Cyril Raymond and Janis Baumanis return to rallycross next weekend in Riga. The Latvian circuits hosts the second ever round of the all electric rallycross championship.
Cyril Raymond will get behind the wheel of the Citroen C3 to give the car its electric rallycross race debut in Riga. The young Frenchman won at the Latvian circuit back in 2018 in the European Rallycross Championship for Supercars. Last year he raced for GCK Academy in a Renault Clio but was dropped ahead of this season. Janis Baumanis returns to the track at his home event. He was due to contest the entire World Championship but due to budgetary issues had to withdraw from the JC Team with Mattias Ekstrom replacing him. Both have no previous experience racing electric rallycross cars with Citroen making it’s electric rallycross debut next weekend.
Image Credit: Overtake Motorsport
Mads Olsberg was originally supposed to race the C3 in Holjes but this was called off. Electric powertrain supplier STARD put the lack of attendance down to “the global pandemic and its effects on the project”. Ostberg was replaced as he is unable to attend this weekend with clashing World Rally commitments in Turkey. The next round in Belgium, which recently moved dates, now clashes with the World Rally Championship finale. Ostberg will be unable to race in Projekt E and compete in the Ypres rally despite the final stages being held at Spa Francorchamps. The fourth and final round of Projekt E currently has no clashes with the WRC.
Team Holten were also expected last time out but the Norwegian team was absent. They have since tested and raced their car last weekend in the Norwegian rallycross championship. Svein Bjarte Holten set a fastest time in qualifying and finished 3rd in the final against combustion powered Supercars.
Ken Block and Natalie Barratt are set to return to the cockpit next weekend though 3rd in the championship Hermann Neubauer could be replaced. The Austrian was announced to drive just days before the opening round. The format remains the same for Latvia as less than 7 cars are expected to attend.
Featured Image Credit: World Rallycross Championship
