Migration between disciplines isn’t exactly new in motorsport, but rallycross seems to bunch up the most ones, as the rallycross specialists are joined by rally aces, drifters and circuit racers ranging from open wheelers to sportscar racing, and Belgian driver Enzo Ide is one of those to make the transition, crowning it with a return to FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Ide is set to align an Audi S1 EKS RX from JC Raceteknik, which is the machine he is driving since his change from GT3 racing to rallycross, and is the one that he used in his sole World RX start at Spa-Francorchamps. This one will count as the third machine for the Swedish team, as Robin Larsson is still expected to have the company of an unconfirmed driver in the second full time Audi, and Janis Baumanis is likely to be in the seat as it will be his home round.
Ide left the GT3 scene with the 2016 Blancpain GT Sprint Cup title, counting with Christopher Mies and Robin Frijns to secure it, and interestingly, a number of Audi drivers on asphalt had their rallycross debuts since EKS entered the World RX, like Mattias Ekström himself and other drivers of the WRT roster, like Edward Sandström, Markus Winkelhock and Nico Müller, though only Ekström in fact pursued a long time stay in rallycross.
In terms of track records, Ide still has a long way to go since his debut with JC Raceteknik at the Spa RX ended with an 18th place, though further progress was halted by a period spent in coma due to an accident at home, but the good news is that the team had recent triumphs at Bikernieki, and the experience from Robin Larsson will be an ally to help Ide get to grips as quickly as possible.
The Riga RX will be the last double header of the 2020 World RX season, to be held on 19th and 20th September.
PHOTOS: JC Raceteknik
Comments
Post a Comment
Do you have an opinion? Feel free to comment.