In 2016, international rallycross was entering an era where everything seemed possible. With manufacturers gradually joining increasingly vibrant paddocks and a wave of young, hungry talents willing to make every sacrifice to secure a seat in the FIA World Championship, that season remains one of the most epic in the modern history of the sport.
Through this series, we invite you to revisit a year that reshaped the very contours of rallycross. Personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, rivalries and strategic decisions: together, let’s relive the moments that shaped an entire generation.
For this first chapter of what will be a long-running series, we chose to shine a spotlight on French rallycross through the rise of Cyril Raymond, who seized the opportunity during that 2016 campaign to become the third French driver—after Jean-Luc Pailler and Eddy Bénézet—to claim an international title.