- Reigning champion to return to RallyX Nordic action at Höljes next month
- Swede to pilot KYB Team JC Audi S1 Supercar at ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend
- Livestream subscriptions now open here, offering Early Bird discounts
Reigning RallyX Nordic presented by Cooper Tires and FIA European Rallycross Champion Robin Larsson is the latest big name to commit to next month’s ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend at Höljes in Sweden (2-5 July) – and the Swede has promised an ‘elbows-out’ approach.
Larsson won the RallyX Nordic Supercar class title in dramatic fashion in last season’s finale at Tierp Arena, after chief rival Oliver Eriksson crashed out with suspension failure on the very last lap. His success came just three weeks on from similarly clinching the crown in Euro RX at Lohéac in France, and this year, the Swede is set to rejoin the World Championship ranks in an Audi S1 under the KYB Team JC banner.
His addition to the JC Raceteknik line-up for the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend takes the team’s entry to seven, as Larsson joins Ben-Philip Gundersen, Mats Öhman and Enzo Ide in the squad’s Supercar fold, with Jimmie Walfridson contesting the Supercar Lites category and Juniorteam duo Isak Reiersen and Alex Gustafsson competing in the CrossCar/Crosskart and new CrossCar Junior class respectively.
“It’s so good to be going racing again, and it will be straight to full speed right away,” Larsson acknowledged. “We’re all probably a little rusty. Me and the team will do a small start test, but other than that, it will be straight into competition with the new car. We see it as a good test before the World Championship starts.
“As usual, I go there to win, but at the same time it will be difficult to predict. There will be many good drivers and tough competition – for example, Johan [Kristoffersson] is not there with the goal of finishing second. When it’s time, the elbows usually come out…”
“It’s great that Robin joins us for Höljes,” added JC Raceteknik and KYB Team JC Team Principal, Joel Christoffersson. “The whole team is ready to get going again and start the season, so the event at Höljes will be a perfect opportunity to warm up for the forthcoming World Championship. Of course, it’s also important to be able to give all of our sponsors and rallycross fans some good news, too.
“Robin hasn’t tested the new car yet, so we will use the first day a little more like a test. At the same time, we know that he loves Höljes, and of course we all want to fight for the podium like always.
“We go to Höljes with seven drivers in four classes. This is the first time JC Raceteknik will have four Supercars on the start-line, and it will be a cool line-up. We expect it to be a very tough field, but we will push for the podium in every class.
“I think I speak for drivers, teams and all fans when I say we’ve really missed rallycross. It’s been a long break and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone again. Although the fans can’t be with us at the track, we hope for good support from their sofas at home and that many people tune in to watch the broadcast online.”
The joint brainchild of RallyX Nordic promoter RX Promotion and Höljes’ organising club Finnskoga MK, and supported by the Swedish arm of international broadcasting heavyweight NEP, the eagerly-anticipated ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend will be the first major motorsport event of the year in Europe and will follow a purely digital, pay-per-view livestreaming model to adhere to current COVID-19 restrictions.
The commitment is to bring more rallycross action, highlights and ‘insider’ content than ever before to fans all around the world, with a global English-language feed, a presenting team composed of Andrew Coley, Hal Ridge, Neil Cole and Molly Pettit and no geo-blocking.
Prominent Swedish streaming platform StayLive will host the event, with early bird subscription deals available here until midnight on Thursday, 25 June for just 199 SEK (c. €19,99). After this date, the package price increases slightly to 249 SEK (c. €24,99). Subscribers will also gain complimentary access to all 2019 RallyX Nordic races as a bonus.
Part of the proceeds of this crowdfunding initiative will go towards supporting Höljes to ensure many more Magic Weekends are possible in the future. Should they wish, fans can make additional donations here.
The final entry lists for all five classes at the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend – Legends, Supercar, Supercar Lites, CrossCar/Crosskart and CrossCar Junior – will be published after the closing date of 18 June.
