The Garage Blog

The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage

Red Bull Global Rallycross 2018 Season Announced

by 2 Comments

Red Bull Global Rallycross has announced its 2018 calendar with four scheduled double headers and some new cities – including New Orleans, Louisiana. The final race has taken place in Long Beach, California the past several years; there will still be a race in Los Angeles in July, but in keeping with the “Global” part of the series, the final will be in Europe. The exact location has yet to be announced. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a race in Canada this season; the closest to the east of Canada will be in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In fact, that is the only East Coast race at all so far. There is a double header in June with no location indicated. The full calendar:

 

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)*
*indicates doubleheader

Related posts:

Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore The Race Cars at the New York Auto Show Red Bull GRC – DC GRC Makes a Bet on Atlantic City

New England Forest Rally 2017

by 1 Comment

The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) is the fifth of six rallies on the American Rally Association (ARA) in the organization’s first year. As in previous years, the stages are run over two days on forest roads from Bethel, Maine and Errol, New Hampshire. Started in 1991, previous winners include Patrick Richard/Nathalie Richard, Travis Pastrana/Christian Edstrom, Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie Richard, Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino, and David Higgins/Craig Drew.

With a list of 45 entries, the first two stages of the rally kicked off at Concord Pond after Parc Expose at Sunday River Resort, and the race of attrition began. After service and Stage 3, Stage 4 was cancelled; first there was a bit of miscommunication about an injury to Robbie Durant, Travis Pastrana’s co-driver, but after it was resolved communication was lost and the stage was cancelled. Durant suffered an impacted spine and couldn’t continue after Stage 4, then Pastrana put in a formal request to switch co-drivers. Rule books were consulted, and the race steward approved Pastrana continuing the rally on Saturday with a new co-driver. An available, licensed co-driver was found in Greg Dorman, also SRT USA’s Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator. An unusual situation to say the least, but ultimately within the rules.

Saturday started off dramatically when car 111 – Luis Teixeira and Kadence Verge – had an off requiring medical attention and Stage 5 was cancelled. Laughlin O’Sullivan and Scott Putnam had an off on Stage 8 – Sturtevant Long and had to leave the stage with the car on the back of a tow. By the end of Stage 12, both Pastrana and Higgins had damaged right rear suspension, but both were repaired enough in service to continue to the final stage on North Road.

Pastrana won overall with Dorman, Higgins and Drew in second, and Jeff Seehorn and Karen Jankowski in third in only their second time competing at NEFR. Pastrana, ever the sportsman and good-guy, jumped off the podium after the champagne spray and gave his trophy to a young girl in front. Completely speechless, he told the girl to come back next year and he would autograph the trophy for her.

Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpey drove an all new Ford Focus RS rally car to first place in Production 4WD, and frequent regional competitors Alvin Fong and William Machin had their first ARA national podium in second in the 2006 Mitsubshi Evo 9.  Sumit Panjabi and Matt James rounded out the podium in 3rd.

Clinching the Open 2WD Championship was Ryan Millen and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino in the Toyota RAV4.

There was a noticeable increase in spectators since 2015, boding well for rally in North America. NEFR efforts have paid off and the VIP bus has gone from a bus ride on a school bus to a spectator areas on a couple of stages to a VIP experience offering food and drink in addition to the transportation.

ARA has one more rally in its 2017 – Ojibwe Forests Rally August 25-26. While there were some growing pains with the controversy over Pastrana’s co-driver switch and questions over Higgins’ car being underweight at the end of NEFR, the non-profit organization is addressing the issues for future rallies.

…and still no mooses.

Related posts:

Seed 9 Rally Seed 9 Rally 2015 2015 Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally Subaru Announces Two New Drivers Rebelle Rally Registration Begins December 15

The First Ever New York City ePrix

by Leave a Comment

The Chairman of the Board sings that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Formula e certainly has made it by doing something no other racing series has, and that is successfully hold a closed-course street race within New York City. And Gotham certainly rolled out the figurative red carpet for the Qualcomm New York City ePrix – a ribbon cutting to open the track, Sir Richard Branson [Virgin Racing] turning on the lights to the Empire State Building, and Alejandro Agag – Founder and CEO – ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange with first season champion Nelson Piquet Jr. Yet to really make an impression on jaded New Yorkers, the weekend of racing would be a double-header – rounds 9 and 10 on the Formula e calendar.

