All you need to know about the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Abu Dhabi

A look at the action happening at Yas Marina Circuit on April 5-6

The FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi on April 5-6. Image courtesy of FIA World Rally Championship

The FIA World Rallycross 2019 season begins in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend on April 5-6.

It is the first time the motorsport series has held an event in the UAE and here is what you need to know.

The surface and cars

The sport involves racing on mixed surfaces (dirt and asphalt) and sees drivers compete in RX Supercars that have 600bhp (brake horsepower) and an ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in two seconds.

History

The first season of the championship took place in 2014, and Petter Solberg (2014 and 2015), Mattias Ekstrom (2016) and Johan Kristoffersson (2017 and 2018).

The nature of the competition allows both racing car drivers in tarmac series, as well as rally drivers, to be competitive.

Calendar

Abu Dhabi is the opening round of the season, with 10 events in total making up the calendar. The final round is in South Africa on November 9-10.

Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps are among the other venues they will meet during the year.

Format

There are qualifying heats over the weekend, where the drivers race each other around the short 1,200m circuit set up at Yas Marina, which is based around the North Grandstand area of the circuit.

The qualifying heats, of which there are four, will see the drivers compete for the best results, with the top 12 qualifying for the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals there were will be two six-lap races, leading to the final where six racers will compete for the overall victory in one six-lap event.

Schedule 

Friday

1pm Warm-up session

4pm First qualifying heat

7pm Second qualifying heat

Saturday 

1pm Warm-up session

2.45pm Third qualifying heat

4pm Final qualifying heat

7pm Semi-finals and final

7.50pm Podium for the top three

Other action

Also competing over the weekend is the Yas Super Street Challenge drag racing, which takes place on Thursday and Friday.

There is also the Emirates Drift Championship on Friday and Saturday.

Migos performing

Musical act Migos will perform at the du Arena on Friday evening after the completion of the day's Rallycross action. They are due on stage around 9pm.