Monster Energy athlete Guerlain Chicherit and world leading motorsport and technology business, Prodrive, proudly announce the start of their partnership to develop an all-new rallycross car for the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX).
The new Supercar WRX will be based on the Renault Mégane IV and will be designed from the ground up by the British motorsport specialist to the latest World RX regulations. Prodrive will design the entire car at its headquarters in Banbury, UK, including developing a bespoke two-litre turbocharged engine. The new Renault Mégane RX will be unveiled at the 2017 World Rallycross round in Lohéac, France, on 1st September 2017. Chicherit will continue to use the 2017 season to enter select rounds and begin testing of the Mégane RX in autumn 2017, ready for the 2018 season start.
While best known for rallying and circuit racing, Prodrive has recent rallycross experience having developed the MINI WRX in 2013 to compete in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC), where it won on its debut at X Games Munich. Prodrive also develops its own engines in house and has previous experience of creating bespoke, non-production based motorsport powertrains.
David Richards, Prodrive chairman said: 'It has long been an ambition of ours to compete in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. It is the fastest growing motorsport series in the world and gives us the opportunity to use all our engineering experience to create a car capable of winning the World title. Guerlain is obviously a very talented driver and we look forward to working with him and developing a race car that both he and Renault will be proud of.'
Guerlain Chicherit added: 'I'm so stoked to be working with the guys from Prodrive to build what has been my dream for a long time. I know that with the right team and the support we have, we'll be able to produce a car that will really make an impact in the paddock. I absolutely trust Prodrive to build the best car and I'm excited to bring my brand and partners to the Championship in 2018.'
About GCK:
Inspired to create something different, innovative and of exceptional quality, GCK was founded by former freeskiing Champion and motorsport athlete Guerlain Chicherit in 2017. Encompassing his selection of unique, luxury ski and summer chalets in some of the most coveted holiday destinations, the GC-Kollection, his creative agency producing unique, award-winning and thought-provoking designs and interiors, GC-Kreativ, and now GC-Kompetition, Chicherit's latest venture - a professional Motorsport team that combines cutting-edge car design, the latest in technological developments and incredible brand marketing value with Championship-winning ability, supported by some of the biggest names in the industry. GCK is here to change the rules – in the paddock, on the track and amongst its fans.
About Prodrive:
Prodrive is one of the largest and most successful motorsport businesses in the world with international titles across many different categories including the World Rally Championship, Le Mans, World Endurance Championship and the British Touring Car Championship. Today, Prodrive runs the Aston Martin Racing team, the FAW-VW team in the Chinese Rally Championship, as well as continuing to support customers running the MINI WRC and special projects with Subaru.
About FIA World Rallycross Championship:
The FIA World Rallycross Championship is head-to-head, short, sharp racing on mixed surfaces (dirt and asphalt) contained within amphitheatre venues. High profile drivers are equipped with RX Supercars with over 600bhp and the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in less than two seconds. World RX debuted in 2014 with a 12-round calendar including events in Argentina, Turkey, Canada and throughout Europe. An expanded series was confirmed for 2015, with new rounds at Formula One venues Hockenheim in Germany and the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. In 2016, an all-new city race was held in Riga, Latvia, and in 2017 Rallycross will visit Africa for the first time with a new round scheduled in Cape Town. Race meetings include a number of short, sharp action-packed qualifying heats with the most successful drivers progressing through to the finals.
Photo credit: Prodrive
posted on conceptcarz.com
Frenchman Chicherit, former Free Skiing World Champion, FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup winner, Dakar driver and World Record-breaking stunt driver, has made no secret of his passion for racing in World Rallycross, and whilst entering select races in 2015 and 2016 decided to build his own team, GCK, to enter the 2018 season.
Paul Bellamy, World RX managing director for IMG, commented: 'It is extremely encouraging to hear that Guerlain will be entering his own team into the FIA World Rallycross Championship using Prodrive's years of expert knowledge and experience to design the new MeganeRX. Guerlain is an extremely experienced athlete and we look forward to welcoming him and his new team to our sport full-time from next year.'
posted on conceptcarz.com
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