The final round of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross championship takes place this weekend in Rosario, Argentina – with drivers and teams rounding-off a long international season on South American gravel.
And so the 2016 season draws to a close. With a champion already confirmed, as is customary at the last event of a long season – 2016 classification is still vital, but so is preparation for the 2017 championship. In this burgeoning championship, teams are continually planning for the future.
Former World Champion Petter Solberg dominating WorldRX of Argentina in 2014. © PSRX/ERC24
There is also the small matter of a last round round face-off for the 2016 teams’ championship, with both EKSRX and Team Peugeot-Hansen tight at the top. A 17-point lead separates EKSRX from Team Peugeot-Hansen, but with 56 points on offer at the Argentinian round – everything is to play for. The battle for third is also hotly contested. Volkswagen RX Sweden is currently third overall, embroiled in a battle with Hoonigan Racing Division for the position. With just 12 points between the two teams, Kristoffersson and Anton Marklund will aim to push hard this weekend to maintain the position.
Top teams face-off in the 2016 team’s championship. © JKR/ERC24
In the Drivers’ Championship, the fight for second and third place will take place in a three-way scrap – with Norwegians Petter Solberg and Andreas Bakkerud plus Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson classified over a stretch of 11 points. Johan Kristoffersson, who won the French round of the Championship at Loheac in a Volkswagen Polo RX, currently lies third in the standings. A final Scandinavian scrap is set to take place – and the Norwegian’s will look to spoil a Swedish 1-2.
2016 World Champion Mattias Ekstrom. © JKR/ERC24
Argentina will see DTM competitor Timo Scheider return to the series to make his third appearance of the season for the Muennich Motorsport team. Scheider will again feature in-place of Latvia’s Reinis Nitiss. Nitiss will make his third appearance of the year in an Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta.
JRM World RX have entered Nick Jones, who makes his World RX debut after having worked as an engineer for the team during this season.
Argentina RX Event Timetable – (3 hours behind GMT)
Friday 25 November
1500: Drivers’ draw for Q1 grid and pre-event press conference
Saturday 26 November
0900 World RX practice
1130 World RX Q1
1330 World RX Q2
Sunday 27 November
0945 World RX warm-up
1100 World RX Q3
1230 World RX Q4
1500 World RX semi-finals and final
1600 Podium
San Luis hosting its first ever Rallycross event in Argentina in 2014. © OMSE/QBA/ERC24