The 2016 RX Lites Cup – a one-make feeder series to the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy – will consist of seven events plus a standalone event in Canada.

The seven rounds which make up this year’s calendar include Hockenheim, Belgium, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden,

Barcelona and Latvia (Hockenheim and Latvia are new additions to the RX Lites schedule in 2016). RX Lites are identical 310bhp, mid-engined, four-wheel drive cars designed by Olsbergs MSE and produced in Turkey in co-operation with Avitas Motorsport.

Featuring strictly controlled spec vehicles, the series is designed to provide an affordable platform to showcase the talent of emerging young drivers. The winner of the 2016 RX Lites season will be awarded with a Supercar drive at Estering, the penultimate round of the World Championship, which takes place in Germany from 14-16 October. The 2014 and 2015 RX Lites Champions Kevin Eriksson and Kevin Hansen both reached the Supercar final when taking their prize [Eriksson clinched third in ’14, and Hansen finished fifth last year]. Second and third place finishers will have a day test in an RX Supercar. The 2016 Champion will also be awarded with the Göran Henriksson Memorial Throphy, which is in memory of Henriksson: the founder of Olsbergs. Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural RX Talent Search which was held at Lydden Hill, RACB – the Belgian ASN – will introduce a similar initiative in the run-up to this year’s World RX of Belgium. The winner of the Belgian RX Talent Search will be awarded with a fully-funded Lites drive at Mettet (13-15 May).

Andreas Eriksson, Olsbergs MSE team owner, concluded: “We are delighted to introduce two new circuits to the RX Lites calendar for 2016 and we’re especially excited about visiting Hockenheim for the World RX/DTM double-header. It will be a new challenge to go to the Estering as we reward our 2016 winner with a Supercar drive at World RX of Germany. The Estering is a tricky circuit and will be an excellent test for our new Champion. The success from last year’s RX Talent Search in Great Britain has encouraged the Belgian ASN to work on a similar scheme ahead of Mettet. I’m looking forward to developing grassroots rallycross talent in another country as we witness steady growth in both RX Lites and the sport as a whole.”

Top Photo: RX Lites campaigners will contest 7 events plus a standalone event in Canada. © JKR/ERC24