CE Dealer Team chases medals in thrilling FIA World RX of Türkiye season finale
The 100% electric CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment heads to Istanbul Park in Türkiye for the 2024 FIA World RX season finale, concluding the team’s third season of thrilling and sustainable motorsport as the fight for the medals remain wide open.
The season finale features an action-packed double-header, taking place at the legendary F1 circuit Istanbul Park, marking Türkiye's return to the FIA World RX for the first time since 2015 and replaces the originally scheduled finale in China.
Volvo Construction Equipment has spent the last month working on preparing and upgrading the Turkish circuit regarding safety barriers, drainage, areas and more - as the track has been unused for over a decade.
Eight-time race winner Niclas Grönholm heads to Istanbul placed fifth in the drivers’ championship, just ten points shy of third place in the fight for his fourth consecutive FIA World RX medal.
“Our goal in Türkiye is to get back to the strong performance we showed at the start of the season. A third-place finish in the drivers' championship is still within reach, so I'll be pushing hard for that and of course the teams’ championship. The track is new to me, so there will probably be a learning curve throughout the weekend, but we're determined to end the season on a high note,” said Niclas Grönholm.
24-year-old Swedish rallycross star Klara Andersson is on track for her best-ever finish in the FIA World RX, currently holding sixth place in the driver standings as she heads into the final weekend of the season. The PWR RX1e driver also has a shot at a podium finish, trailing her team-mate by just 17 points in the championship race.
“I am excited to be back racing again. It's my first time in Türkiye, and a new track for me, which is a thrilling new challenge. Our goals and ambitions are high, we want to finish the season on top and score as many points as possible. Of course, it’s tough with a larger field and many fast drivers. Hopefully, we’ve learned from the past two weekends and can show the true potential of this groundbreaking team,” said Klara Andersson.
CE Dealer Team, the only championship team with a gender-equal driver line-up, is set to conclude its third year in the sustainable FIA World RX. As the inaugural ‘Battle of Technology’ season wraps up in Türkiye, the team aims for a third consecutive teams' championship medal and to break into the top two.
“Istanbul Park brings back great memories, the FIA World RX was here ten years ago, and it was a nice, challenging track back then. Now we’re back for a double-header season finale with a lot on the line. Following a break after Portugal and some schedule changes, the team is excited and ready to finish the season on a high,” said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.
“The team’s preparation meetings have shown just how motivated everyone is to step up. Recent races haven’t been easy, but the pace was there if you look beyond the results. Now it’s all about pulling it together, staying focused and hungry. I’m looking forward to an exciting event with new competitors in the mix, aiming to end the season better than we have so far."
The World RX of Türkiye finale weekend starts on Saturday with round nine of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by the season closing round ten 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.
Schedule for the World RX of Türkiye weekend.
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.
