PREVIEW: 2023 FIA Ecu Rallycross Championship – Montalegre, Portugal

The 2023 FIA Ecu Rallycross Championship returns to any other rallycross monitor on 3/4 June. Montalegre, Portugal, performs host to the second one spherical of this thrilling championship, with a big portion of the sphere willing to grasp the highest spot of the rostrum.

A staple of the Ecu rallycross scene, and a typical fixture within the FIA Global Rallycross Championship as smartly, Montalegre is understood for its gorgeous perspectives and website hosting impressive racing. The lengthy get started end directly splits fees into the primary hairpin, the previous Joker phase. The Joker phase now follows on from this opening flip. Who can put out of your mind the impressive touch on the Joker merge between present championship chief Janis Baumanis and reigning champion Anton Marklund in 2022? With an excitingly close-fought struggle at Nyirád, Hungary, remaining day out, lets smartly see in a similar fashion impressive battles this time.

The outlet spherical was once an tournament that rejected odds. Baumanis battled to victory regardless of combating an sickness for many of the weekend; Marklund, having described his Ford Fiesta RX as one of the most worst he’d ever motive force, controlled to complete 2nd; and emerging megastar Patrick O’Donovan took his Peugeot 208 RX to 3rd at the podium on handiest his 2nd Euro RX1 trip.

Marklund was once additionally curious about a heavy crash with Sivert Svardal in warmth 3, which many idea would finish his weekend – together with Marklund. Talking after the general, Marklund stated “To be fair, I nonetheless can’t actually consider what we did. We made up our minds that lets now not proceed with the wear and tear after warmth 3 – it shouldn’t were conceivable to fix the automobile in that time-frame – however then there was once a second, the place we sat and mentioned and everybody stood as much as a minimum of take a look at. The fellows labored flat-out. I feel the group was once shocked too that we were given out once more, however they did it, and this P2 is sort of a victory for all people. It was once arduous and a difficult couple of days, however we did what we had to do.“

In spite of his disappointing finish to the weekend, Svardal additionally believes he can combat for victory. Reflecting at the probabilities for the second one spherical, Svardal stated “We have been actually pleased with the efficiency of the brand new automotive at Nyirád – it’s nonetheless now not the fastest at the grid, nevertheless it’s surely a step ahead and the most productive feeling I’ve ever had in a rallycross Supercar. I clearly have extra enjoy now too, which provides me the boldness to push tougher. If issues pass smartly, I in truth consider we will be able to compete with the highest guys this 12 months and motive them some hassle. It’s a actually stable box in Euro RX1 and the main 4 drivers within the championship will all be in Portugal, however my objective is to get thru to the general – and from there, anything else is conceivable.”

In the meantime, British rallycross celebrity O’Donovan inspired everybody along with his 2nd Euro RX1 trip. His Hansen Motorsport-built Peugeot at his arms appears to be a drive to be reckoned with this 12 months. O’Donovan is relishing the possibility of racing at Montalegre, pronouncing “Even if I clearly need to win each time I am going out, it was once nonetheless an excellent first weekend for us and now I’m actually taking a look ahead to Montalegre, which is clearly a fully other roughly circuit to Nyirád. It seems like the fastest method during the corners there may be both sideways or backwards, so carry it on!“

In different places at the grid, Máté Benyó, the Hungarian who dazzled in his house race, will likely be hoping to turn out that his ability can unfold around the continent. 11-time Euro RX tournament winner Ulrik Linnemann will likely be hoping to struggle for victory, having taken the helm of Marklund’s 2017 title-winning Volkswagen Polo. Enzo Ide will likely be looking to capitalise on his spectacular tempo from the outlet spherical as Montalegre was once the scene of his first Euro RX1 victory in 2022. René Münnich, having simply introduced Timo Scheider as his Global RX motive force for this 12 months, accomplished a warmth win in Hungary and can purpose to blow their own horns his tempo another time and struggle for general victory.

With such ability and ambition on show right through the 17-strong box, be expecting impressive racing from the instant the lighting pass out at Montalegre. The motion takes position on 3/4 June, and you’ll to find the overall Euro RX1 access record under.