The 2026 BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship came to a conclusion at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland on 18 October, where Fred Ling secured the overall championship title following another victory in his Ford Fiesta Mk6.

After six rounds across four venues, the British club-level series crowned several new champions, with Edmund Shepherd, Marc Jones, Leah McManus, Simon Horton and Aston Browne among those celebrating championship success.

The final round brought several important developments, particularly in Production, where Shepherd successfully overturned the advantage held by defending champion Alex Fletcher, while the Classic and Super Modified categories produced a mixture of overall and divisional champions.

For Ling, the result completed an exceptional season that had seen him establish himself as the leading contender from the opening round at Blyton Park.

However, the championship's conclusion was not without its challenges.

Just 26 cars appeared on the official Knockhill entry list, considerably fewer than the fields of more than 50 competitors that BTRDA has regularly attracted during recent seasons.

The smaller numbers forced several categories to share the track, although there were still important championship positions to be decided.

The event also featured the penultimate round of the Motorsport UK Cross Car Championship, but those will be covered separately as part of upcoming preview of the Lydden Hill season finale on 7/8 November.

This report also arrives later than originally intended.

Sideways Stories had hoped to publish the Knockhill results shortly after the event, but the championship standings had not been updated following the final round.

Rather than separating the race report from the final championship classifications, publication was delayed by more than two weeks to bring both together in one complete season-ending article.

With the championship picture now available for this report, here is how the final BTRDA round unfolded and how the various titles were decided.

Rally Car / Clubman 4x4

The Rally Car and Clubman 4x4 categories shared the track at Knockhill, bringing together a mixture of traditional rally machinery and four-wheel-drive rallycross cars.

Tom Halliwell emerged victorious in his Ford Fiesta R5, adding another event win for the modern rally car.

Jason Tully finished second, while Ian Biagi completed the podium in third with his Ford Escort G3.

Helen Crooks was the final driver to reach the finish, taking fourth place in the combined final.

For Simon Horton, the race itself ended in disappointment.

The Subaru Impreza driver was unable to complete the final, but his earlier performances had already placed him in a strong position to secure the Clubman 4x4 championship.

Horton had entered the season among a small group of four-wheel-drive competitors, with Graeme Reid providing his principal championship opposition in a Nissan Pulsar GTI-R.

Reid won the opening round at Blyton Park in March, establishing an early advantage in the category.

However, Horton responded when the championship returned to the Lincolnshire venue in June.

He dominated the event, winning the Clubman 4x4 final before also claiming victory in the Skermer Superfinal against competitors from the other BTRDA categories.

That performance became one of the most impressive individual achievements of his season.

Although the 4x4 category struggled to attract regular entries, Horton maintained his advantage and ultimately completed the championship with 126 points.

Reid secured second overall with 33 points.

The separate Modified 4x4 classification produced an unusual situation.

Tomas Ramanauskas was the only driver to score points in the category during 2026, having entered the Lydden Hill 2WD Superprix with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV.

The Lithuanian finished the season with 33 points, although the championship classification does not identify him as a title winner.

Meanwhile, the Rally Car category operated as a guest class rather than a separate championship, meaning Halliwell's Knockhill victory did not contribute towards a BTRDA title.

The small four-wheel-drive fields remained one of the challenges facing BTRDA throughout 2026, although the machinery that did appear provided considerable variety.

Super Modified

Fred Ling completed his championship-winning campaign with another victory at Knockhill, securing the overall 2026 BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship title.

The Ford Fiesta Mk6 driver had established himself as the strongest overall contender during the opening rounds, producing an impressive series of performances against some of the most unusual machinery in British club rallycross.

His campaign began with victory at Blyton Park in March before he repeated the success when the championship returned in June.

The second victory also strengthened his position at the top of the overall BTRDA standings.

Lydden Hill provided another important result, with Ling maintaining his momentum against rivals including David Bell, Andrew Hawkes and Richard Moore.

However, the competition became particularly interesting during September's Pembrey double-header.

Ling secured another victory on Saturday, extending his advantage before the penultimate round.

Sunday initially appeared likely to produce a similar outcome.

The Fiesta driver dominated qualifying, winning Q1, Q2 and Q3, but Irish newcomer Padraig Leeson emerged as a surprise challenger with his Lotus Exige.

Leeson converted his pace into victory during the final, interrupting Ling's winning run and demonstrating that the championship leader was not unbeatable.

Nevertheless, Ling had already accumulated a substantial number of points.

He arrived at Knockhill leading both the overall BTRDA standings and Super Modified, with Bell remaining his closest rival.

The Scottish finale provided the opportunity to complete the championship in convincing fashion.

Ling returned to the top step of the podium, defeating Bell to secure another important victory and finish the overall BTRDA championship with 280 points.

Bell completed the final in second with his BMW Mini Countryman, while Mark Henry was the third and final driver to reach the finish in his Alfa Romeo 147.

Neither Richard Moore nor Angus Furneaux managed to start the final, bringing disappointing conclusions to their respective events.

However, the championship classifications produced an interesting distinction.

Under the BTRDA title allocation system, a driver cannot receive more than one championship title.

With Ling securing the overall BTRDA crown, the Super Modified category title was awarded to Bell.

The Mini Countryman driver completed the season with 218 points in the Super Modified title classification, while also finishing fifth in the overall BTRDA standings with 247.

For Bell, the title was a deserved reward following a season in which he had repeatedly challenged near the front.

Although mechanical problems interrupted several events, including Sunday's Pembrey round, his consistency throughout the campaign proved sufficient to secure the category honour.

Henry also enjoyed a successful conclusion to his first season in Super Modified.

Having previously competed in Production, the Alfa Romeo driver introduced a considerably more powerful version of his 147 for 2026.

The project immediately attracted attention, combining an unusual choice of car with an ambitious technical programme.

Despite competing against some of the strongest Super Modified drivers, Henry steadily improved throughout the season.

His third-place finish at Knockhill secured the over-2101cc divisional title with 193 points, completing a successful first year in the category.

Two other regular contenders were absent from the Scottish finale.

Andrew Hawkes finished fourth in the category standings with 164 points, while George Gray completed the top five with 152.

Both had regularly challenged the leading drivers during the earlier rounds, with Hawkes competing in another Mini Countryman and Gray using his BMW E36 Compact.

Further down the classifications, Furneaux's late-season arrival proved particularly significant.

The former stage rally driver made his rallycross debut at Pembrey with a rear-wheel-drive Vauxhall Corsa, beginning a new chapter in his motorsport career.

Although he was unable to start the Knockhill final, his earlier results were sufficient to secure the Super Modified 1601-2000cc divisional title with 132 points.

Super Modified therefore produced several different championship success stories.

Ling secured the overall BTRDA crown, Bell was recognised as the Super Modified champion, while Henry and Furneaux claimed their respective engine-capacity divisions.

It was also a fitting illustration of the technical variety that continues to define the category, from Ling's Ford Fiesta and Bell's Mini Countryman to Henry's Alfa Romeo and Moore's spectacular V8-powered Mercedes Benz SLK.

Production

Edmund Shepherd secured one of the most important victories of the Knockhill finale, defeating defending champion Alex Fletcher to claim the 2026 BTRDA Production title.

The Renault Clio driver had entered the season as one of several competitors hoping to challenge Fletcher, who had enjoyed an outstanding 2025 campaign on his way to winning both the overall BTRDA championships.

However, Shepherd immediately demonstrated that he could become a serious contender.

Fletcher began his title defence with victory at Blyton Park in March, but Shepherd responded when the championship returned in June.

The Clio driver secured his first victory of the season, defeating Martin Peters and Fletcher to reduce the championship deficit.

It was an important achievement, particularly against a driver who had dominated much of the previous campaign.

The battle continued at Lydden Hill, where Fletcher remained firmly involved in the fight for the overall BTRDA crown.

However, September's Pembrey double-header proved particularly important in shaping the championship.

Fletcher took victory on Saturday, maintaining his advantage over Shepherd and strengthening his overall championship ambitions.

Sunday brought a different result.

Shepherd dominated much of qualifying before securing victory in the final, while Fletcher finished second.

The two drivers therefore left Wales separated by just five points in the Production standings.

With one round remaining, Fletcher held 157 points compared with Shepherd's 152.

It was one of the closest title battles heading into Knockhill.

Shepherd knew that another strong result would be required if he was to prevent Fletcher from successfully defending his championship.

The final delivered exactly that.

Shepherd secured victory ahead of Fletcher, bringing the Production championship to a conclusion in his favour.

Ben Flynn completed the podium in third, ensuring another Renault Clio joined Shepherd among the leading finishers.

The final standings reflected just how closely the two leading drivers had been matched throughout the season.

Shepherd secured the Production title with 218 points, just one ahead of Fletcher on 217.

It was a remarkable conclusion after six rounds, particularly considering how frequently the pair had exchanged victories and podium positions.

Fletcher nevertheless completed another highly successful campaign.

The Honda Civic driver finished second in the overall BTRDA championship with 254 points, behind only Ling.

He also secured the Production 1601-2000cc divisional title, ensuring he would not end the season without championship success.

Shepherd, meanwhile, finished fourth in the overall standings with 249 points.

Only five points separated the two drivers in that classification, demonstrating how closely matched their campaigns had been beyond the Production category.

Flynn completed the Production championship podium with 188 points, while also securing second in the 1601-2000cc division.

The Renault Clio driver had experienced a mixed season, including a rollover at Blyton Park in June, but recovered to produce several competitive performances during the second half of the championship.

His Knockhill podium provided a positive conclusion.

Two other regular competitors were absent from the Scottish finale.

William Noon finished fourth in Production with 175 points, ahead of Ben Williams on 132.

Noon also completed the 1601-2000cc division in third, having remained among the leading Renault Clio drivers throughout much of the season.

Williams secured the Production 1600cc 16v divisional title with his Suzuki Swift, providing another championship success despite missing the final round.

The Production category had therefore produced one of the most closely contested championships of the BTRDA season.

Shepherd's narrow victory over Fletcher demonstrated how important the final round could become, even after months of closely matched competition.

For Fletcher, losing the class title by a single point was undoubtedly frustrating, although his overall runner-up finish and divisional success ensured that another successful season was added to his record.

For Shepherd, it represented the biggest achievement of his BTRDA campaign and a deserved reward for his performances across the six rounds.

Classic

Marc Jones completed a successful conclusion to the 2026 Classic championship by winning the Knockhill final and securing the category title.

The Toyota MR2 driver had emerged as one of the strongest competitors during the second half of the season, repeatedly challenging drivers from both BTRDA and the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship.

However, his route towards the title was far from straightforward.

The Classic category had featured several different frontrunners during the opening rounds, including Stephen Gaunt, Mesi Evans, Vincent Bristow and Daryl Ambrose.

At Blyton Park in June, Gaunt secured victory with his Vauxhall Corsa, while Evans finished second ahead of Tony Lynch.

Jones was unable to start the final, leaving him with work to do as the championship moved towards the second half of the season.

But the situation changed dramatically at Pembrey.

The Welsh double-header brought together the BTRDA Classic category and the British championship's Super Retro and Retro machinery during qualifying.

Despite competing against more powerful cars from the national championship, the Classic drivers repeatedly demonstrated impressive outright speed.

Jones was particularly strong.

He won Saturday's final before repeating the achievement on Sunday, completing an important double victory.

His performances during Sunday qualifying were equally impressive, with the Toyota driver setting the fastest overall times in Q1 and Q2 against the combined historic field.

Ambrose interrupted that run in Q3, demonstrating that he also possessed the speed required to challenge the leading drivers.

The results transformed the championship picture heading into Knockhill.

Jones arrived leading the Classic standings with 146 points, while the battles for the separate engine-capacity divisions remained exceptionally close.

Bristow held a narrow advantage in the over-2101cc division, with Jones just one point behind.

Elsewhere, Ambrose remained involved in the fight for the 1601-2100cc title after a campaign affected by several difficult weekends.

The Scottish finale provided one final opportunity to settle those battles.

Jones continued his strong run of form by winning the Classic final, securing the category championship with 226 points.

Ambrose finished second in his Peugeot 205 Maxi, adding another important result to his season.

Bristow completed the Knockhill podium in third with his BMW E36, while David Ewin finished fourth.

The championship classification produced an interesting outcome.

Both Ambrose and Bristow completed the Classic season with 207 points, but Ambrose was classified second overall ahead of Bristow in third.

The result also brought divisional success for both drivers.

Ambrose secured the 1601-2100cc title, while Bristow claimed the over-2101cc championship.

For Ambrose, the result was particularly significant after the difficulties he had experienced during several earlier rounds.

His Peugeot had demonstrated competitive speed throughout the season, including qualifying performances that placed him among the fastest drivers at Pembrey.

However, mechanical problems and retirements had repeatedly prevented him from converting that pace into stronger results.

The Knockhill podium therefore provided a fitting conclusion.

Bristow's divisional title was another important achievement for a driver who has competed extensively in both British and European historic rallycross.

His BMW remained competitive against the variety of machinery in the Classic category, securing valuable points throughout the championship.

Mesi Evans completed the overall Classic standings in fourth with 158 points, despite missing Knockhill.

The Peugeot 205 driver had enjoyed several competitive appearances during the opening half of the season, but difficult results at Pembrey prevented a stronger championship challenge.

Evans also finished runner-up to Ambrose in the 1601-2100cc division.

David Ewin completed the top five with 138 points, adding his Knockhill fourth place to a season that included a podium at Pembrey.

Tony Lynch was another notable absentee.

The experienced British rallycross driver finished the season with 132 points as the only competitor in the up to 1600cc division, although the final classification does not identify him as a divisional champion.

The Classic category provided some of the most entertaining technical variety of the BTRDA season.

Jones' Toyota MR2, Ambrose's Peugeot 205 Maxi, Bristow's BMW E36 and the numerous other historic machines demonstrated that older rallycross cars remain capable of delivering competitive racing.

The performances at Pembrey were especially memorable, with the BTRDA field repeatedly challenging the British championship's historic categories on outright speed.

For Jones, the championship represented a deserved reward after a strong second half of the season.

For Ambrose and Bristow, their respective divisional titles ensured that the year concluded with several different success stories.

BMW Mini

Leah McManus completed a remarkable debut campaign in the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship by winning the BMW Mini final at Knockhill and securing the 2026 category title.

The 18-year-old Irish driver had arrived in Britain at the beginning of the season hoping to gain experience against new opposition and at unfamiliar tracks.

However, her first full BTRDA campaign quickly developed into something considerably more successful.

Having previously competed in Irish rallycross and the Junior Mini Challenge, McManus joined the British championship with a supercharged BMW Mini Cooper S prepared by her family's Motorworx operation.

The car had previously been raced by her father Thomas, who had enjoyed success in Irish autocross and rallycross.

Her opening appearance at Blyton Park in March brought an encouraging second-place finish.

Despite having never previously competed at the venue, McManus immediately demonstrated that she could challenge the established BTRDA drivers.

The second round at Blyton in June provided her first British victory.

She defeated Leigh-Anne Sedgwick and defending BMW Mini champion Wesley Wickens, marking an important breakthrough during her first season in the category.

Her success continued at Lydden Hill, where she secured another victory before the championship headed to Pembrey in September.

Saturday's Welsh round brought another impressive performance, with McManus adding a third consecutive victory.

Sunday initially appeared likely to produce another strong result, but a penalty prevented her from retaining the position she had secured on the road.

Nevertheless, she remained the championship leader heading into Knockhill.

The final weekend, however, almost ended before it began.

A high-speed accident at Mondello Park less than two weeks before the Scottish event had caused substantial damage to her Mini following a suspension failure.

The Motorworx team faced a race against time to repair the car, eventually completing the necessary work before travelling to Scotland.

Even after arriving at Knockhill, the difficulties continued.

McManus experienced an engine problem during qualifying, forcing the team to carry out further repairs.

Rather than risk another failure, she elected to miss the final qualifying session and concentrate on ensuring that the car was ready for the decisive race.

The decision proved successful.

McManus returned for the final and secured victory, completing her first BTRDA season with the BMW Mini championship title.

Mark Finch finished second in the Knockhill final, completing the two-car field.

The championship standings confirmed the scale of McManus' achievement.

She secured the BMW Mini title with 223 points, ahead of Finch on 189.

Defending champion Wesley Wickens finished third with 173 points, followed by Graham Ives on 132 and Leigh-Anne Sedgwick with 112.

However, McManus' success extended beyond the category championship.

She also secured third place in the overall BTRDA standings with 253 points, finishing behind only Ling and Fletcher.

That placed her ahead of several established competitors from the faster Super Modified and Production categories.

It was an extraordinary achievement during her first full British campaign.

Her success also completed a particularly memorable year for the Irish driver, who secured the Irish Mini Graduate championship alongside her British title.

For McManus, the season provided valuable experience across several unfamiliar venues, but it also demonstrated that she possessed the speed and consistency required to challenge more experienced drivers.

The championship represented an important step forward in her developing motorsport career and established her as one of the most promising newcomers to the BTRDA paddock during 2026.

Juniors

The BTRDA Junior Rallycross Championship reached an unusual conclusion at Knockhill, where Aston Browne was the only competitor in the category.

Although the limited participation meant there was no direct championship opposition during the final round, Browne completed the season with 132 points to secure the Junior title.

His championship campaign had begun relatively late in the year.

Oscar Cooper was the first driver to score BTRDA Junior points during the Lydden Hill 2WD Superprix, collecting 33 points.

Browne subsequently joined the championship at September's Pembrey double-header, where the BTRDA Junior field competed alongside the Motorsport UK Junior category.

Despite the combined races featuring several other drivers, Browne remained dominant among the BTRDA entrants.

Saturday produced a perfect performance.

He won all three qualifying sessions before securing victory in the final, immediately establishing himself at the top of the championship standings.

Sunday brought an almost identical result.

Browne again completed a clean sweep, winning every qualifying session and the final to secure another maximum points haul.

The performances moved him ahead of Cooper and placed him in a commanding position before the season finale.

With Cooper absent from Knockhill, Browne was left as the only BTRDA Junior competitor.

He completed the season with 132 points, while Cooper finished second on 33.

Although Browne's results demonstrated his ability to make the most of his opportunities, the limited number of competitors was a disappointing aspect of the championship.

Only two drivers scored points in the category throughout 2026, considerably fewer than would normally be expected from a class intended to provide an accessible introduction to rallycross.

Attracting more young competitors will therefore be an important consideration for the championship heading into next season.

For Browne, however, the year ended with his first BTRDA Junior title, providing an important achievement as he continues developing his rallycross career.

The Knockhill finale therefore brought the curtain down on another BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship season, one that produced several notable championship battles despite the difficulties surrounding participation at some events.

However, the disappointing entry figure at Knockhill highlighted one of the challenges facing the championship as it prepares for its 50th anniversary year in 2027.

Maintaining competitive fields across all categories, particularly Clubman 4x4 and Juniors, will remain important if the series is to continue providing opportunities for drivers progressing through British grassroots rallycross.

Nevertheless, the early plans for next season are already beginning to take shape.

For now, the conclusion of the 2026 championship provides an opportunity to recognise the drivers, teams, organisers and volunteers who have contributed to another season of British club-level rallycross.

Two more Mitsubishi Supercars have been confirmed for the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy season finale at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, with newly crowned Swift Sport champion Phil Seath preparing to make his debut in the headline category alongside the returning Tomas Ramanauskas.

Seath will take the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI previously raced by Bradley Westgarth, while Lithuanian driver Ramanauskas returns with his familiar Evolution IV, adding two older-generation Supercars to an increasingly interesting entry list for the traditional fireworks weekend.

For Seath, the appearance marks another significant step in a rallycross career that only began last year.

The Dover-based driver entered the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship in 2025 after attending a Peter Gwynne rallycross experience day, subsequently purchasing a Suzuki Swift that had been stored for several years.

His debut campaign proved challenging, with mechanical problems repeatedly interrupting his progress, including an engine failure during his first race meeting.

However, his performances improved throughout the season, eventually securing several podium finishes and ending the championship as runner-up behind the dominant Matt Cake.

Seath returned for 2026 determined to build on that experience, and his consistency throughout the championship proved decisive.

Despite facing increasingly strong opposition from drivers such as Danny Bean and Ben Williams, he secured the Swift Sport title during September's Pembrey double-header, finishing second in both finals.

However, preparations for his move into more powerful machinery had already begun.

Alongside his Swift campaign, Seath has gained experience with Mitsubishi four-wheel-drive machinery, including finishing second in Clubman 4x4 during June's BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross round at Blyton Park.

He has also been driving the Evolution VI in rally sprints at Lydden Hill, allowing him to become familiar with the car before making his competitive Supercar debut.

The Mitsubishi itself has an interesting history.

Previously campaigned by Bradley Westgarth, the Evolution VI competed in the British Rallycross Championship during 2022, when its former driver challenged considerably more modern machinery despite operating on a relatively limited budget.

Westgarth achieved several respectable results, including fifth place during the fourth round at Pembrey and another points-scoring performance later in the season.

Although the Mitsubishi may not possess the outright performance of the more developed Supercars currently competing in Britain, it provides Seath with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the headline category.

Meanwhile, Ramanauskas will make another appearance with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV.

The Lithuanian is already familiar with British rallycross, having competed extensively in the BTRDA Clubmans championship before moving into selected Supercar appearances.

He contested the opening Lydden Hill double-header earlier this year, securing fifth place in Monday's final after a weekend dominated by Derek Tohill.

Ramanauskas also brought the Mitsubishi to the Lydden Legend Festival in June, where the car appeared among several historic rallycross machines.

His return adds another example of traditional Mitsubishi machinery to a Supercar field increasingly dominated by Citroëns, Hondas, Volkswagens and other more modern designs.

While neither driver arrives as an obvious favourite against the championship's established frontrunners, their participation provides an interesting contrast.

Seath will be making his first Supercar appearance only weeks after securing his maiden British rallycross title, while Ramanauskas returns with considerably more experience in older-generation four-wheel-drive machinery.

For both, the weekend offers an opportunity to challenge themselves against the strongest competitors in British rallycross.

Former British Touring Car Championship driver Eoin Murray has been confirmed for the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy season finale at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, returning to Supercar competition following an impressive FIA European Rallycross Championship debut earlier this year.

The Irishman will once again compete with Murray Motorsport's Olsbergs MSE-built Honda Civic Coupé, the same car in which he made his first competitive Supercar appearance at Lohéac in France during August.

Murray's international debut attracted considerable attention after he demonstrated impressive speed against a 30-car Euro RX1 field featuring several former World and European Rallycross Champions.

His most memorable moment came during Sunday's quarter-finals, where he produced a spectacular move around the outside of nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb to secure second place behind Juha Rytkönen.

The result sent Murray into the semi-finals on his first attempt, although his hopes of reaching the final ended after he was forced off the track while battling against established international opposition.

Nevertheless, he completed the event tenth overall, collecting nine championship points during what had been his first competitive weekend behind the wheel of a four-wheel-drive Supercar.

Although Murray's Supercar experience remains limited, the Irishman is far from a newcomer to motorsport.

Between 2001 and 2012, he competed extensively in circuit racing, securing numerous victories and championship titles across Europe.

His career included appearances in the British Touring Car Championship during 2006 and 2007, where he competed with Alfa Romeo and SEAT machinery.

More recently, Murray has become closely involved in managing the family's Murray Motorsport operation alongside his brother Niall, overseeing programmes in circuit racing, rallycross and karting.

The team made a significant change ahead of the 2026 season by acquiring two Honda Civic Coupé Supercars, replacing the Ford Fiesta Mk7 machinery previously used by John McCluskey and Gary Donoghue.

Originally developed by Olsbergs MSE and Honda Performance Development for the American series Global Rallycross Championship, the four-wheel-drive Civics have since enjoyed success in European competition, including victories in RallyX.

Murray made his Euro RX debut using the Civic normally driven by Donoghue, while McCluskey competed in the sister car as part of the British Rallycross Championship at Lohéac.

His return at Lydden Hill now provides another opportunity to gain valuable experience in the Honda after the encouraging performance in France.

The season finale is already shaping up to feature an interesting Supercar field, with Sam Clennell, Phoebe Cake, Mike Sellar and Tom van den Heuvel among the drivers confirmed for the traditional fireworks weekend.

For Murray, the event represents another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities against established British Rallycross competitors, having already proved that he can challenge international frontrunners despite his limited experience in Supercar machinery.

The Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy has revealed the entry list for its inaugural Open 2WD showcase at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, confirming 24 drivers for the non-championship class.

The announcement represents an important step towards the introduction of Open 2WD as a full category within British Rallycross from 2027, with the traditional fireworks season finale providing the first opportunity to see the new class in action and the initial entry list has attracted an impressive mixture of international rallycross stars, established British competitors and drivers from the Belgian, Dutch and Irish championships.

From highly developed BMWs and Volvo machinery to the distinctive Vauxhall VX220s, a V8-powered Mercedes Benz SLK and several BMW Minis, the field offers an early indication of the technical variety expected under the new regulations.

Among the biggest names is Liam Doran, who will return to action with the BMW M3 E30 3.2 Evo he recently acquired from Swedish driver Erik Lidman.

Doran made his Open 2WD debut at the inaugural RallyX Global Final in Montalegre, where he demonstrated competitive speed before mechanical problems and a four-car collision compromised his weekend.

Despite those difficulties, he finished fourth overall in the Global Final standings.

Another major addition is three-time British Rallycross Champion Patrick O'Donovan, who will compete on Saturday with Richard Moore's distinctive Mercedes Benz SLK V8.

The car has been a familiar sight in the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship's Super Modified category throughout 2026.

Moore will return to the wheel of his own Mercedes on Sunday, meaning the two drivers will share the same machinery across the weekend.

Irish champion Peter McGarry is another notable entrant.

The Volkswagen Polo driver arrives following an impressive RallyX Global Final campaign, where he secured his maiden Open 2WD victory during Saturday's final at Montalegre.

McGarry will also be joined by familiar international opponents Jason and Darren Bleasdale.

The British brothers will once again compete with their spectacular Vauxhall VX220s, having recently completed the Global Final in Portugal.

Jason finished seventh overall, while Darren secured eighth in the final championship standings.

Belgian driver Steve Volders adds another established contender with his BMW M3 E30.

The Dutch Supernationals+ champion has enjoyed considerable success throughout 2026, while he also challenged Kristof Bex for the Belgian title which ultimately went to Bex.

He will be joined by Dutch driver Maikel Alewijnse in another BMW E30, providing two familiar names from the Benelux Supernationals scene.

Ariane Vanlommel is another interesting addition.

The Belgian will bring one of her distinctive Volvo 242s to Lydden Hill, returning to the venue where she secured third place during the 2WD Superprix in July.

Her season has also included success in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, where she recently secured a DRX2 victory at Oschersleben.

Polish driver Sławomir Wołoch also returns with his BMW M3.

Wołoch dominated the 2WD Superprix at Lydden Hill earlier this year, winning every qualifying session and the final against an international Super Modified field.

His return adds another proven Lydden Hill winner to an already competitive entry list.

While the international names will attract considerable attention, the entry list also features a strong selection of drivers more commonly associated with British club-level rallycross.

Angus Furneaux will compete with his Vauxhall Corsa, while Paul Coney adds another Vauxhall in the form of a Corsa VXR.

Tighe Wratten is entered with a Ford Fiesta, while Darren Scott brings a Citroën C2 and Edmund Shepherd will compete in his Peugeot 206.

Caleb Howard adds another Volvo to the field with his C30, a car that has also appeared in Irish rallycross competition during 2026.

Several BMW Mini competitors will also take part.

Tyler Scott, Wesley Wickens, Callum Scott and Ben Sayer are all entered with BMW Mini R53 machinery, adding a strong front-wheel-drive presence to the field.

Andrew Hawkes and David Bell will compete with BMW Mini Countrymans, offering another variation of the popular British machinery.

Martin Hawkes adds a third Vauxhall VX220 to the entry list, joining the Bleasdale brothers with one of the most distinctive body styles in the category.

John Cross completes another interesting part of the field with his BMW "VMW 6T" E36.

Together, these entries demonstrate the range of machinery that Open 2WD is expected to accommodate, from relatively conventional modified cars to highly specialised rear-wheel-drive projects.

The introduction of Open 2WD was announced by 5 Nations BRX in September, following growing interest in similar categories across Europe.

The new class will adopt regulations aligned with RallyX and the Irish Rallycross Championship, creating opportunities for a wide variety of front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive machinery.

Rather than separating every technical configuration into entirely different categories, Open 2WD will bring these cars together while providing additional recognition based on engine capacity and driven axle.

The approach has already proved successful in RallyX, where the category has developed into one of the championship's most popular divisions.

For British rallycross, the new structure could provide an opportunity for drivers currently competing in BTRDA Super Modified, Irish Modified and other compatible national categories to compete on the same grid.

However, the November showcase will remain non-championship, with the full 2027 regulations and calendar details to follow.

The entry list is particularly encouraging considering that 12 competitors had initially committed when the new category was announced in September.

That number has now doubled to 24 drivers, including several major international names.

With a mixture of established champions, experienced national competitors and different technical approaches, the showcase could provide a valuable indication of what British Open 2WD might become.

The complete entry list covering the remaining categories has yet to be published.

The arrival of Euro RX5 in 2026 marked an important development for international rallycross, bringing CrossCar machinery into the European championship structure for the first time.

Using the same technical specifications as the FIA European Cross Car Championship, the new category provided an opportunity for young drivers to compete internationally without requiring the expensive and highly developed machinery associated with the traditional Supercar classes and judging by its inaugural season, the concept certainly delivered some entertaining racing.

