Following a successful protest from Rytis Gurklys (car no.22, NG Racing Team), RX3 winner Julien Meunier (car no.15) levied with a 3 second time penalty for leaving the track, rejoining unsafely & pushing car no.22. He is now listed as finishing 3rd in the Final, Gurklys is the new RX3 winner.
RX4 winner Filip Melon has been disqualified from the final classification as his car was found to not be in technical compliance - car is fitted with an unhomologated radiator not listed on the VR4 Homologation Form. Andrea Bénézet (car no.12) is now the winner of the RX4 Final.
Both Libor Teješ (RX3, no.14) and Thomas Quincé (RX4, no.25) were disqualified from the results of their respective Finals for "Pushing and overtaking" an opponent.
Like a lot of you, I've been incredibly disappointed with the championship over the last few years.
To be honest, I only got into rallycross at the start of 2017 because I knew the championship was coming to Cape Town, South Africa. Going to that race made me absolutely fall in love with the championship. From then on, I didn't miss a single thing, until the old promoters slowly killed it.
Ever since the manufacturers started pulling out after 2018, things just slowly fell apart. COVID obviously made a tough situation way harder, but the management during that time was brutal. Putting everything behind a massive paywall, forcing the switch to electric cars and the grids being absolutely tiny, and then that fire at Lydden Hill 2023 season fire that left us watching only support cars... it felt like the final nail in the coffin. I didn't even bother going to the Cape Town race that year. The "Battle of Technologies" didn't do it for most of us, and Euro RX honestly felt like it had way more interest than World RX.
But looking at this season, with the old promoters gone and the FIA stepping in directly, it actually feels like a step in the right direction.
Dropping the electric cars, bringing back the pure rallycross sound we all missed dearly, switching to a European championship to lower costs, and expanding the races with the lower classes like has given the championship a real lifeline.
Don't get me wrong, as a South African fan, I'm gutted that it's solely a European championship right now. I miss the races here in Cape Town. And let's be real: we are probably never getting back to that golden era of 2014–2018. It's going to be incredibly hard to ever replicate that era.
But for the first time in years, it feels like the people in charge are making the logical choices needed to save the sport.
For the people who loves this championship as much as I do, how are we feeling about this season? Do you think the choices being made will be able to bring the championship back to those glory days?
Went to Mondello today for my first event top level rallycross event and it did not disappoint. I've watched a lot of RX on the TV but to see the cars up close and the racing was incredible. Also helped that a few Irish drivers won heat races, much to the crowds delight. I really hope this isn't a one off in Ireland.
Michael Leonard (no.117, RX1) black-flagged (disqualification) from the classification of Q1
Martin Enlund (no.60, RX1) recieves Black and White flag (warning) for pushing car no.73 in Q2
Tamás Kárai (no.73, RX1) recieves Black and White flag for dangerous driving (contact with car no.60) in Q2
Juha Rytkönen (no.18, RX1) recieves Black and White flag for dangerous driving (contact with car no.8)
Johan Kristofferson (no.8, RX1) Black-Flagged from the classification of Q2 for pushing and overtaking car no.18
Fabien Pailler (no. 29, RX1) deducted 15 Championship Points for receiving a 3rd set of FIA engine seals
Martin Juga (no.25, RX5) disqualified from Q1 classification for a breach of technical regulations (car fitted with rigid composite front mudguards beneath minimum thickness; car must be equipped with flexible guards constructed of plastic material of minimum 4mm thickness)
The second half of the 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship begins with the return to the Emerald Isle and Mondello Park for the 2026 PartsforCars Euro RX of Ireland.
All 4 championships are on track in Ireland. This is Round 4 for Euro RX1, Euro RX3, Euro RX4 and Euro RX5. Euro RX is supported by the Irish Rallycross Championship and its Open 2WD category.
Mondello Park is a racing circuit in County Kildare in Ireland. Its rallycross layout has a length of 1,314 metres (1,395 metres with Joker Lap) and a surface composition of 25% gravel/75% tarmac. Its direction is counter-clockwise and pole position is to the right of the starting grid.
For 2026, the circuit has been reversed from the traditional direction used in both national and (formerly) FIA events. The starting grid has been relocated to the straight between Campion Corner and Turn 3, beyond the "Hole in the Hedge", to allow cars to grid up between active races. Drivers will skip the traditional Rallycross T1 gravel turn, instead steering right into the circuit's stadium section hairpin before the blast down the main straight across the start/finish line.
