The FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) will find a permanent home in Finland, where the Kymring will host the world’s best rallycross riders from 2025.
Earlier this year, a group of investors led by TRP Hungary, a group of companies active in the field of motorsports, bought the Kymiring race track in Finland. The new owners’ aim is to develop the facility into an internationally renowned motorsport centre, and the first milestone of this is now being achieved, with Kymiring hosting the Finnish round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) from 2025. The first race will take place next June.
The 3+2 year contract from 2025 will see the world’s top rallycross riders visit the Kymiring, including the son of two-time World Rally Championship champion Marcus Grönholm, Niclas Grönholm. As the only Finnish competitor in the World Rallycross Championship, Niclas is a driver for the CE Dealer Team supported by Volvo Construction Equipment, an official partner of the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX), which supports the on-track activities with its electric machines and is therefore also playing an important role in the construction of the Kymiring rallycross track. Grönholm is expected to be joined by six-time world champion Johan Kristoffersson and 2019 winner Timmy Hansen, while the European Championship field will also be in attendance, including several well-known and successful Hungarian riders such as recent European Championship bronze medallist Máté Benyó.
And it’s not just Finnish fans who will benefit from the event: according to a completed impact assessment, the World Rallycross Championship in Kymiring will have a direct economic impact of €3.07 million, and could also boost the local economy, tourism and hospitality industry. The race will also provide a great opportunity to showcase local cities and businesses to the international community.
AKK Motorsport, which has been supportive and cooperative from the outset and with whom Kymiring is working closely in organising and running the event, is playing an important role in bringing the world’s best rallycross riders to Kymiring.
Kornél Őry, Managing Director of Kymiring:
“Our long-term vision is to create one of the leading sports and entertainment centres in Northern Europe and the Baltic region, and the FIA World Rallycross Championship will play an important role in this. Sustainability and environmental protection are of paramount importance to us, and winning the World RX is therefore also symbolically significant. In our first international event, sustainability will play a key role, as from this season the World Championship field will be made up of pure electric cars competing with sustainable fuel internal combustion engine cars. We are delighted that the Battle of Technologies will be coming to Kymring next year.”
Arne Dirks, Executive Director of the FIA World Rallycross Championship:
“Finland has a world-renowned motorsport culture and a distinctly proud history in our sport, which makes it all the more significant that we are returning here for the first time since 2020. Just as importantly, we are doing so with a partner we know well and are absolutely confident will bring a spectacular new venue to our calendar.”
Nicklas Grönholm, the only Finn in the World RX field:
“I am really happy to have a home race in Finland and to have FIA World RX return to our country. There is a huge interest in motorsport in Finland and the popularity of World RX is growing, which will of course be enhanced by this event. From what I have seen, the changes at Kymiring look very exciting and I look forward to racing there in 2025.”