Four different drivers won the opening four rounds, with Tim Braumüller, Valentin Comte, Diego Martínez and Armin Raag sharing the honours before the championship reached its final double-header at Lousada.

However, the season eventually developed into a battle between two Estonian drivers.

Raag and Martin Juga repeatedly demonstrated exceptional speed, with their contrasting strengths producing one of the most interesting championship contests of the year.

Raag ultimately secured the inaugural Euro RX5 title with 154 points, finishing 31 ahead of Juga, while Martínez completed the championship podium with 91.

But the final standings only tell part of the story.

Juga frequently appeared to be the fastest driver in qualifying, while Raag demonstrated an extraordinary ability to convert opportunities into results when the finals arrived.

Elsewhere, Comte and Braumüller enjoyed early victories, Bryan Neumeyer completed a remarkable late-season turnaround and several wildcard competitors proved capable of challenging the championship regulars.

The category also demonstrated impressive technical variety, with Ligier, LifeLive, P-Tech, Speedcar and other CrossCar manufacturers represented throughout the season.

From its historic opening round at Riga to the first European championship night race at Lousada, Euro RX5 quickly established its own identity.

Here is what we learned from the category's inaugural season.

Raag's Consistency Was the Foundation of a Historic Championship

Armin Raag entered the inaugural Euro RX5 season as one of several promising young Estonian drivers hoping to establish themselves internationally.

At just 17 years old, he faced competition from several drivers with successful backgrounds in national CrossCar championships and the FIA European Cross Car Championship.

However, the P-Tech Estfighter 2 driver immediately demonstrated that he belonged among the leading contenders.

The opening round at Riga provided an encouraging beginning.

While compatriot Martin Juga dominated qualifying, Raag remained consistently competitive and secured second place in the final behind Germany's Tim Braumüller.

It was an important result, particularly considering the level of opposition and the uncertainty surrounding the new category.

Nyirád brought a more difficult weekend.

Raag remained competitive throughout qualifying but eventually finished fourth behind Valentin Comte, Ádám Kelő Gere and Juga.

Höljes produced another fourth-place finish, leaving him without a victory after three rounds.

Yet the Estonian remained firmly involved in the championship battle.

While other drivers occasionally demonstrated greater outright speed, Raag repeatedly avoided the costly mistakes and setbacks that affected several of his rivals.

His breakthrough finally arrived at Mondello Park.

The Irish round marked an important turning point, with Raag demonstrating exceptional composure during a final in which he faced sustained pressure from both David Kane and Juga.

After securing the lead, the Estonian used his joker lap strategy effectively to defend against the charging opposition.

The final eventually developed into a direct battle between the two championship contenders.

Juga repeatedly attempted to find a way past, but Raag positioned his CrossCar carefully and maintained his advantage.

Just 0.432 seconds separated them at the finish.

It was Raag's maiden Euro RX5 victory and made him the fourth different winner from the opening four rounds.

More importantly, the result moved him into the championship lead for the first time.

He left Ireland with a two-point advantage over Juga, setting up an intriguing conclusion at Lousada.

However, the Portuguese double-header would transform that narrow lead into a considerably stronger position.

Raag arrived in Portugal determined to maintain the momentum he had established in Ireland.

He immediately demonstrated impressive speed during practice before producing another competitive performance under the floodlights.

Saturday's final became one of the most important races of his season.

With Juga eliminated in the semi-finals, Raag had an opportunity to establish a substantial championship advantage and he took full advantage.

Despite sustained pressure from Bryan Neumeyer, the Estonian maintained his position at the front and secured his second victory of the season.

The result made him the first driver to win more than one Euro RX5 final.

It also increased his championship advantage to 30 points heading into Sunday's deciding round.

Although Juga remained mathematically capable of challenging for the title, Raag now controlled the situation.

The championship was ultimately settled during the semi-finals.

Raag secured enough points to become the inaugural FIA Euro RX5 Champion before completing the season with second place in the final behind Neumeyer.

His final total of 154 points represented a deserved reward for a campaign built around consistency and intelligent racing.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Raag's success was his ability to remain competitive even when he was not the fastest driver.

During the opening three rounds, other competitors claimed the victories, yet the young Estonian remained close enough to take advantage when opportunities arrived.

Once he moved into the championship lead at Mondello Park, he demonstrated the composure required to protect and ultimately extend that advantage.

For a driver competing in the first season of a new international category, it was an exceptional achievement.

Juga Proved That Qualifying Speed Does Not Always Deliver Championships

Martin Juga was arguably the most consistently impressive qualifier of the entire Euro RX5 season.

The 20-year-old Estonian arrived with experience from national rallycross, RallyX and Crosskart Rallysprint competition, driving a Pace Motorsport-prepared LifeLive TN11.

His championship began with a remarkable performance at Riga.

Juga topped all four qualifying sessions, recording the maximum possible 200 qualifying points and establishing himself as the clear favourite heading into the knockout stages.

However, the final produced a very different outcome.

Braumüller's alternative joker lap strategy allowed the German to move ahead, while Juga's hopes of recovering were further compromised by a puncture.

He eventually finished third behind Braumüller and Raag.

It was a frustrating result after such an impressive qualifying campaign.

Nevertheless, his performance attracted attention from one of the sport's biggest names.

Eight-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson, who had received a €1,000 King of the Start award during the event, decided to donate the prize money to Juga in recognition of his performance.

It was an encouraging gesture for a young driver beginning his international career.

Juga continued demonstrating exceptional pace at Nyirád.

He topped the intermediate classification before finishing third in the final, adding another podium to his championship campaign.

Höljes produced another impressive qualifying performance, but once again he was unable to convert that speed into victory.

By the time the championship reached Mondello Park, Juga had established a seven-point advantage over Raag.

However, the Irish weekend nearly destroyed his championship challenge.

The Estonian was disqualified from Q1 after his CrossCar's front mudguards were found not to comply with the technical regulations.

That left him at the bottom of the standings, facing the possibility of failing to qualify for the semi-finals.

But his recovery was extraordinary.

Juga fought back through the remaining qualifying sessions before reaching the final, where he pushed Raag throughout the race.

He eventually finished second, preserving his championship challenge despite losing the overall lead.

Only two points separated the Estonian rivals heading into the final weekend.

Juga then delivered another exceptional qualifying performance at Lousada, winning Q2 and Q3 on Saturday to secure his third Top Qualifier position of the season.

However, a mechanical distraction involving a flapping door affected his semi-final.

He narrowly missed qualification for the final by just 0.001 seconds.

It was a devastating moment.

After spending much of the season establishing himself as one of the strongest drivers, Juga had suffered his most costly setback at the worst possible time.

Although he recovered to secure another podium during Sunday's finale, the championship had already slipped away.

Juga completed the season with 123 points, securing the runner-up position.

His statistics were remarkable.

He topped ten of the 22 qualifying sessions, secured three Top Qualifier classifications and finished on the podium in five of the six rounds.

Yet he never managed to win a final.

That contrast became one of the defining stories of Euro RX5's first season.

Juga consistently demonstrated the speed required to challenge for victories, but small mistakes, technical infringements and unfortunate circumstances prevented him from securing the results his qualifying performances suggested were possible.

Nevertheless, his campaign established him as one of the most promising young CrossCar drivers in Europe.

The final championship position was disappointing, but his performances throughout the season demonstrated that he has the potential to challenge for another major title in the future.

Four Winners in Four Rounds: A Remarkable Beginning for Euro RX5

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Euro RX5's opening season was how difficult it proved to predict the winner of any individual event.

The first four rounds produced four different winners, demonstrating that the championship was far from dominated by one driver or manufacturer.

Tim Braumüller became the first driver to write his name into the Euro RX5 record books at Riga.

The German had already established himself as a successful CrossCar competitor, winning two ADAC XC Cup titles before joining Volland Racing with a Ligier XC04.

Although Juga dominated qualifying, Braumüller executed a perfectly timed joker lap strategy in the final to secure the inaugural victory.

It was a landmark achievement, but the following events proved considerably more difficult.

Braumüller remained competitive during qualifying but struggled to reproduce his Latvian performance, with mistakes and incidents repeatedly affecting his results.

He eventually completed the championship sixth overall with 76 points.

Valentin Comte provided the second winner at Nyirád.

The former French Junior Rallycross Champion had already gained considerable international CrossCar experience, finishing third in the 2023 FIA European Cross Car Championship.

However, his opening Euro RX5 event ended prematurely when damage to his Ligier's rollcage prevented him from contesting the semi-finals.

Hungary provided the perfect response.

Comte remained among the leading drivers throughout qualifying before securing victory in his semi-final.

The final produced an entertaining battle with Hungarian wildcard Ádám Kelő Gere.

Gere appeared capable of securing a popular home victory, but Comte's decision to delay his joker lap until the closing stages allowed him to move ahead and claim the win.

The result established the Frenchman as a championship contender.

Höljes then brought another strong performance, with Comte securing second place behind Diego Martínez.

However, his European title ambitions suffered a significant setback at Mondello Park.

Contact with Ottó Horváth during Q2 sent Comte into a rollover, causing enough damage to prevent him from continuing the event.

Having entered the Irish round among the leading championship contenders, he left without the result needed to maintain his position near the front.

Comte eventually finished fourth overall with 83 points.

For Diego Martínez, the season brought a different kind of breakthrough.

The Spanish driver entered Euro RX5 with two national CrossCar RX titles already to his name, having also gained international experience through RallyX during 2025.

However, the opening rounds of the European championship were relatively difficult.

Riga produced sixth place, while Nyirád ended with seventh.

Those results gave little indication of what would happen at Höljes.

The Spaniard immediately demonstrated impressive pace during the Swedish Magic Weekend, eventually winning his semi-final before dominating the decisive race.

Driving his Speedcar Wonder R, Martínez controlled the final to defeat Comte and Juga.

The result made him the first Spanish driver to win a round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

It was a major achievement for a driver whose international career was still developing.

Martínez continued collecting valuable points during the remaining rounds, including fourth place at Mondello Park and another fourth-place finish during Sunday's Lousada finale.

He completed the inaugural championship third overall with 91 points, securing the European bronze medal.

His performances also demonstrated the growing strength of Spanish CrossCar competition, which has produced several drivers capable of challenging internationally.

Following the European season, Martínez continued competing internationally at the RallyX Global Final in Montalegre, where he finished second overall in CrossCar behind Hugo Lundgren.

His 2026 campaign therefore included a European championship victory, a continental bronze medal and another major international podium.

Together with Braumüller and Comte, Martínez helped establish Euro RX5 as a category where several different drivers could challenge for victories from the beginning.

Neumeyer's Late-Season Transformation Sets Up an Interesting 2027

Bryan Neumeyer experienced perhaps the most dramatic improvement of any Euro RX5 driver during 2026.

The German arrived with a strong background in CrossCar competition.

He had already won the 2023 ADAC XC Junior Cup before finishing runner-up in the Senior category the following year.

He had also competed in the FIA European Junior Cross Car Championship and finished fourth at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games.

However, his first Euro RX5 campaign began in frustrating circumstances.

At Riga, the Speedcar Wonder R driver was disqualified after qualifying when his car failed to meet the minimum weight requirement.

Nyirád produced another difficult weekend, leaving him without significant championship points after the opening two rounds.

For a driver who had already demonstrated considerable potential in other CrossCar competitions, the results were disappointing.

Höljes finally provided a breakthrough.

Neumeyer reached his first Euro RX5 final and finished fifth, demonstrating that he was capable of challenging the established frontrunners.

Mondello Park brought further improvements in qualifying, although he was unable to convert that pace into another strong final result.

However, Lousada completely transformed his season.

During Saturday's floodlit round, Neumeyer produced an impressive semi-final victory before challenging Raag throughout the final.

The German remained within half a second of the championship leader at the finish, securing second place and his first Euro RX5 podium.

It was already an important achievement but Sunday would prove even more successful.

Neumeyer topped Q3 for his first qualifying victory of the season before defeating Raag in their semi-final.

That performance secured pole position for the final.

He made an excellent start and established himself at the front, maintaining his advantage as Raag and Juga battled for the remaining podium positions.

Neumeyer eventually crossed the finish line to secure his maiden Euro RX5 victory.

The result completed an extraordinary turnaround.

Having struggled to score points during the opening rounds, he collected 61 of his eventual 79 championship points during the final weekend alone.

That elevated him from 12th to fifth overall in the standings.

The result also provided an encouraging foundation for his next campaign.

Neumeyer has already confirmed that he intends to return to Euro RX5 in 2027, with the objective of challenging for the European title.

His late-season performances suggest that ambition is far from unrealistic.

If the German can reproduce his Lousada form more consistently, he could become one of the most serious challengers to the established Estonian frontrunners.

Wildcard Drivers Proved They Could Challenge the Regulars

Another important feature of Euro RX5's inaugural season was the opportunity for wildcard competitors to join the championship at selected events.

The original structure featured 14 full-season entrants alongside a rotating wildcard position, allowing drivers from national CrossCar championships to gain international experience.

Several of those appearances provided some of the season's most memorable performances.

Ádám Kelő Gere was perhaps the first major example.

Competing at his home event at Nyirád, the Hungarian immediately demonstrated impressive pace against the championship regulars.

He won Q3 before securing his semi-final victory, placing himself among the favourites for the final.

Gere made an excellent start and appeared capable of winning, but Comte's alternative joker lap strategy ultimately denied him the victory.

Second place nevertheless represented an exceptional result for a driver making a selected European appearance.

Höljes brought another interesting wildcard.

British driver Teddie MacPherson joined the championship following strong performances in domestic CrossCar competition.

He immediately demonstrated impressive speed, particularly during his semi-final.

Starting from the back row, MacPherson produced an extraordinary launch to take the lead before eventually losing the position to Comte.

He still qualified for the final and finished sixth on his European debut.

The performance demonstrated that drivers competing in British national championships could adapt quickly to the European field.

MacPherson returned at Mondello Park, a venue where he had already enjoyed success in British competition.

His knowledge of the track proved valuable.

He topped both Saturday qualifying sessions, although technical difficulties during the knockout stages eventually prevented him from reaching the final.

However, the Irish weekend still produced a popular home podium.

David Kane had originally been listed as a reserve before Marko Muru withdrew from the event.

The late change allowed Kane to join the championship with his Speedcar Wonder R.

Despite the limited preparation, he immediately demonstrated competitive speed and progressed into the final.

There, he challenged Raag during the opening stages before eventually securing third place behind the two Estonian championship contenders.

It was another demonstration of how competitive national CrossCar drivers could be against the regular European field.

The wildcard system therefore provided more than simply an opportunity to increase entry numbers.

It allowed drivers from different national championships to test themselves against established international opposition without committing to an entire European programme.

For a developing category, that could become an important part of attracting new competitors.

Beyond the Championships: CrossCar's European Breakthrough and What Comes Next

The most important achievement of Euro RX5's first season was arguably the introduction of a new development pathway into the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

CrossCar competition has grown significantly throughout Europe over the past decade, with national championships and international events attracting increasingly competitive fields.

However, the category had previously operated separately from the main European Rallycross Championship.

The introduction of RX5 changed that.

For the first time, drivers competing with purpose-built CrossCar machinery could pursue an FIA European rallycross title alongside the traditional RX1 and RX3 categories.

The decision also created opportunities for competitors who already owned suitable machinery.

Unlike the highly developed Supercars and Super1600 cars competing in the established categories, Euro RX5 uses the technical specifications already employed in the FIA European Cross Car Championship.

That allowed drivers to enter with existing CrossCar machinery rather than invest in completely new vehicles.

The inaugural season demonstrated the benefits of that approach.

Ligier, LifeLive, Speedcar, P-Tech, Atome and several other constructors were represented throughout the championship.

Importantly, the victories were also distributed between different manufacturers.

Braumüller and Comte won with Ligier machinery, Martínez and Neumeyer secured victories in Speedcars, while Raag claimed his two wins with the P-Tech.

That technical variety helped produce a championship in which different cars were competitive at different venues.

It also demonstrated that no single constructor had immediately established an overwhelming advantage.

Another encouraging aspect was the international nature of the entry list.

The original full-season field featured drivers from eight nationalities, with an average age of approximately 20.

Several arrived with previous national championship success, while others were taking their first significant steps into international competition.

For drivers such as Raag, Juga and Neumeyer, the season provided an opportunity to establish themselves in front of a considerably larger international audience.

However, maintaining that level of participation will be an important challenge.

Although the championship regularly attracted around 15 entries, the limited number of available positions meant that several interested drivers could only compete through wildcard opportunities.

Expanding the number of full-season competitors could help strengthen the category further, particularly if demand continues increasing.

There is also the question of how RX5 will develop alongside the existing FIA European Cross Car Championship.

Both categories use similar technical regulations, but their competitive environments and championship structures are different.

The possibility of competing in both competitions could offer valuable additional experience, although the financial demands of entering multiple international championships remain significant.

For younger drivers, balancing those opportunities with national competition will require careful planning.

Nevertheless, the performances of the 2026 newcomers provided encouraging evidence of the strength of the existing development system.

Raag secured the inaugural title at just 17, Juga established himself as an exceptional qualifier and Martínez demonstrated that national CrossCar success could translate into European victories.

Neumeyer's late-season improvement also provided a clear example of how quickly a driver can develop after gaining experience against stronger international opposition.

The category's next major opportunity will arrive at the FIA Rallycross World Cup in Jakarta on 5/6 December.

RX5 will join RX1 at the inaugural event, providing CrossCar drivers with an opportunity to compete for a World Cup title outside Europe.

The event will also introduce a different sporting format, featuring Superpole qualifying, two mandatory joker laps and expanded eight-car finals.

For drivers accustomed to the European championship, the format and unfamiliar Indonesian track will provide a new challenge.

It also represents an important opportunity to introduce CrossCar competition to a wider international audience.

Looking further ahead, several questions remain regarding the 2027 European season.

Neumeyer has already confirmed his intention to return and challenge for the title, but the programmes of several other leading drivers have yet to be established.

Raag will have the opportunity to defend his historic inaugural championship, while Juga will undoubtedly be determined to convert his remarkable qualifying speed into race victories.

Martínez and Comte have also demonstrated that they possess the performance required to challenge consistently near the front.

However, the success of Euro RX5 should not be measured solely by which drivers return.

The category has the potential to provide an important connection between national CrossCar competition and the highest levels of international rallycross.

Maintaining competitive entry lists, attracting new drivers and ensuring that the financial demands remain manageable will therefore be essential.

For now, the first season has provided an encouraging foundation.

Five different drivers won across six rounds, the championship battle remained open until the final weekend and several young competitors emerged as potential future stars.

The variety of machinery, strong national connections and unpredictable racing also gave Euro RX5 an identity of its own within the European championship.

Perhaps most importantly, the season demonstrated that a category built around relatively accessible machinery could produce racing every bit as competitive as the established classes.

Raag will forever be remembered as the first European RX5 Champion, but the successes of Juga, Kane, Gere, Martínez, Comte, Braumüller and Neumeyer ensured that the inaugural season was about much more than one driver.

With the first championship now complete, the challenge is to build on that momentum and establish Euro RX5 as a permanent part of the international rallycross landscape.

The introduction of Euro RX4 was one of the most significant developments in the 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship, bringing Rally4 machinery into the sport as part of a new approach to making international competition more accessible.

Unlike the highly developed Super1600 cars competing in Euro RX3, the new category uses existing front-wheel-drive Rally4 machinery with relatively limited modifications required for rallycross.

The inaugural season took drivers from Riga to Nyirád, Höljes and Mondello Park before concluding with a double-header at Lousada in September and although the entry lists remained relatively small, the championship produced an unexpectedly competitive title battle.

France's Andréa Bénézet eventually emerged as the inaugural European champion with his Eleven Motorsport-run Renault Clio Rally4, defeating Polish teenager Filip Melon by 14 points.

However, the final standings did not fully reflect how closely the pair had been matched throughout the season.

Melon secured three victories with his Peugeot 208 Rally4, while Bénézet combined outright speed with the consistency required to survive a championship affected by mechanical problems, penalties and several dramatic finals.

Behind them, China's Haotian Deng made history with his breakthrough victory in Portugal, while Albert Ako Kokk, Ivo Gabrāns and several other drivers demonstrated the potential of the new category.

There were also memorable performances from experienced drivers, the return of a famous manufacturer and important questions about how the championship might develop following its first season.

So, what did we learn from Euro RX4 in 2026?

Bénézet Became the First Champion, but It Was Never Straightforward

Andréa Bénézet entered the inaugural Euro RX4 season with an interesting family connection to the European Rallycross Championship.

His father, Eddy Bénézet, had secured the European Division 2 title in 2000, giving the younger Frenchman an opportunity to follow in his footsteps more than two decades later.

Competing with Eleven Motorsport in a Renault Clio Rally4, Bénézet immediately established himself as one of the strongest drivers in the new category.

At Riga, he topped the intermediate classification before winning his semi-final and the final, becoming the first race winner in Euro RX4 history.

It was an ideal beginning.

However, the following two rounds demonstrated that the championship would not become a straightforward against his rivals.

Melon dominated at Nyirád before winning again at Höljes, reducing Bénézet's championship advantage to just two points.

The Frenchman had endured difficult qualifying sessions in Sweden, including an incident during Q2, but recovered to finish second in the final.

His ability to secure valuable points despite those setbacks would become increasingly important.

Mondello Park then produced the biggest turning point of the championship.

Melon crossed the finish line first, seemingly taking his third consecutive victory and moving ahead in the standings.

However, the result was subsequently overturned following post-race technical checks.

Bénézet inherited victory, transforming what had appeared to be an increasingly difficult championship situation into a 24-point advantage heading into Portugal.

It was a substantial margin, but the title was far from secured.

During Saturday's Lousada final, Bénézet appeared set to complete the championship with one round remaining.

He had established a comfortable lead under the floodlights, only for a puncture during the closing stages to destroy his advantage.

Melon inherited victory, reducing the championship deficit to eight points before the final day.

The title would therefore be decided on Sunday.

Bénézet faced considerable pressure, particularly after his rival demonstrated impressive speed during the final qualifying sessions.

However, the Frenchman avoided unnecessary risks when the final arrived.

While Melon became involved in a difficult battle for position, Bénézet concentrated on collecting the points required to secure the title.

Third place was enough.

He completed the inaugural championship with 114 points, becoming the first Euro RX4 champion and following his father's European championship success 26 years earlier.

It was a significant achievement for Eleven Motorsport, but the greatest lesson from Bénézet's campaign was his consistency.

He did not necessarily possess the fastest car at every event, particularly when Melon began dominating qualifying, but he repeatedly managed to convert difficult weekends into strong championship results.

That proved decisive over a season in which small mistakes could have major consequences.

Bénézet also demonstrated his versatility by making a Euro RX1 appearance at Lohéac with an Eleven Motorsport Peugeot 208 WRX, narrowly missing a place in the semi-finals.

Although his immediate future programme remains to be established, the European title provides an important milestone in his career.

Melon Emerged as One of the Season's Biggest Breakthrough Stars

If Bénézet's championship was built around experience and consistency, Filip Melon's campaign was one of the most impressive examples of rapid development.

The Polish youngster had only begun competing in motorsport in 2023.

By his second season, he had already become the youngest Polish Rallycross Champion after defeating a field of more than 30 competitors in the Seicento Cup.

He successfully defended that title the following year before stepping into international competition with a Peugeot 208 Rally4.

For Melon and his family-run team, the initial objective was simply to gain experience.

Challenging for the European championship was not something they expected.

His opening appearance at Riga provided a promising beginning, even if fifth place did not immediately suggest he would become one of the strongest drivers in the category.

That changed at Nyirád.

Melon produced a remarkable clean sweep, topping every qualifying session before winning his semi-final and the final.

It was his first European victory and an important breakthrough for a driver still learning the demands of international rallycross.

The performance was particularly impressive considering that several of his rivals possessed more experience in powerful front-wheel-drive machinery.

Höljes then demonstrated that his Hungarian victory had not been an isolated result.

The Swedish round featured constantly changing weather conditions, with drivers having to adapt between wet and drying surfaces.

Melon again emerged victorious, securing his second consecutive win and moving within two points of Bénézet.

His success was built on genuine speed rather than simply benefiting from problems elsewhere.

By the middle of the championship, Melon had become one of the strongest qualifiers in the entire Euro RX4 field.

He eventually recorded eight fastest qualifying times during the opening four rounds, considerably more than any other regular competitor.

However, his championship ambitions suffered a major setback at Mondello Park.

After crossing the finish line first, Melon's Peugeot failed post-race scrutineering when officials discovered that its radiator thickness exceeded the maximum homologated measurement by one millimetre.

The resulting disqualification removed what would have been another victory and significantly changed the championship standings.

For a small family team competing at international level for the first time, it was a particularly costly mistake.

Yet Melon's response demonstrated his determination.

He returned at Lousada and secured his third official victory of the season, capitalising on Bénézet's late puncture to keep his championship hopes alive until the final race.

Although he ultimately finished runner-up with 100 points, the season exceeded almost every expectation he had before arriving in Riga.

At just 17 years old, Melon had established himself as a genuine European championship contender.

More importantly, his campaign demonstrated that a driver progressing from relatively modest national machinery could adapt quickly to Rally4 competition and immediately challenge more established international competitors.

The championship title escaped him, but his development throughout the season was one of the most encouraging stories of Euro RX4's first year.

Kokk Demonstrated Just How Much Potential the Next Generation Has

Another driver who attracted considerable attention during the inaugural championship was Albert Ako Kokk.

The Estonian entered the European season at just 14 years old, competing with a SET Promotion-run Renault Clio Rally4.

Despite his age, Kokk was not entirely inexperienced.

He had already secured an Estonian Junior Rallycross title before moving into Super1600 competition, gaining further experience in Estonian, Baltic and Latvian-Lithuanian events during 2025.

However, Euro RX4 represented another significant step forward.

His opening weekend at Riga was exceptional.

Kokk immediately demonstrated competitive speed during free practice before challenging Bénézet throughout qualifying and the knockout stages.

He eventually finished second in the final, securing a European podium during his first appearance in the new category.

It was one of the most impressive performances from any newcomer during the season opener.

The following rounds were more difficult.

Kokk remained competitive but struggled to reproduce his Riga result, while incidents and mechanical problems occasionally prevented him from collecting stronger finishes.

At Höljes, contact with Thomas Quincé during the semi-finals caused significant suspension damage, although a subsequent stewards decision allowed Kokk to progress into the final.

Nevertheless, his wider 2026 campaign demonstrated remarkable progress.

Alongside Euro RX4, he continued competing in the Estonian Super1600 championship with a Škoda Fabia.

The youngster emerged as one of the national title contenders, defeating several experienced drivers during the season before narrowly losing the championship to Siim Saluri.

Just two points separated them in the final standings.

Combining two different cars and championship programmes provided valuable experience, particularly considering the differences between traditional Super1600 machinery and the newer Rally4-based Renault.

Kokk eventually completed his European campaign fifth overall with 74 points.

His strongest conclusion came at Lousada, where he finished second during Sunday's final behind Haotian Deng.

For a driver who began the European season at just 14, two podium finishes and a top-five championship result represented an exceptional achievement.

It also demonstrated the value of providing young drivers with an opportunity to gain international experience before progressing into more powerful categories.

Kokk may not have challenged Bénézet and Melon consistently throughout the year, but his performances provided a strong indication of what the future of the category could look like.

Deng's Historic Victory Showed the International Potential of RX4

Haotian Deng's 2026 season provided another important example of how the new category could attract drivers from outside Europe's traditional rallycross markets.

The Chinese youngster joined the championship with Volland Racing, competing in a Renault Clio Rally4.

Although his opening performances were inconsistent, Deng immediately demonstrated that he possessed considerable speed.

At Riga, he became the first Chinese driver to win an FIA-sanctioned rallycross qualifying session after topping Q4.

It was a significant milestone, particularly for a driver competing in a discipline with relatively little established history in China.

However, converting that qualifying success into stronger final results initially proved difficult.

Nyirád was particularly frustrating.

Deng demonstrated promising speed but encountered several incidents, including a dramatic moment in Q3 when contact almost sent his Clio into a rollover.

Mechanical problems subsequently compromised his final, leaving him sixth.

The following rounds brought more encouraging results.

At Mondello Park, Deng secured second place following Melon's disqualification, producing one of his strongest performances of the campaign.

However, his defining moment arrived during the final round at Lousada.

With the championship contenders fighting aggressively for position at the start, Deng identified an opportunity and moved into the lead.

He maintained his advantage throughout the final, eventually taking victory ahead of Kokk and Bénézet.

The result made him the first Chinese driver to win an international rallycross event.

Deng completed the inaugural European championship third overall with 86 points, securing the bronze medal ahead of Gabrāns and Kokk.

It was an important achievement for both driver and team.

His season also demonstrated that Euro RX4 could offer opportunities beyond developing drivers already established in European rallycross.

For a category introduced with ambitions of making international competition more accessible, attracting competitors from new markets could become an important part of its future.

Gabrāns Provided Experience Against the Younger Generation

While many of the championship's leading drivers were teenagers, Ivo Gabrāns represented a more experienced presence within the field.

The Latvian competed with a Renault Clio Rally4 and immediately demonstrated that he could challenge the younger frontrunners.

His home event at Riga produced several competitive qualifying performances, although he eventually finished sixth.

Throughout the season, Gabrāns became one of the category's most consistent competitors.

