Hong Kong is set to host the Season Finale of the FIA World Rallycross Championship between 11 and 12 November this year. The city will be the last stop for the eight-part, fully electric international motorsports series.
The FIA Championship was first held in 2014 and uniquely combines elements of rally driving and circuit racing, where drivers compete on closed circuits with dirt and tarmac sections. The high-speed, high-adrenaline event has gained traction among motorsports fans since its inception.
The Hong Kong leg of the event will see the race kick off at the Central Harbourfront Event Space. The one-kilometre circuit will be half mud-half tarmac, with five electric cars vying for a win at the starting line of each race. A grandstand will be built around the circuit to accommodate spectators as they soak in the action.
Speeding ahead
With a history that dates back to 2014, the race has seen numerous big-name drivers cross its finish lines. Rally legends Petter Solberg and Sebastien Loeb have participated in previous editions of the race.
And as the world becomes collectively more eco-conscious and embraces electric cars, these vehicles have become increasingly powerful, speedy and agile. Electric vehicles have carved out an edge in racing with their enhanced battery technology, range, and overall performance.
Along with the FIA, there have also been various major electric racing series that has gained traction over the past decade. Also launched in 2014, Formula E, which, too, had previously made its way to the streets of Hong Kong, is among the most known of the international races. Others, like the Electric GT World Series and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held in Colorado, also put the eclectic car at the forefront of racing.
Besides the instant torque, which allows electric cars to accelerate almost instantly and the fewer moving parts, making them lighter and less prone to breaking down, electric races are suited for cities like Hong Kong thanks to the cars' quiet engines and zero emission.
For those reasons, FIA vice president for Asia-Pacific Lung-Nien Lee says the city fully embraces the organisation's efforts to bring the race to the iconic Victoria Harbourfront. "It is the FIA's mission and responsibility to lead motorsport into a low-carbon future, to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a greener planet," he says.
FIA World Rallycross Championship schedule
Seven cities will host the races before the series' eighth and final stop in Hong Kong. The series will begin in June in Portugal and continue through Europe, stopping in Cape Town, South Africa, before concluding in Hong Kong.
2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship Calendar
June 3-4 World RX of Portugal – Montalegre
June 17-18 World RX of Norway – Hell
July 1-2 World RX of Sweden – Höljes
July 22-23 World RX of United Kingdom – Lydden Hill
August 5-6 World RX of Benelux – Mettet
August 19-20 World RX of Germany – Estering
October 7-8 World RX of South Africa – Cape Town
November 11-12 World RX of China – Hong Kong