Following the news that Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has become the official construction equipment supplier to the new fully-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX), Volvo CE has announced that it will expand its involvement, becoming the series’ “official track build partner.”
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According to Volvo CE, the company decided to use its off-road expertise to help World RX in designing and testing a whole new series of track elements that will encourage racing to be as close as it is thrilling.
World RX tracks 2.0
Following a series of workshops on what features make for the best rallycross track, Volvo CE invited the FIA, Race Series organizer Rallycross Promoter GmbH and professional drivers Timmy Hanssen, Klara Andersson and Niclas Granholm to its specially developed rallycross testing facility at the GTR racetrack in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Here, Volvo CE has helped test and design jumps, turns and other dynamic rallycross track features.
During a three-day test at the Rallycross Test Lab in early May, each track element was closely evaluated, with lots of brainstorming on how to encourage more overtaking and creating a greater spectacle for racegoers.
The racing experts suggested improvements, which were then realized using Volvo CE’s machines. Once each feature was approved by the FIA, the build data was captured in 3D through Volvo CE’s Dig Assist in-cab machine control application.
Now, this data can then be programmed into compatible Volvo machines and recreated at each of the tracks during the upcoming World Championship.
Designed for racers, by racers
“The new tracks are going to be awesome!” says Klara Andersson, driver for the new Construction Equipment Dealer Team. “The jumps are epic—the fastest ones we will hit at 100 km/h and fly through the air for 25 meters and more!”
“The new race elements will be thrilling to drive,” says Niclas Granholm, Andersson’s teammate. “The steep banking means we will be able to drive through turns on full throttle, while other corners are cleverly designed so that there are multiple racing lines – leading to wheel-to-wheel racing and more overtaking.”
Next-gen sustainability
A series of workshops were held to determine the most exciting and efficient track builds.
“Our aim is to create the next generation of thrilling Rallycross circuits in the most effective and sustainable way,” says Arvid Rinaldo, who heads up the partnership and operational involvement in World RX for Volvo CE. “Our ultimate aim is to support the build and upgrade of tracks with a zero-carbon footprint, but thanks to the use of our electric equipment and latest low-emission engines running on biofuels, even at the outset we hope to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of each track build. It’s the perfect platform for us to demonstrate to our own audiences how we can help transform the construction equipment industry and motorsport to be more sustainable.”