Originally opened in 1968, Mondello is the only FIA-licensed circuit in the Republic of Ireland. In 1987, the venue was visited by the European Rallycross Championship for the first time, and the series would return annually until its then-final event in 1996. In the following decades, Mondello would become the home of the Irish Rallycross Championship, in addition to holding several rounds of British Rallycross. The FIA's top-flight international RX series will compete at this old-school circuit for the first time in 30 years.
Entry lists
Full entry lists are available in .pdf format via Sportity.
Euro RX1 features 25 drivers. The Irish contingent is out in force with 8 drivers (7 of which being wildcards) entered in their home event. The full-time title fighters will face competition from the likes of Derek Tohill (IRL, DA Racing #177 Peugeot 208 WRX); one of the most prolific competitors in the region, Tohill is nine times an Irish champion, twice British, and a two-time Euro RX class champion (2010 Division 2, 2013 TouringCar) - additionally, he has earned a race win on this circuit configuration earlier this season, following the British/Irish championship race in May. Michael Leonard (IRL, KMS by Meunier Competition #117 Audi S1), enters as the only other RX1/Supercar winner on this new layout, behind the wheel of the Meunier-ran, ex-EKS Audi S1 that he raced to IRX victory in the same event.
Joining the grid for Mondello Park are the Murray Motorsport squad, fielding three drivers: Formula Ford winner Niall Murray (IRL, Murray Motorsport/Southside Motor Factors #25 Volkswagen Polo), BRX/IRX race winner John McCluskey (IRL, Murray Motorsport #59 Honda Civic Coupe), and New York-based rally driver-turned-rallycrosser Gary Donoghue (IRL, Murray Motorsport #80 Honda Civic Coupe). The wildcard drivers are rounded out by Shane Murphy (IRL, #70 Volkswagen Polo) and Irish RX veteran Thomas Graham (IRL, #72 Ford Focus).
Euro RX3 features 10 drivers. Rytis Gurklys (LTU, NG Racing Team #22 Audi A1) enters as the championship leader following a disastrous outing for former front-runner Julien Meunier (FRA, KMS by Meunier Competition #15 Audi A1) at the Magic Weekend.
Euro RX4 features 7 drivers. Andrea Bénézet (FRA, Eleven Motorsport #12 Renault Clio) holds the lead in the Rally4-based category from his closest rivals Filip Melon (POL, #69 Peugeot 208) and Albert Ako Kokk (EST, SET Promotion #32 Renault Clio).
Euro RX5 features 15 drivers. While not yet a Final winner in 2026, Martin Juga (EST, Pace Motorsport #25 LifeLive TN11) and his consistent podium performances have allowed him to remain the lead driver in the class. British driver Teddie MacPherson (GBR, Volland Racing - Team Ligier #19 Ligier XC04) continues in Euro RX following his debut in Sweden.
According to Art. 35.3.2 of the FIA RX Sporting Regulations, there will be no Quarter Finals for theRX3,RX4, andRX5categories. For clarification, in those categories, the Qualifying ranking will determine the Semi-Final line-up as follows:
Semi-Final 1: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th
Semi-Final 2: 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th
As there will be no Quarter Final races, no championship points in accordance with Article 3.2.1 of the RX Sporting Regulations, shall be awarded in these categories.
Kristofferson is entered in Batch 1/Class 3 - "The Rivals - Dirty Torque" in his "2018" "VW Polo WRX" for "Red Bull Racing" (nice one GRR whether this is one of the ex factory VW Heritage cars or more likely one of the KMS 601s remains to be seen).
Solberg is entered in the same category, in his original World RX winning DS 3 which he will be completing non-competitively timed demo runs. The car was last driven at FoS by son Oli in RallyX Nordic spec.
JK's runs will be competitively timed as he is also entered in Batch 7/Class 29/The Shoot-Out - Modified, meaning that he will also be involved in the competitive hillclimb sessions throughout the weekend.
Finally Mr Hal Ridge commentator extraordinaire is entered in Batch 10/Class 35/FRS - Dawn of Modern Rallying, completing demo runs in his recently restored classic Ford Fiesta Supercar!
(This is purely based on my own opinions, so I am open to any suggestions or things missed on my part....)
Recently we see how the sport starting to go back to its former glory, but there is plenty of work still needs to be done....
