Benoît Dupont: “Rallycross will grow even more”

What is your role within the FIA?

My mission is to manage the sporting aspects of the FIA ​​Off-Road Championships. Many changes should have appeared in 2020 for Autocross, but the cancellation of the European Championship delayed these developments, they will see the light of day this year I hope. I am also developing the entire Cross Car strategy with the arrival of the new European Championship and the launch of the Trophy Academy (reserved for 13-16 year olds). The idea is to develop this discipline internationally. Finally, the majority of my role focuses on the management of the world and European championships. Rallycross. I was sporting director of Formula E and I arrived at the FIA ​​two years ago with the aim of preparing the transformation of this discipline from thermal to electric by 2022.

How did you perceive IMG's sudden announcement to end its role as promoter of international Rallycross championships?

It was a surprise. Like all difficult challenges you may face, you want to turn it into an opportunity. We therefore tried to find a new partner to start again on the foundations built. When the IMG teams arrived in Rallycross, they managed to quickly elevate the discipline to the rank of world championship with very good work. But, it must be recognized that, recently with the withdrawal of manufacturers, we could see a certain stagnation.

How do you explain the flight of manufacturers in recent years?

The switch to electric had been on everyone's minds for some time. Everyone agrees that Rallycross has the ideal format for electric, but it took a little time to come to fruition. We could have switched to the electric powertrain sooner, but we weren't ready. There is also the question of the timing of the manufacturers, they all have their own agenda. The transition from Rallycross to electric was initially planned for 2020. We had three or four manufacturers in agreement on the principle, but they could not commit at the same time. For example, Peugeot had given its approval, but the board of directors changed the overall strategy of the brand and this undoubtedly created a snowball effect. We were perhaps a little ahead of the manufacturers' strategy regarding their marketing considerations for electric vehicles. We therefore rethought the concept of going electric. A bit like in Formula E, we will rely on private teams who are experts in the discipline to attract manufacturers when the RX1e (new name of the premier category of electric Rallycross. Editor's note) is effective.

Find the entire interview in AUTOhebdo No. 2298, available in digital version and on newsstands.