The 2022-23 Nitro Rallycross season continues this weekend with a return to Minneapolis.
Group E Rundown
The Group E class will be headlined by the regular group of drivers. Along with two new faces and a returning face. Those faces being Jenson Button, Kevin Eriksson and Andrew Carlson. Robin Larsson currently leads the championship. Leading teammate Andreas Bakkerud by two points. Fraser McConnell sits third overall, 33 points behind Bakkerud. Oliver Eriksson sits fourth, 11 points behind McConnell. Niclas Grönholm rounds out the top five sitting one point behind Eriksson. This weekend will likely see drivers with track experience shine. As this is the same track that was run last year.
Can They Continue Their Dominance?
DRR JC has dominated the 2022-23 season so far. Going first and second in both events so far. Robin Larsson and Andreas Bakkerud traded first and second place. With Larsson taking first at Lydden Hill, with Bakkerud second. In Sweden, Bakkerud would take the win with Larsson finishing second.
No Supercar’s, For Now
For the first time in Nitro Rallycross history, there will be no supercars racing. Why? The answer to that question is currently unknown. The most likely reason is due to a lack of drivers and teams. Although there won’t be Supercars this weekend, it has been confirmed they will reappear this season. That return could come as soon as NRX California at the end of the month. Subaru has also been confirmed to be racing in the SuperCar class this season. With Travis Pastrana and Scott Speed likely being the drivers.
Eriksson’s Back
Kevin Eriksson will return to Nitro Rallycross this weekend. Eriksson would miss the first two events of the season due to an injury. Eriksson’s car would be temporarily filled by Niclas Grönholm.
A New Face And A New Look
Former Formula One champion Jenson Button will be making his Nitro Rallycross Debut this weekend. Button would miss the first two events of the season. His car would be filled by former World Rally Championship driver Kris Meeke for those two events. Button will join his Xite Energy Teammate Oliver Bennett this weekend. Along with Button’s return, Xite Energy will be debuting a new livery for their cars.
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
