Rant from the boss of Lohéac: “Rallycross is in danger”

Could the Lohéac circuit (Ille-et-Vilaine) disappear from the World Championship calendar? Rallycross (World RX) ? This is the scenario envisaged by Patrick Germain, president of the Breton route and the only French round of the discipline.

The boss of the Lohéac Rallycross Sports Association steps up to the plate with a letter sent to the Off Road commission of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) on Thursday as well as to all the actors of World RX. His concern comes down to one word: electric.

Revealed at the start of the year, the prospect of the World RX converted completely to electric by 2020 does not please Patrick Germain at all. This stands head-on against this technology which would distort the essence of Rallycross if it no longer accepts petrol engines. “We are faced with the “excessive” influence of “All-electric” supporters who take no account of our opinions, our interests or the passion and history of motorsport. Today, all-electric is by no means the only truth. »

The gradual arrival of manufacturers in the operation of the World RX (Volkswagen, Peugeot , Audi, Ford until 2017) also worries Patrick Germain; entry costs have exploded with the development of cutting-edge machines and it has become almost impossible for a private structure to fight for victory, as demonstrated by the withdrawal of DA Racing at the end of 2017. “A championship whose priority, whatever is said, is implicitly and exclusively given to the manufacturers cannot have good consequences for the RX. The essential and fundamental balance between private teams and factory teams cannot exist », he asserts.

Another reason for anger for the president of the RX in Lohéac, the preparation of the E-WRX, totally disconnected from the race organizers according to him. “As an organizer, despite our requests and promises, we are neither consulted nor associated with the future RX championship, he curses. It's sad and it's becoming more and more unacceptable. Rallycross is in danger. »

The basis of the incongruity for Patrick Germain remains the appearance of the electric, initially planned to rub shoulders with the thermal series, but which must now purely and simply send the backfires and thermal sounds of the World RX to oblivion. “We hope that the authorities will become aware of this very quickly and associate us with the future of the discipline by retaining the pre-eminence and legitimacy of thermal accompanied by an electric series foreshadowing the future. We were waiting for a transition, we were offered a substitution. »

If World RX continues to slide towards electric without any dialogue with meeting promoters, Patrick Germain has a radical solution. “In the absence of a tangible sign from the authorities governing Rallycross, the Lohéac RX plans not to be a candidate to organize the French round of the WRX Electric in 2020. »

It should be noted that Lohéac has hosted the World RX since 2014, but that it is the cradle of Rallycross in France for having organized the first race of this type in 1976. With more than 70 spectators in recent years, the Lohéac meeting represents one of the best attendances for motorsport in France, behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Grand Prix of F1. No World RX destination attracts so many enthusiasts.