Casper Jansson will make his debut in Nitrocross’ premier class, Group E, this weekend, filling in for Benito Guerra at the Olsbergs MSE team after the Mexican withdrew from the event due to illness. Jansson, the 2021 Nitrocross NEXT champion, will …
Casper Jansson will make his debut in Nitrocross’ premier class, Group E, this weekend, filling in for Benito Guerra at the Olsbergs MSE team after the Mexican withdrew from the event due to illness.
Jansson, the 2021 Nitrocross NEXT champion, will become the first driver in the Nitrocross-era of rallycross in the U.S. to graduate directly from the discipline’s main feeder division.
“This is amazing – it’s a dream come true,” said Jansson. “The car is really great to drive. I’ve driven it twice before in testing. Now, though, it’s in competition. I’m really excited.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=6940]
“This class is loaded with big names. It’s going to be really special to line up on the grid beside them.”
While graduating to the main game, Jansson will still compete in the NEXT development class this weekend. The likes of Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust have run in Side-by-Side rounds alongside their top-level commitments on occasion in Nitrocross, but Jansson’s double-duty outing will mark the first time a driver has run in the top two tiers since Nelson Piquet Jr. ran in both Global Rallycross and GRC Lites in Washington DC in 2014. The former-Formula 1 driver took third in Lites before going one better in Supercars, the headline class of the time.
“We’ve had the opportunity to get a lot of experience in the NEXT car and I’m feeling really comfortable in it. We’re fortunate to be on a good run and I look forward to battling for the podium here in Phoenix,” Jansson said. “[But] when you get a chance like this you need to take it.”
Guerra, who took a best result of the season so far with fourth in the first part of the Utah double-header in August, is expected to return for the trip to Glen Helen Raceway in California at the start of December.
Nitrocross will utilize the new FC2 platform as the sole vehicle for its Nitrocross NEXT support class from next season. Currently, the car for the main development category for the rallycross-like series is the SuperCar Lites machine built by …
Nitrocross will utilize the new FC2 platform as the sole vehicle for its Nitrocross NEXT support class from next season.
Currently, the car for the main development category for the rallycross-like series is the SuperCar Lites machine built by Olsbergs MSE in Sweden. The car has a long history developing talent in the U.S., having previously been used for Global Rallycross and Americas Rallycross’ second-tier competitions since 2013.
Following the announcement that OMSE — under the guise of its First Corner venture — will recycle and upcycle components from the SuperCar Lites as the basis of the FC2, Nitrocross has opted to embrace the new platform, becoming the first series to commit to the initiative.
“This marks a significant leap for the property,” said Chip Pankow, general manager of Nitrocross. “Through the refurbishment of existing cars, we are meeting all the targets set by the series at a fraction of the cost.
“These upcycled cars are set to become one of the most intriguing developments in this tier of motorsport, and I anticipate witnessing the next generation of talented drivers competing in these highly capable vehicles.”
While the FC1-X — the car used in Nitrocross’ premier Group E category — is all-electric, the FC2 remains a combustion-powered car, but will run on entirely fossil-free fuels in keeping with the championship’s environmentally friendly ethos. The car will also be dubbed the NEXT EVO in Nitrocross, reflecting the platform’s evolution from its previous generation.
“The NEXT EVO based on the new First Corner FC2 represents an innovative and efficient way to upgrade an entire vehicle,” said Andreas Eriksson, CEO of First Corner. “Based on First Corner’s very popular Supercar Lites concept, this upgrade kit addresses all of the areas that drivers and customers want, while keeping costs relatively low.
“I can’t wait to see the next generation of Nitrocross drivers on the track in the NEXT EVO, it is a major step forward for the series and drivers.”
Six drivers will contest Nitrocross NEXT at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix this weekend, with American Rally Association regular Patrick Gruszka joining the series for the first time. Jimmy Henderson currently tops the development class’ standings with a brace of third places and two second places across the first four rounds of the season. He leads Lane Vacala, the winner of the first three races, by two points, Vacala having finished sixth in the most recent round in Utah.
