Amid all the uncertainty and dissatisfaction that circulates around the FIA World Rallycross Championship, the 2025 calendar is taking shape, with the visit to Portugal confirmed, although in a different venue as the destination will be Lousada.
The track that is located near Porto is no stranger to the international stage despite the 2025 being the first in the World RX history, as it used to be a regular in Euro RX from 1991 to 2008, and even after that some of the World RX competitors used Lousada as a test track to make shakedowns or to evaluate setups. Apart from this, the WRC held super stages there for the Rally de Portugal and the national championship is still a regular visitor to this day.
Curiously, some individuals in the current World RX teams were in action when the ERC last visited Lousada, like the Division 1A winner Jussi Pinomäki, who calls the shots at CEDT, and Division 1 runner-up finisher Kenneth Hansen, who currently runs the family team. While they can give tips to those who run the show on track today, René Münnich will be the only competitor in the grid who competed back in 2008, and although his SEAT Ibiza RX might be heavily different from his Škoda Fabia T16 4x4, he might be the driver who will feel the most comfortable with the track due to his mileage in competition and tests.
It is expected that the Circuito Automóvel de Lousada will undergo a major revamp to accommodate the World RX, which will be in 2026 as the reconstruction will feature track and infrastructure changes.
The Lousada RX is currently scheduled for 3 and 4 May, and is the only track confirmed for the next calendar while the Coventry round still awaits for confirmation.
PHOTO: Clube Automóvel de Lousada
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