Guerlain Chicherit planning to compete in World Rallycross in 2014
French rally driver Guerlain Chicherit is aiming to compete in the World Rallycross Championship after testing a Mini RX in Portugal on Friday
The 35-year-old - who finished ninth in the 2009 Dakar Rally and gained notoriety for backflipping a Mini in the French Alps last year - was one of several drivers to test the Prodrive Mini at the Algarve International Circuit.
He later expressed a desire to participate in the new-for-2014 series following the experience and envisages a future in World Rallycross.
"I really want to have a go at it," said Chicherit.
"The sport is great and it's a big show with big drivers, and I would love to do the full world championship, but maybe this year we can do a few races to learn ahead of 2015.
"I wanted to try the car to see if I liked it first, and it is sick!"
The Frenchman admitted that the Mini RX was the most powerful car he had ever driven and he was originally unsure as to what to expect from it.
"I was so nervous before I drove it because it is very different to what I am used to, but as soon as I got in and selected first gear it was fine.
"The car gives you so much confidence and the handling is amazing - it is easy to control even when it is sliding and the brakes are incredible too."
Others who drove the Mini RX in Portugal include former Tour de France cyclist Tomas Vaitkus, World Rally Championship WRC2 class regular Valeriy Gorban and four-time Andros Trophy ice racing champion turned occasional World Touring Car racer Jean-Philippe Dayraut.
Volkswagen enters World Rallycross Championship with Marklund
Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve tests rallycross Peugeot
From Lebanon to cross-category world titles - a rally legend's top 10
Petter Solberg has called time on his top-flight career after winning titles in two FIA world championships. Here, the 2003 rally and '14/15 rallycross king recalls his 10 best events - including the moment where all his success began
How to make an F1 venue fit for World RX
World Rallycross makes its first appearance at Silverstone this year as part of the 'Speedmachine' festival in May. We take a look at how the new rallycross track fared in its debut event
Volkswagen hasn't disappeared completely
Volkswagen's abrupt departure from the World Rally Championship it was dominating was one of the winter's biggest shocks. Now 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg's World Rallycross team has VW support. What does that mean for World RX and what remains of Volkswagen Motorsport?
Why rallycross is becoming irresistible
Sebastien Loeb started a new journey in his motorsport career last weekend, but he wasn't the only attraction in Portugal. DAVID EVANS examines why the World Rallycross product works so well
The entries are strong, the cars are powerful and it can teach the WRC a thing or two about promotion. But after visiting the Lydden Hill round, DAVID EVANS still has his doubts
New rallycross golden age comes to Britain
The sport began at Lydden in the late 1960s and this weekend the new-look World Rallycross Championship will strut its stuff at the Kent venue. HAL RIDGE explains why it will be unmissable
Solberg: why rallycross is my future
PETTER SOLBERG had a rough first season back in rallycross, but that hasn't deterred him from signing up for the first year of its new era in 2014, as he explains in his AUTOSPORT column
Petter Solberg says that there's still lots to learn about running a successful rallycross campaign, but he's really enjoying getting back to his roots