XITE Energy Racing’s Oliver Bennett will miss next week’s Nitrocross races in Phoenix after sustaining a back injury. A series spokesperson told RACER that the Briton was “not cleared by doctors in time for the upcoming race in Phoenix,” Bennett …
XITE Energy Racing’s Oliver Bennett will miss next week’s Nitrocross races in Phoenix after sustaining a back injury.
A series spokesperson told RACER that the Briton was “not cleared by doctors in time for the upcoming race in Phoenix,” Bennett later took to Instagram to elaborate, revealing he had slipped a disc.
“I’m gutted I’m not going to be at the Nitrocross event in Phoenix in a week’s time,” he said. “I’ve got a bad back, and I won’t be able to sit in a race car and do the jumps.”
It will be the first Nitrocross event Bennett has missed since it became a multi-event series in 2021, then known as Nitro Rallycross. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2022-23, claiming three top-five finishes, including a fourth in the first of four rounds at Glen Helen Raceway in October of last year. He currently sits ninth in the points this season, one spot behind Conor Daly, having taken a season-best result of seventh at the most recent race in Utah in August.
While Bennett will miss rounds four and five at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, he has set his sights on recovering in time for rounds six and seven at Glen Helen on December 9-10.
“I’m hoping to be fit and strong ready for the LA round in December,” he said. “I wish everyone in the Nitrocross series a good race weekend. I’ll be rooting for someone, yeah sad I can’t be there.”
Bennett has confirmed to RACER that XITE won’t be entering any car in the Phoenix event following his withdrawal. The team had already slimmed down its entry to a single car, with its second seat – occupied by World Rally Championship veteran Kris Meeke and U.S. rallycross title and event win record-holder Tanner Foust in the first three rounds of the season – already absent from the official entry list before Bennett pulled out.
Ed.: This story has been updated following confirmation of the team’s withdrawal from the event.
Brian Deegan will make his Nitrocross Group E debut driving for Dreyer & Reinbold JC at the next event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix on November 10-11 It will mark a return to rallycross-like motorsport for off-road racing veteran …
Brian Deegan will make his Nitrocross Group E debut driving for Dreyer & Reinbold JC at the next event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix on November 10-11
It will mark a return to rallycross-like motorsport for off-road racing veteran Deegan, who previously competed in Global Rallycross between 2011-16, but has more recently been supporting his childrens’ motorsport endeavours, including NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan while competing in off-road truck racing as well as making occasional appearances in Nitrocross’ Side-by-Side class.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=6940]
“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge,” said Deegan. “Nitrocross is a whole different animal, but I love pushing my limits and trying new things. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has a strong track record winning the team championship along with going 1-2-3 in the driver’s championships, and I believe this partnership will be a winning one.”
After a decorated career on two wheels – which included 10 X Games medals across Freestyle Motocross, Step Up, and Best Trick – he joined a number of his contemporaries, including motocross rival and Nitrocross founder Travis Pastrana in switching to four wheels. There he added four more X Games medals in Rally Car Racing and Rallycross, including a gold for his maiden win in the discipline in Los Angeles at the end of 2011.
Deegan won his most recent rallycross race, at the Port of LA in 2016. Larry Chen/Red Bull Content Pool
Across three full-time and three part-time campaigns in GRC with Olsbergs MSE and later with Chip Ganassi Racing, Deegan took 18 podium finishes from 42 GRC starts, including a string of five consecutively in 2012 en route to second in the championship behind Tanner Foust. His second, and most recent event win came at his most recent start, the 2016 GRC finale.
“We are elated to have Brian Deegan join our team for Rounds 4 and 5 of the 2023-24 Nitrocross season,” said Dennis Reinbold, team owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “Brian’s fearless attitude and his drive to conquer new challenges are qualities that resonate deeply with our team. We believe that this collaboration will ignite the racing world with excitement and intensity.”
Deegan completes a 10-car field for rounds four and five of the 2023-24 Nitrocross season, filling the seat held by IndyCar and NASCAR driver Conor Daly for the first three rounds of the year. XITE Energy Racing is also set to drop down to a single-car entry for team owner Oliver Bennett, having fielded five-time World Rally winner Kris Meeke and four-time U.S. rallycross champion Tanner Foust so far this season.
