Lydden Hill will return to the World Rallycross schedule for the first time since 2017 as the series expands for 2023.
The British track, which hosted the very first rallycross event in 1967, was ditched from the World RX schedule in favor of Silverstone under the previous promoter, IMG’s, stewardship, with Lydden’s only international events since then being TitansRX in 2019 and Nitro Rallycros earlier this year.
As well as returning to Lydden Hill, World RX will also expand outside of Europe for the first time since WRC Promoter took over the running of the championship in 2021, with rounds in South Africa and Asia also planned.
Events outside of the series’ home continent have been absent since the onset of COVID-19, with the last non-European race taking place in South Africa at the end of 2019.
World RX 2023 will begin on May 20-21 in Hell, Norway once again, before heading to Höljes in Sweden on the first weekend of July. Lydden Hill follows on July 22-23, before the championship heads to another returning venue, Mettet in Belgium, which takes the place of Spa-Francorchamps on the first weekend of August.
Montalegre in Portugal is next, before the Estering in Germany – another popular traditional venue returning and deposing a Grand Prix venue in the form of the Nürburgring which has been axed after two years on the tour.
The European stint over, World RX then heads back to the Killarney International Raceway in South Africa for a double-header event on October 21-22 before another double-header to round out the season at an as-yet-unnamed location in Asia at the end of November.
The rounds at Lydden Hill, Mettet and Estering remain subject to both promoter agreement and track homologation, while the South Africa and Asia events also remain subject to track homologation.
“We are pleased to present the 2023 World RX calendar, which we believe represents the very best of rallycross and which has been the subject of a huge effort behind the scenes in recent months,” said Arne Dirks, executive director of Rallycross Promoter.
“It clearly looks slightly different to recent seasons, and we are delighted to finally be ‘spreading our wings’ and venturing outside of Europe again.
“Ever since taking over as promoter of this great championship, we have been committed to returning to Cape Town to showcase World RX in front of the enthusiastic South African fans, and we are hugely excited to be adding a new event in Asia to the lineup, which truly underscores the series’ world championship credentials.
“At the same time, the re-introduction of three charismatic European venues in Lydden Hill, Mettet and Estering reflects our desire to celebrate rallycross’ rich heritage and traditions while embracing the sport’s electric future.
“Similarly, the large crowds seen at Hell, Höljes, Montalegre and Nyirád [which hosted European Rallycross in 2022 and will host the category’s season opener again next year] this year are testament to those circuits’ enduring appeal. We can’t wait to go racing!”
2023 World RX calendar
Norway, Hell – June 17-18
Sweden, Höljes – July 1-2
Great Britain, Lydden Hill – July 22-23
Belgium, Mettet – August 5-6
Portugal, Montalegre – August 26-27
Germany, Estering – September 9-10
South Africa, Cape Town – October 21-22
Asia, TBA – November 25-26