Formula e in New York City 2017

In a conference call with the media before race weekend, Agag and team owner Michael Andretti talked about how the race finally came together for New York City. The series pointedly holds races in cities to promote electric cars and sustainable technology, and the logistics of finding a site in NYC proved itself to be difficult between subways, traffic, accessibility, and power supply. Agag explained, “We go to places where cars are really a problem”. Location after location was looked at, including Liberty State Park across the river in New Jersey, “But we wanted it in New York City, not New Jersey,” said Agag. When the daughter of a New York City official was impressed after coincidentally attending a race in Paris, they suddenly had an enthusiastic ally in city government to ultimately find the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal site. Located in Red Hook with an incredible view of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan, the temporary track was set up on on the terminal roads with the terminal itself being used for the exclusive VIP club as well as the media center.

Formula e in New York City 2017

Agag is not shy about Formula e’s agenda. Formula e is like every other series in that the impetus to be in motorsport is still race on Sunday, sell on Monday. “We wanted to on the ground floor of new technology,” said Michael Andretti of his team’s involvement, “You’ll see the tech on the road in 10 years. Competition pushes everyone to push the tech further, faster.”  Sustainability is just as important as the tech; the race cars are zero emission vehicles, and the Michelin tires specially engineered for Formula e cars are recycled after the race. (Sorry, trophy hunters, no autographed tires for you.) The e-Village next to the race has a dj with booths touting solar panels, electric cars, and autonomous car tech. Incorporating digital technology in innovative ways helps to draw tech-savvy viewers from outside of the usual motorsport crowd –  new for season three is  “Fan Boost”, a way for fans to vote for their favorite driver through a phone app. On race day, the three drivers with the most votes can use the extra surge of power strategically during the race – blurring the lines a bit between gaming and live racing.

Formula e in New York City 2017

Many people comment that the races must be boring because the cars are so quiet – and hearing roaring engines is one of the cool things about racing, right? Well sure, but the cars are louder than you may think. Granted, there is no constant roar; you hear the TIE fighter like whoosh about twenty seconds before the car appears. The upside is that the tire squealing is much more apparent, and every tight turn sounds like it must be a crash because every bump is heard – but it’s just the usual racing and rubbing. Yet Formula e is still dogged by the perception that it is not “real racing,” especially because in its current format, driver switch cars halfway through. Seeing it in person dispels that myth – the races are pretty cool to watch, with cars reaching speeds of 140 mph and as much bumping as any other series. One security guard started laughing during the practice session, saying, “This is crazy!” Translated from New Yorker, it means “This is really cool.” Spotted  over the weekend was Leonoardo DiCaprio, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, and even Magnus Walker checking out the races.

So – to the races! Fortunately, the sun came out after a rain-soaked practice Friday. The circuit was very similar to the narrow Hong Kong circuit with tight chicanes. The current leader, Sebastiaen Buemi, was unfortunately racing in WEC 6 Hours of Nurburgring the same weekend as the NYC ePrix. Taking his place on the Renault e.dams team was Pierre Gasly. Its’ Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist’s first season with Formula e, and he was one to watch as placed third in his second race. Alex Lynn, standing in for Jose Maria Lopez on the DS Virgin Racing team, grabbed pole position in his first race in the series. Ultimately, Techeetah drivers Stephane Sarrazin and Jean-Eric Vergne placed 3rd and 2nd, respectively, and DS Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird took the win.

Formula e in New York City 2017

Round 10 on Sunday was a sweltering hot day. Sam Bird took P1. Yellow flags came out several times as cars kept hitting the wall at Turn 5. Mahindra racing claimed two positions on the podium – Nick Heidfeld and Felix Rosenqvist, and once again, Sam Bird was in the number one spot on the podium for DS Virgin Racing.

Formula e in New York City 2017

The future of the series looks brighter than a recyclable fluorescent bulb – with Volvo’s recent announcement that they will soon only manufacture electric cars exclusively, it will be interesting to see what manufacturers will join Jaguar, Renault, Mahindra, BMW…

The final two races of the season will be in Montreal, Canada – another double header July 29 and 30, 2007.

