RX2 INTERNATIONAL SERIES PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES MARKETING BROCHURE

1 MARKETING BROCHURE CONTENTS

THE SERIES 4

CALENDAR 7

THE CAR 8

COVERAGE - TV & MEDIA 12

SOCIAL MEDIA 14

RX2 HALL OF FAME 16

TESTIMONIALS 17

SERIES PARTNERS 18

CONTACT 20

2 3 RX2 provides the perfect stepping stone for drivers climbing the ladder. In recent years, the series has welcomed competitors from disciplines as diverse as THE SERIES stage and cross-country , cross-kart, folk race, karting, single-seaters and even SuperMoto – as well, obviously, as rallycross itself, attracting talent from the RX Academy, Super1600 and TouringCar.

While from a wide variety of backgrounds, all RX2 drivers share a common goal – that of reaching the very pinnacle of the sport, the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

As a series, RX2 works hard to foster ever-closer links with World RX and World Championship promoter IMG, with RX2 drivers and teams regularly invited to official activities from pre- event activation to autograph sessions and pre and post-race press conferences.

WHAT IS RX2? Taking place in front of the World Championship teams, RX2 offers aspiring rallycross superstars The RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires is the leading official and independent competitors alike an support series to the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster extremely accessible, affordable and direct Energy, developing and nurturing the discipline’s future stars. route to the top of the sport and is the perfect place for drivers to prove their potential in front All drivers compete in identical 310bhp machinery, with a single-round World RX of a loyal, engaged and enthusiastic audience. Supercar prize drive awarded to the eventual champion and a World RX Supercar test day on offer to the second and third-placed finishers.

The 2019 calendar takes in seven events, with the first six taking place ROAD TO RALLYCROSS throughout Europe before a spectacular South African season finale (see opposite).

A range of options is available for participation depending on budget, from joining a professional team to rental arrive-and-drive packages – contact Series Manager Ian Davies for further information (details on final page).

KARTING FOLK RACE ACADEMY CROSS KART 4 5 THE CALENDAR The 2019 calendar comprises seven rounds across two continents as follows:

APRIL MAY MAY JUNE 27-28 11-12 25-26 15-16

BARCELONA, SPAIN SPA- SILVERSTONE, UK HELL, NORWAY ASPHALT / DIRT: FRANCORCHAMPS, ASPHALT / DIRT: ASPHALT / DIRT: 60% / 40% BELGIUM 40% / 60% 63% / 37% CIRCUIT LENGTH: ASPHALT / DIRT: CIRCUIT LENGTH: CIRCUIT LENGTH: 1,135M 60% / 40% 972M 1,019M CIRCUIT LENGTH: 907M

JULY AUGUST NOVEMBER 05-06 31-01(SEPT) 09-10

HÖLJES, SWEDEN LOHÉAC, FRANCE CAPE TOWN, ASPHALT / DIRT: ASPHALT / DIRT: SOUTH AFRICA 60% / 40% 33% / 67% ASPHALT / DIRT: CIRCUIT LENGTH: CIRCUIT LENGTH: 60% / 40% 1,210M 1,070M CIRCUIT LENGTH: 6 1,067M 7 THE CAR

All drivers compete in identical Supercar Lites machinery. These cars benefit from a tubular spaceframe structure combined with a high-performance composite plastic exterior and interior body, and are powered by a naturally-aspirated, 2.4-litre Duratec engine generating 310bhp and 300Nm of torque.

A six-speed sequential SADEV gearbox is mated to permanent four-wheel drive with two LSD differentials, while durability is ensured by ALCON 330mm ventilated brake discs with four-piston calipers front and rear, double-wishbone suspension and Öhlins TTX adjustable dampers.

