The 2023 World Rallycross season kicks off this weekend with round one the World RX of Portugal.
Teams Rundown
Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS
Kristoffersson Motorsport drivers Ole Christian Veiby (NOR), Johan Kristoffersson (SWE) and Gustav Bergström (SWE) at Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps, 9th October, 2022 // Rallycross Promoter GmbH / Red Bull Content Pool
The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS comes into the season as reigning champions and with the reigning World RX champion in Johan Kristoffersson. The team will look to carry their success from last season into this season. In pre-season testing last month the fastest times on each of the three days were set by a Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver. With reigning RX champion John Kristoffersson setting the fastest times on days one and three, and Ole Christian Veiby setting the fastest on day two. Kristoffersson would go nearly undefeated last season, only losing two events out of 10 rounds. One of those losses would come during the second running of the World RX of Portugal. Racing for Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS this weekend will be Johan Kristoffersson, Ole Christian Veiby and Gustav Bergström.
Hansen World RX Team
Kevin Hansen of Hansen World RX Team during the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship Pre-Season Test at Montalegre in Portugal, on May 27, 2023. // Rallycross Promoter GmbH / Red Bull Content Pool
The Hansen World RX Team come into the season looking to have a better one than last season. As the team would only take one event win last season. That sole win would come at the first running of the World RX Of Spain. The team would also only achieve a podium finish six different times at five different events. It was a rather unusual season, especially for Timmy Hansen who is usually at the top a few times each season. Racing for the Hansen World RX Team this weekend will be Timmy and Kevin Hansen.
Construction Equipment Dealer Team
Klara Andersson of Construction Equipment Dealer Team in action during the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Nurburgring, Germany on November 13, 2022. // @World / Red Bull Content Pool
The Construction Dealer Equipment Team will also come into this season looking for a better one than last season much like the Hansen World RX team. As the team would also take only one win last season. Niclas Grönholm would take that sole win for the team last season. That win would happen to come at the World RX Of Portugal. The team consisting of Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson will have some work to do not only this weekend but all season long if they want to finish better than third in the team’s championship. Racing for the Construction Equipment Dealer Team this weekend will be Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson.
Special One Racing
Sébastien Loeb of Special ONE Racing during the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship Pre-Season Test at Montalegre in Portugal, on May 27, 2023. // Rallycross Promoter GmbH / Red Bull Content Pool
A new team will be joining the World RX this weekend and for the rest of the season. As the Special One Racing team will be joining the WRX for the entire 2023 season. With a team consisting of drivers Guerlain Chicheirt and Sebastien Loeb. Both drivers will drive a Lancia Delta Evo-E RX this season. Sebastien Loeb would make his return to the World RX after a 5-year absence from the championship. Loeb would previously drive for the Hansen World RX team for the 2016,2017 and 2018 seasons. The Lancia Delta Evo-E would make its debut last season at the World RX of Germany where it would be driven by Geurlain Chicheirt and finish 9th at the event.
Rene Muennich of ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport in action during the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Barcelona, Spain on October 30, 2022. // @World / Red Bull Content Pool
The ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport team will, much like last season only have one driver this weekend. With their sole driver being Timo Scheider. Scheider would miss the 2022 season entirely and his last event would be the World RX of Belgium in 2021. Scheider would finish sixth and seventh twice in 2021 and ninth once. He would only compete in 5 rounds in 2021, all of which were behind the wheel of a SEAT Ibiza.