WRX, a promising World Championship

The shift to “all electric”
has not detracted from the spectacular nature of the peloton races on which its reputation has been forged. Better yet, this revolution has lent rallycross a technical- environmental dimension, enabling it to rise to revered status.

Having had a late start in England in the late Sixties, Rallycross grew on the fringes of the reputedly closed world of motor sports. The races of this spectacular discipline may today be the only events capable of attracting spectators whose main passion isn’t only all things motor sport. Almost 80,000 regularly meet at “small-scale” world championships (less than a kilometre long) in a setting that is somewhat reminiscent of that of a stadium… A unique experience!

The discipline probably owes its popularity to the format of its events, including unique features and rules: short races, line starts, mixed surfaces (tarmac and dirt), joker laps, jumps, etc. Added to this is the pitting of typical “touring” cars against one another – the Lancia, Peugeot, Seat, Volvo, VW – instantly recognisable to all and displaying top-notch performance (0 to 100 in 1.8 seconds).

The shift from the World RX to electric in 2022 has transformed the perception of this energy in the car racing arena, adding a fun, spectacular vibe to the otherwise technological and ecological side of

this transformation. These values have immediately attracted new constructors and partners to join a community of more than a million fans on Facebook and associate their logos with events benefiting from direct rebroadcasting (streaming and television broadcasts in many different countries). Backed by its experience acquired over a decade in its capacity as organiser of the WRC, the promoter has scheduled eight destinations across three continents – Europe, Asia, Africa – for the 2023 events calendar.

The Team

The Special ONE team is backed by staff with recognised skills in the car racing world.

Beneath the youngtimer bodywork of the Delta Evo-e RX lies a tubular structure entirely designed and assembled at the GCK Performance workshop in Issoire (Puy-de-Dôme), with its manufacture having required more than 2,000 working hours using special tools.

The Special One Racing racing team is comprised of 25 people under the direction of Sébastien Lesonneur, a renowned engineer who has worked – among other things – at Hyundai as part of the WRC. Whether they are engineers, mechanics, logisticians or press attachés, all of the team members are recognised specialists in the car racing field, and rallycross in particular.

Lancia Delta EVO.e RX

2022 rang in a new era of car racing with the electrification of the World Rallycross Championship. This change of course, well aligned with his own ecological values, persuaded Guerlain Chicherit to return to World RX after a year of absence. Rather than purchase an existing model, the driver- entrepreneur gambled on building his own, based on an iconic chassis. Next, all that remained was to find a second driver… a legend in his own right!

With six consecutive titles from 1987 to 1992, the Lancia Delta remains the most dominant car in the entire World Rally Championship (WRC) history. Beyond its exceptional track record, this icon – which has not been produced for 30 years – still fascinates youngtimers with its angular and compact Giugiaro-inspired form.

Born in 1978, Guerlain Chicherit belongs to a generation where, as a child, he could only dream of the exploits of the likes of Didier Auriol at the wheel of his Lancia Delta. It

was therefore a natural progression for the entrepreneur to gravitate towards this iconic model when he decided to launch a vehicle retrofitting business. The road version of the Delta Evo-e, which also boasts “restomod”, is set to go into production in 2023.

All that remains is to ensure the promotion of the road model by entering the competitive arena, in the World Rallycross Championship. Under its bodywork which remains true to the original, the Delta Evo-e RX houses

a tubular structure that meets the safety requirements established by FIA 2022 regulations. With 500kW (680CV) under the bonnet, the car performs 0 to 100 km/hr in 1.8 seconds, which is 7 tenths less than an F1 with the same measurement!

Represented by Sébastien Lesonneur, Special ONE Racing will be entrusting this year – and for at least three seasons – two Delta Evo-e RXs in the World Rallycross Championships to Guerlain Chicherit and Sébastien

Loeb. With drivers of this calibre, the team’s aspirations are bound to be lofty, especially as the car has shown great potential from its début last November at the Nürburgring, the backdrop of the final round of the 2022 season.