1. As we see, budgeting has become an issue despite it being downsized to a Euro Championship
> Starting with Litwinowicz, and Trepak, and now Linneman, we see privateers have issues with budgets
> Let's face it, RX1 or Supercars are hard and expensive to run
> Without sponsors, some teams might struggle to be on the same level with Kristorferson and Bakkerud
> Regulations must change to create a more competitive field without it being too costly
2. Support for Young and Upcoming Talent
> This comes from Trepak's exit from the championship
> It is sad to see that a young talent like Trepak fall victim to, yet again, budgetary issues
> Support for upcoming talent is key to have if you want to build a thriving sport
> It may sound crazy, but some teams should look into developing young talent, like what JC Raceteknik did
> And those talents need to be given a chance to enter the RX1 stage, like what OMSE did with the champion of RX Lites being able to enter a WorldRX back in the day
I think in my opinion, those are two things that the FIA and whoever owns the rights to FIA Rallycross should look into.....
The 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship reaches the traditional "Magic Weekend" at Höljes for the 2026 Euro RX of Sweden.
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All 4 championships are on track in Sweden. This is Round 3 for Euro RX1, Euro RX3, Euro RX4 and Euro RX5. Euro RX is supported by the Swedish Rallycross Championship, which will feature its Supernational, 2150, Junior 2150, Cross Car, Cross Car Junior and FC2 classes.
Höljes Motorstadion, or Höljesbanan, is a rallycross track in Värmland, Sweden. It has a length of 1,210 metres (1,230 metres with Joker Lap), and a surface split of 70% tarmac/30% gravel. The track runs counterclockwise, and pole position is to the right of the starting grid.
Designed with the input of rallycross legend Per Eklund, Höljes originally opened in 1976, and the circuit joined the Euro RX calendar as the Swedish round in 1991. A regular fixture for the first week of July, the iconic track and festivities of the "Magic Weekend", with the combination of both FIA and national competitions, have graced rallycross in the decades since.
2025 Höljes race winners:
Euro RX1: Yury Belevskiy
Euro RX3: Rytis Gurklys
Entry lists
All 4 championship categories are in action at Höljes.
There are 29 drivers entered in Euro RX1. The Magic Weekend attracts wildcard drivers from near and far, including local heroes such as Peter Hedström (SWE, Hedströms Motorsport #5 Peugeot 208), Mats Öhman (SWE, JC Raceteknik #17 Volkswagen Polo), Filip Thorén (SWE, Hedströms Motorsport #28 Volkswagen Polo), and Viktor Kristensson (SWE, Team SKÅAB #32 Volkswagen Polo). The series' Norwegian contingent is shored up by the likes of Hans-Jøran Østreng (NOR, #85 Hyundai i20) and Tom Daniel Tånevik (NOR, #100 Volkswagen Polo), while the Netherlands' Bart Bel (NED, #69 Ford Focus) makes the journey north to take on the famed Swedish circuit.
There are 16 drivers entered in Euro RX3. Back-to-back winner Julien Meunier (FRA, #15 Audi A1) enters as the points leader from his closest challenger Rytis Gurklys (LTU, NG Racing Team #22 Audi A1). Joining the grid for Sweden is Lukas Ney (GER, #86 Škoda Fabia), recent winner in German RX's DRX3 category.
There are 8 drivers entered in Euro RX4. The championship regulars in the Rally4-based category are joined by 2022 Euro RX3 Höljes winner Marius Solberg Hansen (NOR, AT Racing Team #6 Renault Clio).
There are 15 drivers entered in Euro RX5. British RX competitor Teddie Macpherson (GBR, Volland Racing - Team Ligier #19 Ligier XC04) makes his international CrossCar debut in Sweden.
Full entry lists are available in .pdf format via Sportity.
According to Art. 35.3.2 of the FIA RX Sporting Regulations, there will be no Quarter Finals for theRX3,RX4, andRX5categories. For clarification, in those categories, the Qualifying ranking will determine the Semi-Final line-up as follows:
Semi-Final 1: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th
Semi-Final 2: 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th
As there will be no Quarter Final races, no championship points in accordance with Article 3.2.1 of the RX Sporting Regulations, shall be awarded in these categories.
The Turpeinen brothers could both find themselves on the top step of the podium this weekend.
Joni Turpeinen arrives at Höljes chasing his first Euro RX1 victory after back-to-back podium finishes, while younger brother Pauli heads into the Finnish Rallycross Championship fresh from a dominant clean sweep on his Supercar debut at Kouvola.
