RE: PH takes a Rallycross ride

RE: PH takes a Rallycross ride

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

PH takes a Rallycross ride

Rallycross is an official FIA World series for 2014. Best discover what it's all about then!



The FIA World Rallycross Championship is new for 2014. One of only a handful of official FIA 'World' series, it's for appropriately-named Rallycross Supercars: these are cars derived from regular road-going machines, but boast 2.0-litre turbo engines producing 600hp. With four-wheel drive, it means they can generally accelerate from 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds. On pretty much any surface. Up to 100mph, they're faster than an F1 car.

Just like the road car. With 560hp
Just like the road car. With 560hp
And on a Sunny April day at Lydden Hill, I found myself stood next to one, about to be taken out by the man one Rallycross sage said reminded him of Gilles Villeneuve, Andreas Bakkerud. Ordinarily, I'd be nervous as hell, knowing what I was about to experience was a cliché-laden life-changing experience beyond any other. But this is Rallycross. They don't have any time for such fancy nonsense. Someone chucked me a helmet, belted me in, I fist-pumped Andreas and a PIN-like sequence of button-presses fired the thing into life.

A faster Fiesta
Once upon a time, this was a Fiesta ST, something Ford is keen to capitalise on with enhanced support for a sport it has backed since it first began here at Lydden back in 1967 (you know, Vic Elford, Porsche 911 driving through mud - that's the one). Built by Sweden's crack Olsbergs MSE team, it has a glorious spec sheet combination of normality and brutality. It uses a 2.0-litre turbo Ford Duratec, for example - only this one produces 560hp and 619lb ft of torque. It has four-wheel drive and no less than three limited-slip differentials. Suspension that still has a bit of Fiesta blood in it but which now uses Ohlins TTX four-way adjustable dampers and Eibach custom springs.

This is Andreas. He drives very fast
This is Andreas. He drives very fast
It's the F1 car of Ford Fiestas, and a world away from a Demon Tweeks special.

When it comes from OMSE, it's beautifully engineered and detailed too. This gives me confidence. Andreas' confidence and command of his highly focused team adds to my confidence: this is a crack operation alright (BTCC champion Andrew Jordan cut his teeth in Rallycross and is back as a wild card entry in the Lydden round - who else to drive for but OMSE?). As I admired all this, we shot off, with the force you'd expect of something with this much power, making the loud, motorsport-tuned yet gruff noise you'd expect of a Ford-derived four-pot. Even the engine likes to keep it real.

'Did he really just do that?'
We were first onto tarmac, then onto the soft infield, then through a hugely aggressive chicane and back onto tarmac. All very cheery, I thought. Then, would you believe, Andreas actually did put his foot in: wham, holy lord. Not only that, he was pointed straight at the broken-up infield section, crater-like surface and all, rather than the track itself. The tarmac went left. We went straight on. Jesus. Genuinely frightened, how I braced myself for the impact and inevitable smash-crash. Every bone of my body said we should still be on the tarmac in a car this fast, exotic and focused: the next few seconds passed in the widescreen, ultra-vivid, pre-accident slow motion everyone who's been in a smash talks about.

"Three, two, one, go, right?"
"Three, two, one, go, right?"
So I can remember with complete clarity how the car didn't actually crash to earth but compressed into it with remarkable controlled compliance, how Andreas remained hard on the power, how we accelerated downhill to an impossibly tight hairpin with fine control - then braked with unbelievable force down to a slow enough speed to ballet-pitch it sideways before Senna-like stabs of the throttle to rotate us around the corner and then out of it with a stupendous blast thanks to traction even now I can't believe was generated. Squirming sideways with it... before we hit tarmac and everything straightened up again to focus this acceleration missile-like onto the apex of the corner now right upon us.

More braking, more sideways, more power-out, then a feeling of pure torque-laden drive up the steep Lydden Hill that was just glorious. Deep, monstrous and utterly commanding surge that made it seem as if the hill was simply not there. Or so I thought. Because going down it again was like jumping out an aircraft - THE most staggering feeling of free flight, as Andreas seemed to punch in two gears a second and, I was later told, we touched nearly 140mph.

Fiesta's speed astonishing on Tarmac...
Fiesta's speed astonishing on Tarmac...
In Rallycross, if you're doing nearly 140mph at the bottom of a hill with a choice of going straight ahead on tarmac or pitching it sideways onto chewed-up mud and gravel, it seems you take the option that involves a half-Scandinavian flick and again make your astounded passenger fully expect the car to simply explode with the forces instantly shot through it, then listen to them write an imaginary £300,000 cheque to buy one of these amazing cars that can do all this so repeatedly. Utterly, utterly incredible. And then, repeat: brilliant!

