The wait is almost over for all World Rallycross fans as the championship heads into Lydden Hill for two days of fast and furious action this bank holiday weekend.
The Motorsport News World RX of Great Britain is the only time the globetrotting World RX stars and cars bring their dramatic, high-octane show to the UK.
No fewer than 30 of the latest generation RX Supercars will be battling for outright victory in round four of this year’s pulsating FIA World Rallycross Championship. Lydden is the sport’s spiritual home and thus the one event on the calendar that everyone wants to win.
“It’s always been a very special place,” agreed last year’s victor Andreas Bakkerud. “I grew up watching my big idols racing at Lydden Hill – it was a great track then and it is now. When it’s such a famous place, you really want to deliver.”
To win again, though, the Norwegian will first have to overcome a star-studded field featuring all the regular World RX top guns, plus a number of local ‘wild cards’ all keen to perform some heroics on the international stage.
The former includes defending World RX champion Petter Solberg, DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom, Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson who won the opening round in Portugal and fan favourite Liam Doran.
The ‘wild cards’ are topped by BTCC ace Andrew Jordan who caused a considerable stir as he finished an incredible third at Lydden 12 months ago. He is joined by debutant Guy Wilks, a double British Rally Champion, plus Julian Godfrey and Andy Scott – both already winners in the 2015 British Rally Championship.
It all adds up to two epic days of high octane entertainment as packs of high-tech turbocharged, 600bhp, four-wheel-drive Supercars – all capable of accelerating to 60mph even faster than an F1 car – race against each other for top honours in a number of short, sharp action-packed heats with the most successful drivers progressing through to the semi-finals and ultimately the grand final.
As if that isn’t enough to wow spectators, there’s a full support programme featuring RX Lites and Touring Cars as well as tyre-shredding demonstrations by premier league drifters and special displays, races and parades from some of the most iconic rallycross machines from past eras.
“With the advent of a proper World Championship, the popularity of rallycross is soaring,” said circuit owner Pat Doran. “Last year’s first ever World RX of Great Britain attracted a record crowd to Lydden, and ticket sales suggest this month’s event is going to be an even bigger success. We are certainly gearing up for lots of fantastic racing and another huge crowd.”