STARD have announced their alternating driver lineup for the 2019 World RX season, while IMG Motorsports have also announced the new electric initiative for the World Rallycross championship.
STARD are using a brand new colour scheme and driver lineup this year, as they retain Janis Baumanis in a full-time drive and have signed Pal Try on a part-time basis.
However they initially kept quiet over the details over who else would be racing in the new Ford Fiesta RXS Evo 5.
Well, it has been revealed that former WRC driver Jani Paasonen will compete in at least five rounds of the 2019 championship, with Pal Try competing in at least three rounds and Jere Kalliokoski will also contesting two rounds for the team.
World RX: Abu Dhabi Entry List Confirmed
In other news, IMG Motorsports today announced a brand new addition to the World Rallycross Championship.
Referred to as Projekt E, the initiative will see electric cars compete alongside the monstrous supercars that we all know and love in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
IMG ANNOUNCES PROJEKT E – A PIONEERING ELECTRIC INITIATIVE FOR WORLD RX WEEKEND.
Read More: https://t.co/hrMYkQ9hRk pic.twitter.com/MXLKmiTkbj
— FIA World Rallycross (@FIAWorldRX) April 2, 2019
Torben Olsen, the Managing Director of World RX for IMG, added that electrification is important to the sport’s future:
“Our aim is to showcase, by 2021 at the latest, future mobility and relevant technologies in the tough, competitive environment of rallycross with production-based vehicles that consumers can relate to.”
“Projekt E enables us to embrace emerging technologies, remain relevant, and show that electric cars are fast and fun.”
World RX was scheduled to be fully electric this year, but these however plans fell through due to a lack of commitment from the manufacturers.
Projekt E should keep the purists happy and give us even more fast and furious sideways action.
The World RX season begins this weekend at the Yas Marina International Circuit in Abu Dhabi with the first qualifying session getting underway at 1pm GMT, on April 5th.
