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Global Rallycross Launches GRC Champions Cup

Guest Writer — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:05:45 +0000

(PRNewsfoto/GRC Global Rallycross)

Global Rallycross Launches GRC Champions Cup

Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) and MJP Racing (MJP) announced today their partnership to develop the GRC Platinum class, using a one-design rallycross vehicle for launch in 2019. The partnership will also produce a European GRC series (GRC Europe) that will complement the series in the Americas (Red Bull GRC Americas). Each series will hold between 8-12 events in the 2019 season, with the top finishers from each series competing in a final GRC Champions Cup event.

The new Platinum class vehicle will utilize a tube frame chassis that is lighter and more agile than current Supercars, with a higher displacement engine promising performance and endurance never before seen in top-tier rallycross racing. By standardizing the chassis and using an engine with significantly greater longevity, both initial purchase price and running costs will be substantially lower than today. The series is open to manufacturers and privateers alike. The result will be fiercely competitive racing at a fraction of current cost to teams and sponsors that will propel the sport of rallycross to more drivers and a broader audience.

“The introduction of the GRC Platinum class positions the sport of rallycross for the future by creating an affordable, yet better performing, next-level vehicle,” says Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne. “Our goal is to open up the competitive landscape to make it more accessible for drivers and teams to participate and showcase their driving skills. Plus, the addition of the GRC Champions Cup will bring together the best drivers from both continents to crown the ‘King of Rallycross’.”

“We share with GRC a strong belief and passion in rallycross,“ says Max J. Pucher, CEO of MJP Racing, “which brings together the know-how to produce excellent cars and an exciting race format. Each year we see many talented drivers and teams who simply cannot find the needed sponsors with huge budgets to compete at a world-class level under the current Supercars regulation. The growing rallycross fan base wants more such racing with more action and more of their favorite drivers. We look forward to launching the GRC Europe expansion to bring established and rising stars to the GRC Champions Cup event.”

The first demo race of the Platinum class cars will be held at the 2018 Red Bull GRC season finale in Lydden Hill, United Kingdom over the October 27-28 weekend. Announcements will roll out over the next several months with more details on both the GRC Platinum class car and format, along with the GRC Champions Cup.

MJP Racing has participated in the World Rallycross Championship since 2015 and was the most successful non-manufacturer backed team with Timo Scheider and Kevin Eriksson in 2017. In-house design and production of the GRC Platinum Series vehicle will take place in MJP Racing’s new 65,000 sq. ft. facility in Austria.

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2018-20 GRC Lites Schedule

IPM Editor — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:00:28 +0000

Red Bull Global Rallycross Unveils 2018-20 GRC Lites Schedule

Red Bull Global Rallycross has officially announced the terms of its new GRC Lites stakeholder program, commencing with the 2018 Red Bull GRC season and lasting through 2020. The GRC Lites stakeholder program will provide 12 full-time competitors in the class with extensive benefits for participating in each Lites championship event over the next three years.

The GRC Lites stakeholders program is the best value in in motorsports and serves as a perfect developmental class for future Supercar drivers. This new program includes:

Entrant fees for each year of the agreement
Defined tire allotment for every round of racing
Trackside signage, activation space, and commercial inventory for team sponsors
GA tickets for every event weekend

Beginning with the 2018 season, all GRC Lites finals will air on the series’ main NBC broadcast that averaged over half a million viewers per event in 2017. In addition to the NBC shows, GRC is excited to announce a partnership with Turner Broadcasting to become a launch partner for their new platform, with a fully interactive digital broadcast that can viewed through their app in the U.S. and internationally via web browser in select markets. There will be approximately 50 hours of live programming this year covering all three classes (Supercar, Lites, and Polaris).

On Tuesday, GRC also announced a partnership with Continental Tire to become the series’ exclusive tire supplier beginning with the 2018 season.

