Being a newer series in the motorsports world does not leave Red Bull Global Rallycross immune to its own silly season. There has been some good and bad news during the six months of anticipation preceding the 2015 series starting this May.
The spectacular Las Vegas finale saw Ken Block win the race and Joni Wiman win the championship title with a one-two finish in Ford Fiestas. Bucky Lasek prevented a complete podium take-over by the blue oval boys, surviving a first lap crash – “shaken, not stirred” – with Scott Speed to place third. Block has already confirmed he will participate in the 2015 season.
Darkening the Las Vegas finale was the scuttlebutt that Hyundai would not continue to partner with Rhys Millen Racing in GRC, and within weeks the formal announcement confirmed the rumors; no more Millen in a Veloster. RM Racing has since stripped the GRC car of its wrap, and made it available to privateers. I had the pleasure time of my life riding along for a hot lap with Millen on the GRC course in Vegas, so here’s one last nostalgic listen to the GRC Veloster – and yes, it’s my ringtone. Bye bye, Hyundai.
2015 has brought better news about Global Rallycross. First, the calendar has been announced with double headers in Detroit, Los Angeles and Barbados. Gone are dates in New York and Charlotte, but a date at a mystery military base has been added in July. There is no confirmation on where, but it’s a good possibility it will be on the East Coast, south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
May 31: Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL
June 21: Daytona, FL
July 5: United States Military Base
July 25: Detroit, MI (I)
July 26: Detroit, MI (II)
August 15: Washington, DC
August 30: Seattle, WA
September 12: Los Angeles, CA (I)
September 13: Los Angeles, CA (II)
October 3: Barbados (I)
October 4: Barbados (II)
November 4: Las Vegas, NV
Second, DirtFish Rally School has announced sponsorship of a GRC Lites car and driver. 22-year old Tanner Whitten, who has been competing in various series for most of his young life, is partnering with DirtFish Motorsports for the GRC season.
Third, after a fantastic season with multiple podium finishes for both drivers, Subaru announced that Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen have inked deals to power on as a team. Travis Pastrana also signed on for key races along the way.
This past week, Volkswagen Motorsports and Andretti Autosport announced that Tanner Foust and Scott Speed would also return to compete with them in 2015. The two drivers appeared at a press conference at the Chicago Auto Show to make it official and discussed their 2015 pursuits; Foust has a docket full of GRC, as well as World RX, short track trucks, more Top Gear, and That Which Cannot Be Spoken Of Yet. Speed will concentrate on Red Bull GRC and maybe join some other series in several races.
Hoping to make it to the even in LA on September 12th. Anyone know what military base they are using in july?
No word yet on on which military base – they are being a bit cagey, and judging from last year’s Detroit cancellation and LA changing to a double header, we all know that things can change. However, I have heard rumor that it will most likely be in a Southeastern coastal state, one which saw a GRC race last year. And that’s all I can say as it’s just a rumor!
Looking forward to the event.