Höljes provided his first podium, finishing third behind Melon and Bénézet following a final in which several drivers encountered problems.

He maintained that form during the closing stages of the championship.

At Lousada, Gabrāns finished second in Saturday's final, securing another important result before completing Sunday's race in fourth.

The Latvian eventually finished fourth overall with 78 points.

Although he never managed to secure a victory, his consistency placed him ahead of several younger drivers who occasionally demonstrated greater outright speed.

His performances also helped ensure that the inaugural category was not simply dominated by newcomers learning the discipline.

Experience remained valuable, particularly when changing weather conditions, mechanical problems and difficult race situations placed drivers under pressure.

Solberg Hansen, Quincé and Rusek Experienced Very Different Fortunes

Several drivers outside the leading championship contenders also provided interesting stories during the season.

Marius Solberg Hansen made one of the most anticipated appearances at Höljes, returning to the European championship with AI Racing Team in a Renault Clio Rally4.

The Norwegian was already familiar with the Swedish venue, having won there during the 2022 Euro RX3 championship.

His return immediately demonstrated his competitiveness.

Solberg Hansen topped the intermediate classification before winning his semi-final, placing himself among the favourites for victory.

However, his final ended in disappointment.

After running near the front throughout the race, technical problems forced him to retire during the closing stages.

He was eventually classified sixth, a frustrating outcome considering his impressive qualifying performances.

Although it was only a one-off appearance, the result demonstrated that experienced drivers could adapt quickly to Rally4 machinery.

Thomas Quincé also entered the championship with considerable expectations.

The French youngster had previously competed in international karting before moving into rallycross with Eleven Motorsport.

He finished third at both Riga and Nyirád, establishing himself as a regular podium contender during the opening rounds.

However, the remainder of his campaign proved more difficult.

Contact with Kokk at Höljes and a black flag during the Mondello Park weekend prevented him from maintaining his early momentum.

Quincé finished sixth in the championship with 40 points after contesting the opening four rounds.

For Anna Rusek, the season represented a different challenge.

The Polish driver had arrived in international rallycross following a relatively unconventional motorsport background, having initially developed her driving skills through ice-driving before moving into national competition.

Her first Euro RX4 campaign with Automax Motorsport was affected by several setbacks.

At Riga, contact during her semi-final damaged the Peugeot 208 and prevented her from reaching the final.

Nyirád produced another difficult weekend, while Höljes brought further frustration.

A gearbox problem discovered after the Swedish round forced her to withdraw from Mondello Park, interrupting her opportunity to gain experience.

Rusek returned for the Lousada finale but was unable to achieve the breakthrough result she had been seeking.

She completed the season seventh overall with 24 points.

Although the championship produced mixed fortunes for these drivers, their experiences illustrated the different challenges facing competitors entering a new international category.

For some, Euro RX4 provided an opportunity to challenge for victories immediately.

For others, simply completing events and adapting to unfamiliar machinery represented important progress.

Beyond the Championships: A Promising Beginning, but There Is Still Work to Do

The introduction of Euro RX4 represented an important change to the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

For many years, competing internationally in traditional rallycross categories required access to highly specialised machinery, with the development and maintenance costs often placing significant demands on smaller teams.

RX4 was introduced as an alternative.

By allowing existing Rally4 cars to compete with relatively limited modifications, the category created an opportunity for drivers to use machinery already available through the international rallying market.

The FIA initially estimated the cost of a suitable Rally4 car at approximately €70,000, considerably less than the cost of developing a competitive modern Supercar.

However, that figure does not account for every expense involved in completing a European championship campaign.

Transport, tyres, spare parts, repairs and the financial demands of competing internationally remain important considerations.

The first season also highlighted that accessibility alone does not immediately guarantee large entry lists.

Riga attracted eight cars, followed by seven at Nyirád and eight at Höljes.

Mondello Park again featured seven competitors, while the Lousada finale attracted another relatively small field.

Although several rounds produced entertaining battles, the limited number of entries sometimes reduced the competition during the knockout stages.

The category also did not compete at Lohéac, meaning its inaugural championship consisted of six rounds across five venues rather than the seven rounds contested by Euro RX1 and RX3.

Building a larger and more consistent field will therefore be one of the important challenges for the future.

Nevertheless, the racing demonstrated that the technical concept has potential.

The Renault Clio Rally4 and Peugeot 208 Rally4 dominated much of the inaugural campaign, with both models proving competitive in the hands of several different drivers.

However, the final weekend also brought an interesting new addition.

Portuguese driver Hélder Ferreira introduced the Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF at Lousada, making his international rallycross debut with the recently developed Italian machine.

It was a particularly significant appearance.

Lancia machinery had not competed in the FIA European Rallycross Championship since 2004, when several drivers continued racing Delta Integrales in the former Division 1 category.

The arrival of the Ypsilon therefore marked the manufacturer's return to European championship competition after 22 years.

Ferreira was unable to challenge the leading drivers during the final weekend, but his appearance demonstrated another advantage of the Rally4-based regulations.

As new cars are developed for international rallying, additional models can potentially become available for rallycross without requiring completely separate technical projects.

That could help introduce greater manufacturer variety in the coming seasons.

Another important consideration is the relationship between Euro RX4 and existing national development categories.

Many of the drivers who competed during 2026 had progressed from karting, junior rallycross or smaller national championships.

Melon's transition from the Polish Seicento Cup into European competition was perhaps the clearest example.

Kokk demonstrated that younger drivers could combine national Super1600 programmes with international Rally4 appearances, while Quincé continued developing his career after moving from karting.

Those different backgrounds demonstrated that the new category does not necessarily require drivers to follow one specific development route.

However, retaining those competitors will be just as important as attracting new ones.

For a young driver, a first international season can provide valuable experience, but progressing into another championship requires substantial investment and careful planning.

Euro RX4 must therefore offer more than simply an opportunity to compete in a European event.

It needs to provide a worthwhile competitive environment where drivers can develop their skills against sufficiently strong opposition.

The inaugural season certainly provided evidence that such competition is possible.

Bénézet and Melon repeatedly challenged each other for victories, Deng improved throughout the year and Kokk demonstrated remarkable potential against older and more experienced competitors.

Gabrāns also showed that experience could remain important, while Solberg Hansen's Höljes appearance demonstrated that established rallycross drivers could immediately become competitive in the new machinery.

Yet the championship remains in its early stages.

Larger entry lists, greater manufacturer variety and more opportunities for national drivers to enter selected rounds would help strengthen the category.

There is also the question of how many of the inaugural competitors will return for another season.

Bénézet has already achieved the historic distinction of becoming the first Euro RX4 champion, while Melon's performances suggest that he could become a contender in several different categories as his career develops.

Deng and Kokk have also demonstrated considerable potential, but their future programmes have yet to be fully established.

Whatever happens next, the 2026 season has provided Euro RX4 with an encouraging starting point.

It introduced a new route into international rallycross, crowned a historic first champion and produced several breakthrough performances from drivers who may become familiar names in the years ahead.

The category was not without its problems, particularly regarding participation and the cost of competing internationally.

However, few new championships establish themselves immediately.

For Euro RX4, the most important achievement of 2026 may not have been the number of cars on the starting grid or even the championship battle itself.

It was demonstrating that existing Rally4 machinery could deliver competitive international rallycross while introducing a new generation of drivers to the European championship.

The foundations are now in place but the challenge for 2027 will be building on them.

With just five weeks remaining until the inaugural FIA Rallycross World Cup, new aerial footage from Jakarta has revealed the latest progress on the transformation of the Ancol Circuit ahead of the historic event on 5/6 December.

The footage, published by AFA Channel and shared through the rallycross community, provides one of the clearest views yet of the extensive construction work taking place at the former Formula E venue.

Large sections of the existing tarmac track are being transformed into a mixed-surface rallycross layout, with newly shaped gravel sections, raised corners and extensive earthworks now clearly visible.

Perhaps most interestingly, the footage reveals progress on several of the unusual features that will distinguish Jakarta from the traditional European rallycross tracks.

These include the banked corner, a jump and the long, technical joker lap section, all of which are expected to play an important role when the world's leading rallycross drivers arrive in Indonesia.

The FIA Rallycross World Cup will take place on a heavily modified version of the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit, located in the Ancol district of the Indonesian capital.

Rather than constructing an entirely new venue, organisers have chosen to incorporate parts of the existing Formula E track into a purpose-built rallycross configuration.

The resulting layout will measure approximately 1.37 kilometres, featuring 11 corners and running in an anti-clockwise direction.

Around 60 percent of the track will consist of tarmac, with the remaining 40 percent featuring gravel sections.

However, it is the unusual layout that could make Jakarta particularly interesting.

The FIA previously confirmed that the second corner would feature banking, while a jump would be incorporated into the back straight.

Both features are now beginning to take shape, with the latest aerial images showing extensive work on the new off-road sections and surrounding track infrastructure.

Construction began in September and is scheduled to continue throughout November, leaving organisers with the task of completing the venue before the opening World Cup weekend.

Although substantial progress is visible, several sections remain unfinished in the latest footage, with earthmoving machinery still operating around the track.

One of Jakarta's most interesting features will be its technical joker lap, which has been designed to create additional strategic possibilities during the racing.

Unlike the traditional European rallycross format, drivers competing in the World Cup will be required to complete two joker laps during each race.

However, they will not be permitted to take them on consecutive laps.

That could make the alternative route particularly important, especially with the World Cup introducing eight-car semi-finals and finals.

With more cars competing simultaneously, drivers and spotters will have to consider traffic, track position and the strategies being used by their opponents.

The combination of banked corners, a jump and a demanding joker lap could also provide a different challenge from the more familiar European venues.

Nobody arrives with previous competitive rallycross experience of the new layout, meaning even the most established drivers will have to adapt quickly during practice.

The event will feature two categories, RX1 for traditional four-wheel-drive Supercars and RX5 for CrossCars.

Several major international names have already confirmed their participation, including nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, Kevin Hansen, René Münnich, Patrick O'Donovan and Casper Jansson.

The World Cup will also introduce Superpole qualifying, providing another difference from the regular European championship format.

For organisers SARGA Motorsport, the event represents an ambitious attempt to establish rallycross in a completely new international market.

Indonesia has previously hosted major international motorsport events, but the World Cup will mark the discipline's first major FIA-sanctioned competition in Southeast Asia.

With construction continuing and more than a month remaining before the event, attention will now turn towards the completion of the track and its final preparations.

The latest aerial footage offers an encouraging indication of how the ambitious project is progressing, although the finished layout has yet to be demonstrated under competitive conditions.

Jakarta is preparing to introduce something considerably different from the tracks traditionally associated with European rallycross.

With the 2026 BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship now concluded, attention is already turning towards 2027, with the first calendar details, driver listings and championship information beginning to appear on the series' official website.

The British club-level championship, which dates back to 1977, is preparing to enter its 50th anniversary year, although much of the programme remains under development.

An early seven-event calendar has been outlined, with three dates currently listed and the remaining four yet to be confirmed.

Blyton Park is scheduled to host the opening round on 18 April, followed by another visit to the Lincolnshire venue on 20 June for the third round.

The traditional season finale at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland is currently scheduled for 17 October.

A pre-season test day is also planned at Blyton Park on 21 February, providing an opportunity for returning competitors and newcomers to prepare their machinery ahead of the championship.

The remaining venues and dates have yet to be announced, leaving questions about whether Lydden Hill and Pembrey will retain their positions on the calendar.

Both tracks featured during 2026, with BTRDA continuing its cooperation with the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy through selected joint events.

Whether that arrangement will continue in the same form next season remains to be confirmed.

The championship is expected to retain its varied class structure, accommodating everything from relatively standard Production cars to heavily modified two-wheel-drive machinery, four-wheel-drive cars, historic vehicles and CrossCars.

The official website already lists Clubman 4x4, Modified 4x4, Super Modified, Modified, BMW Mini, Production, Junior Rallycross, Pre-1995 Classic and Motorsport UK CrossCar classes among the categories for 2027.

The existing MRF tyre arrangements are also set to continue in several categories, while Super Modified and Pre-1995 Classic competitors will retain freedom of tyre choice under the information currently published.

Although the final 2027 technical and sporting regulations have not yet been released, the championship has already begun compiling its list of prospective drivers and cars.

Among the familiar names appearing are Simon Horton with his Subaru Impreza and Graeme Reid in the Nissan Pulsar GTI-R, both listed in the four-wheel-drive categories.

Super Modified also features several returning competitors, including Richard Moore with his distinctive V8-powered Mercedes Benz SLK, Todd Crooks in a BMW Mini Cooper S and Mark Henry with his Alfa Romeo 147.

The BMW Mini category already has several drivers listed, including Wesley Wickens, Eddie Gibbs and Graham Ives, while Alex Fletcher appears in Production with his Honda Civic Type R.

There are also familiar names in the Classic category, including Tony Lynch, Helen Crooks and Davy Crockett.

The CrossCar listings include Will Ovenden, Bradley Turner and James Constantine, while the Junior CrossCar category also features several prospective entrants.

These are early website listings rather than final event entries, but they provide an encouraging indication of the variety of machinery that could feature next season.

One of the biggest challenges heading into 2027 will be maintaining healthy entry numbers across the championship.

While BTRDA has regularly attracted fields exceeding 50 competitors during recent seasons, the Knockhill finale featured just 27 entries, considerably fewer than originally anticipated.

The championship continues offering an important platform for newcomers, independent teams and drivers who want to compete without the financial demands associated with higher-level national and international rallycross.

However, travelling costs, machinery preparation and the financial commitment required to contest a complete season remain important considerations.

The proposed seven-round calendar would also represent an additional championship event compared with the six-round structure used in 2026, potentially creating more opportunities for competitors while increasing the importance of keeping costs manageable.

There is also an interesting development elsewhere in British rallycross.

The 5 Nations BRX championship will introduce Open 2WD in 2027, creating another opportunity for drivers competing with heavily modified two-wheel-drive machinery.

How the new category might influence participation in BTRDA's Super Modified classes remains to be seen, although the championships serve different purposes within the British rallycross structure.

For now, the early signs suggest that BTRDA intends to maintain the combination of accessible competition, established categories and varied machinery that has defined the championship for decades.

With further calendar announcements, regulations and driver information expected over the coming months, the picture of the 2027 season should gradually become clearer.

Meanwhile, Sideways Stories' final race report of the 2026 season has been delayed by almost two weeks, as the official championship standings have not yet been updated following the Knockhill finale on 18 October.

Rather than publishing the race results separately, Sideways Stories intends to include both the Knockhill race report and the final championship points in one complete article once the updated standings become available.

At the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben earlier this month, a familiar Belgian Volvo 242 finally returned to the top step of the podium.

After spending much of the season challenging some of the strongest rear-wheel-drive drivers in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Ariane Vanlommel secured victory during the final round of the 2026 German Rallycross Championship.

It was a particularly satisfying conclusion to a weekend that had already produced a third-place finish during Saturday's penultimate round.

The victory also helped Vanlommel secure third overall in the German DRX2 championship with 185 points, completing one of her strongest international campaigns to date.

But the result was only the latest chapter in a rallycross career that has gradually taken the Belgian from national competition into some of Europe's most competitive two-wheel-drive fields.

For many spectators, Vanlommel has become instantly recognisable through her aggressive driving style and distinctive Volvo 242s, machines that look as though they belong to an earlier generation of touring car racing rather than modern international rallycross and unlike most drivers, she has two of them.

One is known as Inferno, the other as Bliksem, each carrying its own distinctive appearance and playing a different role in her racing programme.

However, behind the spectacular Swedish machinery is a driver whose enthusiasm for the sport extends considerably further than collecting trophies.

Before the Volvos Came a BMW

Although Vanlommel is now closely associated with Volvo machinery, her rallycross career did not begin with the Swedish manufacturer.

During the early 2020s, she competed in the Supernationals+ category with a BMW E46, taking on established competitors at venues such as Valkenswaard, Arendonk and Mettet.

The BMW provided valuable experience in the demanding world of powerful rear-wheel-drive rallycross machinery, where managing traction and maintaining momentum can be just as important as outright engine performance.

By 2023, that experience was beginning to deliver results.

Vanlommel secured the Dutch Club Supernationals+ championship, finishing the season with 54 points.

She defeated Ludo Triekels and Peter Puttenaers, who completed the championship podium with 34 and 30 points respectively.

Although the club championship operated separately from the main Dutch national title, the achievement represented an important milestone.

It also demonstrated that Vanlommel was capable of competing successfully against drivers with considerably more established programmes.

However, her next step would give her a very different identity within the rallycross paddock.

The BMW eventually made way for Volvo 242 machinery, introducing the cars that would become synonymous with her racing career.

By 2024, she was already competing with a Volvo in the Belgian, Dutch and German rallycross championships, frequently sharing the track with fellow Volvo driver Yorick Maeyninckx.

Together, the two became familiar faces in the Supernationals paddock, regularly competing under the Oud-Turnhout Rally Team banner.

While Maeyninckx developed his increasingly powerful Volvo 242, known as The Mean Machine, Vanlommel continued establishing her own presence in the category.

It was the beginning of an association that would eventually take her well beyond the traditional national championship venues.

Inferno and Bliksem 2.0: Two Volvos With Their Own Identity

Perhaps the most interesting part of Vanlommel's current racing programme is that she operates two different Volvo 242s.

Both cars retain the unmistakable appearance of the classic Swedish two-door saloon but each has its own identity.

Inferno is distinguished by its striking red flame design, while Bliksem carries yellow flames.

The names themselves are particularly appropriate for machines that have become known for spectacular rear-wheel-drive action.

Inferno is primarily used during her national championship appearances, including competition in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Bliksem 2.0, meanwhile, is more commonly associated with her RallyX appearances, where the Belgian faces some of the strongest Open 2WD competitors from across Europe, the car also appears at selected national outings as well.

The exact technical differences between the two cars have not been publicly established.

Belgian RX described Vanlommel as competing with a new 3.2-litre Volvo 242 during the Arendonk round in June 2026, although the available information does not clearly establish how the specifications of Inferno and Bliksem 2.0 compare.

Nevertheless, having two separate cars provides an interesting dimension to her programme.

National Supernationals competition and RallyX Open 2WD may share a similar philosophy, but their respective regulations, formats and competitive demands can differ considerably.

The Volvo 242 itself is an increasingly unusual choice in modern international rallycross.

Originally introduced during the 1970s, the two-door version of Volvo's 240 Series belongs to a generation of cars that predates most of the machinery competing in contemporary international championships.

Yet the model has maintained a strong following among Scandinavian, British and Benelux rallycross competitors.

Its traditional rear-wheel-drive layout and relatively simple architecture have provided the foundation for countless highly modified racing projects over the decades.

For Vanlommel, the two Volvos represent considerably more than a distinctive appearance.

They have become the centre of a racing programme that allows her to compete in several different countries while remaining closely connected to the national Supernationals scene and regardless of which car she chooses, the sight of a Volvo 242 being driven sideways through a rallycross corner remains difficult to overlook.

From National Competition to RallyX

Vanlommel's decision to compete internationally provided another important step in her development.

Her appearances in RallyX have introduced her to considerably larger fields, where highly developed front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive machinery compete together under the Open 2WD regulations.

The 2025 season was particularly important.

RallyX made its first visit to Valkenswaard in April, bringing together drivers from Scandinavia, Ireland, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and several other countries.

For Vanlommel, it was an opportunity to compete against some of the strongest names in the category.

Among the entrants were three-time champion Simon Tiger, Viktor Johansson, Erik Lidman, Peter McGarry, Steve Volders and Kristof Bex.

The Belgian entered with her Volvo 242 and immediately found herself among a field featuring some of the most unusual and powerful two-wheel-drive machinery in European rallycross.

However, the attraction of RallyX was not simply the opportunity to compete against established champions.

Speaking in the official event magazine ahead of the Valkenswaard weekend, Vanlommel explained that her involvement in the sport was driven by a love of adrenaline and the atmosphere surrounding rallycross.

She also highlighted the international nature of RallyX, where drivers from different countries come together to compete.

For Vanlommel, Valkenswaard held particular significance as her favourite track.

Her approach was straightforward: enjoy the experience, compete against the leading drivers and make the most of the opportunity without placing unnecessary expectations on the result.

That philosophy has remained an important part of her international appearances.

During 2026, Vanlommel returned to RallyX as the championship once again visited Valkenswaard and Estering.

The competition had become increasingly demanding.

The German finale featured 27 Open 2WD cars, with the combined RallyX North and South fields bringing together an exceptional collection of drivers and machinery.

Vanlommel faced familiar Belgian opponents such as Bex and Volders alongside international contenders including Lucas Gabrielsson, Johansson, Lidman and several other competitors.

Although she was unable to secure a final appearance, the experience provided another opportunity to compete against opposition rarely encountered during a normal national championship weekend.

It also demonstrated how far her racing programme had developed.

A driver who had previously concentrated on national Supernationals competition was now regularly appearing on the same international entry lists as some of the most successful Open 2WD drivers in the sport.

A Season of Podiums Across Europe

The 2026 season has provided several important results for Vanlommel.

In Belgium, she has established herself as a regular contender in the Supernationals+ category, competing against some of the country's strongest rear-wheel-drive drivers.

Kristof Bex and Steve Volders have dominated much of the championship battle, but Vanlommel has frequently remained within reach of the leading positions.

At Arendonk in June, she secured third place behind Maeyninckx and Volders following an eventful final in which Bex spun out of contention.

She continued collecting competitive results throughout the summer, including an impressive second-place finish behind Volders during the Dutch Rallycross Championship's fifth round at Valkenswaard in July.

On that occasion, Volders dominated the weekend with his BMW M3 E30, but Vanlommel emerged as his closest challenger.

July also brought an opportunity to compete at another historic rallycross venue.

Vanlommel travelled to Lydden Hill in the United Kingdom for the 2WD Superprix, joining an international field in the Super Modified category.

The event brought together several BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship frontrunners alongside visiting competitors from continental Europe.

Polish driver Sławomir Wołoch dominated the event with his BMW M3 E92, winning every qualifying session and the final.

Behind him, Fred Ling secured second place in his Ford Fiesta Mk6.

Vanlommel completed the podium in third, finishing ahead of several established British competitors.

It was another valuable result at a venue with a long history in international rallycross.

The Belgian championship then returned to Arendonk in September, where Vanlommel produced another strong performance.

Heavy rain had transformed the Glosso track into an extremely demanding surface, creating difficult conditions for the powerful rear-wheel-drive cars.

Vanlommel adapted quickly and set the fastest time during the opening qualifying session, finishing approximately three seconds ahead of Bex.

Although she was unable to maintain that advantage throughout the remaining sessions, the result demonstrated her ability to challenge the championship's leading drivers in difficult conditions.

With the finals eventually abandoned because of the weather, the qualifying classification determined the overall result.

Vanlommel secured third behind Bex and Volders, adding another important podium to her season.

The results placed her firmly in contention for a Belgian championship medal heading into the closing rounds.

However, the strongest conclusion to her international campaign was still to come.

Oschersleben Delivers a Rewarding Victory

The German Rallycross Championship provided another major part of Vanlommel's 2026 programme.

Competing in DRX2, she faced established German frontrunners such as Colin Neurath, Bastian Sichelschmidt and Tobias Weigel, alongside several familiar competitors from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Her teammate Maeyninckx had dominated the opening five rounds, winning every event before a frightening accident during the RallyX finale at Estering brought his season to an early conclusion.

The crash caused extensive damage to The Mean Machine, preventing him from returning for the German championship finale.

Vanlommel, meanwhile, continued her own campaign.

Heading into the final double-header at Oschersleben, she occupied fourth place in the DRX2 standings with 122 points.

The final weekend provided an opportunity to improve that position.

Saturday brought a third-place finish behind Neurath and Sichelschmidt, adding another podium to a season that had already delivered several competitive results.

However, Sunday would prove considerably more successful.

Neurath appeared set to continue his dominance after winning all three qualifying sessions but the final produced a different outcome.

A mistake by the BMW driver opened an opportunity for Vanlommel, who capitalised to secure victory ahead of Weigel and Neurath.

It was her first German championship victory of the season and arguably one of the most satisfying results of her 2026 campaign and the victory came aboard her distinctive Bliksem 2.0.

The victory also elevated her to third overall in DRX2, completing the championship with 185 points.

For a driver competing across several national and international championships, the result represented a deserved reward for the commitment required to maintain such an extensive programme.

It also demonstrated that Vanlommel was capable of doing considerably more than simply challenging for occasional podium positions.

Against experienced opposition, she had delivered a victory at one of Germany's best-known motorsport venues.

Racing for the Enjoyment, Not Just the Results

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Vanlommel's career is the enthusiasm she continues showing for rallycross.

Her appearances across RallyX, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Britain have required considerable travelling, preparation and commitment, particularly when competing with machinery that demands extensive maintenance between events.

Yet she has continued seeking opportunities to compete at different venues and against different drivers.

Her association with Maeyninckx and the wider OTRT operation has also provided an interesting dimension to her career.

Both drivers have shared numerous grids in national competition, frequently challenging each other in their respective Volvo 242s.

Although they operate within the same racing environment, their approach on track remains competitive.

An official driver presentation published ahead of the 2026 RallyX Estering weekend highlighted that rivalry, describing Vanlommel as one of Maeyninckx's closest challengers rather than simply another member of the team.

The presentation also provided an interesting insight into her personality.

Asked which driver she would most like to race against, Vanlommel replied that she was happy to compete against anybody, although she hoped to see another female driver joining the field.

It was a simple response, but one that reflected her enthusiasm for the competition itself.

Her performances have also made her one of the most recognisable female competitors in the Benelux Supernationals scene, where the leading categories continue to feature predominantly male drivers.

However, Vanlommel's achievements deserve recognition for the competition she has faced rather than simply her position as a woman in motorsport.

She has challenged national champions, secured podiums across several countries and demonstrated that her distinctive Volvo machinery remains competitive against more modern and extensively developed cars.

Her 2026 campaign has provided further evidence of that progress.

The German championship bronze medal and Oschersleben victory were important achievements, while her performances in Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain demonstrated the consistency she has developed.

With the Belgian championship finale at Mettet still approaching, her season is not yet completely finished.

What happens beyond that remains to be seen.

No confirmed 2027 programme has been announced, although her continued involvement in several championships suggests that the opportunities available to her are unlikely to be limited to one country.

And with Inferno and Bliksem 2.0 both representing different parts of her rallycross programme, Vanlommel has two particularly distinctive machines with which to continue her journey.

Perhaps the most appropriate way to conclude her story comes from something she said in the official Estering driver presentation earlier this year.

When asked how much longer she intended to continue competing, her response was simple.

"As far as I am concerned, forever."

For somebody who originally entered rallycross because of the adrenaline, atmosphere and enjoyment of competing, that seems entirely appropriate.

The BMW E46 that brought her early success has long since made way for the two Volvos, but the motivation behind her racing remains much the same and whether it is Inferno or Bliksem 2.0 arriving at the next starting grid, one thing is certain.

Ariane Vanlommel has no intention of running out of enthusiasm for rallycross anytime soon.

The 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship delivered another memorable season in Euro RX3, with a fierce title battle, several breakthrough performances and some of the most dramatic racing seen across the European categories.

Rytis Gurklys eventually emerged as champion, defeating Julien Meunier by just two points following seven rounds of competition across Latvia, Hungary, Sweden, Ireland, France and Portugal.

However, the championship produced far more than a battle between the leading pair.

Meunier arrived as a European newcomer but immediately challenged the established frontrunners, while Libor Teješ transformed a disastrous opening round into his first European championship medal.

Sámuel Kovács and Markus Røsrud demonstrated that Škoda machinery could remain competitive against the dominant Audis, Nicolas Geleyns continued challenging near the front and Dylan Dufas embarked on an ambitious development programme with his new Volkswagen Polo.

The season also featured heavy accidents, difficult recoveries and some remarkable performances from drivers competing in front of their home supporters.

Perhaps most notably, Euro RX3 remained a category where established machinery, independent teams and promising young drivers could compete directly against one another.

While the European championship's leading Supercar category attracted much of the international attention, the traditional Super1600 class delivered plenty of stories of its own.

Here is what we learned from Euro RX3 in 2026.

Gurklys and Meunier Turned the Championship Into a Season-Long Duel

Rytis Gurklys entered 2026 with unfinished business after finishing runner-up in the previous European championship.

The Lithuanian had already demonstrated his potential with victory at Höljes in 2025, but converting that speed into a championship title remained his main objective.

However, the arrival of Julien Meunier immediately complicated those ambitions.

The Frenchman established himself as the strongest driver during the opening two rounds, winning at Riga and Nyirád with the Audi A1 previously raced by the reigning champion João Ribeiro.

Gurklys finished second on both occasions, collecting valuable points but leaving Hungary with a 14-point deficit.

At that stage, Meunier appeared capable of controlling the championship.

Yet Höljes produced the first major change in momentum.

Despite topping the intermediate classification, Meunier suffered an electrical problem during his semi-final and was eliminated before reaching the final.

Gurklys took full advantage, securing his second consecutive Höljes victory ahead of Kovács and Røsrud.

The result moved him into the championship lead.

Mondello Park then produced one of the most important races of the season.

Gurklys dominated qualifying, winning all four sessions before securing his semi-final victory.

However, Meunier fought back in the final, producing a daring move during the opening corners to take the lead.

The Frenchman crossed the finish line first, but a subsequent three-second penalty for exceeding track limits during the opening-lap battle dropped him to third.

Gurklys inherited victory, extending his championship advantage to 28 points.