ENGINE

• Naturally-aspirated 2,400cc Duratec block • Four cylinders, 16 valves • Power: 310bhp • Torque: 300Nm

BODY

• Tubular Spaceframe Structure combined with high performance composite plastic exterior and interior body • CDS roll cage • Dimensions: Length 3,800mm; Width 1,800mm; Wheelbase 2,489mm • Weight: 1,100kg minimum with driver included

WHEELS

• 8” x17” lightweight KMC wheel rims

TRANSMISSION

• Permanent four-wheel drive with 2 LSD differentials • 6-speed sequential SADEV gearbox • ALCON 2-plate clutch

BRAKES SUSPENSION

• Front: ALCON 330mm ventilated discs • Front: Double wishbone suspension, with 4-piston calipers OHLINS TTX adjustable dampers • Rear: ALCON 330mm ventilated discs • Rear: Double wishbone suspension, with 4-piston calipers OHLINS TTX adjustable dampers 8 9 10 11 COVERAGE TV & MEDIA

SPORT Rallycross preview SPORTS PORT All the action from the world of motorsport

Steve Sutcliffe GETTING [email protected] AIRBORNE Huge jump is THE World Rallycross Championship centrpiece of (World RX) is rapidly becoming the Silverstone’s newly built next big thing in motorsport – and as RX track WRC seems to be losing its appeal year- on-year, certainly in the UK, rallycross is increasingly where it’s at nowadays. So much so that there’s a round of the championship at Silverstone this year, taking place on a brand-new purpose-built course, and with all sorts of feeder formulas to support it. In the main event, manufacturers like Audi, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Hyundai hammer it out for overall honours, the British Rallycross champion Heathcote (above) let our man Sutcliffe try his Fiesta cars being driven in frantic head-to-head races by the likes of Sebastien Loeb, former DTM title winner Mattias Ekstrom and , among others. But in the RX2 support category, the cars are all identical mechanically and the drivers less well known – for the time being. And that’s the machine we got to sample the new Silverstone track in. Technique The car we drove is run by Team Färén and its regular driver is the 2017 British Rallycross champion and all-round top Since its launch at the start of 2017, chap Nathan Heathcote. Before we got behind the wheel, he showed us what it could do and, more to the point, what not to do around the new Silverstone rallycross track. Which – as we’d soon discover and as you can see from the RALLYCROSS TAKES OFF RX2 has attracted widespread media As the World Rallycross Championship hits Silverstone this weekend, we drive the purpose-built track in 310bhp RX2 monster pictures – has one almighty great jump in the middle that requires technique, and not just courage, to get right. Not that the car itself is easy to tame. It makes 310bhp from a 2.4-litre engine, is “Acceleration is Porsche 911 strong, but Nathan Heathcoate: the gearchanges, plus the relative at home, so the pros reckon, around the jump can be very painful indeed, the Fiesta’s nose, either. We came away exposure all around the world. Some four-wheel drive, costs into six figures to softness of the suspension, that initially the tight and twisty Silverstone track. not to mention rather expensive in after another few laps grinning from ear run for a season and is the ideal machine the speed of gearchanges and softness Rising British RX star seem most surprising. The car eats To us, and in this car, the layout broken car parts. The technique, as to ear, convinced this car on this track in which to learn the art of rallycross. of the suspension are most surprising” gears seemingly every half a second in of the track feels just right. There’s Heathcote demonstrated to us, is to is as good as it gets on four wheels. Even from the passenger seat. Kent driver Nathan a straight line (the six-speed sequential enough space to be able to overtake give it full beans on the way up the Because even with a mere 310bhp, Off the line, Heathcote drops the Heathcoate is the box is very short-geared) and the noise in several places and it should make ramp, but to then back off just before the RX2 is a proper weapon, especially prominent examples can be seen here, clutch and the Fiesta fires itself to the reigning MSA British it makes in the process is deafening. for great spectating when the cars you get airborne in order to bring the around a track like Silverstone, which is first corner, a right-hander that tightens Rallycross Champion But the way the Fiesta glides across the race here for real this weekend. nose down