Nitrocross has confirmed that its 2023-24 season finale will take place under the lights in Las Vegas on March 1-2 at a new, purpose-built facility. The doubleheader event will be held at a venue built on Koval Lane, near Formula 1’s new paddock …
Nitrocross has confirmed that its 2023-24 season finale will take place under the lights in Las Vegas on March 1-2 at a new, purpose-built facility.
The doubleheader event will be held at a venue built on Koval Lane, near Formula 1’s new paddock building, and will be on a track designed by series pioneer and 2021 champion Travis Pastrana. While the mixed-surface track layout is yet to be revealed, the presence of a 130-foot gap jump has been confirmed, along with Nitrocross’ customary “big jumps, banked corners, and steep berms.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=6940]
“With Nitrocross, we are developing an all-new motorsport, one that drives innovation, elevates performance and is wall-to-wall entertainment from start to finish,” said Nitrocross general manager Chip Pankow. “We’re here to show fans the incredible performance from our 1,000+ hp electric cars on a track that is unlike anything they’ve seen before.
“Las Vegas is all about having a great time and is the perfect venue for our 2023-24 season finale.”
Rallycross-like motorsport has a long history in Las Vegas, with it hosting the now-defunct Global Rallycross series’ season finale from 2012 to 2015. Las Vegas Motor Speedway also hosted a round of the 2012 season. Tanner Foust and the late Ken Block share two wins apiece in the city, Block getting his first-ever rallycross victory there in 2013, while Joni Wiman secured his only top-level U.S. round victory there in 2015, a year after securing the season title in a four-way showdown at the same venue.
Joni Wiman leads Scott Speed at the 2015 Global Rallycross season finale in Las Vegas. Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
For Nitrocross, though, it will be a long-awaited first visit, although the wider business has strong ties to the city. Last year, Nitrocross’ parent company, Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, was acquired by an investment group led by Las Vegas-based Fiume Capital, while in 2018 Pastrana recreated three of Evel Knievel’s most famous jumps in front of more than 25,000 people, as well as a live TV audience in what was the most-watched cable special of that year.
“This season has been the start of something truly amazing as we take Nitrocross to the next level, and I’m so excited to put an exclamation mark on it in Las Vegas,” said Pastrana. “After feeling the incredible energy from all the fans who lined The Strip as we honored Evel Knievel, there is no better place to send it.
“While without a doubt it’s a global entertainment capital, this city is also passionate about motorsports, hosting huge races by F1, NASCAR, the Mint 400, and more. As we grow Nitrocross with amazing partners like the Fertitta brothers at Fiume and Dana White, I look forward to what we can build here.”
Before that, the Nitrocross season will resume at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with a double-header event on November 10-11. Olsbergs MSE driver Kevin Eriksson currently leads the standings as the only driver to finish on the podium in all three rounds so far. He heads defending champion Robin Larsson, who won the most recent round at the Utah Motorsports Campus.
Belgian rallycross team VMV Racing will join the Nitrocross field later this season with a two-car effort in the series’ headline Group E category. Viktor Vranckx will drive one of the team’s entries, debuting at Glen Helen Raceway in California on …
Belgian rallycross team VMV Racing will join the Nitrocross field later this season with a two-car effort in the series’ headline Group E category.
Viktor Vranckx will drive one of the team’s entries, debuting at Glen Helen Raceway in California on December 9-10. The driver of the team’s second car will be confirmed at a later date.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=6940]
“With the unbelievable performance of the FC1-X combined with the world-class field of Group E, Nitrocross is the biggest and most exciting challenge of my career,” said Vranckx. “Nitrocross drivers are the best in the world. I consider many of them my heroes and I almost can’t believe I will have the chance to race them.”
The team’s move Stateside comes in the wake of its departure from the World Rallycross-supporting RX2e category – which it won last year with Vranckx. The squad publicly declared its displeasure at top-level RX1e competitors being allowed to compete in the development class after their own season was halted after a major fire at Lydden Hill, declaring, “unfortunately, we feel the title battle has been biased by the last announcement and that the championship values are not aligned anymore with VMV Racing’s vision of the sport.”