The 2018 Red Bull Global Rallycross championship schedule is as follows:

Round 1: Louisville, KY (May 19-20)
Rounds 2-3: To be announced (June 9-10)*
Round 4: New Orleans, LA (June 23-24)
Round 5: Los Angeles, CA (July 7-8)
Rounds 6-7: Indianapolis, IN (August 11-12)*
Rounds 8-9: Atlantic City, NJ (August 25-26)*
Round 10: Seattle, WA (September 15-16)
Rounds 11-12: Europe (October 27-28)*

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Red Bull Global Rallycross Makes Ottawa Debut

IPM Editor — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:46:40 +0000

Red Bull Global Rallycross Makes Ottawa Debut at Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Redbull GRC at Belle Isle Detroit. Photo by Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

Red Bull Global Rallycross Makes Ottawa Debut for the first time in its seven-year history, Red Bull Global Rallycross will head to Canada for a championship event in 2017. On Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18, Red Bull GRC will visit Ottawa, the country’s capital, for two rounds of action at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. The event is part of the Ottawa 2017 calendar, a year-long celebration of Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation.

“Ottawa represents a perfect fit for Red Bull GRC as we return to international competition in 2017,” said Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne. “We’ve been fortunate to see many Canadian fans at our events in the United States over the years, and we’re looking forward to bringing our racing formula north for the very first time, and to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. As Ottawa 2017 celebrates the 150^th anniversary of Canada, we can’t think of a better way to join the celebration than by staging an event in the nation’s capital.”

The museum is easily accessible off of the Sir George Etienne Cartier Parkway, with the double header event utilizing portions of the Rockcliffe Airport. The course will feature long straightaways and wide-open corners, allowing the 600-horsepower Supercars to reach top speed. The paved main course and Joker Lap will merge leading into the dirt section, just before cars fly over the finish line on the series’ signature 70-foot jump. With grandstands set throughout the dirt section and up to the finish, fans will be up close to some of the most exciting moments of the 2017 season.

This year, as Canada celebrates its sesquicentennial, a record number of Canadians and visitors will gather in the nation’s capital to join in the festivities planned throughout 2017. Ottawa 2017 is presenting 12 full months of big, bold and immersive experiences that will complement national celebrations and annual events and festivals. Residents and visitors from Canada and abroad are invited to explore Canada’s history and culture through vibrant events that will spark the imagination and inspire for the future.

Alejandro Fernandez at Belle Isle Detroit. Photo by Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

“As the nation’s capital, we’re happy to welcome this exciting event to Canada for the first time. Red Bull Global Rallycross will thrill participants and viewers across the country and around the world, while showcasing our city in a new and dynamic way, said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “In support of Ecology Ottawa’s One Million Trees project and to further support this important legacy of the sesquicentennial year, the series’ organizers have committed to planting 10,000 trees in Ottawa.”

“Red Bull Global Rallycross will be yet another legacy of the Ottawa 2017 celebrations, with the opportunity for the event to return in subsequent years. It’s one of the bold new events we are helping to bring to Canada’s capital with the support of partners like CIBC and Ottawa Tourism. We’re equally happy to engage our federal partners at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum to showcase this important institution on an international scale,” said Guy Laflamme, Executive Director of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau.

Featuring the sport’s biggest stars and factory-supported race teams, Red Bull Global Rallycross has a long and storied history of international events and competitors. In 2013, it became the first rallycross series to visit three continents in a single season; last year, Supercar drivers represented 10 different countries, including Canada. Fort Frances, Ontario native Steve Arpin was among last year’s five race winners and is expected to join international stars like Tanner Foust, Scott Speed, Chris Atkinson, and many others.

Created to produce the most exciting action in all of motorsport, Red Bull Global Rallycross combines the best elements of stage rally, off-road and circuit racing in a fan-friendly environment. International superstars battle wheel-to-wheel over dirt, gravel, and the series’ signature 70-foot jump behind the wheel of 600 horsepower Supercars. Events also include the developmental GRC Lites class and a new electric division due to begin competition in 2018.

