The Editor: World Rallycross fire casts dark cloud over electric series

Could this be the end of a racing series before it has properly begun? Anyone who was at Lydden Hill in late July to witness the return of World Rallycross to the Kent countryside will not forget the inferno that engulfed the garage of Sébastien Loeb’s Lancia Delta Evo-e.

Black smoke billowed across the paddock while flames leapt into the sky destroying both of team Special ONE Racing’s cars and its transporter. Nine fire engines were scrambled and brought the blaze under control but racing in the top RX1e class was cancelled for the weekend.

“We have taken the decision to permanently stop round four of the RX1e championship for safety reasons,” said the organisers, adding that the fire was started by a car battery in the team charging area. “Only extremely quick thinking by the team members saved them from injury.”

It was a lucky escape but also a great shame for fans and teams alike especially as there had been so much excitement around the return of top-flight rallycross to Lydden – regarded as the sport’s spiritual home – after a six-year-long absence.

The fallout from the fire could have far-reaching consequences for the series. In the aftermath the FIA launched an investigation into its cause but when neither it nor the battery maker, Kreisel, could discover the reason for it they were forced to cancel the following round which had been due to take place in Belgium. A week before the next round of the championship it appeared no progress had been made in the investigation when it was announced the RX1e class of cars would not be raced at Estering in Germany. As we went to press WRX could not confirm the status of the final two rounds in South Africa and Hong Kong.

The cancellations are a double blow for WRX because ever since its relaunch as an all-electric championship it has been at the vanguard of the drive for environmentally friendly motor sport. In 2022 its decision to replace the old Supercar/RX1 class with electric racing cars was the first time an FIA world championship series made the switch from combustion engines to battery power. By contrast Formula E and Extreme E have been fully electric since their inception, while the all-electric touring car series ETCR, which launched in 2021 but was canned last March, never received full world championship status.

As such World RX was something of a poster child for a potentially green racing future that other ‘legacy’ series could follow, which is why this latest setback has implications beyond the mud and gravel of the rallycross world.

The Lydden fire also comes at a time of increased scrutiny on the potential dangers of electric power. Reports of fires and explosions traced back to battery powered bikes and scooters have dominated the mainstream summer press. According to figures obtained by The Guardian in the year to May, fires sparked by e-bikes and e-scooters injured at least 190 people and killed eight. In June train companies moved to ban them from their services because of the risk of fire. Last week Motorsport UK, the national governing body, told us it has now undertaken a review of its Electrified Vehicle Regulations and Guidance.

Although the World Rallycross Championship is still running the lower-level electric-only RX2e series any threat to the top RX1e category would be a symbolic moment for electric motor sport. With other similar series such as ETCR now defunct and Extreme E struggling to gain serious traction, much will ride on the ability of Formula E and its much-hyped Gen3 era to prove that electric motor sport is exciting, financially viable – and as safe as motor sport can be.

A few years ago I sat down for lunch with the MSA, forerunner to Motorsport UK, to discuss their successful campaign to amend UK legislation to make it easier to obtain closed road permits, which has enabled small motor clubs much greater freedom in putting on their own events.

One of those people present recalled the support the campaign had received from Ben Wallace, an MP then working in the cabinet office. It was Wallace who in 2011 secured a Westminster debate with the secretary of state for transport. Wallace, I was told, “stood up and said ‘motor sport is fantastic, it’s brilliant, this [changing the legislation] is something we should do’. The transport secretary agreed and the government brought forward a consultation about our proposal. All of a sudden we were in play!”

Wallace continued to champion the cause until finally, in 2017, the law was changed. Why do I mention this now? Well, a throwaway line in a newspaper reminded me of Wallace’s interest in motor racing. In an interview with The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman announcing that he was stepping down as defence secretary, he hinted at his possible plans: “I feel fulfilled and that gives me options. I sometimes think I would like to go and do things I love like Formula 1… Just do something completely different.”

Ben Wallace for FIA president anyone?

Joe Dunn, editor
Follow Joe on Twitter @joedunn90

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