Related posts:

Jeff Ward is SH Rallycross’s New GRC Driver Red Bull GRC – DC GRC Makes a Bet on Atlantic City Seed 9 Rally Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship

GRC Makes a Bet on Atlantic City

by Leave a Comment

“…It’s going to be slamming banging, you’re gonna see the most exciting racing you’ve ever seen in your life. And if you’ve got ADD, it is the sport for you. It’s action-packed every turn, I have a hard time, like, taking it all in…” —Bucky Lasek

01_GRC-AC-boardwalk

With that, Red Bull Global Rallycross arrived in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the first time with a Friday evening parade of race cars on the famed Boardwalk. After the cars drove past Bally’s and Caesar’s, they lined up for a GRC-style Parc Expose in Kennedy Plaza for a public press conference and autograph signing.

02_GRC-AC-boardwalk

While Ford is still the dominant automaker in Supercars with five Fiestas driven by Steve Arpin, Brian Deegan, Austin Dyne, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Patrik Sandell, both Honda and Subaru upped the ante in the gambling town by adding a third car. Honda brought in Kevin Eriksson for their third OMSE Civic alongside Sebastian Eriksson and Joni Wiman; Kevin has competed in GRC Lites and currently competes in the FIA World Rallycross series in a Ford Fiesta. Subaru invited Australian rally driver Chris Atkinson to try his hand at rallycross in the #55 WRX STI with GRC regulars Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen. Tanner Foust and Scott Speed rounded out the field in VW Beetles.

03_GRC-AC-eriksson

Being an itinerant series, the practice day always comes with its share of challenges – for example the wooden plank jump that caused delays in Detroit in 2015. In Atlantic City the course was on the tarmac of Bader Field, an aging municipal airport named after a Prohibition-Era mayor, and the racing cars created some potholes large enough to create flying chunks of the cement, warranting the postponement of a few heats to the following day. The stands were unusually packed for a practice day, being a Saturday, so GRC kept fans happy by adding a few rounds of door-to-door racing by the “Fastest Six.”

05_GRC-AC-potholes

The Atlantic City course was also the longest course this year, measuring 1.102 miles. So long, in fact, that the usual Supercar final had to be cut down to eight laps from the usual ten, and the GRC Lites final down to six laps so the cars wouldn’t run out of gas. After Saturday’s qualifying, Scott Speed came out in front with pole position.

04_GRC-AC-speed

Sunday was bright and sunny for the finals, without the stiff breezes that blew the dirt around on Saturday. In the semi-final, Foust and Piquet Jr. tangled a bit, calling for a restart – moving the schedule around a bit. In order to maintain the live broadcast of the Supercar finals, the Lites finals ended up taking place after Supercars. The Supercars final did not disappoint, with teammates Foust and Speed jockeying for first, Speed ultimately staying in front for the win. On the last lap, Sandell took the Joker lap to take second, and Deegan sped past Arpin and a limping Foust for the third spot on the podium. Foust had a tire puncture for the last two laps, while Subaru teammates Bucky Lasek and Chris Atkinson suffered complete blow-outs.

06_GRC-AC-finals-start

08_GRC-AC-atkinson-tire

07_GRC-AC-lasek-tire

In an earlier heat, Sandra Hultgren ended up rolling over after the first turn. She quickly got back onto the track in following heats. Alex Keyes won his first race on his last race of the season, with Oliver Eriksson and Miki Weckstrom in second and third, respectively.

Red Bull GRC goes to Seattle for the next race September 17, 2016.

Related posts:

Red Bull GRC – DC Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship Rallycross Silly Season is Almost Over – Almost Jeff Ward is SH Rallycross’s New GRC Driver Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale

Red Bull GRC – DC

by Leave a Comment

Marking the start of the second half of the Red Bull Global Rallycross season, the series set up camp in Washington D.C. for the third year in a row. The clockwise track was once again constructed in the parking lot of RFK Stadium, embedded with crumbling chicane from the 2002’s ALMS Cadillac Grand Prix. The .899 mile track ran clockwise this year with ten turns, the Joker lap, dirt section, and the signature table jump right before the finish line. Not only is Washington DC a veritable swamp in the summer time, but DC was in the middle of the heat wave with thunderstorms threatening for race day.