It was a remarkable turnaround.

After just two rounds, Meunier had appeared to be the clear favourite. By the halfway stage, Gurklys had taken control without necessarily possessing the fastest car at every event.

However, the championship remained far from settled.

Meunier responded at Lohéac with a commanding victory on home soil, reducing the deficit to ten points before the final double-header at Lousada.

The Portuguese weekend then delivered an extraordinary conclusion.

Neither championship contender reached Saturday's final, with Meunier suffering a frightening accident that damaged his Audi and left his participation in Sunday's race uncertain.

N Team subsequently provided the Frenchman with a Škoda Fabia, allowing him to continue his championship challenge.

Despite having virtually no experience in the car, Meunier won all three Sunday qualifying sessions and his semi-final.

Gurklys endured a considerably more difficult morning, qualifying only 12th before producing an exceptional recovery to win his own semi-final.

Both drivers therefore reached the decisive race.

Unfortunately, the championship battle ended almost immediately.

Contact between Gurklys and Meunier approaching turn 1 sent the Frenchman's Škoda into the barriers, ending his hopes of securing the title.

Gurklys continued and initially crossed the finish line first, but was subsequently black-flagged for his involvement in the incident.

Despite losing the final victory, he retained enough points to become European champion.

The final classification showed Gurklys on 154 points, just two ahead of Meunier on 152.

It was a controversial conclusion to an otherwise exceptional championship battle.

Nevertheless, the season highlighted the different strengths of the two drivers.

Meunier was frequently the fastest competitor, securing three victories and dominating qualifying at several events.

Gurklys demonstrated a slightly different quality, consistently collecting significant points even when his rival appeared to have the advantage.

His victories at Höljes and Mondello Park were particularly important, with the latter ultimately becoming one of the decisive moments in the championship.

For the Lithuanian, the title represented the achievement he had narrowly missed the previous season.

For Meunier, it was a frustrating conclusion to a remarkable first European campaign.

Meunier Proved His Success Was Never Limited to One Category

Although Julien Meunier arrived as a newcomer to Euro RX3 in 2026, he was far from inexperienced in international rallycross.

The Frenchman had already secured two French Super1600 titles, establishing himself as one of the country's most promising young drivers.

He had also demonstrated considerable versatility by winning the 2025 RallyX Supercar Lites championship.

His decision to enter Euro RX3 with the Audi A1 previously driven by European champion João Ribeiro therefore represented another important step in his development.

However, adapting to a full European championship campaign still presented a significant challenge.

Different tracks, varying conditions and the pressure of competing against established RX3 specialists meant that success was never guaranteed.

Meunier nevertheless adapted almost immediately.

He won on his first European appearance at Riga before repeating the achievement at Nyirád, a track he had never previously visited.

What made his performances particularly impressive was his ability to adapt his driving when circumstances changed.

The Irish round provided an example.

After struggling to establish a consistent rhythm during qualifying, Meunier adjusted his approach rather than continuing with the same setup and driving style.

By the final, he had recovered enough speed to challenge Gurklys directly.

Although the subsequent penalty prevented him from retaining the victory, the performance demonstrated his ability to recover from an unpromising start to a weekend.

His home event at Lohéac provided another example of his determination.

The team discovered a problem with his Audi before the event, raising doubts about whether he would even be able to compete.

After the roll cage issue was resolved, Meunier delivered his strongest performance of the season.

He won Q2, Q3 and Q4 before completing victories in the semi-final and final.

The result was especially significant for his family.

Only moments before Julien secured his European victory, his older brother Damien had won the French Rallycross Championship's Supercar final at the same event.

The double celebration became one of the most memorable moments of the Lohéac weekend.

Meunier's achievements also extended beyond his Euro RX3 campaign.

Following the conclusion of the European season, he made his FC2 debut at the inaugural RallyX Global Final in Montalegre.

Competing against several established RallyX frontrunners, the Frenchman immediately demonstrated his ability to adapt to the more powerful four-wheel-drive machinery.

He finished third in Saturday's final and second on Sunday, securing third overall in the Global Final standings.

It was another significant achievement for a driver who had spent much of 2026 competing with a front-wheel-drive Super1600 car.

Within two seasons, Meunier has now demonstrated competitive speed in Supercar Lites, Euro RX3 and FC2.

His European championship defeat was undoubtedly disappointing, but the wider picture suggests that 2026 represented another major step forward in his career.

Whether he returns for another attempt at the Euro RX3 title or concentrates on developing his opportunities in four-wheel-drive machinery will be particularly interesting to follow.

Teješ Turned an Almost Impossible Start Into a Championship Medal

Libor Teješ provided one of the most impressive recovery stories of the season.

The Czech driver arrived in Riga after completing an extensive winter rebuild of his Audi A1, determined to improve on a 2025 campaign in which he had reached four finals without securing a podium.

However, his opening weekend ended in disaster.

During the first semi-final, Teješ became involved in a major accident that launched his Audi into the concrete barriers.

The impact caused substantial damage and forced the Czech driver to undergo medical examinations at hospital.

Although he escaped serious injury, the car required extensive repairs.

With only three weeks separating Riga and Nyirád, there were genuine concerns about whether the team would be able to return in time.

Fortunately, friends and specialists helped repair the Audi, allowing Teješ to take part in the Hungarian round.

But the difficulties were far from over.

A technical problem appeared during practice and continued affecting the car throughout Saturday's qualifying sessions.

By the end of the day, Teješ was only 14th in the classification and appeared likely to suffer another disappointing result.

The team eventually identified the problem during the evening.

On Sunday, the Audi was competitive again.

Teješ produced an impressive performance in Q4, progressed through the semi-finals and finished fourth in the final, narrowly missing his first European podium.

The result was an important turning point.

Although he continued experiencing difficult weekends later in the season, Teješ remained among the leading championship contenders.

His determination was finally rewarded at Lousada.

The Czech driver finished second in both finals, securing the European podium results that had repeatedly escaped him throughout the previous two seasons.

Those performances elevated him to third overall with 106 points.

It was a remarkable outcome considering how close his championship had come to ending before the second round.

Teješ never managed to win a final, but his consistent points accumulation and ability to recover from major setbacks secured a deserved championship medal.

His season also demonstrated the importance of the people working behind the scenes.

Without the effort required to rebuild the Audi after Riga, his eventual third-place championship finish would never have been possible.

Kovács and Geleyns Had the Speed, but Not the Consistency

While the championship became increasingly focused on Gurklys and Meunier, several other drivers regularly demonstrated enough speed to challenge the leading pair.

Sámuel Kovács was among the strongest.

The Hungarian had already established himself in Euro RX3, finishing fourth in the 2025 championship after collecting several podium results with his Škoda Fabia.

For 2026, the objective was to move closer to the championship's leading drivers.

His home event at Nyirád provided an encouraging start.

Kovács topped both free practice sessions before securing third place in the final, giving the Hungarian supporters another reason to celebrate.

However, Höljes brought an even stronger performance.

The Škoda driver battled near the front throughout the weekend before finishing second behind Gurklys, securing another important podium.

Those performances demonstrated that he possessed the speed required to compete against the leading Audi drivers.

Unfortunately, the remainder of the season proved less consistent.

Mechanical problems and incidents repeatedly prevented Kovács from converting competitive qualifying performances into strong final results.

At Mondello Park, a problem on the starting grid compromised his semi-final, while Lohéac brought another disappointing outcome.

He recovered to finish third during Saturday's Lousada round despite rolling his car, but was unable to maintain that momentum on Sunday.

Kovács completed the championship sixth overall with 77 points.

For a driver who had finished fourth the previous season, the result was frustrating, although his performances at Nyirád and Höljes demonstrated that his potential remained.

Nicolas Geleyns experienced a similarly inconsistent campaign.

After finishing third in the 2025 European championship, he entered the new season hoping to establish himself among the regular title contenders.

Riga produced a promising start, with the Volland Racing driver securing third after surviving an incident-filled weekend.

However, Nyirád brought one of his most difficult performances.

Geleyns spun into the barriers during Q2 before forgetting to complete his joker lap in Q4, resulting in a costly 30-second penalty.

The mistakes effectively destroyed his opportunity to collect another strong result.

His best performance came at Mondello Park.

Geleyns remained competitive throughout the weekend and eventually secured second place following Meunier's post-race penalty.

He also challenged near the front at Lohéac, finishing fourth after an entertaining battle involving Gurklys and Tom Le Jossec.

Geleyns ended the championship fifth with 82 points.

Although neither he nor Kovács managed to sustain a title challenge, both demonstrated that the competition behind the leading pair was considerably stronger than the championship margins suggested.

Their seasons also highlighted how difficult it can be to recover from a single mistake when the field is closely matched.

Røsrud and Dufas Demonstrated the Challenges Facing Ambitious Young Drivers

Markus Røsrud and Dylan Dufas entered 2026 with different projects, but both shared the ambition of establishing themselves more consistently in European competition.

Røsrud had already attracted considerable attention during his appearance at Höljes in 2025.

On his first visit to the famous Swedish track, the Norwegian stunned the opposition by topping three of the four qualifying sessions in difficult weather conditions.

For 2026, he returned with a more extensive European programme aboard his ex-Volland Racing Škoda Fabia.

However, his opening rounds demonstrated how difficult it can be to maintain competitive performances over an entire championship.

Røsrud endured several incidents at Riga before producing impressive speed at Nyirád, where he won Q1.

Unfortunately, contact and a subsequent mistake during the final prevented him from converting that speed into a podium.

Höljes eventually provided the result he had been chasing.

Røsrud secured third behind Gurklys and Kovács, earning his first Euro RX3 podium and demonstrating once again how competitive he could be at the Swedish track.

The remaining events proved more difficult, with mechanical problems and incidents affecting his results.

He completed the championship eighth overall with 54 points.

Although the final position did not fully reflect his outright speed, Røsrud had taken an important step forward by securing his first European podium.

For Dufas, the season represented an entirely different challenge.

The former French Junior Rallycross Champion returned with a newly developed Volkswagen Polo, built in collaboration with RX Evolution.

Having previously secured a Euro RX3 victory at Estering in 2023, Dufas already possessed international experience, but the new car required considerable development.

Unfortunately, his campaign began with a spectacular accident at Riga.

Contact with Røsrud during the semi-finals sent the Volkswagen into a rollover, causing substantial damage to a car that had only just begun its competitive career.

The team faced extensive repairs before the following event.

Despite the setback, Dufas returned at Nyirád and finished fifth, an encouraging result considering the circumstances.

He repeated that position at Höljes before producing his strongest performance at Mondello Park.

The Frenchman finished fourth in Ireland, narrowly missing the podium and demonstrating the progress made with the Polo.

However, the encouraging results did not continue.

Further difficulties affected his home round at Lohéac where he collided with the outside barriers at the joker lap section and Dufas eventually withdrew from the Lousada finale.

He finished ninth overall with 47 points.

Although the season ended without the podium he had hoped for, his performances demonstrated that developing an alternative to the established Audi machinery remained a worthwhile ambition.

Both Røsrud and Dufas showed flashes of significant potential throughout 2026.

The challenge now is converting those performances into consistent results without the interruptions that repeatedly affected their campaigns.

Home Performances and Unexpected Podiums Added Variety to the Season

Some of the most memorable Euro RX3 performances came from drivers who were not involved in the championship battle.

Audrius Kragas provided one such example at Lohéac.

The Lithuanian had experienced an inconsistent opening half of the season with his Škoda Fabia, demonstrating competitive pace without securing a significant result.

However, the changing weather conditions in France brought an opportunity.

Kragas topped the opening wet qualifying session before remaining competitive as the track gradually dried throughout the weekend.

He eventually finished second behind Meunier, securing his first Euro RX3 podium.

The result represented an important breakthrough and demonstrated that he could challenge the strongest drivers when everything came together.

Another surprise came from Tom Le Jossec.

Competing in front of his home supporters, the Frenchman used an early joker lap strategy to move through the field during the final.

He emerged ahead of Gurklys and secured third, completing a successful French weekend for the category.

However, the biggest surprise came during the season finale in Portugal.

André Sousa had experienced a difficult European campaign with his Audi A1.

Although he had regularly demonstrated competitive speed, mistakes and mechanical problems prevented him from securing the results he wanted.

At Höljes, for example, he lost a wheel during the final, ending another promising weekend prematurely.

By the time the championship reached Lousada, Sousa remained well outside the leading positions in the standings.

Yet his home event transformed the season.

The Portuguese driver secured his maiden European victory during Saturday's final after the leading championship contenders encountered problems.

He returned on Sunday and claimed another victory following Gurklys' disqualification.

Within two days, Sousa had gone from never winning a European championship event to completing a remarkable double.

The results also elevated him to fourth overall with 97 points, just nine behind bronze medallist Teješ.

His achievement was one of the most impressive late-season turnarounds in any European category.

It also demonstrated the importance of allowing national competitors to challenge established championship regulars at familiar tracks.

Euro RX3 benefited from the variety of drivers entering selected events, and performances such as those from Kragas, Le Jossec and Sousa ensured that the season offered far more than the battle for the championship title.

Beyond the Championships: The Strengths and Challenges of Modern Super1600

One of the most interesting aspects of the 2026 season was the contrast between the competitive variety of the drivers and the continued success of one particular car.

The Audi A1 remained the dominant package in Euro RX3.

All seven finals were won by drivers competing with Audi machinery, with Gurklys, Meunier and Sousa sharing the victories.

The championship podium was also entirely occupied by Audi drivers.

However, that dominance did not mean the remaining manufacturers were unable to challenge.

Kovács and Røsrud repeatedly demonstrated the competitiveness of their Škoda Fabias, while Kragas secured one of the season's most impressive podiums at Lohéac with similar machinery.

Dufas also continued developing his Volkswagen Polo, giving the category another relatively new project.

There were several less conventional entries as well.

Levente Kacor competed with a Suzuki Swift, while Tiago Ferreira represented Ford Fiesta.

Although neither became a regular podium contender, their appearances added welcome variety to the field.

The presence of several different manufacturers remains important for a category that has historically featured some of the most technically developed front-wheel-drive rallycross cars in Europe.

However, the competitive landscape also raises questions.

The Audi A1 has now been established among the leading Super1600 cars for several seasons, with many successful examples continuing to compete under different teams and drivers.

Meunier's decision to acquire the car previously used by João Ribeiro demonstrated the value of proven machinery.

For privateer teams, purchasing an established car can provide a more realistic route towards competing internationally than developing something entirely new.

But the technical demands of maintaining these cars remain significant.

The 2026 season provided several examples of just how quickly a championship campaign could be affected by mechanical problems or accident damage.

Teješ' enormous Riga accident required a major rebuild before Nyirád, while Dufas faced a similar challenge after rolling his newly developed Polo.

Meunier's final weekend also demonstrated the financial and logistical demands involved in maintaining a competitive programme.

His original Audi was damaged beyond repair during Saturday's Lousada semi-final, leaving him dependent on the support of another team to continue.

Without N Team's decision to provide a replacement Škoda, the championship battle would have ended before Sunday's racing even began.

The situation demonstrated something important about the rallycross community.

Even at European championship level, where teams are competing for major titles, cooperation and support remain essential.

Another interesting aspect of the season was the difference in participation between events.

Riga and Nyirád both attracted 15 entries, providing competitive fields for the opening rounds.

However, Mondello Park featured only ten cars, while Lohéac attracted the strongest RX3 entry of the season up to that point.

The French event benefited from the country's established Super1600 scene, bringing additional national drivers into European competition.

Portugal also provided a strong field, with 18 entries for the final double-header.

These differences highlighted how important national rallycross championships remain to the international category.

France, Portugal, Hungary and several other countries continue providing opportunities for Super1600 machinery, while drivers from other regions often face greater logistical and financial challenges when competing abroad.

That creates an interesting situation for Euro RX3.

The category remains highly competitive, but participation can vary significantly depending on the location.

Maintaining a strong European championship therefore requires more than simply attracting the leading drivers.

It also depends on national competitors having opportunities to enter selected events without committing to an entire international programme.

The season also demonstrated the importance of sporting decisions.

Several significant results changed after the chequered flag, including Meunier's penalty at Mondello Park and the championship-deciding incident at Lousada.

Contact, track limits and the consequences of aggressive overtaking repeatedly became important talking points.

While those incidents created controversy, they also demonstrated the intensity of the competition.

With closely matched front-wheel-drive cars regularly fighting for the same positions, small mistakes could have enormous consequences.

There have also been unconfirmed paddock rumours, that Euro RX3 could be discontinued after the 2027 season.

For now, however, the focus remains on what 2026 demonstrated and what the drivers might achieve next.

Gurklys finally secured the title he had narrowly missed the previous year, while Meunier established himself as one of the category's most impressive newcomers.

Teješ completed an exceptional recovery to secure bronze, Sousa delivered a remarkable home double and several other drivers demonstrated the potential to challenge for stronger results.

The championship also provided an important platform for young competitors looking to develop their international careers.

Meunier's subsequent FC2 performances offered an encouraging example of how success in different categories can contribute to a driver's progression.

Meanwhile, Dufas and Røsrud demonstrated that competing internationally can involve as much development and learning as outright results.

Looking towards 2027, the biggest questions will concern which drivers return, whether the leading competitors can maintain their advantage and whether the alternative machinery can close the gap to the established Audi frontrunners.

For the younger drivers, another season of experience could make a significant difference.

For established competitors such as Geleyns and Kovács, improving consistency will be essential if they hope to challenge for championship medals and for Gurklys, defending his title will present a new challenge after spending much of the previous two seasons pursuing the European crown.

The 2026 championship demonstrated that Euro RX3 continues to deliver competitive racing, important career milestones and memorable performances across a varied international field.

Although the controversial finale will inevitably remain part of the season's history, it should not overshadow the achievements that came before it.

From Meunier's impressive debut victories to Gurklys' mid-season comeback, the breakthroughs at Höljes and Lohéac and Sousa's remarkable home triumph, Euro RX3 produced plenty of reasons to remember 2026.

The next chapter will determine which drivers can build on those achievements and whether the category can continue attracting the competition that has made Super1600 such an important part of European rallycross.

Seven rounds, six venues, 63 drivers and a championship that came remarkably close to producing a very different winner.

The 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship marked a significant turning point for international rallycross, with Euro RX1 returning as the highest level of FIA-sanctioned competition following the conclusion of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in its previous form.

The season brought together some of the sport's most successful drivers, several promising newcomers and a remarkable selection of Supercars representing different generations of rallycross engineering.

From the opening round at Riga to the demanding conditions of Nyirád, the enormous crowds at Höljes and Lohéac, the long-awaited return to Mondello Park and the historic floodlit finale at Lousada, the championship delivered plenty of memorable moments.

Johan Kristoffersson eventually emerged as European champion, claiming four victories from seven rounds and collecting 235 points in his Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX.

However, his first European title was far from inevitable.

Three-time European champion Andreas Bakkerud mounted a serious challenge with his Bergen Motorsport Evolution Ford Fiesta, winning twice and arriving at the final weekend holding a one-point championship advantage.

Juha Rytkönen produced an impressive season with SET Promotion to secure second overall, while teammate Joni Turpeinen announced himself as one of rallycross' most promising young drivers.

Fabien Pailler finally overcame a year of technical problems to deliver an emotional home victory, Casper Jansson claimed his first European podium and Patrick O'Donovan endured a frustrating season before recovering during the season finale.

But the significance of 2026 extended far beyond the championship standings.

With 63 different drivers competing in Euro RX1, the largest number since the European Championship last served as the sport's leading FIA competition in 2013, the season also raised important questions about the future direction of international rallycross.

The new quarter-final format, the return of traditional Supercar-only competition and the involvement of several historic venues all contributed to an intriguing first year under the revised championship structure.

So, what did we learn from Euro RX1 in 2026?

Kristoffersson Finally Adds a European Crown to His Collection

Johan Kristoffersson entered the 2026 season with eight FIA World Rallycross Championship titles, making him comfortably the most successful driver in the sport's modern era.

However, there was one major achievement missing from his record.

The Swede had never won the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

That changed in September when he secured the title at Lousada, but the route towards his latest success proved considerably more complicated than his eventual 60-point winning margin suggested.

Kristoffersson began the season in familiar fashion at Riga, where he led home a Kristoffersson Motorsport one-two ahead of Ole Christian Veiby.

Yet the result did not tell the complete story.

The team's Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX machinery suffered from poor starts throughout the opening weekend, repeatedly forcing both drivers to recover positions against cars that launched considerably more effectively.

Although the pace of the Volkswagens ultimately proved too much for the opposition, the difficulties provided an early indication that KMS would not necessarily enjoy an uncontested season.

Nyirád brought the first significant setback.

Kristoffersson once again demonstrated impressive speed, but his final ended in disappointment following contact with Andreas Bakkerud at the opening corner.

The pair entered the first turn side by side, with neither prepared to concede the position. Contact sent Kristoffersson into the outside barriers and ended his hopes of another victory.

Bakkerud took full advantage, securing his first European championship victory in four years and moving ahead in the standings.

Kristoffersson responded at Höljes, although his home event was hardly straightforward.

A collision during Q2 resulted in a black flag, placing him in a difficult position heading into Sunday's racing.

Heavy rain then transformed the conditions during Q4, further complicating the competition.

However, the eight-time World champion recovered through the knockout stages and secured victory ahead of Veiby, completing another KMS one-two in front of more than 25,000 spectators.

The result restored his championship advantage, but Bakkerud's subsequent victory at Mondello Park ensured the battle remained close.

Ireland also provided another example of the difficulties facing KMS.

Kristoffersson had received another black flag during Saturday's qualifying, while a fierce battle with Veiby during the final ultimately prevented him from challenging Bakkerud for the win.

The two Volkswagen drivers emerged side by side following their joker lap strategies, costing both valuable time while the Norwegian escaped at the front.

Kristoffersson eventually finished third, behind Bakkerud and Veiby.

Lohéac brought another challenging weekend.

Despite qualifying strongly, Kristoffersson was defeated by Fabien Pailler in their semi-final before finishing fourth in the final after an opening-lap incident involving Juha Rytkönen.

With Bakkerud finishing second, the Norwegian moved into the championship lead by a single point.

That left Kristoffersson facing a genuine title fight heading into the Lousada double-header.

However, Portugal completely changed the situation.

While Bakkerud encountered repeated punctures and mechanical difficulties, Kristoffersson delivered his strongest weekend of the season.

He won Saturday's final under the floodlights, overturning the championship deficit and establishing a 36-point advantage heading into the last round.

Sunday was even more convincing.

Kristoffersson topped all three qualifying sessions before winning his quarter-final to mathematically secure his first European title.

Even with the championship already decided, he continued pushing for another victory.

The final proved chaotic, featuring a red flag, a restart fire and several incidents that eliminated much of the opposition.

Kristoffersson survived to claim his fourth victory of the season, completing a dominant Portuguese double.

His final championship total of 235 points placed him 60 ahead of Rytkönen.

It was another remarkable achievement, but perhaps the most important lesson was not simply that Kristoffersson remained the strongest driver.

Throughout the season, he demonstrated an ability to recover from setbacks that would have severely compromised many other championship campaigns.

Black flags, poor starts, tactical battles and difficult qualifying sessions repeatedly placed him under pressure.

Yet when the final two rounds arrived, Kristoffersson delivered exactly the performances required.

His first European title was therefore a reminder that his success extends well beyond the outright speed of the Volkswagen Polo.

The ability to recover, adapt and perform under pressure remains one of his greatest strengths.

Bakkerud's Championship Challenge Deserved a Better Ending

Andreas Bakkerud entered 2026 with something to prove.

The Norwegian had already won three European Rallycross Championship titles earlier in his career, but his most recent seasons had been affected by changing programmes and limited opportunities to challenge for major championships.

His return to a full Euro RX1 campaign with Bergen Motorsport Evolution, supported by SET Promotion, therefore represented an important opportunity.

Driving an M-Sport-built Ford Fiesta, Bakkerud immediately demonstrated that he could compete directly against Kristoffersson Motorsport.

The season opener at Riga ended with fourth place, narrowly missing the podium after an entertaining battle with Joni Turpeinen.

However, Nyirád provided the breakthrough.

Bakkerud dominated qualifying before taking victory in the final, leading a complete podium sweep for the SET-supported machinery.

Rytkönen finished second, while Turpeinen secured third and for Bakkerud, the victory was particularly meaningful.

It ended a four-year wait for another European championship win and established him as a serious threat to Kristoffersson's title ambitions.

The following round at Höljes was less successful, with fifth place allowing Kristoffersson to reclaim the championship lead.

However, Mondello Park demonstrated that Bakkerud's Hungarian victory had been no isolated result.

The Norwegian topped the intermediate classification before winning his quarter-final and semi-final.

He then controlled the final against Veiby and Kristoffersson, capitalising on the Volkswagen teammates' battle to secure his second victory of the year.

The performance was particularly impressive considering the level of competition and the pressure surrounding the championship battle.

It also returned Bakkerud to the centre of the title fight.

At Lohéac, he produced another important result.

Although Pailler proved unbeatable in the final, Bakkerud finished second and collected enough points to move ahead of Kristoffersson by one point.

With two rounds remaining at Lousada, the championship was effectively a direct battle between the Norwegian and the Swedish World champion.

Yet the finale produced a devastating conclusion.

Bakkerud suffered repeated left-rear punctures during Saturday's competition, compromising his qualifying performance and ultimately causing his elimination from the quarter-finals.

Kristoffersson capitalised by winning the final, transforming a one-point deficit into a 36-point advantage.

Sunday offered little relief.

Bakkerud entered the final day needing an extraordinary turnaround, but gearbox problems during his semi-final ended his hopes of reaching the final.

The difficulties also allowed Rytkönen to overtake him in the championship standings.

Bakkerud ultimately finished third overall with 171 points, just four behind the Finn.

It was a particularly frustrating outcome considering that he had led the championship heading into the final weekend.

Nevertheless, the season demonstrated that the Norwegian remains one of the strongest drivers in European rallycross.

His victories at Nyirád and Mondello Park were achieved against exceptional opposition, while his consistency through the opening five rounds placed him in a position to challenge for another title.

The final standings do not fully reflect how competitive his championship campaign had been.

Without the problems at Lousada, the title battle could have remained unresolved until the final race.

Instead, Bakkerud was left with another reminder of how quickly rallycross can transform a successful season into disappointment.

Rytkönen's Persistence Delivers a Career-Best Championship Result

Juha Rytkönen's 2026 campaign offered another example of why consistency remains so important in rallycross.

The Finn returned to Euro RX1 with SET Promotion, driving the Hyundai i20 that had already demonstrated considerable potential during previous seasons.

However, Rytkönen faced a difficult challenge from both the established championship frontrunners and his teenage teammate Joni Turpeinen.

The opening round at Riga was particularly frustrating.

Despite demonstrating competitive pace, Rytkönen finished sixth in the final while Turpeinen secured his first European podium.

Nyirád provided a considerably stronger result.

Rytkönen finished second behind Bakkerud, completing the SET-supported podium sweep and securing valuable championship points.

However, the following rounds again produced mixed fortunes.

At Höljes, he finished fourth, while Mondello Park brought fifth after another competitive weekend.

The Finn remained among the leading championship contenders, but he had yet to establish the consistency required to challenge Kristoffersson and Bakkerud directly.

Lohéac marked an important turning point.

Rytkönen demonstrated excellent speed in difficult weather conditions, including an impressive battle with nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb.

He repeatedly challenged the Frenchman throughout the event and ultimately finished third behind Pailler and Bakkerud.

The result strengthened his position in the championship and brought him closer to Veiby in the fight for the remaining podium positions.

At Lousada, Rytkönen maintained that momentum.

He finished third during Saturday's opening round, surviving a weekend in which punctures and mechanical problems repeatedly eliminated other contenders.

Sunday brought an even more dramatic conclusion.

Following the tyre-warming procedure before the final, Rytkönen's Hyundai developed a problem and began smoking on the starting grid.

When the race was stopped following an opening-lap accident, the situation became considerably more serious.

The car caught fire, forcing Rytkönen to leave the cockpit and extinguish the flames before attempting the restart.

Although he managed to return, the Hyundai was unable to perform normally and he crossed the finish line several laps down.

However, the number of other retirements meant the Finn was still classified third.

Combined with Bakkerud's earlier elimination, the result secured Rytkönen second place in the European championship with 175 points.

It was a remarkable conclusion to a season that had featured plenty of difficult moments.

Rytkönen finished on the podium in each of the final three rounds, collecting crucial points at the exact moment when his closest rivals began encountering problems.

While he never managed to secure a final victory, his determination and ability to remain competitive throughout the championship proved decisive.

His runner-up finish was also an important achievement for SET Promotion, demonstrating that the Finnish team's Hyundai package remained capable of challenging the strongest machinery in European rallycross.

Perhaps more importantly, Rytkönen's result demonstrated that a driver does not necessarily need to dominate individual events to achieve a strong championship position.

Across seven rounds, he accumulated enough points to finish ahead of a driver who had won twice.

That is one of the most important lessons from the 2026 Euro RX1 season.

Veiby's Season Demonstrated Both the Strength and Vulnerability of KMS

Ole Christian Veiby entered 2026 alongside Kristoffersson with one of the most competitive technical packages in the championship and a brand-new Volkswagen Polo KMS 601 RX.

The Norwegian had already demonstrated his ability to challenge for victories during previous World RX campaigns and was expected to play an important role in Kristoffersson Motorsport's pursuit of the European title.

For much of the opening half of the season, he delivered exactly that.