Vranckx will make his Nitrocross debut at Glen Helen Raceway in December. Qnigan/Nitrocross
The World RX1e season has been on-hold since the British round in July when Special ONE Racing’s paddock area and race cars were destroyed by a fire. An investigation into the cause by World RX and drivetrain manufacturer Kriesel is ongoing.
VMV Racing team principal Bert Vranckx added that Nitrocross’ rapid growth also made it an attractive option for the team’s next step.
“The series’ tracks, the media coverage, the festival atmosphere of the event and the social media reach make Nitrocross an unparalleled property,” he said. “Nitrocross is the next evolution of motorsport and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”
VMV Racing’s addition to the Nitrocross field means that there are now 15 permanent franchise holders in the class, the culmination of an $11 million investment in the category since it debuted last year.
“We welcome VMV Racing to Nitrocross and look forward to seeing Viktor in action behind the wheel in Group E,” said Nitrocross president Brett Clarke. “We are honored that Bert and the VMV Racing team put their faith in Nitrocross and we are excited to provide a platform for the next generation of talent, like Viktor, to take their careers to the next level.”
Robin Larsson won the second part of Nitrocross’ Utah double-header after a bizarre scenario where his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC RX Cartel teammate Andreas Bakkerud failed to take the mandatory joker lap. Bakkerud crossed the line first at the end …
Robin Larsson won the second part of Nitrocross’ Utah double-header after a bizarre scenario where his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC RX Cartel teammate Andreas Bakkerud failed to take the mandatory joker lap.
Bakkerud crossed the line first at the end of the four-lap final, but after not completing one tour of the longer route on the course, was hit with a 30-second penalty that relegated him to fifth.
Larsson’s win was his first of the season, but it was Kevin Eriksson who was in control for much of the final after resisting an early challenge from Bakkerud. Larsson led half the field into the joker on the first lap, and was then able to take advantage of the clear air that afforded him to overhaul Eriksson on the final lap and cross the line 0.337s in front of the Olsbergs MSE driver.
Bakkerud’s penalty allowed Tanner Foust to move up to the podium too, his first in Nitrocross since the 2018 Nitro World Games.
Fraser McConnell was classified fourth ahead of Bakkerud, bouncing back from a disappointing Friday where he missed the final entirely, while Conner Martell was sixth and Oliver Bennett seventh – another driver to make the main after missing out on Friday. Oliver Eriksson was classified eighth after retiring from the final on the first lap with a mechanical issue.
Kevin Eriksson leaves Utah with the championship lead after back-to-back second places. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Ahead of the final, Kevin Eriksson was the top qualifier in the morning, allowing him to skip the heat races which were won by Benito Guerra – who prevailed in an attritional race where Bennett struggled with visibility after sustaining damage and Pastrana retired after contact with McConnell that resulted in the Jamaican driver being excluded – and Martell.
Kevin Eriksson then took a semifinal victory, with Foust and Bakkeurd winning the other two. with Larsson and McConnell locking themselves into the final after winning the Last Chance Qualifiers. Guerra, Conor Daly – who jumped the start in his LCQ – and Friday’s winner Pastrana all failed to make the final, Friday winner Pastrana spinning out of his LCQ.
Despite missing out on the victory once again, Kevin Eriksson retained the points lead, with a 31-point advantage over Larsson.
In NEXT, Casper Jansson had a trouble-free run to victory once again, albeit a victory that would stand this time after his ride-height penalty yesterday. Jimmy Henderson took second after getting by Lia Block on the second lap of the five-lap final, with Patrick Gruszka taking the final podium spot after Block left her joker late.
Kainan Baker’s unbeaten run in Side-by-Sides came to an end after he rolled out on the first lap of the final. Tyler Remmereid, who beat Baker to the holeshot before the red flag, took a comfortable win, 9.690s ahead of Pastrana, who was pulling double duty on Sunday. Brandon Sorensen completed the podium after passing UFC Hall of Famer Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone on the final lap.