01-GRCDC2016

Supercars speculation was high going into DC:. Nelson Piquet Jr., last year’s winner, was re-joining the SH Rallycross/DRR after finishing his second Formula E season. Patrik Sandell won in 2014 and was looking for the top spot on the podium, with two podiums already in 2016. Tanner Foust arrived in DC the stiffest competition with three wins under his belt and a podium in Dallas from the first half of the season. Scott Speed, with one win and three total podiums in 2016, also arrived fresh off a win at MCAS New River; but then Steve Arpin was raring to go in his second year with Chip Ganassi Racing (and his first win in GRC this year), and his teammate Brian Deegan having taken three podiums in 2016. OMSE Honda driver Sebastian Eriksson had three podiums in the first half of the season as well, and to put a bit more gas on the fire, Subaru Rally Team USA was arriving fresh for their first race of the year.

04-GRCDC2016

A Thursday evening thunderstorm did nothing to quell the humidity. While it left puddles all over the track and the paddocks, the dirt hazard and jump managed to be dry enough to form great plumes of dust during afternoon practice and evening heats, with Foust and Speed won Friday’s heats.

02-GRCDC2016

Friday’s most urgent race was between GRC semifinals and fast-approaching rain clouds – and the rain won. After the heats and semi-finals, the rain started. After about a half hour of downpours, the weather finally moved on – and the formerly dusty track was now covered in mud and puddles for the LCQ and main event. In other words – real rally conditions!

05-GRCDC2016

Scott Speed won pole position for the final, and the LCQ was indeed a mud fest with Steve Arpin winning. Speed and Sandell stayed in front for the whole final, while Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan fought for third place. Foust pulled of a pass in the final lap for third place.

07-GRCDC2016

08-GRCDC2016

Rookie GRC Lites driver Cabot Bigham took his first win (after two podiums in the season’s first half), with Oliver Ericsson taking the other two podium spots. After competing in her first Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites race last year in Las Vegas, Sandra Hultgren (Olsbergs MSE X Forces) returned for her first 2016 race, finishing eighth.

06-GRCDC2016

09-GRCDC2016

Check Red Bull TV for replays of the DC event, or to watch the upcoming race in New Jersey August 28.

Related posts:

Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship Rallycross Silly Season is Almost Over – Almost Jeff Ward is SH Rallycross’s New GRC Driver Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale The Race Cars at the New York Auto Show

Jeff Ward is SH Rallycross’s New GRC Driver

by Leave a Comment

With the Bull Global Rallycross season opener fast approaching May 21-22 in Phoenix, Arizona, silly season has become serious. Today Jeff Ward and SH Rallycross announced that he will be driving the #07 Ford Fiesta ST sponsored by MET-Rx in eight races in 2016. In previous GRC seasons, the #07 car was piloted by Nelson Piquet Jr. While at publication time we haven’t heard anything official from Piquet, the natural assumption is that he will be concentrating his efforts in the nascent Formula e series as he is gone from the Red Bull GRC website roster. However, Ward brings a formidable competitive edge to rallycross, including seven AMA motocross championship wins and an Indycar win in 2002 at Texas Motor Speedway. He competed at the Daytona double header and Washington DC in 2015, filling in for Brian Deegan.

Jeff Ward

Jeff Ward

Patrik Sandell has signed on for a second year with Bryan Herta Rallysport. Also piloting a Ford Fiesta ST, this will be the Swede’s fourth year competing in GRC. He had one win in Detroit in 2015 and four podium finishes.

Supercar Podium Sunday

Detroit 2015

Sandell, Washington DC 2015

There are a few more newcomers to Lites:

  • 15 year-old Cole Keatts will compete on the OMSE team with a background in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the JR2 Kart championship
  • Cabot Bigham joined Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, coming to GRC from FCC Pro Formula Mazda
  • Travis Pecoy and Christian Brooks join AF Racing
  • Jackie Heinricher is noticeably back off the roster, concentrating on driving a Lamborghini in the Super Trofeo series – leaving Collete Davis the sole female competitor.

