Two years on from its creation, Nitro Rallycross (NRX) will run as a standalone series from 2021.
The brainchild of Travis Pastrana and Nitro Circus, NRX will visit five purpose-built tracks next year before expanding to a 10-round calendar spanning North America, Europe and the Middle East in 2022. The second season will also mark the introduction of a new electric supercar class.
“Since day one, I have truly believed that Nitro Rallycross has the potential to be the most exciting motorsports series on the planet,” said Pastrana.
“When we built the first NRX course in Utah we knew we had something special – from the drivers’ genuine smiles to the astonished fans as cars flew side-by-side over 100-foot jumps. Now, as we get ready for the next chapter of NRX, I’m more convinced than ever that this will bring top drivers from all disciplines to challenge themselves as their teams push the envelope in vehicle development. It’s going to be a hell of a ride, and this is only the beginning.”
Newly-crowned 2020 world champion Johan Kristoffersson is also embracing the new championship format and move to electric power.
“The vision for Nitro Rallycross and the new FC1-X electric vehicle that has been developed is everything you look for as a driver,” said the Swede.
“This series is the perfect platform to showcase the new electric vehicles that are being produced and also provides the best test for us, as drivers to showcase our skills”
Utah Motorsports Campus, where NRX was first launched, will serve as the opening round of the 2021 next September, with additional races to follow in Washington state and Nevada in October, Arizona in November and Quebec in January 2022. The 10-race second season will begin soon thereafter.
“From our very first race in Utah, we knew that Nitro Rallycross was destined to be a disruptive force in motorsports,” said Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, parent company of Nitro Circus. “NRX was built for the next generation of fans and consumers – unrivaled tracks, elite electric vehicles, short-form racing and marquee drivers. We are excited to expand to five races in 2021 and then launch our full electric series globally in 2022.”
The new-for-2022 electric class will run parallel with internal combustion vehicles. The bespoke FC1-X platform was designed with input from manufacturers including Ford, Volkswagen and Subaru, with additional development being carried out in partnership with Firdt Corner, QEV Technologies and Olsbergs MSE.
Source: racer.com