VIDEO: One For Our Norwegian Rally Readers!

As a treat for all our lovely, new-found readers in Norway – to which we say Hei! Hvordan går det? – here's a cool video with the Norwegian Royal family of rallying, the Solberg brothers (Petter & Henning) and the army. Sounds quite random, but it's a really well proceed video by Petter Foshaug. Check it out!

NEWS: 2013 European Rallycross Launch @ Lydden Hill

Today sees the launch of the amazing FIA European Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill in Kent – with an incredible all-star driver line up, including the legendary Petter Solberg lining up against rallycross regulars, like Liam Doran for a Citroen DS3 Supercar 600bhp war! It's going to be epic. And so, to get you in the mood, check out this 2012 race in hideous wet and muddy conditions at Lydden last year. Great dog fighting. Great driving. Great event. Go this year... it's epic. 

This year sees the FIA European Rallycross Championship's "biggest and best line up of permanent drivers ever assembled in the event’s 40 year history – with 15 permanent Supercar drivers entered, the group is three times bigger than the number that took part in all rounds of the 2012 series and will be supplemented at every Championship event by a mix of star 'wild card' entries and national heroes." 

We are cuffed to bit the line-up and entry list is so illustrious and packed out and will be following the round closely, even guest blogging on the ERC website – www.rallycrossrx.com. 

And it's going to be ace to see 2003 WRC champion, Petter Solberg back in rallycross, where hsi career all begin: "We are delighted that Petter Solberg has chosen to race in the FIA European Rallycross Championship, it’s great for the Championship and will be really interesting to see how the regular guys respond to the challenge of racing against a former World Rally champion," said Martin Anayi, Managing Director of RallycrossRX at IMG Motorsport.

And the Supercar permanent entry for 2013 features the current FIA European Rallycross Champion Timur Timerzyanov, as well as the 2012 champions from the Super1600 (Andreas Bakkerud) and TouringCar (Anton Marklund) categories, both of whom graduate to race Supercars in 2013.
The all-star field assembled for the 2013 Championship, which is being promoted for the first time by IMG Motorsports, part of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, entertainment and media company, also includes former European champions Mats Lysen, Knut Ove Børseth, Ronny Scheveneels and Michael De Keersmaecker as well as X Games winner Liam Doran.
"We have put together a top quality entry of permanent drivers in the Supercar category, half of them already proven European champions, who have committed to take part in all rounds of the Championship. The core entry of 15 permanent Supercar drivers represents an enormous increase in entry level as only five drivers took part in all rounds of the 2012 Championship. However even more compelling is the fact that we have more than 15 other guys who want to come in and do more than two events each this year, including some of the biggest names in motor sport. We have the perfect balance and we cannot wait to feature these guys in our global TV coverage and start delivering a fantastic platform to take RallycrossRX to the next level," said Anayi
The 15 permanent drivers represent six different countries, drive cars from six manufacturer brands and include seven current or former FIA Rallycross champions. Also among them is 20-year-old Swede Timmy Hansen who has made a career change from single-seater racing to rallycross to capitalise on the introduction of a Championship Promoter for the very first time in its history.
With up and coming Norwegian starlet, Alex Hvaal, former French champion Davey Jeanney, as well as current and former Swedish champions Peter Hedström and Stig-Olov Walfridson and British event winner Andy Scott, there is real talent throughout the field that represents the majority of key rallycross markets.
"When you look at the permanent driver field RX has and add in the ‘wild cards’ and local rallycross heroes coming in per event, we see the Championship as becoming a “must go to” event for motor sport fans across Europe in 2013”, added Anayi.
The nine-round 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship opens with the British event at Lydden Hill on Easter weekend (March 31-April 1). Will you be there? We will!

Be a part of #RX:
Twitter: @RallycrossRX | Facebook.com/RallycrossRX | YouTube.com/RallycrossRXTV

Get a list of all the FIA European Rallycross Championship 2013 'permanent' Supercar entries & see more video on our Facebook page:

2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship
March 30 – April 1 Lydden Hill, Great Britain
April 26-28 Montalegre, Portugal
May 24-26 Nyirad, Hungary
June 7-9 Kouvola, Finland
June 14-16 Hell, Norway
July 5-7 Holjes, Sweden
August 30 – September 1 Loheac, France
September 13-15 Greinbach, Austria
September 20-22 Buxtehude, Germany

VIDEO: Petter Solberg in 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship

Anyone else looking forward to the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championships (ERC) this year? This short viral might get you in the mood. And if not, how about the fact that WRC legend, Petter 'Hollywood' Solberg – fresh from his win in his Viking Motorsport MkII Escort in the Historic Rally Sweden – is heading to the first round at Lydden Hill, March 31 - April. Petter is set to be driving a 600bhp Citroën DS3 Supercar – built and run by his own team. And, according to sources at the ERC "appears set to focus on rallycross having called time on his career in the WRC." How cool is that? Following in the footsteps of another WRC legend, Marcus Gronholm, who drive the Best Buy Focus with our pal David Binks recently. See that article here in Road Magazine Issue 20.
And see the annual calendar for 2013 – and much more – on the great ERC website.
See you there... Hollywood!

VIDEO: Petter Solberg Quits WRC: Highlight Video.