a touch so it doesn’t smash maybe a little too tight for the rallycross at the exit and leads into a slower, even and is making his rough ground on its smooth suspension But in the end, the jump defines into the tarmac on the other side. Which supercars but just perfect for something tighter right and then to a really sharp RX2 debut this year is massively impressive. As is its pure both our time in Heathcote’s brilliant is what several drivers had managed to as small, agile and capable as this. left turn over mud before a longish for Team Färén, agility, which is something that separates little Fiesta RX2 and the track itself do during practice earlier in the day! So thanks Nathan and Team Färén with extensive coverage also achieved straight that leads up to the jump. which ran another it from the 600bhp rallycross ‘supercars’ – because it’s fantastic… if you get The first time we went over the jump, for letting us have a go and the very Heathcote is very smooth, calm and British driver, Dan Rooke, to the RX2 in the top class and allows it to feel more it right. If you get it wrong, however, we were probably a bit tentative and the best of luck for the rest of the season. controlled with his inputs, employing championship runner-up spot last year. landing wasn’t that bad; just a loud-ish And as for the future of World Rallycross a mix of delicacy and aggression that The 21-year-old Heathcoate competed thud and a surprisingly soft impact and generally, it looks very bright indeed. enables him to hustle the Fiesta round in the RallyX on Ice series in Sweden and away we went, down the next straight, After all, for a petrolhead, what’s not the part-mud, part-tarmac course with Norway earlier this year, impressing with up to a horribly tight hairpin, along to like about some of the world’s best via major broadcasters including Sky some spooky speed and precision. his lightning starts away from the line. another short straight then through drivers going head to head in cars with The Ford feels quick in a straight He kicked off his RX2 title campaign at the a fast section of esses and across the 600bhp, and which can hit 60mph from line but not wildly so, with a decent Mettet round in Belgium earlier this month. start-finish line to complete the lap. rest in under two seconds, six abreast balance of power and grip, yet also RX2 is a ‘spec’ category for identical On our second lap, however, we went into turn one, sideways – for six laps? a real sense of agility. We climb out 310bhp, mid-engined, four-wheel-drive at it a bit harder, slid the Fiesta about It’s enough to make Sebastien Sports (UK), France TV Sport (France), after four laps, dazed by the noise and racecars, with Ford Fiesta-style bodywork, quite nicely over the mud sections and Ogier’s dominance of the Word Rally sheer violence of the experience, but built by Olsbergs MSE in conjunction with then, well, got the jump ever so slightly Championship seem ever so slightly reasonably sure which way the track Avitas Motorsport. It’s a support series for wrong. And landed on the nose at boring in comparison, so no wonder goes and certain that we won’t be doing the future stars of the world championship, heaven knows what kind of speed, that rallycross is taking off. Literally, what Heathcote had been doing! with rounds held on the support bill of accompanied by an almighty thump more often than not, in this instance! And then it’s our turn. Off the line, selected FIA World RX events. In 2018, from which our back hasVendredi yet to recover. 1er septembre 2017 Le Télégramme RTBF (Belgium) and RTVA (Andorra). the acceleration is at least Porsche 911 40 Fortunately, however, nothing fell it’s running at Belgium, the UK, Norway, For more on Silverstone’s World RX strong, but it’s the speed and severity of Sweden, Canada, France and South Africa. Like any race car, the RX2’s interior has been stripped back to the bare essentials off, and nothing started to leak out of event, go to www.speedmachine.com Cyclisme. Tour d’Espagne. 13e étape. Toute l’actualité sportive 78 23 May 2018 TV Eurosport à 15 h. www.autoexpress.co.uk www.autoexpress.co.uk WEB sur letelegramme.fr/sports/ 23 May 2018 79

In 2019, all RX2 rounds will benefit from Judo. Clarisse Agbegnenou Les Sports décroche l’or. Page 43

live-streaming via both the official FIA LA QUESTION Pourquoi les Lohéac. Raymond : l’avenir, c’est lui ! World Rallycross Championship and volleyeurs ont-ils raté leur Euro ? David Thomas

