The same YouTube user who uploaded the first two rounds of the Global Rallycross Championship also recorded the entire coverage of the Rallycross competition at X-Games. It’s all the GRC guys with the addition of Sebastien Loeb. It’s all pretty crazy, possibly even too crazy. A couple of guys, including Marcus Gronholm, were hospitalized after mishaps on the gap jump during practice. Either way, enjoy the coverage:
One of the coolest things about being a car guy/girl is that it’s a universal passion, especially in today’s internet age. I can sit at my computer here in North Carolina and look at cool pictures of a car meet in Japan or watch some guys burn up the Autobahn or observe some Scandinavians emerge from their crazy long winter at the Gatebil festival. Having a passion for cool cars can transcend locations, cultures and even languages. I can’t tell you how many Japanese car videos I’ve thoroughly enjoyed even though I have zero clue as to what anybody said the entire time. That’s why this video brought a smile to my face. It’s some highlights from this year’s Japanese Rally Championship Association season. I’ve always wondered if there was a big rally scene in the country that has brought us some of the world’s most legendary turbocharged AWD rally cars. You may not understand the pace notes, but rally is rally even in Japan. It’s easy to tell when the drivers are pushing hard, they get disappointed when they crash and they get really excited when they finish with good times. You can get a grasp of their passion for the sport just by watching a few clips of in-car footage.
This is a film made a few years ago following Finnish rally world champion, Marcus Gronholm, up the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in an 800 horsepower Ford Fiesta rally car. It’s filmed in a way that pays homage to Climb Dance, a short film from 1989 that features Ari Vatanen climbing Pikes Peak in a Peugeot 405. It’s a fitting tribute because both drivers are Finnish rally legends driving unlimited versions of WRC cars.
The Global Rally Cross is a new American rally cross series that is running 5 events this year that coincide with NASCAR races and X-Games in LA. The competitors run 4 at a time around a technical course with jumps, hairpins and wet sections. Check out full coverage of the first two races here. They are definitely on to a good formula for an exciting sport. A few weeks ago, Travis Pastrana invited 8 time world rally champion, Sebastien Loeb, to come join them. Loeb accepted. I think it has to do with the fact that Loeb’s former WRC rival, Marcus Gronholm, is currently dominating the series. Citroen released this video of Loeb testing the new DS3 that they’re building him for the GRC. He says it has more power and different tires from his WRC car so it requires a different driving style.
Forget your DVR. Watch this coverage from Round 4 of the 1986 World Rally Championship, the Marlboro Safari Rally. This is was back when the 4WD Group B monsters were just taking over, but not at the super long distance car breaker Safari Rally. Toyota had won the event 2 years in a row before ’86 in the 2wd turbo Celica. Their success was largely attributed to the car’s durability and it’s the start of Toyota’s success in WRC.
Part 1 gives an introduction to the event from the team and drivers