CE Dealer Team aims high for third FIA World RX season with pioneering 'Battle of Technologies'
Construction Equipment Dealer Team by Volvo CE is aiming high as it embarks on its third season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) at Höljes in Sweden this weekend.
This new Battle of Technologies format will see all-electric RX1e cars of CE Dealer Team competing head-to-head with sustainably-fueled combustion-powered vehicles, marking a new era of world rallycross.
“We are feeling determined ahead of the season start, setting our goals higher than ever. The 2024 season will no doubt be the toughest so far with a lot of new changes, but we are nonetheless ready to compete for the top honours in both the drivers’ and teams’ championship,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.
“Our team and partners have worked tirelessly throughout the winter to improve every aspect of our performance, especially as there are other new key changes such as the ‘Battle of Technologies’, new tyres and a different race format.”
There will be a brand new Equivalence of Technology system (EoT) in play to equalise the differences in performance between the electric and ICE race cars, a system which will evolve and improve throughout the season to ensure a level playing field.
“This will obviously be a key aspect to the credibility and competitiveness of the championship and we have full confidence that this will be handled professionally throughout the season by the organisers,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.
The historic premiere of the new and innovative formula will take place on home soil in Sweden during the “Magic Weekend” double header curtain-raiser in Höljes.
CE Dealer Team enters the season after claiming the teams’ championship silver medal and seven-time FIA World RX event winner Niclas Grönholm the drivers' bronze last year.
The Finnish star aims to end his streak of three consecutive bronze medal finishes in the championship as he chases the highly sought-after FIA World Rallycross world title.
“It has been a long break before this season. Fortunately, I've been able to do some driving here in Finland, which has helped me feel quite prepared,” said Niclas Grönholm.
“I'm excited to be back racing the RX1e cars and it’s going to be interesting to see how the 'Battle of Technologies' plays out. There are also a lot of new aspects, like the new format and new tires to get used to. There are still a few unknowns, but I believe we will be well-prepared to race in Höljes, and I'm confident we're going to have a great season. Our goal is firmly set as high as possible.”
24-year-old Swede Klara Andersson enters her third season of top-level world rallycross, having finished seventh in the championship for the past two seasons.
"I am incredibly excited to finally kick off this season, especially with my home race in Höljes. Our expectations for the season are high, with many changes, including the 'Battle of Technologies' that everyone is looking forward to, and brand new tires I think will change things a lot,” said Klara Andersson.
“This is my third year with CE Dealer Team, and I am more ready than ever to start the season with the team, our partners, and Volvo CE. Niclas and I will do everything we can to fight for the title, but it is a world championship, so it will for sure be tough."
The 'Battle of Technologies' World RX season premiere will feature the all-electric CE Dealer Team facing experienced opponents, including reigning World Champion Johan Kristoffersson, now driving a sustainably-fueled combustion car, and last year’s runner-up Kevin Hansen, racing an electric car.
Other key changes for the 2024 season include new tyres from Hoosier and a new race format.
“The race format will be something totally new, before we used to race against the time until we got to the semi final stage. But now it’s all about position, so I think we will see rallycross in all of its beauty,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.
CE Dealer Team will once again line up with its pair of fully electric PWR RX1e, featuring the sports first gender-equal driver line-up of Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson – a key part of the team and its partners’ ambition to drive the shift to improved sustainability in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers.
The double header premiere World RX of Sweden, known as the "Magic Weekend", takes place at the Höljes track in north Värmland, near the Norway border. This major event draws over 50,000 spectators to a village of just over 100 inhabitants.
CE Dealer Team will have more than 350 guests on site in Höljes from hosting dealer Swecon, as well as from team partners Parker, SSAB and Engcon.
Volvo Construction Equipment continues as the official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Höljes to showcase its so far biggest range of electric wheel loaders during a race weekend, including the new L90 Electric and L120 Electric, as well as its innovative services.
The World RX of Sweden weekend starts on Saturday with practice, followed by round one of the championship and round two on Sunday.
The action is broadcast LIVE worldwide on TV – as well as through the Rally.TV online streaming platform and SVT for Swedish viewers.
The full World RX of Sweden schedule is available here.
About CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment
CE Dealer Team was founded in 2022 by the PWR Group in cooperation with Volvo Construction Equipment and its partners. The core goal of the rallycross programme is to drive the shift to improved sustainability and diversity in society and highlight the excitement that a move to an electric future offers. CE Dealer Team is run with support from independent dealers of Volvo Construction Equipment, along with several prominent industrial partners, who together share a commitment to leading a sustainable future, both on track and off.
About FIA World Rallycross Championship
An evolution of the popular FIA European Rallycross Championship, the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) was launched in 2014. Representing the international pinnacle of the dual-surface discipline, the series blends cutting-edge innovation with family-friendly spectator appeal and visits some of the most iconic venues in the sport. In evidence of its commitment to sustainability, World RX entered a new era in 2022 by embracing electric technology, while 2024 heralds the beginning of the ‘Battle of Technologies’, as the championship’s powerful EV cars take on their sustainably-fuelled combustion counterparts on equal terms for the first time.
