RX Academy, a brand new initiative to create future FIA World Rallycross Champions, has been launched today at Auto 2016 in Helsinki, Finland (November 17) by Finnish ASN, AKK Sports.Led by Head of RX Academy, Jussi Pinomaki (former European Rallycross Champion), the concept has been launched to give aspiring rallycross drivers a professional environment in which to compete, as the first step to becoming future World Champions, and will join the five-round 2017 Finnish Rallycross Championship.The winner of 2017 RX Academy will secure a fully-funded drive in the 2018 FIA European Rallycross Championship for Super1600, or substantial assistance in competing in RX2.Competitors will race identical Renault Clio Cup RX cars prepared by multiple European Champions Set Promotion, while also receiving mental, physical, PR and driver training. The cars, based on Renault’s latest Clio Cup cars, are powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-charged 220bhp engine with a six-speed sequential gearbox, giving RX Academy racers the unique opportunity to compete in professionally built high-level machinery.RX Academy contestants will be mentored by FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy race winners Andreas Bakkerud, Reinis Nitiss and Toomas Heikkinen during 2017 in the international series, aimed at Scandinavian, Baltic and Russian drivers. There is no maximum age limit on drivers eligible to take part, but only competitors aged 24-years-old and younger can win the prize drive. The minimum age to take part in RX Academy is 14.Pinomaki explained: “The idea from the beginning has been to create a professional environment for young drivers to learn in rallycross. The Clio Cup RX cars use proper race technology in the chassis’, engines and gearboxes, which are not easy to drive. Using high-level cars in this sort of programme hasn’t been done before. We believe that this concept presents the best environment for young drivers to learn, as they take the first steps in trying to become World Champions. Modern rallycross drivers need to have a range of skills, not just driving the cars, and we have put everything in place for them to receive mental, physical and PR training. It’s very exciting that with RX Academy we can start to create the World Champions of the future.”The total cost of competing in the 2017 RX Academy, including two official test days and one pre-season training camp (excluding accident damage and personal travel costs) is €43,700 +VAT, while a maximum of five additional test days are also available.For further information, visit the RX Academy website.
RX Academy 2017 CalendarMay 27 HyvinkääJune 17 HonkajokiJuly 8 JurvaAugust 19 JalasjärviSeptember 23 Kouvola
