It was expected that the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship winner Mattias Ekström would return for another go in 2021, and he will do so, although not like most people expected.
His adventure will be at the Riga RX double header in Bikernieki, where he had a win last year, but instead of wheeling one of the Audi S1 EKS RX models he supports, he will be in a SEAT Ibiza Cupra RX from AllInkl.com Münnich Motorsport, his first drive in World RX with anything other than the Ingolstadt machines. If you count other competitions, it’s his second machine outside his Audis, as you can include appearances in Euro RX and GRC with a Marklund Motorsport Volskwagen Polo RX before Ekström set sights to mount his own operation.
The reason behind the comeback was simple, as an RX1 machine would keep the Swede race-ready for what lies ahead in his schedule, as competes in PureETCR and Extreme E, and given the fact that Ekström is a CUPRA factory driver, the invite from René Münnich isn't at all strange.
About the car, Ekström mentioned that the Lohéac win in Euro RX was particularly convincing, as René Münnich proved the Ibiza's worth by having competitive laps during the whole event that culminated in his triumph.
A curious fact related to Münnich's touring car activites is that Ekström is the fifth touring cars driver called to join the World RX, and the second from DTM after Timo Scheider, who will be Ekström’s team mate at Riga. At certain points of their careers, the trio called it a day of touring cars to focus on rallycross, but Ekström returned this year while Münnich's figure is only represented as a team owner.
On track, Ekström will face off his title rival in 2020, Johan Kristoffersson, with the triple World RX champion having been called to drive for EKS JC, but with both drivers having different cars, who knows how they will exchange blows in search for the best time and position.
The Riga RX double header will be held on 18-19 September.
PHOTO: FIA World Rallycross Championship
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