Related posts:

Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship Rallycross Silly Season is Almost Over – Almost Chip Ganassi Racing Adds Rallycross Team Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore

Rallycross Silly Season is Almost Over – Almost

by Leave a Comment

_DSC0973 copy

There are still some highlighted rows on my rallycross spreadsheet meaning that there are still some Silly Season shenanigans to report. Red Bull Global Rallycross still has some time before the first race in Phoenix, Arizona May 21-22, and there could yet be a surprise or two in Supercars based on off-handed comments on social media. What is definite:

  • As revealed at New York International Auto Show, OMSE teammates Joni Wiman and Sebastian Eriksson will switch from Ford Fiestas to Honda Civics
  • CORE Autosport will assemble a team of two GRC LITES drivers yet to be announced

The first FIA World RX is coming up April 15 in Montelegre, Portugal. The Supercar entry list has solidified with a few last-minute changes:

  • Liam Doran has switched to MINI with JRM Racing
  • Rene Munnich and Reinis Nitiss also have new rides for 2016 – Seat Ibiza RX
  • Timmy Hansen will compete with Team Peugeot-Hansen driving a Peugeot 208 WRX

Full Supercar entry list for Montelegre:

No

Driver

Nat.

Competitor

Nat.

Car

1

Petter SOLBERG

NOR

Petter Solberg World RX Team

SWE

Citröen DS3

3

Johan KRISTOFFERSSON

SWE

Volkswagen RX Sweden

SWE

Volkswagen Polo

4

Robin LARSSON

SWE

Robin Larsson

SWE

Audi A1

5

Mattias EKSTRÖM

SWE

EKS

SWE

Audi S1

6

Janis BAUMANIS

LVA

World RX Team Austria

AUT

Ford Fiesta

7

Timur TIMERZYANOV

RUS

World RX Team Austria

AUT

Ford Fiesta

9

Sébastien LOEB

FRA

Team Peugeot-Hansen

SWE

Peugeot 208

13

Andreas BAKKERUD

NOR

Hoonigan Racing Division

USA

Ford Focus RS

15

Reinis NITISS

LVA

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport

DEU

Seat Ibiza

17

Davy JEANNEY

FRA

Peugeot-Hansen Academy

SWE

Peugeot 208

21

Timmy HANSEN

SWE

Team Peugeot-Hansen

SWE

Peugeot 208

31

Max PUCHER

AUT

World RX Team Austria

AUT

Ford Fiesta

33

Liam DORAN

GBR

JRM World Rallycross Team

GBR

BMW Mini

41

Joaquim SANTOS

PRT

Bompiso Racing Team

PRT

Ford Focus

43

Ken BLOCK

USA

Hoonigan Racing Division

USA

Ford Focus RS

56

Bohdan LUDWICZAK

POL

Bohdan Ludwiczak

POL

Mitsubishi Lancer

57

Toomas HEIKKINEN

FIN

EKS

SWE

Audi S1

68

Niclas GRÖNHOLM

FIN

OlsbergsMSE

SWE

Ford Fiesta ST

71

Kevin HANSEN

SWE

Peugeot-Hansen Academy

SWE

Peugeot 208

77

René MÜNNICH

DEU

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport

DEU

Seat Ibiza

87

Jean-Baptiste DUBOURG

FRA

Jean-Baptiste Dubourg

FRA

Citröen DS3

92

Anton MARKLUND

SWE

Volkswagen RX Sweden

SWE

Volkswagen Polo

96

Kevin ERIKSSON

SWE

OlsbergsMSE

SWE

Ford Fiesta ST

Related posts:

Chip Ganassi Racing Adds Rallycross Team Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore Rallycross Silly Season Update

The Race Cars at the New York Auto Show

by Leave a Comment

In progress now until Sunday April 3, the New York International Auto Show is chock full of current models, recently launched prototypes, supercars, classic cars, and the latest in alternative fuel and transportation. Plus – race cars: the striped and halo-ed eye candy that is the object of the admiring glances of many attendees. There were several new reveals in racing at NYIAS. The first to be revealed was Honda’s Civic to be driven in Red Bull Global Rallycross by OMSE teammates Joni Wiman and Sebastian Eriksson. While it was on the show floor for the media days, it sadly disappeared before the show opened to the public. Honda does have the 2015 Rahal Dallara Honda IndyCar on view.