Feature photo: Sebastian Eriksson in 2015 at Belle Isle Detroit photo by Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

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2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule

IPM Editor — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:58:38 +0000

2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule

Red Bull Global Rallycross proudly unveiled today its action-packed event schedule for the 2017 season. Kicking off in April with a brand new race in Memphis, and concluding in October with the series’ signature Los Angeles finale, this year’s slate retains some of the most popular events of 2016 while also introducing the series to a host of new markets.

“This should be a banner year for Red Bull GRC as we continue our ascent in the world of motorsport,” said Red Bull GRC CEO, Colin Dyne. “We listened to the feedback from our fans, and the 2017 schedule reflects the demand to bring our unique brand of racing to new locations, as well as to return to a number of fan-favorite venues from previous seasons.”

The 2016 Red Bull GRC season was the series’ most exciting yet, with the Supercar and GRC Lites Championships both coming down to the Los Angeles finale. The series will take its high-flying, wheel-to-wheel action to a number of new locations, including its first visit to Louisville, and an inaugural trip to Canada. Popular events in Seattle and Atlantic City will return from 2016, while the series will also make its return to Tennessee and New England.

The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross event schedule is as follows:

Round 1: Memphis, TN (April 29)
Round 2:Louisville, KY (May 21)
Round 3:Thompson, CT (June 3)*
Round 4:Thompson, CT (June 4)*
Round 5:Canada (June 17)*
Round 6:Canada (June 18)*
Round 7:Indianapolis, IN (July 9)
Round 8:Atlantic City, NJ (August 12)*
Round 9:Atlantic City, NJ (August 13)*
Round 10:Seattle, WA (September 9)*
Round 11:Seattle, WA (September 10)*
Round 12:Los Angeles, CA (October 14)

*Indicates doubleheader

Specific event details, including venues, ticket sale information and broadcast times, will be released in the coming weeks.

Drivers expected to compete during the 2017 Red Bull GRC season include two-time defending Supercar champion, Scott Speed; two-time Supercar champion and television host, Tanner Foust; freestyle motocross pioneer and off-road truck champion, Brian Deegan; World Rally Championship veteran, Chris Atkinson; 2006 Junior World Rally champion, Patrik Sandell; and many others.

The Supercar field includes manufacturer-backed entries from Volkswagen, Subaru, Honda, and Ford. Specific 2017 driver and team participation will be confirmed closer to the start of the season.

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Red Bull GRC Adds Electric Series

IPM Editor — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 15:55:14 +0000

Red Bull GRC Adds Electric Series for 2018 Season

Red Bull Global Rallycross will continue to position itself at the forefront of motorsport technology with the creation of an all-electric vehicle series for the 2018 season. Electric vehicles will be added to Red Bull GRC race weekends as a distinct, standalone series, joining the Supercar and GRC Lites classes in the series’ race program. Red Bull GRC, in conjunction with USAC (United States Auto Club), will serve as the governing body for the new series.

“Red Bull Global Rallycross is pleased to add to our rallycross platform an electric series,” said Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne. “The 2018 season will be a landmark year for us as we welcome electric vehicles to the grid for the first time. The electric car is one of the hottest topics in the automotive industry, and manufacturers across the globe have recognized its immense potential. We want to embrace this technology by welcoming it into our series as we continue to grow and expand.

“Our current platform is the most enticing in motorsports right now to a young, millennial audience. Our small displacement, high-horsepower, turbocharged engines allow our manufacturers to showcase the performance capabilities of their current millennial-focused offerings, and provide a glimpse into the exciting future of the automotive industry. This electric series will add a new dynamic that will never replace the current formula, but will be an important part of our expansion.”

Having just wrapped up its sixth season, Red Bull GRC has consistently been responsible for major announcements that have accelerated the growth of the sport of rallycross. The Supercar class now features four manufacturer partners: Ford, Subaru, Honda, and Volkswagen. In 2015, Red Bull GRC also became the first racing series to compete on an active United States military installation.

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