So, Petter Solberg – legendary, smily, Norwegian WRC ace – is to quit the sport, for now! Sad news. But we can't wait to see what he ends up driving in 2013. We say... give the Nurburging 24-Hour a go, like Carlos Sainz has done since he retired Petter. You will love it! Or maybe some historic rallying? And we hope to see you back in a WRC car soon too.
Here's what Petter had to say about his retirement from WRC: "First off, I want to say thank you. You can't imagine the feeling I get seeing and reading all of your messages and support, both here and via multiple outlets around the web. Honestly I'm always so amazed by it. Especially now, it feels great.
The decision to withdraw from the WRC for 2013 after all of these years was not an easy one. The reality is that no matter how much we were hoping that there was a proper seat for us, it was made very apparent that there was not. At this point in my career, I had to make the call. I had to step away for now, and make a change. The main thing that I want you all to realize, is that my statements and actions should by no means be viewed as me retiring. This is my life, and I'm definitely ready and prepared for more time behind a wheel, and more success. With all of this being said, I also wanted to confirm that we are working on some very exciting plans for 2013, and I look forward to sharing that with you as soon as we're able. It's going to be a fun and competitive time for all of us. I promise you that! Thank you again. Never Give Up!"

Best of luck "Hollywood" – you're a superstar and we'll be keeping our readers abreast of your activities in 2013 whatever you do. Have a great Christmas dude! 

Meantime, to remind you all what a star Petter is, here's a highlight video to enjoy his WRC skills again... 

NEWS: Petter Solberg 2013 Plans

We've just heard what Petter Solberg has to say about his plans for 2013... which may involve him being behind the wheel of a race car! Like to see that! He said: "There seems to be a lot of talk about me retiring via pieces of quotes being compressed in to numerous articles around the web. I wish things moved more quickly, but they do not. Of course my full interest is to be in the WRC and the works seat at M-Sport, but these things take time. We're attempting to figure things out from both sides. IF for some reason nothing happens with this, then I do have other plans, and those plans will have me competing behind the wheel of a race car. Thank you for your concern, and I will keep you updated. I will never stop competing within Motorsports. That's a combination of my passion, and your support!" Good luck for the year, whatever you end up doing Petter. We love ya man! You're a modern legend of rallying. Stay up to date with Petter on his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PetterSolbergWRC

VIDEO: 2012 WRC Wales Rally GB Highlights

Here's all the action from Wales Rally GB this weekend. The 1604-kilometre, 19-stage (325kms) event, drier than usual thanks to its move out of Winter to the end of Summer on the WRC calendar, finally gave Finnish Yari-Matti Latvala a Rally GB win, in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He won eight from 19 special stages and completed the event in 3 hours 3 minutes 40.3 seconds, almost a whole half a minute quicker than second-placed Frenchman Sébastien Loeb's Citroen DS3 WRC. Latvala's Norwegian Ford team-mate Petter Solberg completed the podium after losing out to Loeb by the tiny margin of 0.9 seconds, in one of the closest dog fights on the event for years. Ace! See more news and special stage times at: www.walesrallygb.com

VIDEO: 2012 WRC Wales Rally GB: Shakedown

Here's the highlights from the Rally GB shakedown, from a remarkable sunny and warm Wales... bring on the special stage action!

VIDEO: Neil Cole's The Grid Episode VI

Here's our Road Mazagine columnist, Neil Cole in action on his Sports Tonight Live TV Show, The Grid, Episode VI. On this weeks show, Tancredi Palmeri talks about what Alonso's win in Malaysia means to Ferrari and Vettel's stroppy rebellion in the Malaysian GP, plus rally news and more ace irreverence from the world of motorsport. Check it out... it's fabulous stuff for petrol heads. We love it!

VIDEO: Neil Cole's 'The Grid' Motorsport Show, Episode VI

The wonderfully funny, chatty, relaxed, original and informative Sports Tonight show, The Grid, with our Road Magazine columnist, Neil Cole, episode VI here – 45 minutes of pure motorsport banter. Ace! This week, Neil and Kevin Shepherd chat to none other than Petter Solberg, on the eve of Rally Portugal, with the return of night stages and the new-for-2012 qualifying to decide road position for the 'sweepers' or gravel 'cleaning.' Petter also chats to his pal Neil about disco dancing, facial furniture, shaving all your body hair off and more, brilliant! It is pure class, as is the new segment at the end of the show, Neil's motorsport weather forecast. Hilarious, and very well informed and presented (of course... it's 'our' Neil Cole!). Also on the show is lots of F1 news, including Sebastian Vettel's strop in Malaysia, NASCAR news from the states and lots more, from Skype contributors. Big thanks also for bigging up humble Road Magazine and blog. Cheers Neil. More... more... more!!!

VIDEO: WRC 2012 Mexico Day 3 (Part 2/2)

The final video of the action in the heat and dust of Rally Mexico... and we'll let you watch it to see who wins between Loeb, Hirvonen and Solberg... great gravel rally. Tequilas all round! Shaping up to be a great season... don't you think?

VIDEO: WRC 2012 Mexico Day 3 (Part 1/2)

Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Petter Solberg get stuck into the final day... but who will win Rally Mexico?

VIDEO: WRC 2012 Rally Guanajuato México: Day 2 Highlights

All the action from Day Two of WRC Mexico 2012. Some fabulous flat out, sixth gear stuff...

VIDEO: WRC 2012: Rally Guanajuato México Day 1 Highlights

First of four videos showing all the action from the first gravel round of WRC 2012... enjoy the dusty, big jump action...

VIDEO: WRC 2012 Mexico Preview

So, we've had the famous tarmac of Rallye Monte-Carlo, and the snowbanks of Sweden, now for the first bit of gravel in WRC 2012, with the heat and altitude of Rally Mexico. Here's the preview video to wet you appetites... Our money is on that man Loeb, who's won for the last four years here... unstoppable on the loose? Or maybe it's Petter Solberg's turn for a win in his new factory Ford? Should be a good one... and you can see all the action unfold here on the Road blog.