Spleen et incompréhension Dominateur en RX2, Cyril RX2 Series Facebook pages – totalling régnaient dans le camp des Raymond représente Bleus, déchus de leur couronne continentale après une piètre l’avenir du Rallycross prestation contre les Tchèques, français. L’an prochain, il mercredi. La jeune et découvrira, à plein temps, 600,000 followers and a reach of more talentueuse équipe tricolore a raté sa compétition sur toute la la cour des grands. Pour ligne. « C’est une catastrophe, l’heure, il a deux titres à estime le libéro Jenia conquérir ! Grebennikov. Au lieu de faire than 10 million – with the finals then jouer nos adversaires, on a voulu forcer, comme si nous étions des machines capables de sauter plus haut et de taper plus fort. » En effet, comment shown as part of IMG’s official World RX gagner quand on commet autant d’erreurs ? 33 dont 22 au service, quasiment un set ! C’est très loin du niveau qui leur avait permis de remporter la TV package. Ligue mondiale, en battant en finale le Brésil, champion olympique, chez lui, début juillet. Alors certes, les Bleus affrontent un calendrier surchargé. Certes,

Earvin Ngapeth n’était pas à Cyril Raymond domine le RX2, tant en Crédit Olsberg MSE 100 % physiquement. Mais le FIA World RX, qu’en Global Rallycross. programme est le même pour tout le monde, et « le vivier est In 2018, live broadcast, highlights and assez large pour ne pas être Lohéac 2017 a bien failli se dérou- pilotes talentueux, Raymond rime haiter m’engager », raconte le sent. J’ai les mêmes ambitions, dépendant de la forme ler sans lui. Il y a deux semaines, avec patron. garçon, issu du kart et plongé les mêmes rêves, rouler avec les d’Earvin », d’après le passeur à Atlantic City, Cyril Raymond dans le RX depuis seulement meilleurs mondiaux », avance-t-il. Benjamin Toniutti. (25 ans) a souffert d’une paralysie 14 courses quatre ans, où il a tout de suite Pour l’heure, ces expériences en L’an prochain, il faudra faciale temporaire, en raison d’un 9 victoires en 2017 ! excellé (Coupe Twingo, champion SuperCars sont très limitées. Deux re-runs achieved almost nerf crânien inflammé. En cause, Quatre succès en cinq courses en de France Super1600). Entre deux courses, mais déjà deux victoires, 35 million peut-être revoir les priorités. La Ligue mondiale - qui a rapporté trop de stress ou trop de fatigue. WRX, cinq victoires en neuf courses, Raymond retrouve le Cir- à Châteauroux et Dreux, en Cham- 1 million de dollars aux Bleus et « Cette année, je vois du pays, épreuves en GRC ! Et donc, la tête cuit Paul-Ricard du Castellet. Là pionnat de France en 2015, en à la Fédé - doit-elle être jouée à mais ça fatigue. Mais ça va actuelle des deux championnats. où il donne des cours de conduite ayant loué la troisième 208 du fond, ou doit-elle servir de mieux : j’ai de bonnes sensations « En début d’année, le boss du pour subvenir à ses besoins. Team Pailler, et une course WRX, television views in 160 countries et l’envie d’être en grande forme Team Andreas Eriksson m’a lancé à Estering en 2016. « Il s’est tout simple préparation au Championnat du monde (10-30 pour Lohéac. Car c’est la seule fois un gros challenge : gagner les « Mêmes rêves, mêmes de suite inscrit dans la victoire au septembre, en Italie et de l’année où je peux avoir le deux titres. J’ai tout de suite ambitions » qu’Ocon plus haut niveau, et ça, c’est la Bulgarie) ? public avec moi », sourit le pilote signé. Briller à l’échelle WRX et « Non, je ne suis pas encore pro- preuve du talent. Aujourd’hui, il around the world. Ford du Team Olsbergs MSE qui ne GRC n’est pas donné à tout le fessionnel. C’est la prochaine sait gagner, il n’a plus la fébrilité vit pas une saison de tout repos. monde. Je l’ai pris comme un étape », confie celui qui espère du dernier virage. C’est là qu’on Le natif de Saint-Raphaël fait face tremplin pour me mettre encore suivre l’exemple du fulgurant Este- passe un cap de champion », à un calendrier démentiel : il plus en avant. Je me suis investi à ban Ocon, pilote normand de 20 glisse Patrick Germain, président roule en World RX mais aussi en 100 % et tout baigne pour l’ins- ans, actuel 8e au championnat du RX de Lohéac. Ce week-end, Agression de Bosse. Global RC aux Etats-Unis et au tant : je donne tout pour accéder pour sa première saison de F1. Cyril Raymond entend tenir son Canada. Et dans sa catégorie, le aux SuperCars en 2018. On verra « C’est bluffant ce qu’il fait. Il a rang en RX2 pour s’ouvrir plus Un homme placé RX2, l’équivalent de la « Formule ce qui se passera l’an prochain. les pieds sur terre mais son rêve grand encore les portes du grand en garde à vue Renault » en F1, couveuse de Un autre Team pourrait aussi sou- d’être champion du monde se res- monde.