Veiby finished second at Riga, completing a commanding KMS one-two.

Although Nyirád brought a more difficult result, he returned to the podium at Höljes, once again finishing behind his teammate.

Mondello Park produced another impressive performance.

Veiby finished second behind Bakkerud after a competitive final that included his memorable battle with Kristoffersson as both Volkswagen drivers emerged from their joker laps.

With four rounds completed, the Norwegian remained firmly involved in the championship fight.

However, the final three rounds proved considerably more difficult.

At Lohéac, Veiby failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals, collecting only two championship points.

The result was particularly costly considering that both Bakkerud and Rytkönen secured podium finishes.

Lousada initially appeared to offer an opportunity for recovery.

Veiby dominated Saturday's opening qualifying sessions, winning Q1 and Q2 before Kristoffersson responded in Q3.

Yet the Portuguese track repeatedly punished drivers with punctures and mechanical problems.

Veiby was among those affected, eventually missing the final.

Sunday brought another difficult conclusion.

He progressed through the knockout stages and reached the final, but became involved in the opening-lap accident with Nils Volland that caused the red flag.

Both cars were too badly damaged to participate in the restart and Veiby's car needed a complete rebuild after the weekend.

Veiby completed the championship fourth overall with 147 points, having collected three podium finishes during the opening four rounds.

His season demonstrated that the Volkswagen Polo remained an extremely competitive machine, but also how quickly championship momentum could disappear.

The contrast between the opening and closing stages was particularly striking.

For KMS, Kristoffersson's success provided another major title, while Veiby's difficulties offered a reminder that even the strongest team cannot eliminate every risk associated with rallycross.

Turpeinen Announces Himself as One of Rallycross' Brightest Prospects

One of the most encouraging developments of the entire European season was the emergence of Joni Turpeinen.

The 17-year-old Finn entered his first full Euro RX1 campaign after already demonstrating promising speed during selected European and World Rallycross appearances in 2025.

His opportunity with SET Promotion placed him alongside the experienced Juha Rytkönen, competing with an M-Sport-built Ford Fiesta.

However, few expected Turpeinen to become one of the championship's strongest performers so quickly.

At Riga, he immediately demonstrated that he belonged among the leading drivers.

The youngster repeatedly challenged the established frontrunners during qualifying and proved particularly impressive at the starts.

In the final, he secured third place after successfully defending against Andreas Bakkerud.

It was his first European championship podium.

Nyirád brought another significant achievement.

Turpeinen demonstrated remarkable confidence in changing weather conditions, including winning Q3 in heavy rain.

He then finished third in the final, completing SET Promotion's podium sweep and becoming the only driver to finish among the top three during both opening rounds.

After just two events, the youngster was already challenging drivers with years of experience at the highest level of the sport.

His performance was not simply the result of fortunate race circumstances.

Turpeinen demonstrated genuine speed, confidence in close battles and an ability to adapt to rapidly changing track conditions.

However, the second half of the season proved more difficult.

Höljes ended with seventh place, while Mondello Park brought fourth after another competitive weekend.

Lohéac then produced his most disappointing result, with technical difficulties and missed opportunities preventing him from progressing through the knockout stages.

Lousada offered one final opportunity to end the season on a high.

Turpeinen again demonstrated impressive speed, including a particularly entertaining battle with Kristoffersson during Saturday's qualifying.

However, a puncture ended his semi-final challenge.

Sunday brought further disappointment when rising engine temperatures reduced the Fiesta's performance, preventing him from advancing beyond the semi-finals.

Despite those setbacks, Turpeinen completed his debut campaign fifth overall with 111 points.

He was the highest-placed rookie in the championship.

It was an exceptional result considering the opposition.

Only Kristoffersson, Rytkönen, Bakkerud and Veiby finished ahead of him, all drivers with considerably more experience at the highest level.

His season also demonstrated the value of giving young drivers opportunities in competitive machinery.

SET Promotion provided Turpeinen with a platform to develop, but his performances quickly showed that he was capable of using it.

The challenge for 2027 will be converting those early podium finishes into more consistent results across an entire championship.

If he can achieve that, Turpeinen has already demonstrated the potential to become a regular contender for major international victories.

Jansson's Höljes Breakthrough Was Another Important Step Forward

Turpeinen was not the only young driver to make an impression during 2026.

Casper Jansson also delivered one of the season's most encouraging performances, securing his first Euro RX1 podium during the Magic Weekend at Höljes.

The Swedish youngster arrived with considerable experience in RallyX and Nitrocross, but 2026 represented his first season competing in the European championship's leading Supercar category.

His opening two rounds provided a challenging introduction.

Jansson finished eighth at Riga before improving to sixth at Nyirád.

However, his home event at Höljes produced a breakthrough.

The Swede demonstrated impressive qualifying pace before delivering one of the strongest semi-final performances of the weekend.

He defeated Bakkerud and Veiby to secure victory and earn an important starting position for the final.

Against some of the most experienced drivers in the championship, Jansson then completed the podium behind Kristoffersson and Veiby.

It was a significant achievement during one of the most demanding events of the season.

His performance also demonstrated that the championship's established order was not impossible to challenge.

Although Jansson struggled to reproduce that result during the remaining rounds, his Höljes podium offered an encouraging glimpse of his potential.

He eventually finished eighth overall with 72 points.

Combined with Turpeinen's performances, Jansson's breakthrough provided one of the most important positive signs for Euro RX1's future.

The championship already has established stars capable of attracting enormous attention, but developing the next generation will be just as important.

Both drivers demonstrated that young competitors can adapt to powerful traditional Supercars and challenge experienced opponents without requiring years of development.

Pailler's Lohéac Victory Was One of the Season's Most Emotional Moments

Few drivers experienced a more frustrating opening half of the season than Fabien Pailler.

The Frenchman had entered 2026 with ambitions of challenging for the European title, having previously finished runner-up in Euro RX1 during his career.

However, his Prodrive-built Renault Mégane R.S. RX repeatedly suffered mechanical problems.

The difficulties began at Riga and continued through the opening rounds, preventing Pailler from demonstrating the true potential of the car.

Engine-related problems also resulted in substantial championship penalties.

Across the season, Pailler accumulated 30 penalty points through two engine-related infringements, significantly affecting his final championship position.

By the time the series reached Lohéac, the Frenchman had endured months of frustration.

Yet his home event provided a remarkable turnaround.

Competing in front of the enormous French crowds, Pailler immediately demonstrated that the Renault finally possessed the speed and reliability required to challenge the leading drivers.

He topped Q3 on Saturday before securing a strong position for Sunday's knockout stages.

The decisive moment arrived during his semi-final against Kristoffersson.

Pailler produced an exceptional move around the outside of the Swedish champion at the start, securing the lead and successfully defending it throughout the race.

It was one of the most impressive individual performances of the weekend.

However, the Frenchman still had to complete the job in the final and he did exactly that.

Pailler launched into the lead and immediately began establishing a gap over Bakkerud.

Despite the pressure of competing at home and the presence of several of rallycross' most successful drivers behind him, he maintained his advantage throughout the six-lap final.

Bakkerud finished second, with Rytkönen completing the podium.

For Pailler, the victory represented considerably more than another race result.

It was his first Euro RX1 victory and provided a reward for the enormous effort required to keep the Renault competitive after repeated technical setbacks.

He also became the only driver outside Kristoffersson and Bakkerud to win a European championship round during 2026.

The momentum continued into Lousada.

Pailler finished fourth during Saturday's opening round before securing second in Sunday's chaotic final.

Although another puncture prevented him from challenging Kristoffersson for the final victory, the result completed an impressive recovery.

He finished seventh in the championship with 86 points.

Without the 30-point deduction, his accumulated total would have been sufficient for fifth overall.

His season was therefore a reminder of how misleading the final championship standings can sometimes be.

For much of the year, Pailler appeared unlikely to challenge for significant results.

Yet by September, he had defeated the world's most successful modern rallycross driver in a direct semi-final battle and claimed one of the biggest victories of his career.

The Renault Mégane had finally demonstrated what it was capable of achieving.

O'Donovan's Difficult Campaign Ends With a Glimpse of His Potential

Patrick O'Donovan entered 2026 hoping to reclaim the European title he had won in 2024.

The three-time British Rallycross Champion already possessed extensive experience competing against Europe's leading Supercar drivers and was expected to challenge near the front.

However, his season proved considerably more difficult than anticipated.

The opening rounds produced frustrating results, with O'Donovan repeatedly struggling to convert qualifying performances into final appearances.

Höljes initially appeared to offer a breakthrough.

The British driver topped Saturday's intermediate standings after three qualifying sessions, demonstrating impressive consistency in difficult conditions.

However, heavy rain transformed the track during Q4 and O'Donovan was unable to maintain his advantage.

The knockout stages then produced another disappointing conclusion.

Mondello Park offered an opportunity to compete in front of a supportive Irish crowd, but the weekend again failed to deliver the result he had hoped for.

By the time the championship reached Lohéac, O'Donovan remained well outside the main title battle.

Nevertheless, the Peugeot 208 WRX continued demonstrating competitive pace, particularly during the later stages of the season.

Lousada finally provided a stronger result.

O'Donovan produced an impressive performance during Saturday's knockout stages before securing second place behind Kristoffersson in the final.

It was his first podium of the European season and arrived at an important moment after several difficult events.

Sunday brought another opportunity.

O'Donovan progressed through qualifying and the knockout stages, eventually earning a place on the front row of the final.

However, the race ended dramatically.

Following the red flag and subsequent restart, O'Donovan became involved in contact with Kristoffersson, sending the Peugeot into the barriers and damaging the car.

His championship campaign ended with another retirement rather than the opportunity to challenge for victory.

O'Donovan finished sixth overall with 102 points.

Although the final result was disappointing compared with his championship-winning campaign two years earlier, the Lousada podium demonstrated that he remained capable of competing near the front.

The challenge now is converting that speed into more consistent performances.

The Wider Field Had Plenty of Stories Beyond the Podium

The strength of Euro RX1 in 2026 was not limited to its leading championship contenders.

With 63 drivers appearing across the seven rounds, the category brought together an unusually wide variety of experience, machinery and backgrounds.

Nils Volland completed the championship ninth overall with 55 points, having endured a mixed campaign that included several difficult weekends.

Oliver O'Donovan finished tenth with 36 points.

The experienced Irishman returned for a full European campaign and finally reached his first final of the season during Saturday's Lousada round.

Martin Enlund finished just outside the top ten with 28 points.

His newly developed Rally2-based Ford Fiesta Mk8 provided a challenging introduction to the championship, with technical problems repeatedly interrupting his campaign.

However, the Swedish driver's commitment to developing the project demonstrated the ambition still present among independent Supercar teams.

Rokas Baciuška also made a welcome return to European rallycross.

The Lithuanian competed at selected events and delivered an impressive fifth-place finish at Lohéac, demonstrating that his experience in other motorsport disciplines had done little to diminish his rallycross ability.

Elsewhere, László Kiss introduced a newly built Volkswagen Polo during the closing stages of the season, while Anton Seppä continued developing his own new Škoda Fabia project.

Established names such as Tamás Kárai and René Münnich faced more difficult campaigns, with mechanical problems, limited programmes and changing competitive circumstances affecting their results.

There were also important performances from drivers competing outside full championship campaigns.

Andor Trepák impressed during the opening rounds before budget limitations prevented him from continuing.

Damian Litwinowicz, previously successful in Euro RX3, also faced the challenge of financing a competitive programme at the highest level.

Their situations illustrated one of the continuing difficulties facing international rallycross.

A large overall entry list does not necessarily mean every driver can afford to complete an entire season.

Nevertheless, the variety of drivers and machinery brought a welcome sense of depth to the championship.

Familiar Names Returned, While Linnemann Said Goodbye

The 2026 European championship also provided several important moments involving drivers whose careers have helped shape modern rallycross.

Perhaps the most significant return came at Lohéac.

Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb returned to rallycross competition in front of his home crowd, joining a 30-car Euro RX1 field that already featured several former European and World Rallycross frontrunners.

Loeb immediately demonstrated that he remained competitive.

He battled directly against Rytkönen during qualifying, although the Finn repeatedly managed to gain the upper hand.

Loeb eventually reached the final and finished sixth, adding another chapter to his long association with the French event.

Kevin Hansen also returned to European competition at Lohéac, competing with PGRX in machinery outside the Peugeot family for the first time in more than a decade.

It represented a significant change for a driver whose rallycross career had become closely associated with the French manufacturer.

His appearance was also connected to the growing involvement of Indonesian motorsport organisation SARGA.CO, which is preparing for the inaugural FIA Rallycross World Cup.

While the return of Loeb and Hansen attracted considerable attention, the season also featured an emotional farewell.

Ulrik Linnemann completed his final planned European rallycross appearance at Höljes.

The Danish driver had spent almost two decades competing internationally, establishing himself as a successful Super1600 competitor before moving into more powerful machinery.

He finished sixth in the Höljes final before confirming that he would step away from rallycross for the foreseeable future.

His Volkswagen Polo was subsequently offered for sale, underlining the significance of the decision.

Linnemann's departure marked the end of an important chapter for one of the sport's most recognisable privateer competitors.

It also provided a reminder of how quickly the competitive landscape continues to change.

While established names step away, younger drivers are beginning to establish themselves.

Turpeinen and Jansson were among the most obvious examples during 2026, but the wider championship also featured numerous drivers attempting to build international careers with limited resources.

Maintaining that balance between experience and emerging talent will be an important part of Euro RX1's future.

A New Era for European Rallycross and the Road to 2027

Perhaps the most important achievement of the 2026 Euro RX1 season had little to do with who eventually became European champion.

For the first time since 2013, the FIA European Rallycross Championship returned to its position as the leading FIA-sanctioned rallycross series.

The decision followed several difficult years for international rallycross, during which the World Rallycross Championship experienced declining participation, changing technical regulations and uncertainty surrounding its long-term direction.

The introduction of electric machinery and the subsequent Battle of Technologies concept had attempted to create a new identity for World RX, but the championships continued facing challenges.

For 2026, the FIA decided to adopt a different approach.

The World Championship was replaced by a European championship as the highest level of regular FIA rallycross competition, while the leading category returned exclusively to internal combustion-powered Supercars.

The objective was to simplify the championship structure, attract more competitors and rebuild the foundations for future growth.

After one season, there are encouraging signs that the decision has worked.

The most significant statistic from the 2026 season was the number of drivers who participated.

Across seven rounds, 63 different drivers appeared in Euro RX1.

That represented the largest number since 2013, when 73 drivers competed during the final season before the World RX became the sport's leading international competition.

The opening round at Riga attracted 30 Supercars, immediately demonstrating the level of interest in the revised championship.

Mondello Park welcomed 25 competitors, while both Lohéac and Lousada attracted capacity 30-car entry lists.

Those numbers would have been difficult to imagine during some of the more challenging recent World RX seasons.

However, the figures also require some perspective.

The total number of participants was helped by national and regional drivers entering selected events rather than committing to the entire championship.

That is not necessarily a negative development.

In fact, providing opportunities for national championship drivers to compete against Europe's strongest opposition has historically been one of rallycross' greatest strengths.

The return of traditional Supercar regulations also helped bring several familiar cars back into international competition.

While Kristoffersson Motorsport and SET Promotion operated highly developed modern machinery, the championship also welcomed older cars, privately engineered projects and cars with extensive histories in World RX.

That technical variety contributed significantly to the appeal of the category.

However, the challenge for 2027 will be converting the renewed interest into sustainable participation.

A championship that attracts 30 entries at selected events is encouraging.

A championship that can support a larger group of drivers competing throughout the entire season would represent an even stronger foundation.

The New Format Brought More Racing, but Also Greater Consequences

One of the most important sporting changes introduced for 2026 was the revised knockout format.

Rather than progressing directly from qualifying into the traditional semi-finals, Euro RX1 adopted an additional quarter-final stage.

With the strongest 24 qualifiers progressing into four quarter-finals, only the top three from each race could advance to the semi-finals.

That created another stage where drivers could lose their opportunity to reach the final.

The format immediately produced dramatic racing at Riga and continued influencing the championship throughout the season.

For spectators, the additional knockout races provided more direct battles between drivers.

For competitors, however, the consequences of mistakes and mechanical failures became considerably greater.

A strong qualifying performance could quickly become irrelevant after a poor start, puncture or collision during the quarter-finals.

Bakkerud's elimination at Lousada provided perhaps the clearest example.

Despite arriving as championship leader, his puncture during Saturday's quarter-final effectively transformed the title battle before the semi-finals had even begun.

Similar situations affected numerous other drivers throughout the year.

The format also brought increased pressure to starting positions and joker lap strategies.

Drivers could no longer simply rely on collecting qualifying points and reaching the semi-finals.

They had to survive another elimination round against increasingly competitive opposition.

Nevertheless, the change also raises an important question.

Does the additional knockout stage reward the strongest drivers over an entire weekend, or does it sometimes place too much importance on a single short race?

There is no straightforward answer.

Rallycross has always featured an element of unpredictability, and that unpredictability remains one of the sport's greatest attractions.

However, maintaining a balance between entertainment and sporting fairness will be important as the format continues developing.

Penalties, Technical Problems and the Cost of Competition

The season also demonstrated that regulations and mechanical reliability remain just as influential as outright speed.

Kristoffersson received black flags during both Höljes and Mondello Park, forcing the eventual champion to recover from difficult positions.

Pailler's championship was affected by two engine-related penalties totalling 30 points.

Meanwhile, repeated mechanical problems prevented several promising drivers from achieving results that reflected their performances on track.

The final weekend at Lousada was particularly demanding.

Punctures, suspension failures and accidents repeatedly eliminated competitors, with the track conditions becoming one of the defining stories of the event.

The final race brought even more drama.

Rytkönen was forced to extinguish a fire in his Hyundai before the restart, while the opening-lap accident involving Veiby and Volland caused a red flag.

O'Donovan's race ended following contact with Kristoffersson, while Pailler's hopes of challenging for victory disappeared after another puncture.

Although the extraordinary circumstances produced a memorable finale, they also demonstrated how demanding the championship had become.

For teams operating on limited budgets, repairing accident damage or replacing expensive components can have consequences extending far beyond a single race.

Several drivers were unable to complete full European campaigns during 2026, with financial limitations remaining a significant obstacle.

Trepák was one example.

The young Hungarian demonstrated impressive pace during the opening rounds but was unable to continue his full championship ambitions, instead concentrating on developing his Renault Mégane and preparing for selected international appearances.

Other independent competitors faced similar difficulties.

The return to a more accessible championship structure has helped attract greater participation, but running a competitive Supercar internationally remains expensive.

Transport, tyres, engines, spare parts and the increasingly demanding development required to challenge the leading teams all contribute to the financial burden.

If Euro RX1 is to continue expanding, controlling those costs will be just as important as introducing new sporting formats.

The Importance of Rallycross' Traditional Venues

The 2026 calendar also demonstrated the value of bringing major international competition back to some of Europe's most established rallycross venues.

Riga provided an entertaining season opener, while Nyirád once again demonstrated why its demanding layout has earned a reputation as one of the most challenging tracks in the sport.

Höljes attracted more than 25,000 spectators during the Magic Weekend, combining strong national support with one of rallycross' most recognisable annual events.

Mondello Park marked the European championship's return to Ireland for the first time in more than three decades.

The venue introduced a redesigned rallycross layout, creating a different challenge for drivers and bringing international competition back to a country with a long history in the sport.

Lohéac then provided one of the most significant weekends of the season.

Celebrating 50 years of rallycross, the French venue welcomed the European championship alongside national and British competition.

The enormous entry lists, historic machinery and appearances from international stars such as Loeb and Hansen demonstrated the remarkable popularity that rallycross continues enjoying in France.

Finally, Lousada introduced another important development.

For the first time in the European championship's history, racing took place under floodlights, with the Portuguese venue hosting a double-header that brought the season to its conclusion.

The atmosphere and unusual schedule provided a fitting stage for the title battles.

However, the demanding track conditions also highlighted the importance of ensuring that venues can accommodate increasingly powerful machinery and large international entry lists.

The championship therefore concluded with a valuable lesson.

European rallycross does not necessarily need entirely new venues to attract attention.

Some of its strongest assets remain the traditional tracks, established local organisers and dedicated supporters who have helped sustain the sport for decades.

The World Cup Opens Another International Opportunity

While Euro RX1 returned as the leading regular FIA championship, the governing body's plans for international rallycross extend beyond Europe.

The inaugural FIA Rallycross World Cup is scheduled to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 5–6 December.

The event will bring RX1 and RX5 competitors to Southeast Asia for a standalone international competition.

It represents an entirely different approach from the former World Rallycross Championship.

Rather than organising a full worldwide calendar, the FIA is attempting to establish a single global event alongside the European championship.

The World Cup will also introduce a different sporting format.

Superpole, two mandatory joker laps and eight-car finals are among the changes planned for Jakarta.

The event has already attracted significant attention.

Loeb and Kevin Hansen are preparing to reunite with SARGA Motorsport, while several drivers who competed in Euro RX1 during 2026 have confirmed their participation.

Jansson will continue his breakthrough season with another international appearance, while Trepák is preparing to return after spending several months away from the European championship.

Filip Thorén is also set to compete with his Marklund Motorsport-built Volkswagen Polo, providing another opportunity for an emerging driver to gain experience at the international level.

The World Cup could become an important addition to the rallycross calendar, particularly if it succeeds in attracting new audiences and commercial partners.

However, its long-term significance will depend on more than the quality of one event.

International expansion requires substantial investment, logistical planning and a clear strategy for maintaining participation.

The former World Rallycross Championship demonstrated that attracting major names is only one part of building a sustainable global competition.

The World Cup will provide an opportunity to test whether a different approach can deliver lasting results.

What Comes Next for Euro RX1?

The first season of the revived Euro RX1 championship has provided several encouraging signs, but many questions remain unanswered heading into 2027.

At the time of writing, the FIA has not yet published a confirmed European Rallycross Championship calendar for next season.

The selection of venues, championship structure and potential sporting changes will therefore become important subjects during the coming months.

There is also the question of which drivers will return.

Kristoffersson has once again established himself as the benchmark, but Bakkerud demonstrated that the eight-time World champion can be challenged over a full European campaign.

Rytkönen's runner-up finish confirmed the strength of SET Promotion, while Turpeinen's performances provided one of the clearest indications that the next generation is already capable of competing at the highest level.

Jansson will be another driver worth following, particularly after his Höljes breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Pailler's improved performances with the Renault Mégane suggest that he could become an even stronger contender if the technical problems that affected his 2026 campaign can be resolved.

The future of several other programmes remains less certain.

Independent teams face continuing financial pressure, while the development required to compete against KMS and SET Promotion is becoming increasingly demanding.

That creates an important challenge for the organisers.

The championship needs established international stars capable of attracting attention, but it also requires enough independent competitors to maintain strong entry lists and competitive racing.

The return to traditional Supercar-only competition has helped bring those elements together during 2026.

Now the task is ensuring that the renewed interest develops into something sustainable.

There is also the wider question of how Euro RX1 will fit alongside the growing number of other international rallycross competitions.

RallyX continues expanding its own programme, with FC2 machinery, traditional Supercars and its new FC1 Hypercar category providing a different approach to the sport's future.

The FIA's return to a more traditional European championship offers an alternative, built around established rallycross venues and purpose-developed combustion-powered Supercars.

Both approaches have attracted drivers and generated interest.

Whether they can continue developing alongside each other, while offering sufficient opportunities for competitors and teams, will be an important part of rallycross' future.

For now, the conclusion of the 2026 season offers plenty of reasons for optimism.

Sixty-three drivers competed across seven rounds, established names returned, young talents emerged and the title battle remained remarkably close until the final weekend.

Kristoffersson ultimately added another major championship to his already extraordinary career, but the season demonstrated that the competition behind him remains strong.

Bakkerud came closer than many expected, Rytkönen secured a deserved runner-up finish and Pailler delivered one of the year's most memorable victories.

Meanwhile, Turpeinen and Jansson showed that the next generation is ready to challenge.

The decision to return Euro RX1 to the forefront of FIA rallycross has provided an opportunity to rebuild the sport around the machinery, venues and traditions that helped establish its international reputation.

However, one successful season does not guarantee long-term stability.

Maintaining the entry lists, supporting independent competitors, controlling costs and establishing a clear direction for 2027 will all be important if the championship is to build on its renewed momentum.

The first chapter of this new era has been encouraging.

What happens next will determine whether 2026 becomes remembered as a successful comeback season or the beginning of something considerably more significant.

Patrick O'Donovan has been confirmed for the Open 2WD showcase at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, where the three-time British Rallycross Champion will take the wheel of Richard Moore's distinctive V8-powered Mercedes Benz SLK.

The appearance marks another interesting addition to the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy season finale, with O'Donovan stepping away from his familiar Supercar machinery for a rare outing in a rear-wheel-drive car.

The British driver, who secured three consecutive national titles between 2022 and 2024, has spent much of his recent career competing internationally, including winning the 2024 FIA European Rallycross Championship title in RX1.

His 2026 European campaign proved considerably more challenging, although he returned to the podium during September's season finale at Lousada in Portugal.

Now, O'Donovan will tackle a completely different challenge at his home track.

The Mercedes Benz SLK belongs to Richard Moore, who has competed with the unusual 4.0-litre V8-powered machine in the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship's Super Modified category.

Moore has enjoyed several competitive appearances throughout the season, including second place at Lydden Hill in June and fourth during the 2WD Superprix in July.

He also finished fourth during September's opening Pembrey round, demonstrating the car's competitiveness against the varied machinery found within the BTRDA championship.

O'Donovan's appearance comes as British Rallycross prepares to introduce Open 2WD into its championship structure from 2027.

The new category will adopt regulations aligned with RallyX and the Irish Rallycross Championship, creating a home for heavily modified machinery.

Lydden Hill's November showcase will provide an early opportunity to demonstrate the category before its full introduction next season.

The entry list continues to attract considerable attention, with Liam Doran also confirmed to compete in the BMW M3 E30 3.2 Evo he recently debuted at the RallyX Global Final in Montalegre.

The addition of O'Donovan means two of Britain's most recognisable international rallycross drivers will be competing in machinery considerably different from the Supercars with which they have become associated.

For O'Donovan, it represents an opportunity to experience one of the most unusual cars currently competing in British club rallycross, while also helping introduce a new category to the national championship.

Liam Doran has been confirmed for the Open 2WD showcase at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, bringing his recently acquired BMW M3 E30 3.2 Evo to the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy season finale.

The British rallycross star will return to action just two weeks after making his RallyX Open 2WD debut at the inaugural Global Final in Montalegre, Portugal.

Doran purchased the BMW from Swedish driver Erik Lidman, who introduced an entirely new version of a E30 during the same event.

Doran's first competitive outing with the car proved eventful.

He demonstrated impressive speed throughout Saturday's racing, including winning his semi-final and briefly leading the final before mistakes and mechanical difficulties ended his challenge.

Sunday brought further frustration when Doran became involved in a four-car collision during qualifying, damaging the BMW and preventing him from reaching the semi-final.

Despite those setbacks, he completed the Global Final fourth overall with 38 points, tied with third-placed Peter McGarry.

Now, Doran will bring the BMW to his home track of Lydden Hill for another appearance in the increasingly popular Open 2WD category.

His entry is particularly significant as the British championship prepares to introduce Open 2WD into its championship structure from 2027.

Announced in September, the new category will adopt regulations aligned with RallyX and the Irish Rallycross Championship, allowing a wide variety of heavily modified two-wheel-drive machinery to compete together.

The November showcase will be a non-championship event, providing an early opportunity to demonstrate the concept before its full introduction next season.

With several British and Irish drivers already committed, Doran's appearance adds another established international name to the field.

For the former European Rallycross event winner and X Games gold medallist, the event represents another opportunity to gain experience with the BMW after spending most of his career competing in Supercars.

The 2026 British Rallycross season concludes with Saturday's racing taking place under floodlights ahead of the traditional fireworks display.

Simon Tiger's final appearance with the current rotary-powered BMW M3 E30 ended in disappointment at the RallyX Global Final in Montalegre, as the three-time Open 2WD champion saw his hopes of securing another major title disappear following contact with Erik Lidman in Sunday's decisive final.

Despite the setback, the Swedish driver completed the inaugural Global Final as runner-up in the overall Open 2WD standings, collecting 45 points across the two days, just six behind eventual champion Lucas Gabrielsson.

It was a bittersweet conclusion to a weekend that had initially promised a considerably more successful farewell for one of RallyX's most recognisable machines.

Tiger had arrived in Portugal determined to give his spectacular BMW one final competitive outing with its familiar turbocharged rotary engine, following two seasons in which mechanical problems repeatedly prevented him from challenging for victories.

However, the weekend also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the team, with recently revealed plans pointing towards a completely different engine configuration for 2027.

Few drivers have enjoyed as much success in RallyX Open 2WD as Tiger since the championship introduced the category in 2021.

The driver from Kalix immediately established himself as a leading contender, winning six of the seven races during his debut championship season to claim the inaugural title.

He returned to the top of the standings in 2023 before producing another dominant campaign in 2024, securing nine victories and ten podium finishes on his way to a third Open 2WD crown.

By that point, his distinctive orange BMW M3 E30 had become one of the most popular cars in the championship, combining the classic German bodywork with an exceptionally powerful turbocharged rotary engine from Mazda.

However, the following two seasons brought considerably more frustration.

Tiger failed to secure a single victory during 2025, struggling with repeated engine problems that prevented him from maintaining his previous level of competitiveness.

