectacular action than has ever been seen before.
“Not only will the degree of torque available make the car considerably quicker than the current RX2 model, but it will also be more challenging to drive, especially on the limit, which will be a key factor in helping to prepare competitors for the subsequent step-up to Supercar level.
“One of the aspects I like most about the eRX2 car is all of the additional areas in which the driver can make a real difference, from the distribution of the torque to brake bias, which simply isn’t possible with an internal combustion engine vehicle,” Orús added.
“Being able to manually balance the car and its performance mid-race, while travelling side-by-side at speeds of up to 150km/h (93mph) will truly showcase a driver’s skillset and technical understanding.”
While eRX2 will be QEV’s first rallycross foray, it is no stranger to motorsport, having run Nelson Piquet Jr. and the Team China squad to the inaugural Formula E title back in 2014-15. And in working with multiple-championship winning outfit Olsbergs MSE, it has the perfect development partner.
“We are delighted to be working with QEV Technologies to develop the new eRX2 Championship and car,” said Olsbergs MSE CEO Andreas Eriksson.
“QEV’s experience and expertise in the electro-mobility domain speaks for itself, with sustained success both on and off-track – they are truly a pioneer in the sphere.
“It is that same pioneering spirit that earned them the tender for the FIA eRX2 Championship, and their eagerness to innovate and push back boundaries truly resonates with all of us here at OMSE.
“They have been very open in acknowledging that this will be their first foray into rallycross, but they have shone in every other motorsport discipline they have entered and are learning fast. They are an excellent partner in every respect.
“There is no question that the future of motorsport is going to be electric, and as far as I am concerned, there is no question that QEV are going to set the pace in rallycross’ bright new era.”
eRX2 will provide a vital step in the rallycross ladder as the discipline converts to electric power over the coming years.
Plans are already in-place to shift to battery power in the top Supercar class in the World Championship, while the new-for-2020 Projekt E series will serve as a precursor to top-level electric racing cars producing with supercar-like performance.
“We understand how important it is for drivers progressing to international competition to race at World Championship events,” said Paul Bellamy, senior vice president for motorsports events at IMG, the World RX promoter. “It’s exciting that the next generation of drivers will be able to drive bespoke electric race cars and be at the forefront of the electrification of rallycross.”