SÉLECTION TV 12 CYCLISME. Tour d’Espagne. 13 13e étape (198,4 km). En direct. Eurosport à 15 h.

FOOTBALL. Nigéria - Cameroun. Éliminatoires de la Coupe du monde 2018. beIN Sports 2 à 17 h 55. République tchèque - Allemagne. Éliminatoires de la Coupe du monde 2018. Groupe C. En direct. Un homme de 24 ans a été placé en Canal + Sport à 20 h 35. garde à vue jeudi matin, soupçonné d’avoir participé à l’agression du cham- FORMULE 1. Grand Prix d’Italie. pion de monde du 800 m Pierre-Am- Essais libres. En direct. broise Bosse (photo AFP), ce week-end, Canal + Sport à 09 h 50 et 13 h 45. en Gironde. Le suspect, connu pour des faits de violences et d’infraction à JUDO. Championnats du monde. la législation sur les stupéfiants, a fait Tours préliminaires. En direct. l’objet d’une convocation par les gen- L’Équipe à 10 h 00. darmes de la brigade de recherches Championnats du monde. d’Arcachon. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, Phases finales. En direct. qui a eu 18 jours d’incapacité totale de L’Équipe à 16 h. travail (ITT), a annoncé mercredi qu’il arrêtait sa saison après cette agres- sion. La Fédération française d’athlé- tisme se portera partie civile. SOCIAL MEDIA 183,000 10M 90,000 RX2 FACEBOOK LIVE-STREAMING PEAK MONTHLY VIDEO VIEWS REACH ON RX2 REACH ON RX2 IN 2018 AND WORLD RX FACEBOOK FACEBOOK PAGES PAGE IN 2018 329,000 68,700 1M+ FACEBOOK PEAK FACEBOOK LIVE TWEET IMPRESSIONS VIDEO VIEWS IMPRESSIONS IN 2018 ACROSS 3 ON RX2 TWITTER EVENTS IN 2018 FEED IN 2018

RX2 has a popular presence on social media, with regular, engaging and interactive content across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Channels are updated with images, videos, news, graphics, competitions and polls – bringing rallycross fans as close as possible to the discipline’s future stars.

14 15 RX2 HALL OF FAME TESTIMONIALS

“RX2 is probably the greatest programme for any young rallycross driver. Identical cars mean everybody is fighting on the same terms, making it easy to see who is performing well and allowing talent to rise to the top. You also get to race on the same tracks as the World Championship, and the series’ good TV and social media coverage makes it easier to find international partners to do long-term deals with.”

