Silverstone, an interesting or boring track?

This is one of the innovations of the 2018 World Championship season. Rallycross (WorldRX). The British round will take place this weekend (May 26-27) on a circuit built from scratch within the confines of the Silverstone track in the offseason.

This fourth meeting of the season will take place at the heart of a festival, called Speedmachine, which will mix electro concerts, food festivals and historic car demonstrations. Promoter IMG's desire is to dust off rallycross and reach a younger audience.

“We are impatient to see how rallycross fits into this new concept, proposed by the promoter, and which could attract a new clientele around motor racing”, expresses Bruno Famin, Director of Peugeot Sport.

Problem: the Silverstone circuit should not offer a challenge worthy of the name for the drivers. “The route itself is quite slow and I find that a shame because I think there was the possibility of integrating a few fast sections”, Explain Sébastien Loeb (Peugeot), which remains a success in Mettet (Belgium).

« Corners are not exciting, asserts Mattias Ekström (Audi), World RX champion in 2016 and 6th overall. But the artificial jump will be crucial. It will decide the outcome of the race, it will be the most complicated jump of the year. »

Former rally driver Petter Solberg (Volkswagen) regrets the circuit of Lydden Hill, the birthplace of rallycross in Great Britain which hosted World RX until 2017. « It was, honestly, a real rallycross track. Lydden Hill was an extremely fast circuit, with some fantastic corners to take. »

According to Kevin Hansen (Peugeot), “The track is very technical, with turns to be taken most of the time in 2nd gear. The start and finish straight is the only place where there is some space. For the rest, it's mostly 90° laces and pins.." Interesting track or not, you will have to be present to score points in the championship...