Global Rallycross Championship creates GRC Lites

We recently talked about the rise in interest in the sport of  Rallycross.
Well to help open the sport up to more people Global Rallycross has introduced the new  GRC Lite class, which will be a companion series to the Supercar class.
Story continues after the jump.

Like most Lite/Feeder classes of Motorsport the type of car competing will be restricted.
OlsbergsMSE will be providing the same tightly-controlled spec vehicles to all entrants. Olsberg already provides cars for Superclass entrants Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan.
The cars will produce 310 horsepower from naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engines and feature all-wheel drive, sequential gearboxes and rally handbrake.
The first round of the new GRC Lite series will take place at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 11th, 2013.
Full Press Release below
GLOBAL RALLYCROSS ANNOUNCES GRC LITES
INAUGURAL 2013 SCHEDULE
14/06/2013
Los Angeles, Calif. (June 14, 2013) Global Rallycross is pleased to announce the inaugural
season of GRC Lites, with a six race schedule that will see the new series visit some of the
greatest race tracks in America. GRC Lites, the companion series to Global Rallycrosss Supercar
class, has been designed to be the ideal class for drivers to gain rallycross experience.
The inaugural season of GRC Lites schedule will take place from July through November. The six
race dates are as follows:
July 11: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
July 20: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN
August 4: X Games Los Angeles, Irwindale, CA
August 10: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA
September 22: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC
November 7: Las Vegas, NV
With the huge interest in rallycross, we talk to several types of drivers from rally to open wheel, to
stock car and dirt sports and nearly everything in between, said Chip Pankow, Founder of Global
Rallycross. The GRC Lites car is the perfect platform for them to transition into the sportthey are
safe, fast and challenging to drive. We look forward to seeing the next wave of star drivers hone
their skills in the class.
The class features tightly-controlled spec vehicles, each built by OlsbergsMSE. The cars produce
310 horsepower from naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engines and feature all-wheel drive, sequential
gearboxes and rally handbrake. Deliveries of the new cars have begun and drivers are testing in
preparation for the first race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 11th, 2013.
Im really pleased that we are starting this new series with the OlsbergsMSE Lites car, commented
OlsbergsMSE CEO Andreas Eriksson. We have worked for over two years to create a racecar that
is fast, nimble and fun to drive while being able to fly like the Supercars, but an equal goal for us
was to make it affordable to run for talented drivers and drivers that want to experience rallycross
on both higher performance and technical levels. I am sure that the drivers that race these cars
will be the stars in Supercar in the future.
GRC Lites will feature some of the most talented young drivers in all of motorsport. Drivers include
Mitchell DeJong, a multiple champion in both the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series and TORC;
Geoff Sykes, a three-time national and regional champion in BMW CCA Racing; and Joni Wiman,
protege of 2011 GRC Supercars runner-up Marcus Gronholm.
I think its a fantastic new car, I have tested it and it feels really gooda good step for young drivers
like Joni, said two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm.
Having won nine championships in six years, Mitchell DeJong has driven a wide variety of
vehicles. Theyre all different and all fun, but now that Ive had the chance to drive a rallycross lites
car, I can honestly say it is the most fun vehicle Ive ever driven, he said. Im so stoked to be racing
in the Global Rallycross series USA events this season. Looking forward, Im hoping to have the
opportunity to race the full GRC season in 2014. Andreas Eriksson has built the most amazing
rallycross lites car! Ive always loved spec class racing because it challenges me to be my best!
Geoff Sykes, multiple national and regional BMW CCA champion, said the following in anticipation
of the season: I cant wait to get started! Its going to be a really challenging series, based solely on
driver skill. The GRC Lites were specifically designed to be racecars. The engine placement and
suspension makes it handle like a go-kart that can fly.
GRC Lites will compete alongside GRC Supercars at every United States-based event for the
remainder of the 2013 season, including at X Games Los Angeles. Racing with GRC Supercars
provides GRC Lites drivers great exposure and sees them competing on the same track layouts
as the Supercar drivers.
Were delighted to be the sanctioning organization for GRCs new Lites program, commented Tom
Campbell, President of SCCA Pro Racing. The combination of reduced cost and identically
prepared durable vehicles competing in the proven GRC Supercar format is a terrific formula that
will open the sport to a broad population of enthusiasts.