Andreas Bakkerud, Six-Time Supercar Race-Winner, World RX Kevin Hansen Cyril Raymond Kevin Eriksson won the RX Kevin Hansen succeeded Cyril Raymond holds the Lites Cup (forerunner to namesake and countryman honour of being both the last RX2) in 2014 before making Eriksson as RX Lites Champion RX Lites Champion (2016) and “Since its early days, RX2 has helped to create the biggest stars of the future. his debut in World RX later in 2015, and since making first RX2 Champion (2017), In allowing competitors to race on World RX tracks at a lower budget and the same season – and history as the youngest driver triumphing eight times over the providing them with first-class media coverage, RX2 has established itself as immediately finishing on the ever to enter a World RX event, course of the two seasons. The the place to be for young drivers aiming to raise their profile and reach the podium. The Swede won in the Swede has made 30 starts Frenchman stepped up to FIA highest level of the World Rallycross Championship.” Germany two years later with a at the pinnacle of the sport, Euro RX level in 2018, finishing spectacular first corner move, reaching the final on no fewer on the podium on his full-time Nicolas Dubernard, Journalist, Pure Rallycross and spent 2018 competing for than 11 occasions. Supercar debut, winning on family outfit Olsbergs MSE. home soil and going on to place third in the overall standings. “RX2 is beyond doubt the best training ground for a career in international rallycross. In a single-make series in which everybody has the same car at their disposal, the driver and set-up really make the difference.

The calibre of the competition is extremely high, so it’s essential to feel at one with the Supercar Lites car. It’s a lot of fun to drive – a bit like a four-wheel- drive version of a go-kart – and very easy to get to grips with and fine-tune, and I loved the two-and-a-half seasons I spent in the category.

As an official support series to World RX, RX2 puts drivers right in the shop window and is an ideal opportunity to learn the discipline’s major tracks. For me, there’s no question that it’s the best series around for young drivers Niclas Grönholm Jānis Baumanis looking to step up to Supercar level.” One of the most highly-rated Like Grönholm, Jānis Baumanis Professional skier, former FIA Cyril Raymond, 2016 RX Lites and 2017 RX2 Champion young prospects on the World passed through RX Lites on his Cross-Country Rally World RX scene, Niclas Grönholm – way up the rallycross ladder, Cup winner and multiple son of rallying legend Marcus finishing third in Turkey in Freeriding World Champion Grönholm – made a one-off 2014. Crowned Super1600 Guerlain Chicherit put himself “Since 2017, it has been our pleasure to host RX2 here at Lohéac, as a key appearance in RX Lites in Champion a year later, the to the test in RX2 in 2017, element of the French round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. 2014 and showed he meant Latvian has gone on to make entering the Canadian and As one of the official feeder series to World RX, RX2 unfailingly brings the 80,000-strong crowd at Lohéac to its feet. business with a podium finish five World RX finals to-date. South African rounds before on home turf in Finland. stepping up to World RX full- With all of the drivers piloting identical cars, the difference comes down to time in 2018 with his own GC skill behind the wheel and strategic thinking. RX2 is unquestionably one of the kompetition operation. most competitive rallycross series around, with spectacular races guaranteed by the stars of the show – much to the delight of the fans!”

Patrick Germain, Rallycross President, Lohéac Circuit 16 17 SERIES PARTNERS

PRESENTING PARTNER: COOPER TIRE EUROPE Cooper is one of the most recognisable and reputable brands in the automotive industry, and in addition to its title partnership with RX2, the company also supplies tyres to all competitors, with its first-class products enabling drivers to push to the limit in all conditions. Cooper is the sole tyre-supplier to both RX2 and World RX, providing rallycross tyres that offer unrivalled levels of grip and traction on the challenging mix of Tarmac and gravel surfaces. www.coopertire.com

TECHNICAL PARTNER: OLSBERGS A pioneering company with its focus firmly on the future, Swedish firm Olsbergs specialises in the design and manufacture of electronics and hydraulics for radio remote control systems used in loader cranes and timber-handling cranes. www.olsbergs.com/olsbergs-group

TECHNICAL PARTNER: VEIDEC Swedish brand VEIDEC supplies its market-leading, sustainable chemical products for repair and maintenance purposes to all RX2 competitors, bolstering the series’ environmental credentials. VEIDEC has been engaged in international motorsport for 20 years, in order to test and develop its green products under the toughest possible conditions. The company has a presence in 17 countries around the world. www.veidec.com

18 19 CONTACT IAN DAVIES: RX2 SERIES MANAGER EMAIL: [email protected] TELEPHONE: +44 7831 387708

20