JC Raceteknik enters World Rallycross Championship with Robin Larsson
Swedish team JC Raceteknik will graduate to the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2020 with reigning European and RallyX Nordic champion Robin Larsson.
JC Raceteknik enjoyed its most successful season ever in 2019, winning both the European and Nordic Supercar titles with Robin Larsson, along with making its first proper starts in World RX with selected appearances for Mattias Ekström, Enzo Ide and Larsson.
Having already announced that Norwegian Ben-Philip Gundersen would drive an Audi S1 Supercar in the FIA European Rallycross Championship with JC Raceteknik this season, the team will also have a permanent presence in World RX, as former World RX race-winner Larsson returns to the highest level in the sport.
2015 World RX of Argentina winner Larsson will race the Audi S1 Supercar that former World Rallycross Champion Mattias Ekström drove in 2018, updated to the latest specification by Ekström’s EKS team, as part of JC Raceteknik’s ongoing technical partnership with EKS.
World RX will be held over 10 rounds in 2020, including the Swedish round at Höljes and significant races in Abu Dhabi, South Africa and France. Currently, the team has budget for the first eight races, but will work though the year to secure funding for the final two rounds. The 2020 project is possible thanks to backing from Br Öhman, Blåkläder and several of both the team's and Larsson's collaborative partners.
Joel Christoffersson, Team Principal:
“Since I started JC Raceteknik it has been a dream for me and the team to be able to enter the World Championship. Last year we had a great season with Robin, so getting the opportunity to take this step together with him is really exciting for all of us.
We know that the competition in the World Championship will be extremely tough, but at the same time Robin comes with fantastic car control and confidence from the European Championship. He has shown that he is really fast, with lap times that match the World Championship drivers, so to say we want to be getting into the finals and fighting for the top places is a realistic goal.
We are able to do this thanks to Br Öhman and Robin's partners. We are still working to get the full budget together, so far it looks good but we won’t stop working until we know it’s secured.”
World RX Supercar: Robin Larsson (SWE):
“It’s so exciting to be entering the World Championship with a strong team and a good car. Last year, both me and Joel had our best seasons ever, so continuing this together with the team will be extra special. Of course, there will be tough events with many fast drivers, but that’s what rallycross is all about.
We had a good speed last year with good times against the World Championship drivers. Now that we are racing together on track I will be able to increase the pace even more. We’ll see during the first events how we stack up against the other teams. It would be nice to have good results straight away and to be able to continue that form. There are going to be many lovely battles I think.
Joel, dad [Lars Larsson] and Simpa [Simon Eriksson] have helped a lot with getting the budget together for this year, the World Championship has always been the target. When Mats Öhman and Br Öhman came in and supported us like they have, it was an amazing feeling, it’s very good of them. And it’s also thanks to all of our partners, because without them this wouldn’t be possible.”