Speaking to RallyX earlier this year, he revealed that the BMW had been running with approximately 200-250 horsepower less than expected during much of the previous campaign.

Although the team believed those problems had finally been resolved, the difficulties continued into 2026.

At Tierp Arena, Tiger immediately demonstrated his speed by topping Q1, only for an oil line failure to cause a fire during Q2.

Further mechanical problems followed at Honkajoki, where clutch and gearbox difficulties nearly forced him to withdraw before the semi-finals.

His strongest result of the RallyX North campaign eventually came at Älvsbyn, where he finished third behind Gabrielsson and Ossian Stenvall.

However, the repeated setbacks convinced Tiger to abandon the remainder of the championship and concentrate on preparing a more reliable package for 2027.

That decision made his return for the Global Final particularly significant.

Montalegre had already been a successful venue for Tiger in 2025, when he finished second in both finals behind André Sousa and Viktor Johansson respectively.

With the existing rotary engine retained for one final appearance, the Portuguese event offered an opportunity to end a difficult chapter on a positive note.

From Championship Leader to Final Heartbreak

Tiger immediately demonstrated that his BMW remained a serious contender against the strong international Open 2WD field assembled at Montalegre.

Saturday's opening qualifying sessions featured several competitive performances, although Jason Bleasdale initially emerged as the strongest driver in the intermediate classification.

Tiger responded in Q3, producing an impressive victory ahead of Liam Doran and the other drivers in his heat.

His pace was sufficient to secure the fastest overall time of the session, placing him in a strong position heading into the semi-finals.

The Swede subsequently finished second behind Peter McGarry in his semi-final, securing his place in the opening final.

Despite McGarry eventually taking victory with his Volkswagen Polo, Tiger completed the podium in third behind Lucas Gabrielsson.

Crucially, his performances throughout qualifying and the semi-finals meant he had accumulated more championship points than any of his rivals.

Tiger ended Saturday leading the Global Final standings with 24 points, one ahead of McGarry and Bleasdale.

It was a remarkable position considering the difficulties that had interrupted much of his season.

Sunday, however, brought a different challenge.

Gabrielsson dominated both qualifying sessions with his turbocharged Toyota Starlet, collecting the maximum available intermediate points.

Tiger remained competitive, winning his Q2 heat, but the Finnish driver had emerged as the clear favourite heading into the semi-finals.

The Swedish driver's opportunity to respond came in the second semi-final, where Doran and Jason Bleasdale were both absent following their dramatic four-car collision during Q2.

Tiger made the strongest start and established himself at the front ahead of Jon Ny and Roel Verhoeven.

Although the unusual sound of his rotary engine raised concerns about its performance, he maintained his advantage and secured victory, ensuring another front-row appearance in the final.

The championship remained within reach. However, the decisive race would prove disastrous.

Gabrielsson, Tiger and Erik Lidman immediately established themselves among the leading drivers, while Ny and Verhoeven opted for early joker lap strategies.

During the opening lap, Tiger ran wide into a rut and became involved in contact with Lidman's newly developed BMW M3 E30.

The impact damaged the steering on Tiger's car, bringing his challenge to a premature conclusion.

Gabrielsson escaped the incident and continued towards victory, eventually defeating Lidman by 3.320 seconds.

Ny completed the podium in third with his Volkswagen Polo.

For Tiger, it was a particularly frustrating way to conclude a weekend that had initially placed him at the top of the championship standings.

His final retirement prevented him from challenging Gabrielsson directly, but the points collected earlier in the weekend were enough to secure second overall with 45 points.

It was a respectable result given the circumstances, although undoubtedly not the farewell he had hoped to give the rotary-powered BMW.

A Completely Different Engine for 2027

While the Global Final marked the end of Tiger's 2026 campaign, development work is already underway on what could become one of the most interesting Open 2WD projects for next season.

Rather than continuing with another rotary configuration, the team is now preparing a 2.8-litre turbocharged Saab V6 engine for 2027.

According to Unitek's recently published technical information, the new powerplant is being developed with an estimated output of approximately 800 horsepower, operating with boost pressure exceeding two bar.

The engine is believed to have the potential to produce more than 1,000 horsepower with additional boost pressure, although the engine builder has made it clear that maximum power is not the primary objective.

Instead, the focus will be on achieving a broad, usable power band and improving drivability.

Unitek also intends to pursue the highest practical geometric compression ratio when running on E85 fuel, although the final configuration and resulting performance remain to be established.

It represents a fundamentally different approach compared with the highly developed rotary engine that has powered Tiger's BMW throughout his successful RallyX career.

While the existing configuration has repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary speed, reliability has become an increasingly significant obstacle.

The proposed V6 package could offer a different combination of power delivery and mechanical characteristics, although its effectiveness in the BMW will only become clear once development and testing have progressed.

The estimated performance figures also remain targets rather than confirmed dyno results.

Nevertheless, the decision to pursue an entirely different engine concept suggests that Team Tiger is prepared to make substantial changes in its attempt to return to championship-winning form.

Tiger's Montalegre appearance ultimately provided a fitting illustration of the strengths and weaknesses that have defined his rotary-powered BMW.

The car remained capable of challenging the fastest drivers in RallyX, securing a qualifying victory, a semi-final win and a podium finish across the opening day.

Even on Sunday, when Gabrielsson appeared to have the strongest package, Tiger demonstrated enough speed to remain in contention for the Global Champion title.

Yet once again, the weekend ended without the victory he had been chasing.

For a driver who dominated Open 2WD during the category's early years, the past two seasons have been particularly demanding.

However, the latest developments suggest that Tiger and his team have no intention of allowing those difficulties to define the future of their project.

The planned introduction of the Saab V6 would represent one of the most significant technical changes to his BMW since he began competing in RallyX.

It also raises an intriguing question about how the car might perform against the increasingly competitive Open 2WD field.

Gabrielsson has established himself as the new benchmark following his RallyX North and Global Final title victories, while drivers such as Lidman, Ny and Viktor Johansson have demonstrated that they can challenge for wins with very different technical approaches.

Tiger has already proved on three occasions that he knows how to win an Open 2WD championship but the challenge now is finding a package capable of delivering the speed and consistency required to do so again.

Montalegre may not have provided the fairy-tale ending he had hoped for with his rotary-powered BMW, but finishing runner-up in the Global Final demonstrated that the competitive spirit remains.

If the new V6 project delivers on its early promise, the end of the rotary era could prove to be the beginning of another successful chapter for Tiger and his unmistakable BMW M3 E30.

Erik Lidman's decision to debut an entirely new BMW M3 E30 at the inaugural RallyX Global Final paid off at Montalegre, with the Swedish driver securing second place in Sunday's Open 2WD final despite arriving in Portugal without completing a single test lap.

The result provided an encouraging conclusion to a weekend that began with uncertainty, continued with a disappointing semi-final elimination on Saturday and nearly ended prematurely following a four-car collision during Sunday's qualifying.

Lidman eventually finished fifth in the overall Global Final standings with 37 points, having collected 13 on Saturday and another 24 during Sunday's competition.

However, the result carried considerably more significance than simply another podium finish.

The Global Final represented the first competitive appearance for a completely rebuilt BMW that Lidman and his team had been developing for the 2027 season.

Compared with his previous car, the new E30 features approximately 100 kilograms less weight, a more powerful engine and significant changes to its weight distribution, including repositioning the engine further back in the chassis.

The braking system has also been revised, creating another unfamiliar element for Lidman to understand.

With the car transported to Portugal by JC Raceteknik before any testing could be completed in Sweden, Friday's practice sessions provided his first opportunity to discover how the new package behaved on track.

Lidman had already made it clear that outright victory was not his primary objective.

Instead, the weekend was intended to provide valuable experience and a starting point for further development ahead of next season.

Nevertheless, the BMW quickly demonstrated that its potential extended beyond simply completing test mileage.

Lidman entered the Global Final following a RallyX North campaign that had initially placed him among the leading Open 2WD championship contenders.

After the opening four rounds, he occupied second in the standings with 64 points, trailing only eventual champion Lucas Gabrielsson.

His performances at Honkajoki and Älvsbyn demonstrated competitive speed, but mechanical problems and racing incidents repeatedly prevented him from converting that potential into stronger results.

At Älvsbyn, his BMW began smoking heavily during the semi-final, forcing him to retire while running near the front.

Lidman subsequently withdrew from the Nysum double-header, effectively ending his championship challenge.

Despite contesting just six of the ten rounds, he finished fifth in the RallyX North standings after reaching three finals.

The decision to prepare a new car therefore represented an opportunity to address some of the limitations of his previous machinery.

There was also an unusual situation awaiting him at Montalegre.

His former BMW had been sold to British rallycross star Liam Doran, who was making his RallyX Open 2WD debut after spending much of his career competing in four-wheel-drive Supercars.

That meant both generations of Lidman's BMW project would be competing against each other during the same weekend.

Saturday provided an encouraging introduction for the new machine.

Lidman demonstrated impressive pace during qualifying, including winning his Q3 race ahead of Jon Ny.

However, his hopes of reaching the opening final ended during the semi-finals.

While battling for one of the three transfer positions, Lidman ran wide at turn 1, allowing Gabrielsson to move ahead and reclaim third place.

The Swede eventually finished fourth in the semi-final, missing out on the final despite the competitive speed he had demonstrated earlier.

With 13 championship points collected, Lidman ended Saturday eighth in the overall Open 2WD standings.

It was a frustrating conclusion to the first day, but the performance of the BMW had already provided several encouraging signs.

A Dramatic Sunday Recovery

Sunday brought a considerably stronger performance, although Lidman's route to the podium was far from straightforward.

The Swede immediately demonstrated competitive pace in Q1, running second behind Gabrielsson and successfully maintaining his position ahead of Ny.

His performance continued into Q2, where he found himself involved in an entertaining battle with Doran, the new owner of his previous BMW.

Both drivers ran side by side after completing their joker laps, providing an opportunity to compare the two different versions of the E30 under competitive conditions.

However, the situation changed dramatically near the end of the race.

Doran struck the barriers through the chicane, damaging the right-front section of his BMW.

Lidman, following closely behind, was unable to avoid the damaged car and collided with its rear.

The impact sent his newly built E30 across the track and into the path of Jason Bleasdale's Vauxhall VX220, which subsequently became involved in the collision.

Peter McGarry also struck Bleasdale's car, leaving four drivers involved in a chain-reaction accident almost directly ahead of the finishing line.

For Lidman, it was an unfortunate setback during what was supposed to be an important development weekend.

Fortunately, he was able to return for the semi-finals.

Having finished third in Sunday's intermediate classification behind Gabrielsson and Doran, Lidman lined up in the first semi-final against several familiar opponents.

Gabrielsson immediately established himself at the front, while Lidman settled into second and remained firmly involved in the battle for the transfer positions.

His joker lap created another close encounter, this time with McGarry.

The two drivers emerged side by side and made contact while fighting for position, but Lidman managed to retain the advantage.

He eventually finished second behind Gabrielsson, securing his first appearance in a Global Final main race with the new BMW.

The final brought another dramatic moment.

McGarry failed to get away from the starting line, while Gabrielsson, Simon Tiger and Lidman immediately established themselves among the leading drivers.

However, Tiger and Lidman became involved in contact during the opening stages after the former ran wide into a rut.

The impact damaged the steering on Tiger's rotary-powered BMW, effectively ending his hopes of securing the inaugural Open 2WD Global Champion title.

Lidman survived the incident and continued pursuing Gabrielsson.

Both drivers delayed their joker laps until the third tour, maintaining sufficient speed to emerge ahead of Ny, who had taken the alternative route earlier.

Gabrielsson remained in control throughout the closing stages, eventually taking victory and securing the Global Champion title.

Lidman crossed the finish line 3.320 seconds behind the Finn, completing an impressive second-place finish in his first competitive weekend with the new BMW.

Ny secured third in his Volkswagen Polo, completing an all-Nordic podium.

A Promising Foundation for 2027

The result was particularly encouraging considering how much work remains to be completed on Lidman's latest project.

When the Swede arrived at Montalegre, the objective was to begin understanding a car featuring significant changes to almost every important area of its performance.

The reduced weight, additional engine power, revised braking system and altered weight distribution all required evaluation before the team could begin establishing a competitive setup.

Yet despite having no previous testing, the BMW demonstrated enough speed to challenge some of the strongest Open 2WD drivers in RallyX.

The weekend also provided an interesting comparison with Lidman's previous car.

Doran demonstrated considerable pace in the older E30, including winning Saturday's opening semi-final and briefly leading the final.

However, the British driver's weekend ended prematurely following Sunday's qualifying accident, preventing a more complete comparison between the two machines.

For Lidman, the experience nevertheless provided a valuable starting point.

He had already demonstrated during the opening half of 2026 that he could challenge Gabrielsson, Viktor Johansson and other established Open 2WD frontrunners.

However, mechanical problems and his subsequent withdrawal from Nysum prevented him from maintaining that championship challenge.

Montalegre offered an opportunity to begin addressing those frustrations with a completely different technical package.

The result suggests that the development work has taken the project in a promising direction.

Although Gabrielsson remained the strongest driver on Sunday, Lidman finished ahead of several established names, including three-time RallyX Open 2WD champion Tiger and Saturday winner McGarry.

His 37-point total also left him just one point behind both McGarry and Doran in the final Global Final standings.

Most importantly, the new BMW completed its first competitive weekend with a podium finish despite experiencing a significant collision.

With the car originally developed as the foundation for his next campaign, Lidman now has valuable experience to build upon during the winter.

The question is no longer whether the new BMW can compete against the established Open 2WD frontrunners.

Montalegre has already demonstrated that it can.

What remains to be seen is how far Lidman and his team can take the project once they have completed the testing and development that they never had time for before Portugal.

Five rounds, four Norwegian champions and a season that combined extraordinary dominance with some of the closest championship battles in Scandinavian rallycross.

The 2026 Norwegian Rallycross Championship took drivers from the famous Lånkebanen at Hell to the demanding hills of Gol, through Vikedal and Grenland before concluding at Gardermoen Motorpark in September.

Across the four Supernasjonal categories, Thomas Bryntesson, Marius Solberg Hansen, Ole Henry Steinsholt and Sindre Haug emerged as national champions, while Henrik T. Håkonsen and Ole Sæther secured the Norwegian Cup titles in Junior and Historic respectively.

However, the season produced far more than six championship winners.

Bryntesson achieved something no driver had previously accomplished under Norway's current points system, finishing with an unprecedented maximum score of 165 points. Steinsholt appeared on course for an equally impressive winning record before an extraordinary mistake at the season finale.

Elsewhere, the battle for the Supernasjonal 2400 title remained unresolved until the final race, while a 16-year-old newcomer established himself as a genuine contender in the smallest engine category.

There was also renewed attention on Supercar, which returned through a three-round guest series featuring everything from modern FC2 machinery to a genuine Group B Ford RS200.

Yet perhaps one of the most important stories concerned the strength of Norway's national rallycross community, particularly following a frightening accident at Gol that threatened to end a young driver's season.

With the championships now concluded and the first details of the 2027 calendar already confirmed, here is what we learned from the 2026 Norwegian Rallycross Championship.

Supercar

Norway's decision to bring Supercar back into its national rallycross programme provided one of the most interesting developments of the season.

The category had three appearances scheduled, beginning at Hell before returning at Grenland and Gardermoen.

It was not part of the four official Norwegian Championship classes, instead operating as a separate Supercar RX guest series.

Nevertheless, its return offered something increasingly rare in modern rallycross: an opportunity to see several generations of four-wheel-drive machinery competing against each other.

Hans-Jøran Østreng immediately established himself as the driver to beat.

Driving the Hyundai i20 originally built and raced by former European Rallycross Championship frontrunner Frode Holte, Østreng dominated the opening event at Hell.

He topped all four qualifying sessions before taking victory in the final, completing a perfect weekend ahead of Kim Roar Johansen and Morten Lerdahl.

Johansen's second-place finish was particularly interesting considering the car he was driving.

His Renault Clio had previously been raced by Mats Lysen, another familiar name from Norway's international rallycross history.

However, it was Lerdahl's third-place finish that attracted considerable attention.

The Norwegian had brought out a Ford RS200 Evolution previously raced by Jan Arthur Iversen during the early 1990s.

More than three decades after Group B machinery helped define one of rallycross' most spectacular eras, the RS200 was still being driven competitively.

Its appearance provided a remarkable contrast with the newer machinery surrounding it.

The category returned at Grenland following the summer break, where the entry list included another interesting addition.

Thomas Eek Murstad arrived directly from RallyX Americas competition in Canada, where he had finished second in the Supercar final at Trois-Rivières.

He entered Grenland with his FC2, representing a considerably different approach to four-wheel-drive rallycross compared with Lerdahl's RS200.

Kjetil Larsen also joined the field with his Marklund Motorsport-built Volkswagen Polo, a car he had already raced internationally during the FIA European Rallycross Championship opener in Riga.

The result was an unusually varied six-car final.

Østreng remained the benchmark, securing his second consecutive victory ahead of Murstad, while Johansen completed the podium.

Lerdahl finished fourth in the RS200, followed by Lars Erik Haug in Supercar Lites machinery. Larsen retired from the final.

Gardermoen provided the last opportunity to interrupt Østreng's winning streak.

However, the Hyundai driver again proved unbeatable, completing his third victory from three starts and securing the Supercar RX title.

Larsen finished second, with Murstad taking third.

Johansen completed the three-round series as runner-up to Østreng, while Lerdahl secured third overall.

The returning category had therefore produced a perfect champion, but its significance extended beyond Østreng's victories.

Traditional Supercars remain an important part of Norwegian rallycross history, and the 2026 guest series demonstrated that several significant cars are still available and being actively raced.

At the same time, the mixture of Supercars, FC2 and Supercar Lites raised questions about how a more permanent championship might be structured.

The technical differences between these cars are substantial, and attracting competitive entries across an entire season would require more than simply allowing them to race together.

Nevertheless, three events provided an encouraging starting point.

Norway has a long history of producing successful Supercar drivers and teams, and the presence of cars associated with Holte, Lysen, Marklund and Iversen was a reminder of just how much rallycross heritage remains within the country.

Whether the category can develop into a more established part of the national championship will be worth following.

Supernasjonal 2400+

Thomas Bryntesson did not merely defend his Norwegian Rallycross Championship title in 2026.

He rewrote the record books.

The former Euro RX frontrunner entered the season as the reigning champion in Norway's largest Supernasjonal category, driving his familiar BMW M3 E30.

Expectations were understandably high, but few could have predicted the extent of his domination.

The opening round at Hell immediately established the pattern.

Emil Sivesind demonstrated that Bryntesson would not necessarily have everything his own way during qualifying, setting the fastest time in Q1 with his Audi A1.

Bryntesson responded by winning the remaining three qualifying sessions before taking victory in the final ahead of Sivesind and Petter Fuglestveit.

The result gave him the maximum available 33 championship points.

At Gol, the situation looked remarkably similar.

Sivesind continued producing competitive qualifying performances, winning both Q2 and Q3, but Bryntesson once again controlled the outcome.

The BMW driver won the final, with Sivesind finishing second and Simen Engsvik completing the podium after an impressive recovery through the finals.

By this point, another interesting development was taking shape behind the championship leader.

Fuglestveit had moved up from the 2000cc category after winning the Norwegian title in 2025.

For his first season in the larger class, he switched to the unusual SUV-based Ford Puma previously raced by Andreas Bakkerud and operated by Bergen Motorsport Evolution.

It was a significant step into a category featuring considerably more powerful machinery and several highly experienced drivers.

Yet Fuglestveit had already demonstrated his potential with a podium on his class debut at Hell.

Meanwhile, Sivesind was balancing his domestic campaign with international appearances.

The young Norwegian made his Supercar debut at RallyX's Tierp Arena weekend, driving Kjetil Larsen's Volkswagen Polo.

Against a field featuring several established international drivers, Sivesind stunned observers by topping both Q1 and Q2 during his first competitive outing in the car.

Although technical problems subsequently compromised his weekend, the performance offered further evidence of his growing reputation.

Back in Norway, however, Bryntesson continued setting the standard.

Vikedal produced another remarkable performance.

The BMW driver established two new Supernasjonal track records during qualifying before taking his third consecutive victory.

Fuglestveit finished second ahead of Kristian Tisland, while Sivesind endured a more difficult final after contact involving Fuglestveit.

Bryntesson left Vikedal with 99 points from a possible 99.

Grenland then presented him with the opportunity to secure the championship one round early and he did exactly that.

Another victory extended his winning streak to four events and increased his total to the maximum possible 132 points.

Simen Engsvik finished second after another impressive performance, while Sivesind completed the podium.

The championship was decided, but Bryntesson still had something significant to chase.

No driver had previously collected every available championship point throughout a complete Norwegian Rallycross Championship season under the current scoring system.

Gardermoen offered one final opportunity to achieve that distinction.

Bryntesson once again dominated, winning the final and completing an unprecedented perfect season with 165 points from a possible 165.

Five events, five victories and every championship point available.

Other Norwegian drivers had previously managed to win every event during a season, but Bryntesson became the first to combine an unbeaten record with maximum points under the current system.

Behind him, however, the fight for the remaining championship medals was considerably closer.

Sivesind secured second overall with 99 points, just two ahead of Fuglestveit on 97.

It was an especially valuable result for Sivesind, who had continued developing his international career alongside his domestic commitments.

Fuglestveit's bronze medal was equally encouraging considering his move into the larger category.

Tisland finished fourth with 75 points, followed by Sivert Svardal on 64.

The category also demonstrated the continued popularity of Norway's highly developed Supernasjonal machinery.

Gol attracted 24 entries in the largest class alone, featuring BMWs, Volkswagen Polos, Audis and the unusual Ford Puma.

While Bryntesson made the championship appear straightforward, the competition behind him remained exceptionally strong.

His season was an extraordinary individual achievement, but it also established an intimidating benchmark for everybody hoping to challenge him in 2027.

Supernasjonal 2400

If Bryntesson's championship was decided through complete domination, the 2400cc category offered almost the opposite.

Three drivers ultimately finished within two points of each other.

Marius Solberg Hansen, Mathias Minge and Kenneth Hansen entered 2026 as established contenders, although each approached the championship with different strengths.

Solberg Hansen had already achieved success in European rallycross and arrived as one of the favourites following his bronze medal in the previous Norwegian season.

Driving his BMW E30, he immediately established himself as a championship contender by winning the opening round at Hell.

The qualifying sessions had produced several different frontrunners, including Espen Kolstadbråten, Andreas Aarhaug and Kenneth Hansen.

However, Solberg Hansen was the driver who converted his pace into victory when the final arrived.

Gol produced a different winner.

Mathias Minge claimed victory with his Ford Puma despite failing to win any of the qualifying sessions and missing the start of one heat.

His ability to recover and secure an important final victory demonstrated that the championship would not be decided simply by whoever possessed the greatest outright speed.

Solberg Hansen finished second, maintaining his championship advantage, while Kolstadbråten completed the podium.

Vikedal then returned Solberg Hansen to the top step.

The BMW driver secured his second victory of the season ahead of Minge, while Sondre Jahren produced one of the standout performances by progressing through the B-final to finish third.

After three rounds, Solberg Hansen had accumulated 91 points, giving him a comfortable advantage over Kenneth Hansen and Kolstadbråten.

But the championship was about to change.

Grenland proved particularly difficult for the championship leader.

Solberg Hansen struggled throughout the weekend and could manage only seventh overall.

Minge took full advantage, winning the final ahead of Kenneth Hansen and Kolstadbråten.

The result significantly reduced the championship leader's advantage and brought several drivers back into contention.

Heading into Gardermoen, Solberg Hansen remained on top with 102 points, but Kenneth Hansen had reduced the gap to eight.

Minge followed on 88 points, while Kolstadbråten also retained a mathematical opportunity to challenge for the medals.

The final produced the closest championship conclusion of the Norwegian season.

Solberg Hansen finished fifth, leaving him dependent on Kenneth Hansen failing to win the race.

Minge ensured that possibility never materialised.

The Ford Puma driver claimed another victory, defeating Kenneth Hansen, while Solberg Hansen had to watch the championship outcome unfold behind him.

When the final points were calculated, Solberg Hansen had secured the Norwegian title with 119 points.

Minge and Kenneth Hansen both finished with 117.

Minge claimed silver on countback thanks to his superior results throughout the season, leaving Hansen with bronze.

It was a remarkable championship outcome.

Minge had won three of the five finals, more than anybody else in the category, yet finished two points short of the title.

Solberg Hansen had won twice, but his stronger points accumulation over the opening three rounds proved decisive.

The result highlighted the importance of Norway's championship scoring system, where qualifying and intermediate results can be just as influential as the final classification.

For Minge, the frustration of losing the title by such a small margin will undoubtedly provide motivation for the future.

For Solberg Hansen, it was another demonstration of the consistency required to win a national championship against opposition capable of taking victories almost anywhere and for Kenneth Hansen, finishing level on points with the runner-up showed just how close the category had become.

Few championship battles anywhere in Scandinavian rallycross produced such a narrow conclusion in 2026.

Supernasjonal 2000

Ole Henry Steinsholt entered the Norwegian season with experience from international rallycross, having previously competed in RallyX Supercar Lites.

Returning to domestic competition with his Ford Fiesta Mk8, he immediately established himself as the strongest contender in the 2000cc category.

However, the opening round at Hell was not completely straightforward.

Torjus Svenneby demonstrated impressive qualifying pace, winning both Q3 and Q4, while Markus Skomedal also challenged near the front.

Steinsholt nevertheless secured victory in the final ahead of Svenneby and Emil Weydahl.

At Gol, he raised his performance to another level.

The former RallyX driver dominated all four qualifying sessions before winning the final, extending his championship advantage with a near-flawless weekend.

But the most significant story in the category had nothing to do with the winner.

During the B-final, 16-year-old Emil Weydahl suffered a frightening accident when contact sent his Mazda RX-7 into a violent series of rolls.

The car was launched beyond the barriers into an area where photographers were standing, forcing one to take evasive action.

Fortunately, neither Weydahl nor the photographer suffered injuries.

The Mazda, however, was destroyed.

The accident quickly became one of the most widely discussed incidents of the Norwegian rallycross season.

What followed provided a very different story.

Drivers, supporters and sponsors rallied around Weydahl and his family, with a fundraising campaign collecting approximately NOK 150,000 to support his return.

A replacement car was prepared, allowing the youngster to resume competition at Vikedal only weeks after the accident.

The team also began planning to rebuild the damaged Mazda for a future return.

Weydahl's determination to continue racing, combined with the response from Norway's motorsport community, became one of the most encouraging stories of the season.

For Steinsholt, meanwhile, the championship continued moving in his favour.

He won again at Vikedal, defeating Skomedal and Svenneby, before securing his fourth consecutive victory at Grenland.

That result also delivered the Norwegian title with one round remaining.

Yet Gardermoen provided an unexpected final chapter.

Steinsholt appeared to have completed a perfect five-race winning record after crossing the finish line first in the A-final.

However, he quickly realised that he had forgotten to complete his joker lap.

The mistake resulted in him being classified at the back of the final, handing victory to Skomedal.

It was a remarkable way for a previously unbeaten winning streak to end.

Fortunately for Steinsholt, the championship had already been secured.

He completed the season with 141 points, comfortably ahead of Skomedal on 92.

Skomedal's Gardermoen victory secured the silver medal, while Svenneby retained third overall with 79 points despite engine problems ending his final weekend prematurely.

Ivan Kallekleiv finished fourth with 77 points, underlining just how closely the positions behind Steinsholt had been contested.

The season confirmed Steinsholt's status as one of Norway's strongest national rallycross drivers, but his Gardermoen mistake also provided a reminder that even overwhelming speed cannot compensate for every error.

It also demonstrated the strength of the supporting field.

Skomedal repeatedly fought through difficult qualifying positions and lower finals, while Svenneby had shown race-winning pace from the very first event and beyond the championship battle, Weydahl's recovery demonstrated something equally valuable about the category.

Norwegian rallycross remains a community where drivers and teams can come together when somebody needs support.

Supernasjonal 1600

Sindre Haug entered 2026 with a new Volkswagen Polo and ambitions of challenging for his first Norwegian Rallycross Championship title.

By September, he had transformed those ambitions into reality.

However, his campaign faced stronger opposition than the final championship margin suggested.

Haug opened the season with victory at Hell, but newcomer Timian T. Hansen immediately demonstrated that he could challenge the experienced frontrunners.

The youngster, who had previously gained extensive experience in bilcross, was making his first appearance in the Norwegian Rallycross Championship.

He topped two qualifying sessions at Hell and appeared capable of securing a podium before technical problems ended his final prematurely.

Haug took victory ahead of Emilie Haukeland and Sean Olsen.

Gol produced another Haug victory, although the qualifying sessions again demonstrated how competitive the small-capacity category had become.

Haukeland won the opening two heats, while Haug responded by topping the remaining sessions and taking victory in the final.

Hansen finished second, continuing his impressive transition into rallycross.

The third round at Vikedal finally delivered his breakthrough.

At just 16 years old, Hansen dominated qualifying by winning three of the four sessions before securing his first victory in the category.

Haug finished second, while Haukeland completed the podium.

The result reduced Haug's championship advantage and established Hansen as a genuine title contender rather than simply a promising newcomer.

Haukeland, meanwhile, continued producing consistent results with her Citroën DS3.

Her Vikedal podium was decided by the smallest possible margin, finishing just 0.001 seconds ahead of Svein G. Nielsen.

