Record number of Supercar Entries set for World RX at Lydden Hill
The UK’s first ever round of the exciting new FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy has attracted a record entry with no fewer than 37 top class Supercars entered into the AUTOSPORT World RX of Great Britain (24-25 May). It will be the biggest line-up of flame-spitting Supercars ever seen at Lydden Hill.
For the first time ever the action-packed two-day meeting sees those contesting both the FIA World and European Rallycross Championships competing together for the honour of outright victory. The opening round of the 2014 World RX was staged in front of a sell-out crowd in Portugal earlier this month and the 2014 Euro RX blasts off at Lydden.
The massive number of Supercars on the provisional entry list is topped by Petter Solberg, the 2003 World Rally Champion who switched to the fast emerging sport of rallycross at the start of last year. The Norwegian superstar races a PSRX Citroen DS3 Supercar and leads the World RX standings after his sensational victory in Portugal but he faces stiff opposition from a large number of potential winners.
OlsbergsMSE Ford drivers Andreas Bakkerud and Reinis Nitiss will be looking to build on their podium finishes in Portugal while local hero Liam Doran has ground to make up after the Monster Energy World RX Team driver failed to score in the season-opener.
Two notable ‘wild cards’ are also adding spice to the racing at Lydden: Andrew Jordan and Tanner Foust. As the reigning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion, Jordan is returning to the sport in which he first cut his teeth as a promising young teenager. Foust is better known in America where he presents the US version of the Top Gear TV programme – he’s also a proven winner at Lydden having won the previous two Euro RX rounds at the venue.
The thrilling bill over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend also includes knock-out heats and finals for Super1600, TouringCar and RX Lites as well as special races for legendary Group B rallycross cars from the eighties and nineties.
“It’s an incredible entry – by far the best we’ve ever had at Lydden,” enthused circuit owner Pat Doran who will be competing himself among Group B legends. “The advent of a new world championship for rallycross was a huge step forwards but to have nearly 40 of these sensational Supercars all battling out for the top prize here has exceeded even our wildest expectations. It’s going to be an amazing event and one that no-one will want to miss.”
Indeed, Doran’s comments are supported by record advanced ticket sales for the AUTOSPORT World RX of Great Britain. Tickets are available via either the official www.lyddenhill.co.uk website or the Ticket Hotline on 0844 858 8518 (calls cost 6p per minute plus network extras). Discounts of up to 20 per cent are on offer for those booking in advance. Accompanied children aged 12 and under are admitted free.
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Editors Notes
About Lydden Hill: Known as the 'friendly track', Lydden Hill was founded in 1955. Situated in Kent between Canterbury and Dover, Lydden Hill is the UK's shortest circuit. The venue regularly hosts track days, race meetings and other events but is renowned as the UK home of rallycross. In 2013 the circuit staged the UK's only round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship and in May 2014 will be home to the British round of the newly created FIA World Rallycross Championship.
About the FIA World Rallycross Championship: The new FIA World Rallycross Championship debuts in 2014 with a 12-round calendar including events in Argentina, Turkey, Canada and Europe. Competitors race against each other over a mixed circuit of loose and asphalt surfaces driving high-tech turbocharged, 600bhp, four-wheel-drive Supercars capable of accelerating to 60mph even faster than an F1 car. Race meetings include a number of short, sharp action-packed heats with the most successful drivers progressing through to the finals. Television coverage is provided by British Eurosport. For more information: www.rallycrossrx.com.
Media accreditation
Media wishing to attend the AUTOSPORT World RX of Great Britain at Lydden Hill on 24-25 May should please email their requests to:
RXaccreditation@MPACreative.com. Applications close on Friday 16 May and should include either confirmation of coverage planned for 2014 or evidence of coverage from previous events at Lydden Hill. All photographers must provide proof of £5m public liability insurance with their application.
Contact
For further information please contact Jonathan Gill at MPA Creative, High Barn, Effingham, Surrey. KT24 5PR. Tel: 01372 414120 or 07860 563000. Email: jonathan.gill@mpacreative.com.