Following a COVID-19 enforced change to the schedule, the upcoming RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires will take the form of a single-weekend, winner-takes-all shoot-out at Nysum in Denmark, supported by a comprehensive live broadcast package and with a glittering prize drive for the champion in next year’s inaugural electric series.
2020 marks the final season of the official FIA World Rallycross Championship feeder series in its current guise before the transition to electric power next year. While work continues to accelerate behind-the-scenes in preparation for that eagerly-anticipated switch, there have simultaneously been stringent efforts to ensure RX2 bows out in style following four successful campaigns.
The repercussions of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic have been felt all around the globe, significantly disrupting sporting events and series and leading to some being cancelled outright. Ongoing restrictions on international travel and border closures have delayed the start of the World RX season until 23 August, which has in-turn directly impacted upon the championship’s support series.
With no suitable schedule for RX2 on the revised World RX calendar, the decision has been taken to instead add the championship to the RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites class, meaning the destiny of the 2020 RX2 crown will be decided exclusively at Nysum in a Danish double-header on 4-6 September.
As at the ‘All-Star’ Magic Weekend at Höljes earlier this month, all of the key action will be shown live and in superb definition via a state-of-the-art broadcast package and global livestream, with the RX2 champion receiving a fully-funded, single-round drive in the series’ electric successor in 2021.
“Clearly we are disappointed that RX2 could not continue to support the World Championship for its final season, but our first loyalty has to be to our competitors, and the calendar complications caused by COVID-19 meant it would no longer have been financially viable for them or their sponsors – particularly in the current economic climate,” explained Jan-Erik Steen, CEO of series promoter, RX Promotion.
“Once that became clear, we immediately set to work to find an alternative solution, because we certainly didn’t want to have to abandon the season altogether – there is a lot of prestige in being crowned the last RX2 champion before the series’ exciting electric transition in 2021, and we want to give competitors a chance to fight for that title and the incredible prize drive that accompanies it.
“With that in mind, we have taken the proactive decision to stage a single-weekend RX2 shoot-out at Nysum, where we know the series’ drivers, teams and partners will derive considerable value from the first-class global livestream and will add an intriguing new element to the racing programme.
“The switch has been made with the full blessing of our loyal title partner Cooper Tires, and we thank them for their ongoing support. We are confident that it is the right move to ensure as many competitors as possible can take full advantage of what has unquestionably been a turbulent 2020 campaign.
“Since its inception in 2017, RX2 – maintaining the momentum of its predecessor RX Lites – has proved to be a tremendous success story in helping to hone and develop countless promising rallycross drivers for future stardom, with many now to be found running regularly at the front at Supercar level. Although the series is entering its final straight, the story is not quite over yet, and we are all extremely excited to see how the final chapter plays out…”