It feels like we’re in a weird alternate universe. Why? Because Sebastien Loeb, the most successful WRC driver on Earth (nine championships, no biggie), is about to take to the World Rallycross Championship, in a white, blue and red-liveried Lancia Delta that’s… all-electric. Yes it’s real and doesn’t it look glorious?
Electric rallycross Delta brings back a classic WRC look
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Of course, the cars belong to Special One Racing and are GCK Motorsport Delta Evo-e RXs, using RX1e Kreisel Electric kits, delivering 690PS (500kW) to all four wheels. While the first car made its competitive debut at the Nürburgring in November last year, the second car joined for 2023, with the build taking 2,000 hours over the course of three months. The evocative look is quite obviously a tribute to the Martini-liveried Lancia Delta rally cars of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The campaign will represent Sebastien Loeb’s return to RX after a five-year break, having last competed in 2018. He’ll be joining Guerlain Chicherit who is, among other things, a four-time free skiing world champion.
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“It’s a very different car from what I’m used to,” Loeb said of the new car.
“There’s one engine for the front axle and another for the rear, but there’s no link between the two, no longitudinal shaft. You have to get used to it when you’re driving and find the right settings.
“On paper, the Delta Evo-e RX looks pretty good – compact with good weight balance. The aim will clearly be to get out in front, even if I can’t say today whether we’ll be able to do that. I’m curious to see where we’ll be this weekend…”
As above he’ll find out soon enough, given cars and drivers will be lining up tomorrow (Saturday 3rd June), for RX of Portugal.
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