2012 Global Rallycross Championship (GRX)

[NaBUru38]

In two weeks, the Global Rallycross Championship begins its second season.

2012 calendar:

May 26 : Charlotte Motor Speedway (Nascar)
June 9 : Texas Motor Speedway (IndyCar)
June 30-July 1 : X Games Los Angeles
July 14 : New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Nascar)
Sept 1 : TBA
Sept 29 : Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nascar)

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The first round is at Charlotte Motor Speedway, following the Nascar Nationwide race. It begins on Saturday 26 at 6:30 pm. This is the track:



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This is the provisional entry list:

Ford Fiesta

o- Marcus Grönholm (2000 and 2002 World Rally champion, 30 WRC wins, 2011 Global Rallycross vice-champion, 2011 X Games double medallist)
o- Tanner Foust (2007 and 2008 Formula Drift champion, 2010 X Games double gold, 2011 X Games silver and 4th, 2011 Global Rallycross champion)
o- Ken Block (2006 and 2008 Rally America vice-champion, 10 Rally America wins)
o- Brian Deegan (2009 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Unlimited Lites champion, 2011 X Games rallycross gold)
o- David Binks (3rd in 2010 and 2011 British Rallycross)
o- Toomas Heikkinen (6th in 2011 European Rallycross)

Citroën C4

o- Liam Doran (2010 British rallycross champion, 3rd in 2011 European Rallycross, 2011 X Games rally gold)

Subaru Impreza

o- Sverre Isachsen (2009, 20210 and 2011 European rallycross champion)
o- Dave Mirra (2011 X Games Rallycross 4th final finish)
o- Bucky Lasek (14 medals at X Games skateboarding)

Dodge Dart:

o- Travis Pastrana (2006-2009 Rally America champion, 17 Rally America wins, 2 gold medals in X Games rally)

Hyundai Veloster:

o- Rhys Millen (2005 Formula Drift champion, 5th in 2011 Global Rallycross)
o- Stephan Verdier (3rd in 2011 Global Rallycross)

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Subaru presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxrXOUCd2Zc

Dodge presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvw0Gs2

[NaBUru38]

Here's two races of the round 1 at Charlotte: the last chance qualifier and the final race. They were awesome!

[NaBUru38]

The second round of the Global Rallycross Championship is this weekend at Texas before the IndyCar race.

[lizardfolk]

I have the GRC on delayed download on my computer. I will be watching this closely as it seems like a good potential for American success.

Not surprising to hear that Ken Block crashed tho. I've always maintained that he should have focused more on his racecraft than the gymkhana gimmicks.

I also took a look at the schedule and it doesn't really seem like the GRC has a proper rallycross schedule. I mean a lot of them will be slaloms on NASCAR ovals... surprised some ERX greats like Sverre Isachsen and Marcus Gronholm has decided to compete in the GRC but maybe this means that the GRC has potential to be a high profile RallyX series.

Honestly any RallyX series that gets attention is a good RallyX series but it would be nice to incorporate some events that are more proper RallyX than NASCAR oval slaloms. Just my 2 cents.

[NaBUru38]

Block is all show no go, I agree.

About the circuits, this is the American way. They don't want it to become the next AMA Motocross, but the next AMA Supercross. They are aiming at places they know they can fill with spectators. That's why GRX bosses chose major ovals rather than purpose-built circuits nobody know about (like New Jersey Motorsport Park).

[lizardfolk]

Block is all show no go, I agree.

About the circuits, this is the American way. They don't want it to become the next AMA Motocross, but the next AMA Supercross. They are aiming at places they know they can fill with spectators. That's why GRX bosses chose major ovals rather than purpose-built circuits nobody know about (like New Jersey Motorsport Park).

My friend said that they are doing this just so they can get some prestige and pull with the American audience so they can find enough interest/sponsorships to start building purpose built facilities of their own (like creating another Rose Bowl or something like that). Honestly tho, I'm not a diehard RallyX fan so the oval slaloms will have to do if they can get an interest with it (and it seems to be working right now).

Personally I'm mostly worried about the talent. Having big name stars like Block and Pastrana (even if Block's talent is questionable) is good but the series needs to retain as well as attract very well respected rally and rallyx drivers from Europe and Asia (The Japanese has a heritage of going sideways). Names like Gronholm, Scott, and Isachsen joining in 2012 has definitely gotten people outside of the series interested and raised the bar of the GRC, I just hope they can continue to do that.

Maybe Latvala, Loeb, and Solberg potentially in the future or something. I guess we'll just have to see how the series develops.

[NaBUru38]

Here's some fan footage of the Texas round.

[NaBUru38]

The X Games Los Angeles, third round of the Global rallycross, will feature no less than 7-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb!!!

By the way, Tanner Foust will attempt a crazy Hot Wheels stunt!

[VtOpenWheel]

GRC at Loudon was a pretty big hit. Friday night 'seedings' were a bit disappointing. Supposed to start at 7 with 3 rounds, course was done closer to 7:45 and due to incidents on the ramp going over pit wall they had two red flags, second one Block rolled his in the second seeding and they called it a night (no lights at Loudon). Sat night they had a crowd that probably matched the Modified/Nationwide races, good crowd. Still a bit late starting and one red flag in an early heat. After that they seemed to settle in pretty well and put on a heck of a show. Most of the crowd I go with are Nascar only types, but most stuck around and came out of it saying very positive things. Overall I think it was a success and expect NHMS would probably welcome them back.

[NaBUru38]

The September 29 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway won't be the last. The 2012 GRX season finale will be held at the Sema Show, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on October 30!!!

Also it seems that Chevrolet will be joining GRX for 2013, because the GM Performance Vehicles and Motorsports vicepresident will be attending the forum. Let's hope for the Sonic, right?

[NaBUru38]

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway round is next weekend.

[NaBUru38]

Two weeks left for the Sema Show at Las Vegas!