Just a couple of weeks prior to the start of the 2013 Global RallyCross Championship and Global X Games series we find quotes of interesting read from drivers, team owners and business people about the American version of our motorsport.
American superstar and racing all-rounder Travis Pastrana in an interview on the 2012 GRC and the Texas Motor Speedway round on the questions “The Rally[Cross] series that came here last year, do you think that was positive overall amongst the series? Would they like to come back?”
Pastrana: “They definitely would like to come back. Our organization, not to throw anyone under the bus, but it was the first year for GRC (Global RallyCross Championship) and it was the most unorganized series ever, especially at the beginning of the season. Texas Motor Speedway did a great job. The jump that GRC promised would be there, wasn’t made. Eddie (Gossage) and these guys had to go bust their butt and build a jump the day of the event! I broke my car in half trying to jump what ended up being built. It was tough, but they really got their stuff together.”
“They switched the organization’s sanctioning body. With the cars that they have and the fans that are already here for NASCAR, with the jumping and turning and all the WRC guys that are coming into that series this year, and being in three X Games this year, this series is going to blow up. There’s no doubt. It’s difficult to know how good it could’ve been when you’re hoping for good racing and everyone’s just trying to make it around the track without breaking their stuff. It’s entertaining, but it’s not racing. So I really think this year is a make-or-break year and I think it’s going to make it and things are going to be good. And I hope to see it back here. I know the dates didn’t fall in place this year, but I hope to see it back here next year.”
Bryan Herta is a former racing driver and current team owner in the IZOD Indycar Series who owns the #98 Barracuda Networks car driven by Alex Taglaini. As far as getting back behind the wheel, Herta has not completely ruled it out, but he acknowledges what will go along with it. “I think about it every now and then but the team has taken up so much of my time and focus that I question whether I could really put enough time and focus to do it at the level I want to do it, but I don’t know. I haven’t retired. … There are some other things intriguing to me, I really like the Global RallyCross Series which is something completely different from anything that I have ever done. I toy with the idea from time to time but I haven’t done much about but we’ll have to see. Time will tell.”
Ford Europe’s vice president of marketing, sales and service Roelant de Waard on RallyCross: “There is scope for regional projects in the future, from NASCAR in the US through to the WRC in Europe, but the one that has the most interesting developments on a global scale is the X Games. It gives us the chance to demonstrate the Ford Fiesta ST in a whole different forum; most importantly Rallycross cars are spectacular and they are accessible. Holding the events in a stadium has massive appeal for the public there and for television.”
Connecticut based Briton Mark Williams and Patrick Moro from Ohio have partnered to pool resources and expertize to run a team with at least two Chevrolet Sonic RS (in Europe known as Chevrolet Aveo RS) SuperCars in the 2013 Global RallyCross Championship and Global X Games series. The second driver beside Moro will be announced at a later date. Williams: “Pat is in one seat and the other is TBA. We may even run a third car from X Games [Los Angeles] on. Pat is a very good driver – the Subaru’s didn’t do him justice and he will surprise a few in the right car.”
Photo: Travis Pastrana pictured during the 2012 GRC SEMA round at Las Vegas talking to his stand-in Bryce Menzies. © JKR/ERC24