Petrol vs electric: World Rallycross is putting EVs up against ICE cars

The FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar has been announced for the 2024 season, and we’re very keen to get ourselves along to an event.

You see, after two years of the 680bhp all-electric RX1e cars competing on their own in the top class, World RX is reintroducing its old internal combustion RX1 cars running on sustainable fuels. That means it’ll be a straight head-to-head between petrol and electric, with teams and drivers allowed to choose whether they run an RX1 or RX1e car. Exciting times.

The calendar was ratified at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting (where it was also announced that WRC cars would lose their plug-in hybrid gubbins) and the season will feature five double-headers for a total of ten rounds. It’ll kick off with an opener in Höljes, Sweden before visiting Nyirád in Hungary, Mettet in Belgium and Montalegre in Portugal. 

Apparently an extra event could then be added in Asia in the autumn, before the season finale in Australia (a first for World RX) in late November/early December. 

“A huge amount of hard work has gone into putting this schedule together, and we must thank all of our stakeholders for their earnest efforts and support,” said managing director Arne Dirks.

“We have a truly global and compelling calendar sure to whet the appetite of competitors and fans alike – and one befitting of such a landmark season as the ‘Battle of Technologies’ gets underway in style.

“We are looking forward to seeing the RX1e cars back in action for the first time since last summer, and curious to discover how they compare against the sustainably-fuelled combustion cars on the grid. As we all know in rallycross, there will be absolutely no quarter given.”

What do we reckon will come out on top, petrol or electric?