Ryan Rodriguez won the second Baja Bug final of the weekend after fighting through from the back of the grid, where the fastest drivers in the field were made to start. Fellow back row starter Blake Wilkey, and Kyle Zirkus completed the podium.
YouTube star Cleetus McFarland has had his debut in Nitrocross’ Group E category curtailed after series organizers deemed him too inexperienced to compete. McFarland, real name Garrett Mitchell, was due to drive Travis Pastrana’s Vermont SportsCar …
YouTube star Cleetus McFarland has had his debut in Nitrocross’ Group E category curtailed after series organizers deemed him too inexperienced to compete.
McFarland, real name Garrett Mitchell, was due to drive Travis Pastrana’s Vermont SportsCar entry on the Saturday of the double-header event at Utah Motorsports Campus, with Pastrana set to take over McFarland’s entry in the Side-by-Side class.
“Well crap. On Friday night before I even got to drive the Group E rallycross car the Nitrocross higher ups decided I can no longer compete this weekend,” McFarland said on social media. “Some of the teams had concerns with me jumping into this series without any experience in the car and the Nitro execs reversed their decision to skip some steps and let me compete.
“So I won’t get to embarrass myself in my rallycross debut this weekend. Maybe another time.
“Not gonna complain, life is good. I will still be ripping a CanAm X3 in the SxS class both days. Travis is also still letting me do a couple solo laps in the [Group E] car but nothing on track with the other racers, so at least I’ll have a cool video rippin’ the car for you guys. Let’s rip it today!”
Pastrana will instead compete in both Group E and SxS on Saturday. He won the first part of the Group E double-header weekend on Friday night after fending off Kevin Eriksson.
Responding to the decision, Pastrana added: “My buddy Cleetus McFarland showed up this weekend ready and willing to trade paint with the best Nitrocross drivers on the planet, but through a series of disappointing decisions made by Nitrocross to follow the rules of qualification for a new driver to the series after multiple teams posted concerns of having too much unrestricted freedom on the track, he was deemed ineligible to compete.
“We were able to give Cleetus a test in the car and he will be racing alongside myself today in the CanAm class in the Top Liner machines tonight. I will jump back in the Vermont SportsCar space ship today to try and get to the top of the podium 2 nights in a row.
“Sorry to the fans. Cleetus will be back after he jumps through a few hoops to prove himself.”
Travis Pastrana held off a charging Kevin Eriksson to claim his first win of the 2023-24 Nitrocross season at Utah Motorsports Campus. After both got their longer joker lap out of the way early, they engaged in a tense fight for the round win, but …
Travis Pastrana held off a charging Kevin Eriksson to claim his first win of the 2023-24 Nitrocross season at Utah Motorsports Campus.
After both got their longer joker lap out of the way early, they engaged in a tense fight for the round win, but despite his best efforts, the elder Eriksson brother couldn’t get by the 2021 series champion.
While the joker was said to equate to a two-second deficit to the main lap, Pastrana grabbed an early lead. That came after Vermont SportsCar teammate Conner Martell led the field onto the main lap, but a mechanical issue brought him to a halt on the exit of Turn 1. That resulted in an accordion throughout the rest of the field which claimed Oliver Eriksson, who sustained heavy front-end damage after hitting Conor Daly.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC RX Cartel driver Andreas Bakkerud would have been in the box seat to take the lap one lead were it not for the traffic — he jokered on the second lap and immediately set about hunting down the lead pair of Pastrana and Kevin Eriksson.
There was little to choose between the trio over the final two laps of the four-lap final, with Kevin Eriksson closing to within half a second heading onto the last lap. That gap continued to come down to the point where Eriksson was making contact with Pastrana heading into the last paved section of the track, but he couldn’t find a way past.
Bakkerud similarly held station for the second half of the race, coming home third, while Benito Guerra took his career-best finish in fourth, having mirrored Pastrana and Kevin Eriksson’s joker strategy.
Daly also took a best result to-date with fifth, matching the top four drivers’ lap times, and bettering them on the final lap of the race, despite starting the day by missing both practice sessions. Reigning champion Robin Larsson was a distant sixth after sustaining a puncture in the opening lap melee, while Martell was able to get going after his stoppage, but finished over a minute adrift of race winner Pastrana.
