Electric Global Rallycross racing series confirmed for 2018

Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) has announced that it will run an all-electric rallycross series in 2018.

The US-based racing series, which has just concluded its sixth year, will run the standalone electric classes alongside its current Supercar and GRC Lite events during the season, at venues across the US.

The move will please manufacturers, who have been pushing for similar series to mirror road car development. Volkswagen, which competes in GRC and the FIA World Rallycross Championship, has been vocal about wanting to compete in an all-electric series. Current GRC champion Scott Speed won the 2016 title driving a Volkswagen Beetle for the Andretti Autosport team, which also races in Formula E. Peugeot, which races in the FIA events, has also expressed a desire for an electric class.

The new electric GRC series will be governed in conjunction with the United States Auto Club. Red Bull GRC’s CEO, Colin Dyne, said the 2018 season would be a landmark year for the series.

“The electric car is one of the hottest topics in the automotive industry, and manufacturers across the globe have recognised its immense potential,” he said. “We want to embrace this technology by welcoming it into our series as we continue to grow and expand.

“Our current platform is the most enticing in motorsports right now to a young, millennial audience. Our small-displacement, high-horsepower turbocharged engines allow our manufacturers to showcase the performance capabilities of their current millennial-focused offerings and provide a glimpse into the exciting future of the automotive industry.

“This electric series will add a new dynamic that will never replace the current formula but will be an important part of our expansion.”

Phill Tromans