CE Dealer Team heads to decisive FIA World RX round in Portugal
CE Dealer Team by Volvo Construction Equipment heads to the legendary Montalegre circuit in Portugal for the second to last double-header round of the 2024 season, continuing its pursuit of the FIA World RX titles and push for sustainable motorsport.
CE Dealer Team secured its first win and podiums in 2022 at Montalegre and heads to the Portuguese circuit with its 100% electric PWR RX1e race cars following a challenging previous round in Belgium. Despite that, the team salvaged crucial points to stay in contention for the 2024 FIA World RX titles with just two race weekends left.
"It's been a tough few races in a row, and our clear goal for Portugal is to bounce back and score strong points in both events. With only a few races left, it's crucial that we make these count to ensure we're in a good position heading into the final in China and we are ready for it!" said Niclas Grönholm.
Klara Andersson made FIA World RX history in Portugal in 2022 as the first-ever female driver to reach the podium. The 24-year-old Swede heads to one of her favorite tracks, sitting sixth in the championship, just four points behind team-mate Niclas Grönholm in the only gender-equal driver line-up of the FIA World RX.
"I'm really excited to return to Portugal, where we have great memories from our first historic podium finish. I love the track, especially the final sector which is one of the best in the world. After a tough weekend in Belgium, our focus is on collecting points and getting back into the title fight - continuing to show the thrills of sustainable motorsport," said Klara Andersson.
The 100% electric CE Dealer Team remains in the hunt for the FIA World RX Teams’ title as well, currently holding third place in the standings.
"Montalegre is a special track where drivers need to switch between two states of mind within a single lap. The first part requires calmness and precision, while the second demands full-on aggression. The team and our partners are motivated to bounce back after the challenges in Mettet and it's great to return to racing so soon after the last event. We expect a big crowd this weekend, making it a strong event for our activations and we promise to put on a good show," said Jussi Pinomäki, Team Manager of CE Dealer Team.
CE Dealer Team will have more than 100 guests from Portugal, Spain and Turkey on site this weekend from hosting dealer Ascendum, as well as from team partners Parker Hannifin and CTEK.
Volvo Construction Equipment is the Official Track Building Partner to the FIA World RX championship in 2024 and will be present at Montalegre to showcase its electric product range and innovative services - while maintaining the circuit in excellent condition.
“We at Volvo CE are delighted to start yet another exciting FIA World RX round in Portugal this weekend together with CE Dealer Team. 2024 has so far delivered a thrilling mix of on-track action and cutting edge sustainable technology - providing a unique platform to activate brands. All of our guests that we have brought to the World RX races have fallen in love with the sport and this weekend should be no exception,” said Arvid Rinaldo, Head of Partnership and Operational Involvement in World RX for Volvo CE.
The World RX of Portugal weekend starts on Saturday with round seven of the 2024 FIA World RX, followed by round eight 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.
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.