Mechanical issues prevented Conor Martell from converting a career-best qualifying performance into a strong overall result. Tyler Tate/Nitrocross
Martell’s disappointing final was a stark contrast to the rest of the day, where he looked set to claim a landmark result.
He started off with his first-ever Top Qualifier result, beating Kevin Eriksson and Bakkerud in the deciding race. He then won his semifinal, Pastrana and Larsson winning the other two.
Pre-event points leader Fraser McConnell had a torrid round, which started with him being excluded from his heat race for a technical infringement after winning on the road. After that, a second-place finish behind Martell in his semifinal wasn’t enough for a final berth, meaning he needed a strong result in his Last Chance Qualifier to make it. However, there he made contact with a wall and broke a driveshaft, leaving him on the sidelines for the main, along with XITE Energy Racing duo Tanner Foust and Oliver Bennett who were the other drivers who didn’t advance through the heats, semis, and LCQs.
As a result of his troubles, McConnell tumbled to fifth in the points, with Kevin Eriksson assuming the lead, ahead of Pastrana and Bakkerud.
In Nitrocross NEXT, Casper Jansson dominated the five-lap final to win ahead of points leader Lane Vacala, but Vacala was later declared winner for the third round in a row after Jansson failed a ride height check post-race.
Jimmy Henderson was therefore awarded second after finishing third on the road, with series newcomer Patrick Gruszka classified third. Lia Block finished second initially, but was also excluded for the same ride height infraction as her Olsbergs MSE teammate Jansson.
Kainan Baker was once again the victor in Side-by-Sides, claiming his third win from three starts so far this season. The 15-year-old beat Tyler Remmereid, while Chip Ganassi Extreme E racer Amanda Sorensen rounded out the podium, despite contact with Mika Block on lap three that resulted in the 12-year-old son of rallying legend Ken Block retiring from the race.
In Baja Bugs, Blake Wilkey was the winner with Ryan Rodriguez and Greg Shapiro completing the podium.
Tanner Foust is returning to Nitrocross for the second and third rounds of the 2023-24 season at the Utah Motorsports Campus, in what will be his first starts in the series since 2021. The American will race for XITE Energy Racing alongside Oliver …
Tanner Foust is returning to Nitrocross for the second and third rounds of the 2023-24 season at the Utah Motorsports Campus, in what will be his first starts in the series since 2021.
The American will race for XITE Energy Racing alongside Oliver Bennett, taking the spot of Kris Meeke who shared the second XITE entry with Jenson Button and Timo Scheider last year, and ran at the season opener in Oklahoma in June.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=6940]
Foust is a U.S. rallycross stalwart with four championship titles and a record 24 event wins across Rally America rallycross, Global Rallycross, X Games, and Americas Rallycross, as well as a record 25 consecutive heat wins at the height of Volkswagen’s dominance in the discipline.
But after starting every race from when rallycross made its way Stateside in 2010 until the conclusion of 2021, Foust has been absent since Nitrocross – then known at Nitro Rallycross – moved to a single-make, all electric formula at the start of 2022. Instead he has been focusing on Extreme E with McLaren and various other projects, but remained interested in a return to Nitrocross in some form, and almost made a one-off return last season only for the deal to fall through.
“I knew I was going to be doing Extreme E with McLaren but I wasn’t sure about signing on for a very hectic schedule,” he said last year. “I would rather focus on one championship and come in as a guest driver every once in a while for now.
“I think it’s starting to find some traction again, but that’s going to be a building process, and when it gets there I’ll definitely be in the mix.”
Foust joins a field that will also include IndyCar racer Conor Daly and YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, as well as reigning champion Robin Larsson, 2021 champion Travis Pastrana, 2021 European Rallycross champion Andreas Bakkerud, and current points leader Fraser McConnell.
In the feeder classes, all three of Ken Block’s children will be in action, with U.S. rally and Extreme E driver Lia once again racing in the second-tier NEXT category, while her younger siblings Mika and Kira will be sharing an entry in the Can-Am Side-by-Side class in what will be both of their debuts on the Nitrocross bill.
