Initial Euro RX1 list released

The policy of having only electric cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship brought changes to its own picture, but also to other rallycross championships that are still relying heavily on internal combustion, with the FIA Euro RX1 Championship being now the top of the ladder of the pops, bangs and anti-lag, becoming one of the preferred destinations in 2022, as demonstrated by the entry list released this Tuesday (28), referring to the season opener at Nyirád, Hungary.

11 full time entries were confirmed in this first list, representing nine teams, while the field is completed by other 11 entries, split between one-off entries and partial efforts, since a part of these are extra entries featured by full time teams. The list may vary a bit during the season, because some of the listed names may miss a round or more, other possible entries will get the spot.

As expected, neither the reigning champion Andreas Bakkerud nor the champion squad ESMotorsport will come back after their dream-like adventure in the championship last year, though Janis Baumanis, third in the 2021 standings, will change from the Ernestas Staponkus garage to join #Yellowsquad, the satellite operation of the Hansen family that was primarily focused on RX2 and Crosskart efforts until last year, aiming to develop talent for the future. It won’t be the first time that Baumanis will defend a Hansen development squad, as he competed in 2015 at the Lydden Hill RX and Istambul with a Peugeot 208 WRX.

Also, of all 2021 podium finishers, only Baumanis and Tamás Karái are rejoining for a full season, while René Münnich and Jean-Baptiste Dubourg will have race-by-race efforts. The full timers list also counts with other strong names like Atila Mozer, Ulrik Linnemann, Enzo Ide, Anton Marklund and Yuriy Belevskiy, which compensates for the loss of competitors to keep a high quality field.

Between the sporadic group, along with the mentioned Doubourg and Münnich, Ollie O’Donovan comes with a new machine, the Proton Iriz RX, while his son Patrick moves from RX2e to Supercar competition with a Ford Fiesta RX. Anders Michalak is another name that attracts attention, again onboard a tried and trusted Volkswagen Polo RX.

The Nyirád RX will open the Euro RX1 season on 22 May.

2022 EURO RX1 ENTRY LIST

AllInkl.com Münnich Motorsport

2x SEAT Ibiza RX - Mandie August (GER)* and René Münnich (GER)

Nyirád Motorsport KFT

2x Peugeot 208 WRX - Attila Mózer (HUN)* and Márk Mózer (HUN)

Kárai Motorsport Sportegyesület

Audi A1 RX - Zoltán Koncseg (HUN) / Audi S1 RX - Tamás Kárai (HUN)*

Oponeo

2x Ford Fiesta ST RX - Dariusz Topolewski (POL)* and Marcín Gagacki (POL)*

#YellowSquad

Peugeot 208 WRX - Janis Baumanis (LVA)*

KZTR Motorsport ACCR Czech Team

Volkswagen Polo RX - Ales Fucík (CZE)

Hedströms Motorsport

Volkswagen Polo RX - Anders Michalak (SWE)*

Speedbox Racing Team KFT

Peugeot 208 WRX - László Kiss (HUN)

Linnemann Promotion

Ford Fiesta ST RX - Ulrik Linnemann (DNK)*

GFS Motorsport Egyesület

Ford Fiesta ST RX - Luigi (HUN)*

EKS

Audi S1 EKS RX - Enzo Ide (BEL)*

SET Promotion

Hyundai i20 RX - Anton Marklund (SWE)*

Volland Racing KFT

Audi A1 RX - Yury Belevskiy (CHE)*

Independent entries:

Oliver O’Donovan (IRL) - Proton Iriz RX

Patrick O’Donovan (GBR) - Ford Fiesta ST RX

Sivert Svardal (NOR) - Volkswagen Polo RX

Hervé Knapick (FRA) - Citroën DS3 RX

Jean Baptiste Dubourg (FRA) - Peugeot 208 WRX

(*) Indicates full time Euro RX1 competitor

PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool