Ready for takeoff

Mattias Ekström and teammate Andreas Bakkerud have put the new Audi S1 EKS RX quattro through its paces at Britain’s Silverstone raceway as the countdown for the 2018 FIA World Rallycross (RX) Championship begins in earnest.

The calendar features a total of 12 rounds on three continents (Europe, North America, Africa), and will see Ekström concentrate solely on the RX championship for the first time since forming his rallycross team at the beginning of 2014. Since then, he has split his duties between RX and DTM driving duties, nevertheless managing to win the 2016 RX championship.

“This is the first year in which I’m able to fully concentrate on the rallycross project,” says Ekström.

“For me, personally, that’s very positive because the dual load was definitely enormous. I’m also proud of the fact that many of our longstanding partners – above all Red Bull – continue to be on board and that we’ve additionally been able to gain new sponsors for EKS Audi Sport.”

Looking at the new season, Ekström and Team EKS Audi Sport are brimming with energy:

“With intensified support from Audi we intend to battle for victories as well as for the World RX titles in the drivers’ and teams’ championship again,” says the Swede. To achieve this goal, EKS Audi Sport will be on the grid with two new Audi S1 EKS RX quattro cars.

“We were driving more or less the same cars for four years. Now we’ve prepared two all-new ones, practically the second generation of our winning car.”

Audi Sport is involved more than ever, working extensively on the development of the now 426kW Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. Among other things, the S1 received a new aerodynamics package that enhances downforce and overall performance, and at all 12 WRX rounds, Audi employees will be at the race tracks to assist EKS Audi Sport in taking care of the engine. 

For 2020, the series is planning to switch to fully electric powertrains. “This prospect is one of the reasons why Audi continues intensifying its commitment in the World Rallycross Championship this year,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass.

Technicians have changed the position of the two-litre four-cylinder turbo engine and for the first time, an anti-lag system is used which maintains the turbocharger’s speed even when the driver lifts. New engine software has been employed and the engineers have also optimised boost pressure in part-load and overrun conditions.

“Anyone can see the modifications that have been made to aerodynamics at first glance,” says Ekström. “But underneath the body shell, a lot has happened as well. We’ve made a clear step, the first tests were promising. Last year, we started the season as the hunted, now we’re the hunters.” 

The 2018 World Rallycross season kicks off in Barcelona, Spain, on April 14 and 15.