Follow the man
It will be to my eternal regret that we eventually had to stop but at least I had chance to shout a conversation with Andreas. Imagine a chatty Kimi mixed with wit, friendliness and cheeky charm, and you've got the Gilles Villeneuve of Rallycross. Everyone I spoke to couldn't speak highly enough of him: hopefully now it's on the world stage, Bakkerud will get the recognition he deserves. Seriously, a man this talented, with just 1,450 followers on Twitter? Let's put that right!

... even more so on gravel!
... even more so on gravel!
It surely won't be long. Already a sport massively popular with its fans, Rallycross this year aims to find many more. The made-for-TV sport is made-for-multimedia, and the guys-like-us star professionals it's got working in it are certain to put on short-sharp, quick-fire thrills throughout the year. Already heavily backed by Monster Energy, Andrew Jordan has brought with him Red Bull backing too - yes, he'll be driving the 'Red Bull of Rallycross' next month at Lydden.

The format is the same as it ever was: an event is made up of practice, four qualifying heats, two semi-finals and one final. A maximum of five cars start abreast in the heats, six starters begin two-by-two in the semis and six battle it out for the six-lap final. Points are vital but the winner of the final wins the event overall: it's eight points for a win and the maximum anyone can take from one of the 12 rounds is 30 points. Clear? If not, just watch a race. It soon will be.

Certainly it's got the names. Villeneuve junior, fittingly, is entering it, as is Petter Solberg, and Jordan, and local lad Liam Doran will likely show up a world champion or two with his understated brilliance. Then there's Bakkerud. Who made a near-600hp Ford Fiesta do beautiful, brilliant things.

It's motorsport, of course Red Bull is involved
It's motorsport, of course Red Bull is involved
Rallycross rules? It may soon...
To the outsider, WRC is imploding and we can barely watch it on TV anyway; its drivers are instructed not to talk to us and, utterly baffling as it is, the sport seems determined to throw away the gilt-edged opportunity of large manufacturer support plus big-name drivers like Kubica, Meeke and Ogier. Rallycross is the refreshing, professional, accessible, charming and cheeky alternative that's fixes WRC's promotional ills and, as I discovered, has cars that, to all intents, are 1980s Group B cars modernized and legalized. Rallycross embraces its fans and puts on a genuine show all day long. It's that sort of motorsport: for its fans.

It all starts in Portugal on May 3-4, before heading to Lydden Hill on May 24-25. Lydden is, right now, charging £40 for a full weekend ticket, or from £20 a day. Your new favourite FIA world championship to watch? We'd highly recommend going along to find out.








Author
Discussion

Lowtimer

Original Poster:

4,286 posts

167 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
I'd much rather watch Rallycross than WRC these days. Rallycross has always been a terrific spectator sport, the perfect thing to introduce a new TV-viewing generation to the joys of motorsport.

binnerboy

486 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
I used to watch rallycross on ITV sport on Sat afternoons, with the Group B refugee cars, Rs200s and 6r4s , it was brilliant to watch then.

seen some of the european stuff on telly recently also great to watch.

good to see it finally getting up there with the rest.

Greg_D

6,542 posts

245 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
I wonder what percentage of Fiesta DNA remains in that car, single digits i imagine...

Not that it matters, it is a fabulous spectacle that shows WRC up for what it is. Staid and boring!

pozi

1,723 posts

186 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
My first ever trip to Brandshatch as a kid was to watch Rallycross, I still remember the excitement of Will Gollop winning in his 6R4 and the turbos lighting the track as the RS200's braked for Druids on what was a cold December afternoon.

Now my son gets to experience international Rallycross at Lydden and we have been going for the past couple of years.


Wh00sher

1,587 posts

217 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
binnerboy said:
I used to watch rallycross on ITV sport on Sat afternoons, with the Group B refugee cars, Rs200s and 6r4s , it was brilliant to watch then.
Me too ! Brilliant wasn`t it.


How will we be able to watch these events on TV in the UK? Terrestrial or other ? I don`t recall seeing it in the article.

richardaucock

204 posts

162 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
Wh00sher said:
binnerboy said:
I used to watch rallycross on ITV sport on Sat afternoons, with the Group B refugee cars, Rs200s and 6r4s , it was brilliant to watch then.
Me too ! Brilliant wasn`t it.


How will we be able to watch these events on TV in the UK? Terrestrial or other ? I don`t recall seeing it in the article.
Eurosport have the deal here - for both World Rallycross and British Rallycross. It'll just be like a Saturday afternoon as a kid for me, watching/cheering Martin Schanche...

chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
I wonder what percentage of Fiesta DNA remains in that car, single digits i imagine...

