LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In two short years since being created by motorsports icon Travis Pastrana and Nitro Circus, Nitro Rallycross (NRX) and its unparalleled action has attracted the best drivers, teams and manufacturers from around the world. Now the race that competitors hail as motorsport’s innovative future announces its next evolution: a full standalone championship series. Five races, each on purpose-built tracks, will kick things off in 2021 ahead of a full 10-stop integrated global championship across North America, Europe and the Middle East in 2022. Fundamental to the new championship is a revolutionary electric vehicle supercar class which will be introduced in 2022. For more about Nitro Rallycross and to get a taste of its full throttle action, go here.
“Since day one, I have truly believed that Nitro Rallycross has the potential to be the most exciting motorsports series on the planet. When we built the first NRX course in Utah we knew we had something special - from the drivers’ genuine smiles to the astonished fans as cars flew side-by-side over 100-foot jumps,” Travis Pastrana says. “Now, as we get ready for the next chapter of NRX, I’m more convinced than ever that this will bring top drivers from all disciplines to challenge themselves as their teams push the envelope in vehicle development. It’s going to be a hell of a ride and this is only the beginning.”
“The vision for Nitro Rallycross and the new FC1-X electric vehicle that has been developed is everything you look for as a driver,” says Johan Kristoffersson, newly crowned 2020 world champion. “This series is the perfect platform to showcase the new electric vehicles that are being produced and also provides the best test for us, as drivers to showcase our skills”
“From our very first race in Utah, we knew that Nitro Rallycross was destined to be a disruptive force in motorsports,” says Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, parent company of Nitro Circus. “NRX was built for the next generation of fans and consumers – unrivaled tracks, elite electric vehicles, short-form racing and marquee drivers. We are excited to expand to five races in 2021 and then launch our full electric series globally in 2022.”
Industry Acclaim Spurs International Expansion:
Dubbed, “The best, the wildest rallycross track ever built in the history of rallycross,” by global motorsports star Ken Block, proclaimed as, “The most unique, exciting, fun, amazing rallycross track ever built,” by record-breaking driver Tanner Foust and introduced as, “Welcome to rallycross 2.0… Nitro Rallycross and Travis Pastrana have taken rallycross to another level,” by world champion Mattias Ekstrom, NRX has redefined four-wheel motorsports in every way.
Fueled by that industry acclaim, Nitro Rallycross will add four unique, purpose-built tracks for its 2021-2022 calendar in addition to its benchmark Utah showing. The lights will go green where it all began - at Utah Motorsports Campus just outside of Salt Lake City, UT next September with more races to follow in Washington state and Nevada in October, Arizona in November and Quebec in January 2022. The ten-race integrated world championship will kick off soon thereafter and will run through the year.
All of these competitions will feature purpose-built permanent tracks in keeping with the spectacular size and scope of Nitro Rallycross’ original Utah home, but with a wide variety of locations reflecting each race’s unique environs. Every track will be different, with diverse settings and surfaces ranging from urban areas with paved streets to remote expanses with dirt and ice tracks. Each location will also showcase extraordinary backdrops encompassing deserts, forests, mountains, cityscapes and more.
From the beginning, rallycross leaders have been very supportive of the progressive vision behind Nitro Rallycross and were deeply involved in the planning for its growth. Carr notes, “This is not a new series concept based solely on renderings. Over the past two years, Travis and the Nitro Rallycross team have delivered a proof of concept to rave reviews and there is now demand to take the sport to the next level.” He adds, “Given the disruption and uncertainty around the 2021 rallycross calendar, the industry is looking for stability now more than ever and to align with the best platform to showcase their vehicles, driving abilities and provide the biggest possible audience for their commercial sponsors. Nitro Rallycross is ready to deliver on all fronts.”
An Electric Future
This news, which also includes the official unveiling of a sleek and sophisticated new logo, marks just the first stage of Nitro Rallycross’ strategic expansion. Looking further ahead, the property will accelerate its transformation of four-wheel racing with the debut of a next-generation electric competition - to run in parallel with its internal combustion competition - in 2022.
Nitro Rallycross organizers have worked closely with several top manufacturers such as Ford, Volkswagen and Subaru among numerous other OEM’s to develop the body for a ground-breaking vehicle platform with extraordinary performance abilities. The result of this collaboration is the innovative FC1-X, an all-new vehicle developed in partnership with First Corner, comprised of leading electric mobility company QEV Technologies and long-time rallycross team operator Olsbergs MSE.
The FC1-X is now fully developed and primed to begin testing in February. While based on an electric SUV platform, it is a pure racing machine through and through. The highest performing vehicle ever in the sport, it produces 1,000+ peak HP with all-wheel drive, is capable of three G’s of acceleration and can rocket from zero to 60-mph in under 1.5 seconds.
Andreas Eriksson of First Corner says, “We have been working with many leading OEM’s for over 24 months on the FC1-X. The end product is a testament to the collaborative approach to deliver the very best vehicle in electric motorsports that the OEM’s will be proud of. This vehicle will accelerate almost twice as fast as its nearest competitor and other proposed electric offerings currently on the drawing board.” Eriksson expands on the platform’s anticipated commercial impact, “With the electric SUV category the fastest growing category for auto manufacturers, FC1-X and Nitro Rallycross will provide the perfect platform for OEM’s to highlight their new models rolling off the production line across the globe and generate a global fervour for their new vehicles, which will translate to purchases.”
Global Media Reach
Fans around the world will be able to check out all the action of Nitro Rallycross on a variety of platforms. Organizers are in the final stages of selecting a major U.S. TV broadcaster as well as a global live streaming partner. In addition, the series will be available on television in over 130 countries. Nitro Circus’ 25 million strong social audience, combined with exclusive partnerships with leading social platforms, will also provide an unmatched ready-made digital audience.
Industry-Leading Partners
Foundational Nitro Rallycross partner, Red Bull, has extended their multi-year alliance with the series in a further endorsement of the vision and direction of the property. Another foundational sponsor, Yokohama Tires, has also committed to the series, producing tires as the official tire partner for series.
About Nitro Rallycross:
Created in 2018 by motorsports icon Travis Pastrana and the innovators of Nitro Circus as part of the Nitro World Games, Nitro Rallycross has successfully transformed and injected new life into the sport. With its innovative, purpose-built track designs - featuring the largest jumps in rally, banked turns, and more lines for close head-to-head competition - Nitro Rallycross creates exhilarating, thrill-packed racing unlike anything seen before. All in all, its groundbreaking custom-built course designs, featuring banked corners, multiple line choices, tabletop jumps, and massive gap jumps, create unrivaled racing excitement. For the latest updates go to www.nitrorallycross.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Nitro Rallycross’ global expansion is the latest initiative from Thrill One Sports and Entertainment, parent company of Nitro Circus, Street League Skateboarding and Superjacket Productions. Thrill One has the backing of leading sports investment firms The Raine Group and Causeway Media Partners (one of the initial investors behind Formula E. Nitro Rallycross will add another electric motorsports property to their portfolio) Go to www.thrillone.com for more information.
