Although Johan Kristoffersson endured a frustrating time with standing starts during the opening Euro RX weekend in Riga, the eight-time World Rallycross Champion proved untouchable on outright pace to secure a commanding victory at the Latvian circuit.
After finishing third in last season’s FIA Euro RX3 European Championship with three podium finishes to his name, Nicolas Geleyns made a strong start to his 2026 campaign during the opening round held this weekend at the Riga circuit.
After securing a pair of podium finishes in the Open 4WD Pro Am category during the opening round of the RallyX Championship in the Netherlands at the end of April, Adam Öhman is preparing to continue his discovery of the FC2 machine this weekend at Tierp Arena.
Third in the intermediate standings, Ole-Christian Veiby endured a few difficulties with standing starts on Saturday. Much like his team-mate Johan Kristoffersson, the Norwegian knows patience will be required heading into the final day of competition.
Despite being beaten twice in Q2 and Q3, Johan Kristoffersson still sits at the top of the intermediate standings on Saturday evening. Clearly a step above the rest of the field in outright pace at the start of the weekend, two poorly executed launches late in the day prevented the Swede from maintaining complete control, with heat victories instead going to Joni Turpeinen and Rokas Baciuska. Hardly enough, however, to upset the eight-time World Champion.
Fresh from victory in the opening round of the French Rallycross Championship at Lessay last weekend, Julien Meunier is set to make his first-ever European appearance this Saturday in the FIA Euro RX3 series. Widely regarded as one of the leading contenders to succeed Joao Ribeiro, the French driver nevertheless expects an extremely competitive field in Latvia.
Having established himself over recent seasons as one of the leading figures in the RallyX series, Martin Juga heads into the opening round of the FIA Euro RX5 Championship as one of the clear favourites for the title at the wheel of his LifeLive TN11 chassis.
After dominating Course 1 at Valkenswaard during the opening weekend of the RallyX championship, Viktor Johansson was confronted with a very different scenario in Course 2, where an off-track excursion could easily have brought his meeting to a premature end. As is so often the case in Rallycross, the truth of one race rarely remains the same in the next.
Widely expected in Latvia for the opening round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship, Julien Meunier is considered by many to be one of the leading contenders to succeed Joao Ribeiro in the RX3 category.
While reigning RallyX champion Julien Meunier arrives in Riga as one of the favourites for the European crown, the French driver will nevertheless have to keep a close eye on formidable 17-year-old Lithuanian talent Rytis Gurklys.
The FIA European Rallycross Championship is set to regain a level of grid depth not seen for several seasons. For the opening round this weekend at the Bikernieki circuit in Riga, no fewer than 30 drivers will line up in the Euro RX1 category, marking a significant milestone for a discipline in the midst of rebuilding.
Two-time French Supercar Champion and 2021 FIA Euro RX Vice-Champion Fabien Pailler is fully aware of the scale of the challenge awaiting him this weekend at Riga, where he will once again rediscover the Biķernieki circuit behind the wheel of the ex-GCK Renault Mégane.
After claiming a double victory at the RallyX event in Riga last season, former FIA World Rallycross Championship driver Janis Baumanis naturally returns to his home circuit at Biķernieki this weekend carrying the status of one of the favourites. Nevertheless, the Latvian approaches his comeback to the Euro RX scene with a certain degree of caution.
The FIA European Rallycross Championship season gets underway this weekend at the Biķernieki circuit in Riga. Among the most closely watched contenders are Juha Rytkönen and rising Finnish talent Joni Turpeinen, who head into the opening round with different ambitions but the same desire to make an impact on the European stage.
After making a handful of appearances in the RallyX Championship in recent years, Janis Baumanis is now set to embark on a full-time campaign in the CrossCar category, beginning with the upcoming Tierp round scheduled for May 15-17.
Returning to rallycross through the new RX5 category now integrated into the FIA European Championship, Valentin Comte has chosen to end his association with Rapace in order to join forces with Ligier and Volland Racing, with whom he will complete his first laps as early as this weekend in Latvia.
One of the surprise stories of the off-season, Pailler Compétition is preparing to return to the FIA European Championship with Fabien Pailler and an ex-Prodrive Renault Mégane that has kept the most successful team in French rallycross history fully occupied in recent weeks.