RECORD RX2 ENTRY FOR HÖLJES WITH 30- STRONG GRID IN SWEDEN

By 15th June 2018NEWS

An astonishing 30 cars will take to the grid at Höljes in two weeks’ time for the fourth round of the 2018 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires – a record-breaking figure on what will be an historic weekend for the official FIA World Rallycross Championship feeder series.

Now in its second season, RX2 is rapidly gaining momentum as the place to be for burgeoning rallycross stars, with the inaugural champion – Frenchman Cyril Raymond – graduating to the FIA European Rallycross Championship this year and very nearly triumphing on his debut in Belgium last month.

The 2018 RX2 campaign has already got off to a frenetic start, with three different winners from the opening three events and a thrillingly unpredictable title fight. The intrigue is only set to intensify at Höljes – the spiritual home of the sport in Scandinavia – with 13 ‘wild cards’ joining the 17 full-time protagonists on the entry list, totalling nine different nationalities and making it more of a challenge than ever merely to reach the semi-finals.

With no fewer than 24 qualifying races on the schedule – six for each stage of the preliminary phase – Supercar Lites cars as used in RX2 will spend more time on-track than any other category in Sweden. Series CEO Andreas Eriksson points to the unprecedented entry as proof positive that RX2 is fulfilling its brief in developing the talent of the future in the discipline.

“With 30 cars in the field, Höljes is going to be an intensely busy weekend for RX2,” he acknowledged. “It’s testament to the esteem in which the series is already held – only a year-and-a-half on from its launch – that we are now overwhelmed with interest from prospective drivers, and very good drivers at that.

“We are extremely grateful to IMG for granting us special dispensation to run 30 cars in Sweden, which I have no doubt will generate some sensational action, and one thing is for sure – even the slightest error will be magnified, so everybody will need to be right on top of their game during the ‘Magic Weekend’. Let battle commence!”

The Höljes RX2 schedule will begin with free practice, Q1 and Q2 on Friday, followed by the remaining two qualifying races on Saturday and the semi-finals and live-televised final on Sunday.

2018 RX2 Sweden Entry List

2 Ben-Philip Gundersen JC Raceteknik NOR
6 William Nilsson JC Raceteknik SWE
8 Simon Syversen SET Promotion NOR
9 Glenn Haug Glenn Haug NOR
10 Martin Jonsson Martin Jonsson SWE
11 Mats Oskarsson Mats Oskarsson SWE
12 Anders Michalak Anders Michalak SWE
16 Oliver Eriksson Olsbergs MSE SWE
17 Hampus Rådström Hampus Rådström SWE
18 Linus Östlund Olsbergs MSE SWE
21 Conner Martell Team Färén USA
22 Sami-Matti Trogen SET Promotion FIN
27 Petter Leirhol Petter Leirhol NOR
44 Christian Brooks Christian Brooks USA
50 Nathan Heathcote Team Färén GBR
52 Simon Olofsson Simon Olofsson SWE
53 Cole Keatts Olsbergs MSE USA
55 Vasiliy Gryazin Sports Racing Technologies LVA
65 Jami Kalliomäki SET Promotion FIN
66 Albert Llovera Albert Llovera ESP
68 Santosh Berggren Santosh Berggren SWE
69 Sondre Evjen JC Raceteknik NOR
77 Henrik Krogstad JC Raceteknik NOR
86 Johnny Andersson Johnny Andersson SWE
90 Jimmie Walfridson JC Raceteknik SWE
91 Jonathan Walfridsson JC Raceteknik SWE
96 Guillaume De Ridder Olsbergs MSE BEL
98 Stein Frederic Akre Stein Frederic Akre NOR
99 Marcus Höglund JC Raceteknik SWE
100 Janno Ligur Janno Ligur EST

Championship Standings

1. Oliver Eriksson (SWE) 73 points
2. Sondre Evjen (NOR) 64 points
3. Vasiliy Gryazin (LVA) 62 points
4. Guillaume De Ridder (BEL) 59 points
5. Henrik Krogstad (NOR) 57 points
6. Ben-Philip Gundersen (NOR) 48 points
7. Jami Kalliomäki (FIN) 42 points
8. William Nilsson (SWE) 40 points
9. Conner Martell (USA) 34 points
10. Glenn Haug (NOR) 25 points

The 2018 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires will take in seven rounds across three continents in support of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, visiting Belgium, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Canada, France and South Africa.

2018 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires Calendar

May 12/13                   Mettet, Belgium
May 26/27                   Silverstone, Great Britain
June 09/10                  Hell, Norway
June 30/July 01           Höljes, Sweden
August 04/05               Trois-Rivières, Canada
September 01/02         Lohéac, France
November 24/25         Cape Town, South Africa