RX Cartel will take its unique brand of rallycross Stateside later this year to compete in Nitro Rallycross.
The Monster Energy-backed team, a fan favorite in World Rallycross for the last two years, will reunite with EKS JC to run a pair of Audi S1s in the series, marking a return to the partnership that challenged for the World crown in 2019 and ran at the British Rallycross season finale last year.
Liam Doran will remain with the squad for a third straight year, being joined by Robin Larsson who won the European title with JC in 2019 and raced in World RX with it last year.
“Where do I start? RX Cartel season three is going to be great,” said Doran who is no stranger to racing in US-based competitions, being a two-time X Games medallist and a veteran of 20 starts across X Games, Rally America rallycross, Global Rallycross, and Americas Rallycross.
“I’m stoked to be going back to racing in America. The tracks in NRX will 100% suit my style and I can’t wait to get on with it. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here and now I just want to get back in the car.”
RX Cartel is known for having fun away from the track; but make no mistake, the team is crossing the Atlantic with one thing on its mind: winning.
“You know what RX Cartel is about: we want to have some fun, we want to make people smile, but we’re about the results and the winning this year,” added Doran.
After a tough season campaigning the Prodrive-built Renault Mégane R.S. RX, Doran and the Cartel will be back behind the wheel of a familiar car this year, and he’s looking forward to taking care of some “unfinished business” in what he calls “a great race car”.
Doran said: “We started 2019 on the podium [at World RX of Abu Dhabi] and really enjoyed the rest of the season. But I feel there’s unfinished business in the Audi.
“Now’s the time to finish it.”
Doran’s team-mate Larsson is also no stranger to the Audi.
Let’s face it, Doran versus Larsson is always going to make for an awesome showLiam Doran
“Robin is a great addition to the Cartel,” Doran said.
“We’ve been good friends for a long time, even when we’ve been racing hard against one another on track. I’ll be honest, I’ve always wanted to bring Robin to the team, but it’s never worked out. Until now!
“I think we’ll be a strong team, we’ll work well together and our driving styles are similar, so we can help each other with the set-up when we need to. And, let’s face it, Doran versus Larsson is always going to make for an awesome show – I expect there will be a few reverse entries put down between us!”
Larsson added: “I am both excited and terrified.
“It’s going to be awesome teaming up with Liam in the Cartel. I think we both have the same goals and we will drive well together. Obviously I know the car and I feel comfortable with EKS JC.
“Nitro looks like tons of fun. Like Liam, I think the tracks will suit me and my attacking driving style. Going to America, hey it’s definitely going to be awesome.”
The news of EKS JC’s participation in NRX with RX Cartel comes after it confirmed three-time World RX champion Johan Kristoffersson and circuit racing convert Enzo Ide for its 2021 World RX program.