With the championship reaching Grenland, Haug returned to winning form.

He defeated Hansen and Haukeland, securing his third victory from four rounds and moving closer to the title.

Nevertheless, he arrived at Gardermoen without the championship mathematically secured.

The finale briefly threatened to become far more complicated than expected.

A technical problem involving the ignition coil's grounding connection caused Haug's Volkswagen Polo to lose significant engine power during qualifying.

He managed to complete the session and secure his position in the A-final, ensuring the championship would remain within his control.

Once the problems were overcome, he completed the season in convincing fashion.

Haug won the Gardermoen final, securing his fourth victory from five rounds and becoming the 2026 Norwegian champion with 154 points.

Hansen finished second in the championship with 126 points, a remarkable achievement during his first season in the category.

Haukeland secured bronze with 108 points, having finished on the podium at four of the five rounds.

Her medal was particularly significant, making her the first woman to secure a championship medal in the category since Andrine Rafoss.

Behind the three leading drivers, Sean Olsen completed the season fourth with 85 points.

While Haug's title was thoroughly deserved, the emergence of Hansen provided perhaps the category's most encouraging development.

Moving from bilcross into rallycross can be challenging, particularly against experienced drivers with well-developed machinery.

Yet the youngster required very little time to demonstrate his potential.

His Vikedal victory and championship silver suggest that Norway already has another promising young driver capable of competing for national titles.

Historic

Norway's Historic Rallycross Cup continued demonstrating why older machinery remains such an important part of the country's motorsport identity.

The category featured a wide range of classic cars, although Volkswagen Beetles remained particularly prominent.

At Gol, for example, 22 drivers entered the Historic field, underlining the continuing interest in a category built around preserving and racing machinery from previous generations.

Ole Sæther emerged as the strongest championship contender.

Driving his Volkswagen 1303, Sæther began the season with victory at Hell after dominating qualifying.

Gol then provided a different winner.

Kristian Haugård secured victory with his Ford Escort, defeating Sæther and Kjetil Stien.

However, Sæther responded at Vikedal, securing another victory and extending his advantage in the Norwegian Cup standings.

Behind him, Haugård and Stien remained closely matched throughout much of the campaign.

Grenland introduced another important name into the fight for individual race victories.

Richard Sæther, Ole's brother, took his first victory of the season ahead of Haugård and Thomas Tørnby.

The result demonstrated that the championship leader was far from the only member of the Sæther family capable of winning.

Gardermoen then produced an unusual conclusion.

Ole arrived with a significant championship advantage but endured a difficult weekend as his Volkswagen required two gearbox changes.

The problems forced him into the B-final rather than allowing him to compete directly among the leading qualifiers.

Despite the setback, he had accumulated enough points during the previous four rounds to secure the Historic Cup title.

Richard completed his own season with another victory, defeating Morten Østheim and Haugård in the final.

Ole finished the championship with 130 points, ahead of Haugård on 110 and Stien with 100.

Richard's two late-season victories elevated him to fourth overall with 90 points.

The final standings illustrated the importance of consistency, particularly in a category where older machinery can require considerable maintenance between events but there was another important lesson.

While modern rallycross increasingly relies on advanced electronics, specialised engineering and expensive development programmes, Norway's Historic category continues offering a place for traditional cars to remain part of competitive motorsport.

The strong Volkswagen Beetle presence, together with machinery such as Ford Escorts, Volvo PVs, BMW 2002, Renault 8 Gordini, gives the category an identity that deserves to be preserved.

Junior

Norway's Junior Rallycross Cup experienced an encouraging season, with several newcomers immediately demonstrating the potential to challenge more established drivers.

Henrik T. Håkonsen entered 2026 as one of the favourites.

The Honda Civic driver already possessed considerably more experience than many of his rivals and began the season by winning the opening round at Hell.

However, the next event demonstrated that the championship would not simply become a one-driver contest.

Mats Aasbjørg, competing in his first season of rallycross after winning the 2025 Bilcross Junior Challenge, secured his first victory at Gol.

Driving an Opel Corsa, Aasbjørg had finished second in all four qualifying sessions before converting his consistency into victory in the final.

Håkonsen, despite dominating qualifying, was forced to retire from the A-final.

The result moved Aasbjørg into a strong championship position and established him as one of the category's most promising newcomers and another driver making an impression was Leander Lindland.

Having made his first appearance in the category during 2025, Lindland embarked on his first full campaign and repeatedly challenged for podium positions.

He finished second at Gol, continuing a promising beginning to the year.

However, Vikedal changed the championship picture.

Håkonsen returned to winning form, defeating Nicolas Handeland and Marius Teigen.

Aasbjørg endured a difficult weekend affected by technical problems, with replacement parts having to be flown in from Trøndelag to keep his car running.

Although he managed to progress through the B-final, his A-final ended prematurely.

Håkonsen capitalised on the situation to regain the championship lead.

Grenland then extended his advantage further.

The Honda driver secured another victory ahead of Lindland and Aasbjørg, giving him a useful points cushion heading into the season finale.

At Gardermoen, Håkonsen completed his championship campaign with another win.

He finished the season with 152 points, securing the Junior Cup title ahead of Aasbjørg on 125.

Lindland completed the championship podium with 107 points.

Handeland finished fourth on 91 points, having also completed his first full season in the category.

The championship therefore produced an encouraging mixture of experienced frontrunners and newcomers capable of adapting quickly to rallycross.

Håkonsen's title confirmed his position as the strongest driver across the five rounds, but the performances of Aasbjørg, Lindland, Handeland and several other youngsters provided reasons for optimism.

There were also encouraging signs beyond the leading positions.

Local newcomer Vegard Owe finished fourth during his rallycross debut at Vikedal, while drivers such as Marius Teigen and Snorre Henriksen regularly contributed to competitive racing throughout the season.

The category continues to serve an important role in Norway's motorsport development structure, offering drivers progressing from bilcross an opportunity to gain experience before moving into the more powerful Supernasjonal classes.

With 17 drivers appearing in the final championship classification, the foundations for continued growth are certainly present.

The challenge now is ensuring that these newcomers have the opportunities and financial support required to progress further.

Norway has produced numerous internationally successful rallycross drivers over the years, and maintaining a strong domestic development pathway will remain essential to creating the next generation.

Beyond the Championships: Norway's Rallycross Identity and the Road to 2027

The 2026 Norwegian Rallycross Championship offered several reminders of what makes the country's national scene distinctive.

At one end was Bryntesson's historic dominance, an achievement that will be difficult to repeat under the current championship scoring system.

At the other was the extraordinary fight in Supernasjonal 2400, where three drivers finished within two points after five rounds.

Steinsholt demonstrated how effectively international experience can translate into national competition, while Haug completed a breakthrough championship season against increasingly impressive opposition from the younger generation.

The continued popularity of Norway's Supernasjonal machinery also deserves recognition.

Unlike many championships that increasingly favour standardised cars, Norway continues attracting highly developed, individually engineered machines.

From Bryntesson's BMW E30 and Fuglestveit's unusual Ford Puma to the numerous Volkswagen Polos, Audis and rotary-powered Mazdas, technical variety remains one of the defining characteristics of Norwegian rallycross.

The Supercar RX guest series took that variety even further.

Seeing a Group B Ford RS200 sharing the track with modern FC2 machinery would have been almost unimaginable in many other contemporary championships, yet Norway managed to bring those generations together.

Still, there are challenges ahead.

The smallest Supernasjonal category attracted relatively limited grids at several rounds, while the returning Supercar category has yet to establish whether it can sustain a larger regular field.

Keeping costs manageable, attracting new drivers and preserving the technical freedom that makes Norwegian rallycross distinctive will all be important considerations.

Fortunately, there is already some certainty surrounding the next season.

The Norwegian Rallycross Championship has confirmed a five-round calendar for 2027, beginning at Konsmo on 8/9 May.

Hell follows on 29/30 May, before the championship visits Finnskogen on 12/13 June.

After the summer break, Momarken hosts the penultimate round on 28/29 August, with Grenland returning as the season finale on 11/12 September.

Additional sprint competitions are also being considered within the wider Norwegian motorsport programme, although their precise structure has yet to be fully established.

The new calendar will bring changes, with Gol, Vikedal and Gardermoen making way for other established Norwegian venues.

Whether those changes influence participation or alter the competitive balance between drivers remains to be seen.

There is also the question of what happens next for the returning Supercar category.

Østreng demonstrated what could be achieved with an established and competitive car, but the opportunity to build a stronger national Supercar field may ultimately prove more significant than any individual victory and perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the entire season was not found in the championship standings.

Following Weydahl's frightening accident at Gol, the Norwegian rallycross community came together to support a young driver whose season could easily have ended there.

Within weeks, he was back competing.

That response said something important about the people who continue making national rallycross possible.

Because during Bryntesson's perfect season, Solberg Hansen's narrow victory and the emergence of promising youngsters will be remembered long after 2026, the strength of the community surrounding them remains just as important.

The Norwegian rallycross continues combining established champions, ambitious newcomers, unusual machinery and a culture deeply rooted in grassroots motorsport.

Preserving that combination while giving the next generation room to develop may be the country's most important challenge heading into 2027.

Sam Clennell is set to make his return to the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November, once again taking the wheel of Ollie O'Donovan's unique Proton Iriz RX Supercar.

The former RX150 race-winner made an impressive debut in the headline Supercar category during last year's season finale at the same venue, securing a surprise podium despite having never previously competed in a Supercar.

Now, twelve months later, Clennell will return to the British championship for another appearance in the Team RX Racing machine, hoping to build on his successful debut performance.

Clennell is no stranger to the machinery, having spent several years working behind the scenes with Team RX Racing through his Sam Clennell Motorsport operation, which is responsible for preparing and maintaining the team's Supercars.

However, opportunities to compete at the highest level have been considerably more limited.

Before making his Supercar debut, Clennell had enjoyed success in the RX150 category, including claiming victory at Croft during his first weekend in rallycross.

His experience preparing Supercars ultimately provided an opportunity to move into the headline category when O'Donovan was unable to contest the 2025 season finale due to other commitments.

A Memorable Supercar Debut

Clennell's first appearance in the Proton Iriz RX at Lydden Hill last November proved far more successful than many might have expected.

The British driver endured a difficult qualifying campaign during Saturday's penultimate championship round, eventually lining up seventh on the grid for the final.

However, he produced an impressive recovery when the decisive race arrived.

As Andrea Dubourg claimed victory on his 5 Nations BRX debut with the DA Racing Peugeot 208 WRX, ahead of newly crowned champion Derek Tohill, Clennell climbed through the field to secure third place.

The result marked a remarkable introduction to Supercar competition for a driver more accustomed to preparing the machinery than racing it.

His podium also contributed to an important weekend for Team RX Racing, which secured the Teams' Championship title for the third consecutive year.

Clennell's performance was particularly notable considering the machinery he was driving.

The Proton Iriz RX was originally developed for O'Donovan's 2022 British campaign through a collaboration between Tony Bardy Motorsport and Mellors Elliot Motorsport.

Built specifically for rallycross, the car shares its platform with the Proton Iriz R5 rally car but features a purpose-built Supercar configuration.

Since its introduction, the unique machine has competed in both British and European rallycross, with Ollie and his son Patrick O'Donovan among the drivers to have raced it.

Patrick notably secured victories in both opening rounds of the 2025 British championship at Lydden Hill with the Proton, demonstrating its competitiveness against more conventional Supercar machinery.

Clennell's podium later that season provided another significant result for the car, particularly after the team had overcome an engine failure during its previous appearance at Lohéac in France.

Another Opportunity at Lydden Hill

Clennell's return adds another familiar name to the Supercar entry for the traditional Lydden Hill fireworks weekend, which will conclude the 2026 British Rallycross Championship.

The event is already set to feature several interesting additions to the field.

Mike Sellar will return to Supercar competition with an LD Motorsport-built Citroën DS3 run by Ovenden Motorsport, while former Dutch Autocross Champion Tom van den Heuvel is preparing to compete with his Kristoffersson Motorsport-built Volkswagen Scirocco.

Young British driver Phoebe Cake is also scheduled to make her Supercar debut with a newly acquired Supercar Lites, adding another newcomer to the headline category.

For Clennell, however, the upcoming event presents an opportunity to build on a performance that immediately established his credentials behind the wheel of a Supercar.

Having already demonstrated his ability to recover from a difficult qualifying position and challenge established competitors, he now returns to the same track with previous competitive experience in the Proton.

Whether he can repeat last year's podium remains to be seen, particularly with the British championship preparing for another competitive conclusion.

Nevertheless, his return provides another interesting storyline for the season finale, with Clennell once again swapping his usual engineering responsibilities for a place behind the wheel of Ollie O'Donovan's distinctive Supercar.

At Slovakiaring earlier this month, one of the oldest cars in the Supercar field delivered a result that few would have expected.

Against more modern machinery, including Citroën DS3s, Mitsubishi Lancers and a newly developed Ford Fiesta, Péter Kotán put his ageing Ford Focus Mk1 at the top of the opening qualifying classification.

It was a remarkable performance from a driver whose rallycross career began before some of his current rivals were even born.

Unfortunately, the weekend did not end in victory.

Engine problems eventually forced the Hungarian veteran to retire from the final, denying him an opportunity to convert his qualifying speed into another memorable result.

But Kotán had already achieved something significant.

His 2026 campaign concluded with second place in the Hungarian Supercar Championship, behind István Antal.

More importantly, it marked his 40th consecutive season competing in rallycross.

Forty seasons without missing a single year and eight Hungarian championship titles.

A career spanning everything from the original European Rallycross Championship era to modern Supercars developed by some of the discipline's most successful professional teams and despite the extraordinary amount of time that has passed, Kotán remains a familiar presence on the starting grids of Central Europe.

His story is about considerably more than an ageing rallycross car.

It is about one of Hungary's most successful rallycross drivers, a family that has made motorsport part of everyday life and a determination to keep competing long after many of his contemporaries have retired.

A Career That Began in 1987

When Péter Kotán made his Hungarian Rallycross Championship debut in 1987, the sport was still establishing itself in the country.

The first official Hungarian championship had been contested only a year earlier, in 1986.

European rallycross was also a very different world.

The cars were becoming increasingly powerful, several established rally drivers were attracted to the discipline and the European championship represented the highest international level of rallycross competition.

There was no FIA World Rallycross Championship, no electric Hypercars and no modern RallyX regional structure.

Instead, the sport was built around national championships, independently developed machinery and international events where some of Europe's most experienced drivers regularly faced one another.

Kotán entered that world behind the wheel of a Mini.

It was a modest beginning compared with the powerful four-wheel-drive machinery that would eventually define much of his career.

However, the Mini provided the foundation for his development, teaching him the precision and racecraft required to compete on a mixture of asphalt and gravel.

The Hungarian quickly established himself as a serious contender.

His first national event victory arrived in 1992, a season that also delivered his first Hungarian championship title.

It would prove to be the beginning of an extraordinary period of success.

Seven additional Hungarian titles followed, bringing his career total to eight and establishing him among the most successful drivers in the country's rallycross history.

His achievements eventually earned him the distinction of being recognised as a permanent Hungarian champion, an honour reserved for exceptional national sporting careers.

But Kotán's ambitions were never limited to domestic competition.

During the 1990s, he also ventured into the European Rallycross Championship, facing drivers and machinery from across the continent.

The early results archives provide an interesting picture of his progression.

In 1995 and 1996, Kotán appeared in the European championship with a Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

By 1999, he was competing with a Ford Escort WRC, continuing to challenge in the championship's leading four-wheel-drive category.

These were the years when the European championship attracted some of the most recognisable names in rallycross, and the machinery was rapidly becoming more specialised.

Competing internationally required significant commitment, particularly for privateer teams travelling across Europe without the resources available to larger professional operations.

Kotán nevertheless remained involved, combining his national championship ambitions with selected international appearances.

His European results included a season finishing 15th overall, while his wider career also brought two Central European titles and an Austrian championship.

He was additionally named Hungary's racing driver of the year twice, in 1997 and 2002.

By the beginning of the new millennium, Kotán had already established a career that most drivers would have considered complete.

Yet he was only approaching the halfway point of the journey that would eventually stretch across four decades.

The Ford That Refuses to Disappear

For many modern rallycross followers, Kotán is immediately recognisable because of his Ford Focus Mk1 and its distinctive appearance belongs to a very different generation of Supercar machinery.

Kotán's association with the Focus dates back to the beginning of the 2000s.

He started to compete with the Ford Focus WRC during the 2002 season, including appearances in both the European, Hungarian and Austrian championships.

The history is particularly interesting because Kotán has remained closely associated with Ford machinery throughout his career, rather than constantly moving towards whichever manufacturer happens to offer the newest competitive platform.

His Ford Escort project remained an important part of that story, including during the more recent period when he returned to competition with older machinery.

Over the years, the Focus has required extensive maintenance and development to remain competitive.

Its exact technical configuration has evolved, but its appearance continues to distinguish it from the modern Supercars that dominate much of the European scene and that is precisely what makes Kotán's performances so interesting.

The car is not being entered merely as a demonstration of rallycross history but he is still using it to challenge other drivers.

At Nyirád in September, the veteran brought the Focus into the overall top ten against a particularly strong international field, which featured 19 Supercars.

Several of his rivals were driving machines developed by professional operations with considerably more recent World RX and Euro RX championship experience.

Yet Kotán remained competitive.

Modern technology can provide substantial advantages, but experience, car knowledge and the ability to adapt to changing track conditions remain valuable.

Kotán has spent decades learning how to extract performance from the Ford Focus that is not always the most powerful or technologically advanced on the starting grid.

But every time the Focus challenges a newer Supercar, it provides another reason for enthusiasts to appreciate the variety that traditional rallycross continues to offer.

The Day the Clock Turned Back at Kakucs

One of the most memorable moments of Kotán's later career came at Kakucsring in September 2020.

By then, he was contesting his 34th consecutive rallycross season.

The championship had been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while Kotán's programme had also been complicated by turbocharger problems earlier in the year.

However, the team gradually resolved the issues, allowing the Hungarian to return to competitive form with his old weapon, the Ford Escort.

The Kakucs event eventually produced something extraordinary.

Kotán reached the final against considerably newer machinery and made an excellent start.

After moving into third, he capitalised on an incident involving two others and took the lead.

For more than five laps, the Hungarian veteran remained out front.

The sight of an older Ford Escort leading modern Supercars brought back memories of the period when Kotán had been one of the dominant figures in national rallycross.

His eventual joker lap strategy dropped him to fourth, denying him the podium that had appeared possible earlier in the race.

But the classification did not tell the whole story.

Kotán later described Kakucs as one of the most memorable races of his later career.

The veteran recalled the reaction of spectators who had watched him challenge at the front, comparing the atmosphere to the excitement of his earlier championship-winning years.

It was particularly meaningful because the performance had come against cars that, on paper, should have been significantly faster.

However, the Escort had worked perfectly, allowing him to demonstrate that there was still plenty of speed remaining in both car and driver.

The result also provided motivation to continue.

At the time, Kotán had accumulated 49 official Hungarian championship event victories and his ambition was to reach the magical milestone of 50.

Whether that particular achievement would eventually arrive was less important than what the ambition represented.

After more than three decades of competing, he still wanted to win.

He was not simply continuing for the sake of adding another season to his record and he remained determined to fight at the front whenever the opportunity presented itself.

More Than Just a Driver

There is another side to Kotán's career that is easy to overlook when focusing on his rallycross achievements.

Throughout the years, he has also been involved in helping other drivers and teams develop their machinery.

His considerable technical experience has proved valuable to younger generations, particularly those attempting to compete with smaller budgets.

In 2021, Kotán worked closely with the Diamond Racing operation, helping prepare the Opel Astra used by promising Super1600 driver Lehel Laczkó.

The project included developing the car and improving its durability, with the team spending considerable time rebuilding and modifying the machinery.

For a smaller racing operation, that experience was invaluable and Kotán was not simply providing occasional advice.

He was actively involved in the preparation and development work, demonstrating the same commitment that had helped sustain his own racing career.

That role highlights an important part of the Hungarian rallycross scene.

Many national teams depend on experienced individuals who can build, repair and develop their own cars.

The sport would be considerably more difficult for younger drivers without those people passing on their knowledge and Kotán's influence extends beyond the teams he has helped.

Rallycross has always been a family affair.

His father was also involved in the sport and the pair competed against one another during the late 1980s.

Decades later, the situation has come full circle.

Kotán's twin sons, Krisztián and Kristóf, grew up around rallycross, spending much of their childhood at events and gradually becoming involved in the family operation.

Kristóf has also established himself as a motorsport photographer, documenting events and providing another connection between the family and the wider Hungarian rallycross community.

Krisztián, meanwhile, has followed his father onto the track.

The younger Kotán has been competing in the Hungarian Astra Kupa, developing his experience in the closely contested one-make championship and 2026 produced a particularly memorable conclusion for the family.

While Péter secured second place in Supercar, Krisztián also finished runner-up in the Astra Kupa standings.

The latter's championship battle remained undecided until Slovakiaring.

Krisztián entered the season finale fighting Attila Hajdina for second place, with just four points separating the pair before the event.

Their rivalry produced several tense moments during qualifying and the semi-final.

Contact between the drivers resulted in penalties for Hajdina, eventually preventing him from reaching the final.

Krisztián took advantage, securing second place in the race behind Balázs Monostori and that result confirmed his position as Astra Kupa vice-champion with 115 points.

For the Kotán family, it meant two silver medals from the same championship season.

Péter in Supercar and Krisztián in Astra Kupa.

With Kristóf continuing to document the sport, the family remains involved in several different aspects of rallycross.

There is something particularly fitting about that achievement.

Almost four decades after Péter competed against his own father, the next generation is now building its own history alongside him.

Forty Seasons Without Stopping

To appreciate the scale of Kotán's achievement, consider how much rallycross has changed since 1987.

The discipline has experienced the transition from Group B era machinery into Division 1 and current generation of Supercars, the introduction of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, the development of electric rallycross cars and the arrival of increasingly sophisticated international racing programmes.

Several generations of cars have come and gone, championships have been created, reorganised and discontinued.

Drivers who began their careers long after Kotán's first season have already retired from the sport and throughout those changes, the Hungarian has continued competing.

His 2026 season was not without difficulties.

Technical problems remained an obstacle, while the challenge of competing against much newer machinery continued to demand considerable effort from the team.

Even at Nyirád and Slovakiaring, where he demonstrated enough pace to challenge at the front, the latter weekend ended with another mechanical retirement.

Nevertheless, the overall result was impressive.

Kotán finished the Hungarian Supercar Championship with 80 points, securing second place behind István Antal, who completed the season with 200.

Czech champion Aleš Fučík finished third with 69 points in his Kristoffersson Motorsport-built Volkswagen Polo, while Krisztián Pál and Zbigniew Staniszewski completed the leading five.

The result demonstrated that Kotán's experience and commitment remain valuable, even when his machinery is considerably older than much of the opposition.

It also provided a fitting way to mark his 40th consecutive season.

For a driver who made his debut while Hungarian rallycross was still in its infancy, finishing another national championship on the podium is an achievement that deserves recognition.

However, the significance of Kotán's career extends beyond statistics.

His presence provides a direct connection to an earlier generation of rallycross, when drivers and smaller teams developed their own machinery and regularly competed against better-funded international operations.

That spirit has never completely disappeared but the question of how long Kotán will continue is one that has followed him for years.

Back in 2020, he made it clear that the enjoyment of competing, the support of spectators and the enthusiasm of his team were still important reasons to return.

Six seasons later, he remains involved.

There is no confirmed indication of when he intends to retire and it would be premature to predict what his 2027 programme might look like.

But whatever happens next, the legacy is already established.

Eight Hungarian championship titles, decades of international competition, countless hours spent developing rallycross machinery and a family that continues contributing to the sport and perhaps the most remarkable detail of all is that Kotán has never needed the newest car to remind people what he can do.

At Slovakiaring, the old Ford Focus briefly returned to the top of the qualifying classification.

The engine eventually surrendered but the driver did not and forty seasons after his debut, Péter Kotán is still part of the fight.

To round out this feature, all I have to say is;

Le a kalappal előtted, Péter!

Igazi legenda vagy!

The penultimate round of the 2026 Belgian Rallycross Championship brought another weekend of close racing, championship celebrations and unexpected developments to the Duivelsberg track at Maasmechelen.

With more than 100 drivers taking part across the different categories, the event also welcomed the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy's Super Retro and Retro machinery, adding another international element to an already varied programme.

For several Belgian drivers, the weekend carried considerably more significance than an individual race victory.

Kristof Bex, Kobe Pauwels, Mark van Eyken and Yenz Leysen all secured their respective Belgian championship titles, joining Pim Klaassen and Martin Boesmans, whose titles had already been decided before the event.

That leaves just two of the eight main Belgian championship categories still awaiting their champions, with Supernationals− and RX3 set to reach their conclusion at Mettet in November.

Elsewhere, Rigo Verstreepen completed a perfect BMW RX Cup weekend, Jean Degreef returned to the top in KC Open and the British visitors provided victories for Ludo Hermans and Terry Moore.

The Belgian championship has already experienced an eventful season, beginning at Duivelsberg in March before visiting Arendonk, Valkenswaard and returning to Maasmechelen several times throughout the summer and autumn.

September's Arendonk meeting was particularly memorable after torrential rain forced the organisers to abandon the finals and declare the qualifying standings as the final results.

The previous Duivelsberg round also served as the conclusion of the Dutch Rallycross Championship, adding further significance to several of the Belgian title battles.

Now, with one weekend remaining, the focus has turned towards which drivers can complete their campaigns with victories and which championship positions are still available.

Supernationals+

Kristof Bex completed another successful weekend at Duivelsberg, securing both victory and the 2026 Belgian Supernationals+ championship title with his Volvo S40.

The defending champion had entered the event holding a 12-point advantage over Steve Volders, who had already secured the Dutch Supernationals+ title earlier this autumn.

Their rivalry has been one of the defining stories of the Belgian championship.

Bex began the season with victory at Duivelsberg, but Volders responded at Arendonk in April after a throttle sensor problem forced the Volvo driver to retire from the lead.

Yorick Maeyninckx also established himself as a genuine title contender, winning at Arendonk in June with his Honda-powered Volvo 242 before his season ended following a frightening RallyX accident at Estering in August.

That left Bex and Volders as the principal championship contenders heading into the final part of the season.

Their previous meeting at Duivelsberg had already produced an entertaining battle, with Volders taking the initial advantage before Bex reclaimed the lead and secured another victory.

This time, the situation was remarkably similar.

Bex topped Q1 and Q3, while Volders interrupted his qualifying dominance by setting the fastest time in Q2.

The final initially appeared to favour the BMW driver.

Volders produced an excellent start around the outside of Bex, whose Volvo suffered excessive wheelspin as he attempted to launch from the grid.

However, Volders elected to take his joker lap early, leaving Bex with an opportunity to build an advantage.

The Volvo driver responded with a fast lap and moved ahead once the strategies had played out.

Volders was also dealing with a damaged rear wheel hub, which caused the wheel to drag and affected the BMW's braking performance.

Unable to maintain the same pace as Bex, he eventually had to settle for second.

Bex crossed the finish line to secure another Duivelsberg victory and, more importantly, successfully defend his Belgian championship title before the Mettet finale.

Nick Neyens continued his recent run of impressive results with another podium in his Millington-powered Ford Escort Mk2.

The Escort driver had already finished third during the previous Duivelsberg meeting and repeated the result following another strong recovery after a difficult start.

Behind the leading trio, the remaining finalists all competed with BMW E36 machinery.

Tibo Vaesen produced an impressive fourth-place finish on his Supernationals+ debut.

Having previously competed in the BMW RX Cup, Vaesen's performance was an encouraging introduction to the considerably more powerful category.

Arne Kamps followed in fifth, while Maarten Verstraeten completed the six-car final in sixth.

The championship battle between Bex and Volders is therefore settled, ending a season in which both drivers repeatedly demonstrated their strength across Belgian and Dutch competition.

For Bex, the title adds another achievement to an already successful career with the Volvo S40.

He has also indicated that he intends to try CrossCar machinery at the Mettet finale, offering an interesting change of direction now that his championship is secured.

Supernationals-

Joël Strackx continued his remarkable debut season in Supernationals− by claiming his second consecutive Duivelsberg victory, strengthening his position in one of the two championship battles still to be decided.

The Honda Civic driver had repeatedly demonstrated impressive qualifying pace earlier in the season, but converting that speed into victories had initially proved difficult.

His breakthrough arrived during the previous Duivelsberg meeting in September, when he controlled the final to defeat Ben Desender.

That victory reduced the gap to championship leader Wouter Nijssen and established Strackx as a genuine title contender heading into the final two rounds.

October brought another important step forward.

Desender topped Q1 with his Honda Civic before Pieter-Jan Willekens took the fastest time in Q2 aboard his Volkswagen Golf.

Bob Wilms then emerged fastest in Q3 with his Opel Corsa, although he was unable to progress into the final.

Strackx, meanwhile, concentrated on delivering another strong result when the decisive race arrived.

Kimi Vermeulen had also demonstrated competitive speed with his Ford Sierra, but the final proved considerably more difficult than expected.

Strackx made an excellent start and immediately established himself ahead of the opposition.

Desender remained close throughout the race, creating another Honda Civic battle at the front.

The pair briefly exchanged positions through their joker lap strategies, but Strackx emerged ahead and maintained the advantage to secure another victory.