Not that it matters, it is a fabulous spectacle that shows WRC up for what it is. Staid and boring!
More than you would think i recon! Not sure if the stock floor pan remains or is a shortened Cossy floor pan. They retain the monocoque chassis but with a substantial roll cage. Not sure what engine most in the EU are running. The YB was the weapon of choice some years ago but the Duratec might have taken over now.

So probably more than BTCC cars and similar to WRC i would guess. However they run with 500++bhp and similar torque on both tarmac and gravel in VERY close racing that's quick and 'easy' to watch. smile

Add the fact that there are loads of different classes out there and you get a very interesting racing format.

Chris.

jtopps

154 posts

153 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Oh my, this will be good to watch. I really hope this takes off and gets some mainstream TV coverage because British and European Rallycross is fantastic to watch. Even the American "Global Rallycross Series" (how they can call it global is beyond me) is still pretty entertaining even if the presentation is a bit "gnarly dude" for my liking. The cars are bat excrement fast and the racing is frantic and overtaking is regular. Perhaps the BBC should focus on getting a tv contract for this and snatch it from under Sky Sports nose?

coppice

8,564 posts

143 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
quotequote all
Rallycross has a curious history - it wanes in popularity to the point of near extinction and then gets reborn again.Back in the day , especially the mid /late 80s it was utterly brilliant. Insanely fast cars, lots of bonkers scandiwegian drivers and an extraordinary diversity of cars - few better than Will Gollop's turbo Metro 6R4. But then it fades to mediocrity and the last few years have seen fewer supercars and more dull stuff like Suzuki Swifts and Minis. I hope the new series takes off - but not just as some made for TV rubbish. Rallycross is a raw experience to watch live and as usual TV doesn't even begin to convey the sheer brute power of the cars .

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
quotequote all
I do love watching it mainly for the wildly different cars, MR2's, 306's, 6R4's, Xsara's, Clio's. Old, new, Mid engined, Front engined etc etc. Really good to watch.

Was even good watching Topgear piss about doing it.

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

215 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
quotequote all
coppice said:
I hope the new series takes off - but not just as some made for TV rubbish.
My irony gland just exploded...

aeropilot

34,301 posts

226 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
quotequote all
33 years since my first visit to Lydden Hill for the British round of the ERC, and I've only missed on of them since then that has been held at Lydden (1987)

So, yes I'll be there.


binnerboy

486 posts

149 months

Friday 9th May 2014
quotequote all
richardaucock said:
Wh00sher said:
binnerboy said:
I used to watch rallycross on ITV sport on Sat afternoons, with the Group B refugee cars, Rs200s and 6r4s , it was brilliant to watch then.
Me too ! Brilliant wasn`t it.


How will we be able to watch these events on TV in the UK? Terrestrial or other ? I don`t recall seeing it in the article.
Eurosport have the deal here - for both World Rallycross and British Rallycross. It'll just be like a Saturday afternoon as a kid for me, watching/cheering Martin Schanche...
if the eurosport schedule wasn't so unreliable on virgin I would series link it, back to being a kid again woohoo !

aeropilot

34,301 posts

226 months

Monday 26th May 2014
quotequote all
Well, that was amazing PH intuition given yesterdays results at Lydden Hill thumbup


Also, Andrew Jordan proved he's not lost any of his old rallycross skills as well despite the recent years spent in a lesser form of motorsport biggrin with that terrific 3rd place yesterday.


Shame about the non-appearance of former F1-WDC, Jacques Villenueve. Great though to see the speed and committed driving style of lovely Swedish female driver Ramona Karlsson in the Eklund Motorsport Saab. Great to see a fast and talented female driver in any top flight motorsport.
And Petter Solbergs rant at the marshalls after he missed counted and missed his joker lap was hillarious laugh

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Monday 26th May 2014
quotequote all
Great days racing.

I assume Solberg and Foust missed the last lap board being held out. Foust nearly side swipped him as he slowed down on the loop.

HDM

340 posts

190 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
quotequote all
I saw the US version of this last weekend in NY, and to see these cars launch off the start line is astounding, as is the rest of the race, real rubbin' racin'!

Red Bull had converted a car park at a local sport stadia into a proper track, curbs, armco, dirt jump and all:

http://www.redbullglobalrallycross.com/news/videos...

The other very cool aspect was the paddock was open to all, and most drivers, with the exception of the real 'names' were available to chat, as were the mechanics working on the cars. I spoke with Rhys Millen and Sarah Burgess, and Mark Higgins, Mr TT tankslapper was also present.