Rallycross’ famed ‘Magic Weekend’ at Höljes, under threat from the ongoing coronavirus situation, has been saved for 2020.
The event, normally associated with the Swedish round of the World Rallycross Championship, will take place between July 2-5 and host the opening two rounds of the delayed RallyX Nordic series for all four classes – Supercar, Supercar Lites, CrossCar and CrossCar Junior – as well as a new ‘All-Star’ element.
While it will be closed to fans, it will be live streamed online using a pay-per-view model courtesy of broadcasting firm NEP, with proceeds going to help the Höljes facility and the organizing club Finnskoga MK.
“We are thrilled to officially announce the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend at Höljes, and the belated start to the 2020 rallycross season,” said Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of RallyX Nordic promoter RX Promotion.
Photo: RallyX Nordic
“We are thrilled to officially announce the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend at Höljes, and the belated start to the 2020 rallycross season,” said Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of RallyX Nordic promoter RX Promotion.
“A tremendous amount of planning and hard work has gone into putting this event together from all sides – particularly when faced with the challenge of continuously shifting goalposts in light of the current situation.
“Nobody knows when we will be able to invite spectators to the track again, and with the short-term future of motorsport almost certainly being behind ‘closed doors’, we wanted to offer fans something truly innovative, while doing our bit to safeguard one of the most iconic circuits in rallycross.
“NEP are renowned for their pioneering approach to broadcasting and have a long and successful history of showcasing our sport to millions of households all around the world. We are well aware that fans are crying out for live racing action, and that is what the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend will offer – pure, unadulterated entertainment complemented by premium ‘access-all-areas’ features courtesy of a live on-site studio.
“It is an unprecedented solution for what are unprecedented times, and we believe it offers excellent value for money while enabling fans to support Höljes and ensure the circuit’s future is every bit as glorious as its past – if not indeed more so. We are convinced that the best is yet to come – and it starts now!”
Photo: RallyX Nordic
The 2020 RallyX Nordic season, which was set to take in rounds in both Norway and Sweden had, like many top-level motorsport championships, been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement of its resumption comes after the successful running of a ‘test event’ at Holjes yesterday.
Its opening round will take place on Thursday July 2, with round two following on July 4-5, with the Friday between set aside for media and fan activities. The All-Star element, described as “featuring some of the leading legends of the sport past, present and future in the headlining Supercar and Supercar Lites categories” will also take place on July 4-5, with more details set to follow.
RallyX Nordic is the second major rallycross series to commit to a return amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, with World Rallycross recently announcing a reworked nine-race schedule – although that has already been affected with the cancellation of the French round in September.
