Volkswagen Sweden backs two teams in 2015 World Rallycross series assault
At a press conference yesterday, Volkswagen Sweden announced it will back not one but a pair of teams to take on the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship in monstrous, 600bh, four-wheel drive Polo RX Supercars. Last year’s second-placed crew from Marklund Motorsport were named as one team, while the second was unveiled as Kristofferson Motorsport (KMS).
Each officially-supported team will enjoy a rosta of three drivers. Finn Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikinnen will return for Marklund, and be joined by Sweden’s PG Andersson to contest the world series (WorldRX). Tommy Rustad joins the Swedish outfit to compete in the EuroRX (European) arm of the championship.
For KMS, Swede Johan Kristofferson and Norwegian Tord Linnerud will drive the WorldRX-baiting Polos, while Ole Christian Veiby will battle the EuroRX series. Veiby and Rustad join the FIA European Rallycross Championship just as it grows still further after last year’s series.
‘Rallycross is the hottest motorsport just now, and both we and our dealers think it feels incredibly exciting to be able to support a bid where two of Sweden’s best teams are aiming at becoming world champion,’ explained Sten Forsberg, Manager of Volkswagen Sweden.
Jost Capito, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport – who can usually be seen in the Polo R WRC service garages – added: ‘The World Rallycross Championship enjoys increasing popularity: the races are compact, spectacular and varied.
‘With Marklund Motorsport and Kristoffersson Motorsport, Volkswagen is represented by two extremely professional privateer teams who develop and race their Polo RX Supercars independently. The line-up and the calendar promise an exciting World RX season and we are confident that Volkswagen drivers will be battling for races and the championship.’
The first round of the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place at Montalegre in Portugal over the weekend of 24-26 April. The UK round of the series is on 22-24 May at the legendary Lydden Hill circuit where Top Gear’s James May took on other WorldRX drivers for a recent episode of the BBC programme.
