Why is rallycross suited to electric?

From an engineering point of view, rallycross is the most suitable category to race electric powertrains and this is due to several reasons:

1) The start

In World RX, races kick off with a five-wide sprint to the first corner. Current World RX Supercars accelerate from 0-60mph in 1.9s, which is faster than today’s F1 cars. This is down to a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing 600bhp and 900Nm of torque.

Maximising this acceleration phase of the race is essential because the twisty tracks can make overtaking difficult. Therefore, drivers need high power and instantaneous torque when they launch off the start line – both of which can be provided by high-spec motors.

2) Race profile

The World RX races are short sprints around 1-1.4km twisty circuits, once again requiring high power and instant torque throughout the race. The weekend format features several four lap qualifying races, followed by a six lap semi-final and then final. This means that the battery does not have to last long and it can be recharged or changed in between races.