Honda GRC Civic - OMSE

Perhaps the most stunning, however, was the Acura NSX GT3 twin-turbo V6. We should hopefully start seeing it in the wild in 2017 racing in Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain Endurance Series. The NSX is on the show floor for the entire show, as is the Acura TLX GT race car.

Acura NSX GT3 launch

Ryan Millen’s RAV4 rally car was also on the floor with the trucks during media days, but Toyota pulled a bait & switch. There is a RAV4 with Millen’s livery, but it’s clearly a factory model, sans roll cage, SPARCO seats, and all of the other gear of the real deal. Still, if you go on the public days, you can squint and pretend. Toyota is the host with the most, though, with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Camrys on the main show floor, and the pace car for Watkin’s Glen.

Toyota RAV4 Ryan Millen

Toyota NASCAR

Mazda, Mitsubishi, Audi, and more have race cars in their displays – here’s a full gallery.

Related posts:

Bucky Lasek To Make Rally Debut in 2016 Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale 2016 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship

Rallycross Silly Season Update

by 1 Comment

From the Silly Season spreadsheet, here is how rallycross is shaping up so far for 2016.

FIA World RX:

  • Sebastian Loeb signs on for his first year competing in FIA World RX with Team Peugeot-Hansen
  • Anton Marklund leaves EKSRX to join newly minted Volkswagen RX Sweden
  • Ken Block jumps from Red Bull GRC to a full FIA World RX calendar
  • Toomas Heikkinen moves to EKSRX and an Audi Quattro with Mattias Ekstrom, as Marklund Motorsport has merged to form the new Volkswagen RX Sweden team
  • Kevin Eriksson upgrades to a Ford Fiesta with OMSE
  • Andreas Bakkerud leaves OMSE to join Ken Block and the Hoonigan Racing Division
  • Reinis Nitiss leaves OMSE to Rene Munnich’s ALL-INKL.com Münnich Motorsport in an Audi S3
  • Timur Timerzyanov switches from OMSE to World RX Team Austria
  • Johan Kristoffersson also merges into the new Volkswagen RX Sweden team
  • Niclas Gronholm will compete in a Ford Fiesta with OMSE, and father Marcus joins Olsbergs as team manager
  • Janis Baumanais upgrades to a Ford Fiesta with World RX Team Austria

Red Bull Global Rallycross:

  • Brian Deegan is sporting a new energy drink sponsor – NOS
  • Scott Speed also has a new energy drink sponsor – Rock Star
  • Dirt Fish Motorsports announced their GRC Lites driver for 2016, Conner Martell
  • Jackie Heinricher will now compete in GRC Lites with AF Racing and teammate Alejandro Fernandez

New York Auto Show media days start soon – hoping for a few surprises! Stay tuned.

_DSC1027 copy

 

Related posts:

Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship 2016 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit Double-Header

Red Bull GRC Heading to the Jersey Shore

by 1 Comment

Red Bull Global RallyCross has just announced the mystery location on their 2016 calendar – and they are heading north on the East Coast to Atlantic City, New Jersey. An interesting choice, perhaps, as Atlantic City struggles to maintain status as a tourist and nightlife destination while it’s casinos close; most famously, the 2014 closing of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.

“Bader Field is a great location for Red Bull Global Rallycross,” said Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne. “Its wide open spaces will allow us to design one of the fastest tracks of the season, while its proximity to major urban markets ensures that our many passionate fans from the northeast will have a home race to attend. We can’t wait to bring our high-octane brand of motorsport to Atlantic City for the first time!”

With the final location announced, it is of note that the 2016 series will take place entirely within the United States, as the one remaining international event – Barbados – is not on the roster this year.

Yours truly was born in New Jersey, so no hate for the Garden State here. The course will be built on the site of a municipal airport, and is predicted to have clear views of the entire course for spectators. Speaking of spectators – right now, Red Bull GRC is offering an early bird special of $25 for adult general admission tickets for this venue through July 24 – with kids 12 and under free (with a paying adult.) Sun, sand, the ocean, and Red Bull GRC? Maybe not a strange choice after all – get your bronzer on and head to the Jersey Shore.

Related posts:

Chip Ganassi Racing Adds Rallycross Team Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit Double-Header Las Vegas – The 2015 Red Bull GRC Championship 2016 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule Racer Jackie Returns to GRC Lites, Formula D Back in Irwindale