First introduced in the United States during the 2013 season, the Supercar Lites category has since established itself as one of the most effective talent-shaping series in Rallycross.
Built over the years with the involvement of renowned teams such as JC Raceteknik, SET Promotion, Team Fären and Olsbergs MSE, Supercar Lites quickly became a reference point on the international scene.
In 2026, the category will return to its former glory within the RallyX Championship through the launch of the RallyX Academy.
Following suggestions from several teams closely associated with the history and success of Supercar Lites, RallyX has decided to explore the creation of a dedicated Supercar Lites Academy for next season.
The goal is to bring together all the ingredients that once made the category a global success, while strengthening collaboration between drivers, teams and the championship.
Much like the 2014–2019 era under the FIA World Rallycross Championship, when Supercar Lites played a central role in driver development alongside well-established rallycross structures, the Academy will aim to develop the next generation of young talent through a program built on several key pillars.
In addition to traditional driver coaching, future members of the Supercar Lites Academy will benefit from media-training workshops to strengthen their communication skills, as well as mentorship from established RallyX personalities and experienced teams who will guide them through each stage of their progression.
The ultimate ambition of the program is to help RallyX Academy drivers build their careers by providing every tool necessary to reach the highest level. To achieve this, RallyX will offer a wide range of options, from full arrive-and-drive packages to tailored support for drivers and teams who prefer to run their own cars and manage their operations independently — a model long embraced by Supercar Lites teams past and present.
A new award for 2026: an FC2 race seat for the Supercar Lites Academy champion
In line with its mission to rebuild a strong development ladder, RallyX confirms that the 2026 winner of the Supercar Lites Academy will be awarded a fully supported race entry in an FC2 car.
This initiative is designed to give the champion an immediate and concrete step towards the next stage of their career.
“We want to reconnect with what originally made Supercar Lites so successful by encouraging young drivers to join us while giving the champion a clear opportunity to take the next step in their career. In the past, drivers such as Kevin Hansen or Cyril Raymond benefited from this type of reward and were able to perform immediately in their very first race at the higher level. This is exactly the philosophy we want to bring back,” says Kevin Eriksson, Team Manager at Olsbergs MSE and member of the group behind the RallyX series.
This return to a clear and visible graduation path reconnects with the heritage that once made Supercar Lites, together with its long-standing teams one of the most respected training platforms in rallycross.
A philosophy deeply rooted in RallyX history
“Since the very beginning, Supercar Lites has always been much more than just a category,” recalls Andreas Eriksson.
“For many drivers, it became a true family and a platform where our youngest and most promising talents could turn their dreams into reality while learning how to shape their careers at the highest level. Together with committed teams who believed in the concept from the start, we were able to create something unique.”
“Over the past few months, we have put a tremendous amount of energy into the FC2 project to give our drivers another stepping stone while keeping budgets as reasonable as possible, because rallycross urgently needed to keep moving forward. But one thing has never changed: the importance of getting young drivers into four-wheel-drive machinery as early as possible.”
“In every top-level off-road discipline, 4WD cars sit at the top of the pyramid — they are what every driver ultimately aims for. Supercar Lites remains the most affordable pathway in the market to enter 4WD at a young age, and that early experience is crucial. It allows drivers to learn how to handle the very type of cars they hope to build a career with in the future.”
“For us, and after many discussions with our partner teams over recent months — including long-standing Supercar Lites stakeholders such as JC Raceteknik, SET Promotion, Team Fären and Olsbergs MSE — bringing back a RallyX Academy became an obvious decision. It truly feels like returning to our roots, giving the next generation every tool they need to progress and believe in their potential. This is a matter of passing the torch, and one of the most important projects we could revive for the RallyX Championship. Rallycross needs champions, but the sport first needs an environment where they can emerge. And that’s exactly what we will continue to build through this program.”
More details about the RallyX Academy will be released in the coming weeks.