Desender finished second, adding another important result to his increasingly competitive season.

Willekens completed the podium in third with his Volkswagen Golf, producing one of his strongest results of the campaign.

Robbe Chalmet finished fourth in another Honda Civic, while Nijssen could manage only fifth with his Opel Corsa.

Vermeulen completed the final in sixth after losing valuable ground during a difficult race that included a mistake at the exit of the Spinnenkop section.

For Strackx, the victory could hardly have arrived at a better moment.

The Belgian has combined his debut Supernationals− campaign with appearances in the FIA Central European Zone Rallycross Championship, gaining additional experience against international opposition.

His improvement throughout the season has now transformed the championship battle.

Nijssen arrived at Duivelsberg holding the advantage in the published standings, but the latest result has moved Strackx ahead in the title fight, according to the championship organisers.

However, with the dropped-score regulations affecting the final calculations, the exact championship picture will require further examination once the updated points have been published.

For now, Strackx has done everything required to place himself in a strong position ahead of Mettet.

RX3

Yves Teelen continued his impressive run of form in RX3 by taking another Duivelsberg victory, defeating Belgian championship contenders Nick Vanalken and Davy Van Den Branden in an entertaining final.

The category, still commonly referred to as Super1600, has produced one of the closest title battles of the Belgian season.

Vanalken arrived as the defending champion and had established an early advantage through three victories and several additional podium finishes.

However, an engine failure during the previous Duivelsberg round prevented him from reaching the final, allowing Van Den Branden to close the gap considerably.

Teelen has also remained firmly involved in the championship picture.

The Peugeot 208 driver secured the Dutch RX3 title during September's Duivelsberg meeting, completing a perfect clean sweep of all three qualifying sessions and the final.

He returned to the Belgian track determined to maintain that momentum.

Teelen topped Q1 before his weekend became more complicated in Q2, where a clutch failure forced him to retire.

Vanalken took advantage by setting the fastest time with his Volkswagen Polo.

Teelen recovered to win Q3, although his team also had to deal with a rear suspension problem during the event.

Despite those difficulties, the Peugeot driver was ready to challenge for victory when the final began.

Vanalken made the strongest start, taking the early lead ahead of Teelen and Van Den Branden.

The leading pair remained closely matched and elected to take their joker laps together.

Although following Vanalken into the joker lap was not Teelen's intended strategy, the decision ultimately worked in his favour.

Vanalken lost valuable time while battling Van Den Branden as the strategies unfolded, giving Teelen an opportunity to move ahead.

The Peugeot driver capitalised, establishing himself at the front and taking another victory.

Vanalken finished second, while Van Den Branden completed the podium in his Citroën DS3.

Veteran Super1600 driver Willem Veltman secured fourth with his Citroën C2, adding another strong finish to his campaign.

Ilse Versluys completed the five-car finishers in fifth with her Toyota Yaris.

There was also an unexpected change of machinery elsewhere in the category.

Danny Luyten had originally planned to compete in RX1 with his Michael Jernberg-built Škoda Fabia Mk2 Supercar.

However, an oil pressure problem during practice prevented him from continuing with the Škoda.

Instead, Luyten returned to RX3 competition with his Ford Ka, although further problems meant he was unable to take the start of the final.

At the front, Teelen's victory has ensured that the Belgian championship remains undecided heading into Mettet.

Vanalken, Van Den Branden and Teelen have all played important roles in the title battle throughout 2026, although the organisers now identify Vanalken and Teelen as the principal contenders for the final round.

With the latest championship points still awaiting publication, the precise situation will become clearer ahead of the season finale.

BMW RX Cup

Rigo Verstreepen delivered a flawless performance in the BMW RX Cup, winning every session to complete a perfect Duivelsberg weekend.

The Belgian had experienced a closely contested season against Dutch champion Rume Antonissen, with several meetings producing narrow margins and occasional contact between the leading drivers.

Antonissen had secured the Dutch BMW RX Cup title during the previous Duivelsberg event, completing his own clean sweep and defeating Verstreepen in the championship by just six points.

However, the roles were reversed this time.

Verstreepen established himself as the fastest driver throughout qualifying before completing the job in the final.

It was his first victory of the 2026 Belgian championship campaign.

Antonissen recovered from fourth to take second, continuing a season that has already brought considerable success in the Netherlands.

Yorben Verstreepen completed the podium in third, making it two members of the family among the leading three.

Sjouke Nobels finished fourth, completing the small field in which all four drivers competed with BMW E36 machinery.

Although the championship has struggled to attract larger grids, the battles between Antonissen and the Verstreepen brothers have provided plenty of close racing.

The latest result gives Rigo another important victory before the season concludes at Mettet, while the Belgian Cup's final classification will need to be confirmed once the outstanding championship points are available.

KC Open

Jean Degreef returned to the top of KC Open at Duivelsberg, securing victory with his Semog Shark after a weekend in which Miguel Bacquet had dominated qualifying.

The category has provided some entertaining racing throughout the Belgian season, with different chassis manufacturers regularly challenging for victories.

At the previous Duivelsberg meeting in September, Kevin Potier claimed the win with his Semog Revolution, while Degreef was among the drivers who failed to reach the finish.

This time, the Belgian enjoyed a considerably better result.

Bacquet established himself as the driver to beat during qualifying, topping Q1, Q2 and Q3 in his Speedcar Wonder.

However, his speed was not enough to guarantee victory in the final.

Degreef produced the stronger performance when it mattered and secured the win, while Dirk Van Vlasselaer took second with his Peters Crosscar.

Bacquet had to settle for third despite his perfect qualifying record.

Diego Van Der Auwera finished fourth in his LifeLive TN5, followed by Danny Raemaekers, who completed the finishers in fifth with another Speedcar Wonder.

Xavier Struyven was the only driver unable to complete the final, retiring his Semog on the penultimate lap.

For Degreef, the victory represented a successful recovery from his previous Duivelsberg disappointment.

Bacquet, meanwhile, demonstrated that he has the outright pace to challenge consistently near the front, even if the final result did not reflect his qualifying dominance.

CrossCar Senior

Kobe Pauwels returned to winning form at Duivelsberg and secured another Belgian CrossCar Senior title, overcoming a competitive international field to take victory in his Ligier XC04.

The Belgian had entered the weekend under pressure following his previous appearance at the track.

During September's Belgian-Dutch meeting, Pauwels had again demonstrated his speed by winning Q1 and Q3, but contact while battling Kyandro Van de Vivere sent his Ligier into the barriers and onto its side.

The resulting retirement gave Nathan Ottink an opportunity to claim a surprise victory, with Pim Vlassak finishing second.

It was another setback in a season that had previously seen Pauwels establish an extraordinary run of 11 consecutive victories.

That streak had first been interrupted at Valkenswaard in June, where contact and subsequent mechanical problems prevented him from reaching the final.

Despite those occasional disappointments, Pauwels remained the championship leader heading into October, with Vlassak his closest challenger.

The latest Duivelsberg event brought together another strong field, featuring some of the leading CrossCar drivers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Pauwels immediately demonstrated his intentions by winning Q1 and Q2.

Pim Vlassak responded in Q3, setting the fastest time with his Crosscar and ensuring that Pauwels would not complete a clean qualifying sweep.

The semi-finals then produced an interesting moment involving the Ligier team.

Daan Bex suffered rear suspension damage after going off the track, leaving his participation in the remainder of the event in doubt.

Pauwels had already won his own semi-final but quickly joined Koen Pauwels and the team mechanics in an effort to repair Bex's car.

The damaged Ligier was repaired sufficiently for Bex to attempt another semi-final, although the recovery ultimately proved unsuccessful.

With the finalists decided, Pauwels faced another difficult challenge.

Ottink made the strongest start and established an early lead in his Peters Crosscar, threatening to repeat his victory from the previous Duivelsberg meeting.

However, Pauwels once again demonstrated the speed that has defined much of his season.

The Belgian used his joker lap strategy effectively, producing the necessary pace to move ahead of Ottink as the race developed.

Once in front, he maintained the advantage to secure the final victory.

Ottink finished second, adding another podium to his recent success at Duivelsberg.

German driver Bryan Neumeyer completed the podium with his Ligier XC04, continuing a season that has also included success in the FIA European Cross Car Championship and Euro RX5.

Kyandro Van de Vivere finished fourth in his LifeLive TN11, maintaining his presence among the leading Belgian championship drivers.

Vlassak completed the final in fifth, while Kevin Letroye finished sixth in his Speedcar Wonder R.

The victory was particularly significant for Pauwels.

With the Belgian championship's dropped-score regulations taken into account, the result secured another CrossCar Senior title before the Mettet finale.

It was an important achievement during a season in which Pauwels has also competed internationally with Aston Martin GT3 machinery, combining rallycross commitments with appearances in endurance racing.

However, the newly crowned champion has already indicated that his programme will change for the final Belgian event.

His Ligier XC04 has been sold and Pauwels intends to compete in Supernationals at Mettet instead.

It provides an intriguing conclusion to another successful CrossCar campaign, with the Belgian preparing to return to a different form of rallycross machinery after securing the championship he set out to defend.

CrossCar Junior

Pim Klaassen added another CrossCar Junior victory to his remarkable 2026 season, overcoming stronger opposition during qualifying to defeat Sferre Grauwels in the final.

The Dutch youngster had already secured both the Dutch and Belgian CrossCar Junior championships before arriving at Duivelsberg.

His performances throughout the season have established him as one of the leading young CrossCar drivers in the Benelux region.

However, this weekend demonstrated that his rivals are continuing to improve.

Unlike several previous appearances, Klaassen was unable to dominate the qualifying sessions with his Peters Crosscar.

Sferre Grauwels emerged as the fastest driver in Q1 and Q2 with his Speedcar Wonder R, establishing himself as the principal challenger.

Daan Spies then topped Q3 in another Speedcar Wonder R.

Spies has been one of the interesting newcomers to CrossCar Junior this season, having previously enjoyed considerable success in the Minibuggy categories.

His transition into the larger class has already produced several impressive qualifying performances, including a strong debut at Arendonk in September.

Yet despite the pace of his rivals, Klaassen remained a formidable opponent when the final arrived.

Grauwels initially appeared capable of converting his qualifying speed into victory, but Klaassen made an excellent start around the outside and moved into the lead.

Grauwels subsequently lost valuable time while battling Spies, allowing the championship winner to establish a useful advantage.

Klaassen maintained the lead to take another final victory.

Grauwels finished second, securing a deserved podium after his impressive qualifying performance.

Danny Van Groningen completed the top three with his Peters PK, adding another strong result to his campaign.

Spies finished fourth, unable to convert his Q3 victory into a podium but nevertheless demonstrating his growing competitiveness.

Colin Snoeys secured fifth with his LifeLive TN5, while Tom Devleeschauwer completed the final in sixth with his LifeLive TN11.

For Klaassen, the latest victory provided another successful chapter in a season that has also included some difficult moments internationally.

His RallyX South CrossCar Junior campaign was affected by a post-race technical infringement at Estering, resulting in disqualification from both rounds and significantly changing the championship outcome.

Nevertheless, his performances in Belgian and Dutch competition have remained consistently impressive.

With both national titles already secured, Klaassen can approach the remaining events without the pressure of a championship battle.

The performances of Grauwels and Spies also provided an encouraging indication of the competition developing behind him.

Superbuggy

Mark van Eyken completed another perfect weekend in Superbuggy, winning all three qualifying sessions and the final to secure the 2026 Belgian championship title.

The experienced Belgian has endured an eventful season with his Spies Buggy 1600, overcoming several incidents and technical challenges while maintaining his position at the top of the standings.

Earlier in the year, a spectacular rollover forced his team to rebuild the car using an older spare chassis before the Valkenswaard round.

Van Eyken responded by returning to winning form, demonstrating that the setback had done little to affect his competitiveness.

However, the previous Duivelsberg meeting brought another costly mistake.

The championship leader struck a tyre stack while entering the joker lap section, allowing Glenn Wouters to claim a surprise victory.

With Glenn Sente also challenging for the championship, Van Eyken arrived at the latest event determined to avoid another disappointment.

He could hardly have produced a stronger response.

Van Eyken topped Q1, Q2 and Q3 before taking control of the final and completing an unbeaten weekend.

The victory also provided enough points for him to secure another Belgian Superbuggy title with one round remaining.

Behind the champion, Dylan Rolly secured second with his GRR Superbuggy.

Rolly had taken over the machinery previously driven by Bjorn Versluys and immediately produced an impressive result.

Mitch Buekenhout completed the podium in third with his Peters 4x4, becoming the final driver to reach the finish.

Glenn Sente, one of Van Eyken's principal championship challengers, endured a disappointing final.

His OS Hayabusa suffered rear suspension damage, forcing him to retire after the third lap.

The result ensured that the championship battle would not continue to Mettet.

For Van Eyken, the title represents a deserved reward following a season in which his outright speed was frequently accompanied by difficult moments.

His recovery from the earlier rollover, combined with his ability to return to winning form after the previous Duivelsberg mistake, demonstrated the determination that has characterised his championship campaign.

With the title now secured, the Belgian can approach the final event without the pressure of defending his advantage.

Minibuggy U12

Yenz Leysen returned to winning form at Duivelsberg and successfully defended his Belgian Minibuggy U12 championship title, overcoming another strong qualifying performance from Jules Dor.

The defending champion had entered the event with Ferre Meeus still capable of challenging for the title.

Their battle has been one of the most consistent stories in the category throughout 2026.

Leysen established an early championship advantage with victories at Arendonk, but Meeus demonstrated that he could challenge the leader, including an impressive victory at Valkenswaard.

The previous Duivelsberg meeting also went in Meeus' favour, with Leysen having to settle for second.

However, the latest event belonged to the championship leader.

Dor was the strongest driver during the opening qualifying session, taking Q1 in his Speedcar.

Leysen responded by topping Q2 with his JVDC before Dor returned to the front in Q3.

Despite his impressive qualifying performance, Dor was unable to convert that speed into victory in the final.

Leysen produced the strongest performance when it mattered, taking the win and securing enough points to retain his Belgian championship title.

Lex Verbelen finished second with his Verbelen Racing MB, producing another strong result in the self-developed machinery.

Meeus completed the podium in third with his Mini X-Racing, keeping himself among the category's leading drivers despite being unable to prevent Leysen from securing the title.

Dor eventually finished fourth, a disappointing outcome considering his two qualifying victories.

Guillaume de Martelaere completed the top five in his Spies, followed by Renée Desender in sixth with another Spies.

Warre Sente finished seventh in his DM Cars, while Ella Vliers completed the eight-car final with her Spies.

Leysen's title adds another achievement to his successful development through the Minibuggy categories.

Having already secured the Dutch U12 championship during September's Duivelsberg meeting, he now completes a Dutch-Belgian championship double.

His performances throughout the season have demonstrated the importance of consistency, particularly against rivals capable of interrupting his winning streak.

Minibuggy U9

Martin Boesmans returned to the top step of the podium in Minibuggy U9, securing another victory with his Spies after experiencing his first defeat of the season during the previous Duivelsberg event.

The youngster had dominated much of the Belgian and Dutch campaigns, establishing himself as the clear favourite whenever he entered a race.

His remarkable run of victories was eventually interrupted in September when Baptyste Havenne took advantage of an eventful final to claim a surprise win.

That result demonstrated the progress being made by Boesmans' closest rivals.

However, the already crowned Belgian and Dutch champion responded strongly during the latest meeting.

Boesmans topped Q1 and Q2 before Frauke Desender interrupted his qualifying dominance by setting the fastest time in Q3 with an SRT.

The final initially produced another challenge when Havenne made an excellent start and briefly moved ahead.

Boesmans nevertheless recovered the advantage and secured victory, returning to the form that has defined much of his season.

Havenne finished second, adding another strong result to his increasingly competitive campaign.

Desender completed the podium in third, converting the earlier Q3 victory into a top-three finish.

Leo Devleeschauwer brought his JVDC home fourth, while Maité Desender completed the five-car final in fifth with her Spies.

For Boesmans, the result was another demonstration of his dominance across both the Belgian and Dutch championships.

He had already secured the Belgian title before the weekend and added another victory to a season that has established him as one of the most successful young drivers in the Minibuggy field.

However, the improving performances of Havenne and Desender have ensured that the category remains competitive behind the champion.

RST Cup

Jimmy Veltman secured victory in the RST Cup, which featured just three starters during the latest Duivelsberg weekend.

The category, based around Ford RST-powered buggy machinery, has provided additional variety at several Belgian and Dutch rallycross meetings throughout the year.

Veltman had previously competed in the Dutch championship, finishing fifth overall following the September Duivelsberg finale.

This time, he emerged as the strongest driver.

Jasper Achten opened qualifying by setting the fastest time in Q1, but Veltman responded with victories in both Q2 and Q3.

That momentum continued into the final, where Veltman secured the win.

Yinthe Meeusen finished second, while Achten completed the three-driver field in third.

Although the limited number of entries reduced the size of the competition, Veltman's performance ensured that the RST Cup produced another winner during the packed Duivelsberg programme.

Super Retro

The British Rallycross Championship's visiting Super Retro category provided another highlight of the Duivelsberg weekend, with Ludo Hermans emerging victorious in his Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

The appearance of the British historic machinery brought a different dimension to the event, featuring several cars associated with earlier generations of rallycross.

Throughout 2026, the 5 Nations BRX Super Retro championship has produced an entertaining battle involving some of the sport's most recognisable names.

Four-time British Rallycross Champion Pat Doran has been among the leading drivers with his Zakspeed Ford Escort Mk2, while Dan Swayland, Stuart Emery and Vincent Bristow have also featured prominently.

Swayland secured his first Super Retro victory during September's Pembrey weekend, while Doran responded with a dominant clean sweep the following day.

Emery has also enjoyed success during the season, including a victory at Valkenswaard with his Volvo 242.

However, the latest appearance at Duivelsberg produced a different winner.

Home hero Hermans immediately established himself as the strongest driver by topping Q1 and Q2 with his Escort RS Cosworth.

Emery interrupted his qualifying dominance in Q3, setting the fastest time with his Volvo.

The final nevertheless belonged to Hermans.

He converted his qualifying speed into victory, adding another Ford Escort to the list of winning cars during the weekend.

Lee Wood finished second with his Ford Escort Mk2, completing an all-Escort top two.

Emery secured third in his Volvo 242, adding another podium to a successful year in British historic rallycross.

Bristow completed the four-car final in fourth with his BMW E36 328i.

The Super Retro appearance provided an interesting contrast with the Belgian Supernationals categories, demonstrating the continuing popularity of traditional rear-wheel-drive machinery across different national championships.

With the British championship still preparing for its own season finale at Lydden Hill, the visiting drivers also had an opportunity to compete on a different track before returning to domestic action.

Retro

Terry Moore completed a successful British Retro appearance at Duivelsberg, securing victory in his Austin Mini after dominating much of qualifying.

The smaller-capacity Retro category brought another selection of classic machinery to Belgium, providing a different spectacle from the powerful Super Retro cars.

The British Retro championship had already produced several significant stories earlier in the season.

Tony Lynch returned for selected appearances with his Toyota MR2 and completed a double victory during September's Pembrey weekend.

However, it was Jon Wood who emerged as the 2026 British Retro champion, securing the title before the remaining rounds at Lydden Hill.

At Duivelsberg, attention turned towards Moore and the other visiting drivers.

The Austin Mini driver began strongly by topping Q1 and Q2, establishing himself as the favourite for the final.

Rob Buckmaster interrupted his qualifying dominance by taking the fastest time in Q3 with his Toyota MR2.

Nevertheless, Moore maintained his advantage when the final arrived and secured victory.

Buckmaster finished second, completing a strong weekend after his earlier qualifying success.

Joe Luke Eastwood made his first appearance of the 2026 season with his MG Metro and immediately secured a podium, finishing third.

Ian Biagi completed the four-car final in fourth with his BMC Mini Clubman.

The Retro category provided another reminder of the importance of preserving historic rallycross machinery.

While modern championships increasingly feature specialised CrossCars and highly developed Supernational machinery, the British Retro categories continue celebrating cars from earlier generations of the sport.

Their appearance at Duivelsberg added welcome variety to the weekend and demonstrated the continued connection between British and Belgian rallycross.

The visiting drivers will now turn their attention towards the remaining British championship events, including the traditional season-ending double-header at Lydden Hill on 7/8 November.

For the Belgian championship, meanwhile, only one event remains.

The Circuit Jules Tacheny at Mettet will host the season finale on the same weekend as the British, on 7/8 November, bringing the 2026 campaign to its conclusion.

The latest championship points had not yet been published at the time of writing, with the dropped-score system also affecting the final classifications.

A full examination of the championship standings and remaining title possibilities will therefore follow in the preview to Mettet.

For now, Duivelsberg has delivered another memorable weekend of Belgian rallycross, crowning several champions while leaving two of the season's most interesting title battles unresolved.

The 2026 RallyX Global Final brought together drivers from across Europe and North America for a spectacular conclusion to the season at Montalegre in Portugal on 24/25 October. Following two days of racing, six drivers emerged with the honour of being crowned Global Champions.

Timmy Hansen, Lukas Andersson, José Oliveira, Lucas Gabrielsson, Hugo Lundgren and Iivari Männistö secured the titles across the six categories, each following a different path to success.

While some drivers dominated throughout the weekend, others had to overcome setbacks, recover lost ground or defend narrow championship advantages during Sunday's decisive races.

The official championship standings, published by Chronomoto following the conclusion of Sunday's racing, provide the complete picture of how the six titles were decided.

Hypercar

Timmy Hansen arrived in Montalegre among the favourites for the Hypercar title and delivered a commanding performance throughout the weekend.

The Swedish driver secured victory in Saturday's final following a closely fought battle with Niclas Grönholm, crossing the finish line just 0.234 seconds ahead of the Finn.

Sunday brought another victory for Hansen, this time ahead of Juha Rytkönen and his Hansen Motorsport teammate Tanner Foust. The second success completed a clean sweep of both finals and secured the Hypercar Global Champion title with 52 points.

Grönholm finished second overall with 40 points, having collected 21 points on Saturday and another 19 on Sunday. Kevin Eriksson completed the championship podium for Olsbergs MSE with 37 points.

Rytkönen's strong Sunday performance moved the SET Promotion driver into fourth overall with 35 points, narrowly ahead of Oliver Eriksson on 33.

Foust finished sixth with 29 points, followed by Dani Sordo on 28 and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky on 22.

Hansen's 12-point winning margin was the largest among the six Global Final categories, underlining his superiority across the two days.

FC2

The FC2 Global Champion title produced one of the closest battles of the weekend, with Lukas Andersson ultimately securing the crown by just two points over Casper Jansson.

Saturday proved decisive in shaping the championship outcome. Jansson had demonstrated impressive pace throughout qualifying but lost his opportunity to reach the final after failing to complete his joker lap during the semi-final.

Andersson capitalised on the situation, winning Saturday's final and collecting 29 points compared with Jansson's 17.

However, the battle was far from over.

Jansson responded with a flawless Sunday, winning both qualifying sessions, his semi-final and the final to collect the maximum available 30 points.

Andersson finished fourth in Sunday's final, adding 20 points to his Saturday advantage. Despite Jansson's remarkable recovery, the JC driver had done enough to secure the FC2 Global Champion title with 49 points and taking his fourth FC2 title of the season, against Jansson's 47.

French driver Julien Meunier completed the championship podium with 43 points following a consistent weekend that included second place in Sunday's final.

Emil Naessén finished fourth overall with 38 points on his debut appearance for SET Promotion, followed by Roberts Vītols with 34 and Oliver Eriksson with 33.

Simon Olofsson collected 30 points to finish seventh, while Thomas Eek Murstad and Romet Tsirna both finished with 28 points, classified eighth and ninth respectively.

Alexander Lindeqvist completed the top ten on 22 points, ahead of Luke Roberts with 18.

Open 4WD Pro-Am

Portuguese driver José Oliveira ensured that the home supporters had plenty to celebrate by securing the Open 4WD Pro-Am Global Champion title.

Driving his Hansen-built Peugeot 208, Oliveira faced consistent pressure from Frenchman Nicolas Beauclé throughout the weekend.

The pair were separated by just one point following Saturday's racing, with Oliveira holding a narrow 22-21 advantage.

Sunday proved equally competitive. Beauclé topped the qualifying classification, but Oliveira responded when it mattered most, winning the final for the second consecutive day.

Oliveira finished the weekend with 45 points, three ahead of Beauclé, whose Division 3-spec Mercedes Benz A45 AMG secured second overall with 42.

Leonel Sampaio completed the championship podium with 34 points, giving Portugal two representatives among the top three.

Joaquim Machado finished fourth with 33 points, followed by FC2 drivers Lindeqvist and Roberts on 29 and 25 points respectively.

Both Lindeqvist and Roberts were also included in the overall FC2 classification, having contested the weekend in FC2 machinery.

Open 2WD

The Open 2WD category delivered another significant championship turnaround, with Finland's Lucas Gabrielsson recovering from a three-point deficit to become Global Champion.

Simon Tiger had established himself at the top of the standings following Saturday's racing, collecting 24 points in his rotary-powered BMW M3 E30.

Peter McGarry, Saturday's final winner, and Jason Bleasdale were tied on 23 points, while Gabrielsson and Liam Doran followed with 21 each.

However, Sunday's racing completely transformed the championship picture.

Gabrielsson dominated the day in his Toyota Starlet, winning both qualifying sessions before taking victory in his semi-final and the final.

His maximum 30-point haul brought his weekend total to 51 points, enough to secure the Open 2WD Global Champion title and become double-champion after securing the Open 2WD North title earlier.

Tiger collected another 21 points on Sunday but ultimately finished six points behind Gabrielsson following his misfortune in the final where he had to retire due to broken steering.

McGarry completed the championship podium with 38 points, tied with Doran, who was classified fourth after a weekend aboard his newly acquired BMW E30 M3.

Erik Lidman narrowly missed the podium with 37 points following an impressive second-place finish in Sunday's final in his new build, while Jon Ny secured sixth overall with 36.

Jason Bleasdale finished seventh with 35 points, followed by brother Darren Bleasdale on 29, Roel Verhoeven on 24 and Martijn Vanhove on 20.

Tomasz "Halk" Łyszkowicz collected 15 points, while Ola Froshaug and Brent Verkuringen finished level on nine points. Tom Geenen followed with eight, José Fernandes with six and Marcus Norman completed the classification without scoring.

Gabrielsson's Sunday performance proved decisive, turning what had been a closely contested championship into a six-point victory.

CrossCar

The CrossCar Global Champion title remained undecided until the final race, with Hugo Lundgren and Diego Martínez producing one of the tightest championship battles of the event.

Martínez had taken the early advantage by winning Saturday's final, collecting 28 points compared with Lundgren's 26.

However, the Swedish driver responded strongly on Sunday.

Lundgren topped the qualifying classification before winning his semi-final and advancing to the final, where he faced another difficult challenge from Riku Huuhka and Martínez.

The final proved extremely close, with Lundgren taking victory just 0.254 seconds ahead of Huuhka. Martínez completed the podium in third.

Lundgren's maximum 30-point score on Sunday brought his overall total to 56 points, enough to secure the CrossCar Global Champion title.

Martínez finished second with 53 points, while Huuhka completed the championship podium with 49.

Behind the leading trio, Gustavo Henriques secured fourth overall with 36 points, narrowly ahead of fellow Portuguese driver Alexandre Borges on 35.

Jari van Hoof finished sixth with 29 points, followed by Jānis Baumanis and João Medina, both on 26.

Vetle Try collected 22 points to finish ninth, ahead of Martim Henriques with 18 and Charlie Sebom Rosmalm with 15.

American driver Mika Block recovered from a difficult Saturday to finish 12th overall with 12 points, followed by Sérgio Castro on seven, Elias Svensson on six and Luciano Visintin on five.

Stéphane Hudon finished 16th with four points, ahead of Frederico Santos on two and Richard Lacroix on one.

With 18 drivers classified, CrossCar featured the largest field among the six Global Final championship standings.

CrossCar Junior

Finland dominated the CrossCar Junior category, with Iivari Männistö securing the Global Champion title ahead of compatriots Alex Anttila and Jere Huuhka.

Männistö entered Sunday's racing with a three-point advantage over Anttila after winning Saturday's final.

However, the championship remained finely balanced heading into the decisive races.

Huuhka dominated Sunday's qualifying sessions, while Anttila also demonstrated strong pace throughout the day. Männistö, meanwhile, found himself fifth in the intermediate classification.

Despite the setback, he delivered when it mattered most.

Männistö won his semi-final before securing another final victory, finishing just 0.569 seconds ahead of Anttila.

The result completed a perfect record of two final victories from two attempts and secured the CrossCar Junior Global Champion title with 55 points and become double-champion as well after securing the North title in Estering.

Anttila finished second overall with 52 points, while Huuhka completed the all-Finnish championship podium with 48.

Belgian driver Loïs Ramakers finished fourth with 41 points, ahead of Finland's Matias Toivio on 37.

Lourenço Rocha secured sixth with 29 points, followed by Jarno van Glabbeek and Miska Viitanen, both on 25.

Daniel Hindborg Eidal finished ninth with 23 points, ahead of Santiago Henriques on 17.

Quinn van Gorp and Afonso Couto both collected 13 points, followed by William Lundgren on 12, Emily Naessén on six and Eppo Mertens on four.

Männistö's ability to recover from difficult qualifying positions and deliver victories in the final stages ultimately proved the difference in one of the weekend's closest championship battles.