World RX – Andreas Bakkerud moves to EKS RX

The Ford period is over for Andreas Bakkerud in World RX. After having evolved under the Olsbergs MSE colors then Hoonigan Racing Division, with the Fiesta ST and Focus RS RX Supercar since 2014, the 26-year-old Norwegian will drive for EKS RX this season.

After the confirmed departures of Reinis Nitiss and Toomas Heikkinen, and a schedule now exclusively focused on World RX for Mattias Ekström, the structure which will field all-new Audi S1s, offers itself a major reinforcement with the arrival of Bakkerud.

The double European S1600 champion and third in World RX in 2016, has six victories on the world stage. “It’s a great honor for me to drive in Mattias’ team, says Bakkerud.

We have had a good relationship for many years and I have closely followed the development of EKS. Together with the team, I would now like to take the next step in my career and be in contention for the title. »

EKS RX will try to regain its Teams crown, abandoned last year at the PSRX VW Sweden of Johan Kristoffersson and Petter Solberg. For this, the continued support of Audi Sport should be an asset against Volkswagen and Peugeot .

“We gathered a very positive experience in World RX last year and are convinced of the growth potential of the series, underlines Dieter Gass, boss of Audi Sport. In the medium term, we hope to see electric cars in this racing series because electrification is an important topic at Audi, including in motorsport. »

The German brand has refocused a large part of its motorsport activities towards Formula E, with ABT Schaeffler, after the end of its LM P1 program at the end of 2016.