EKS launches Audi A1 Quattro Rally2 car
An Audi A1 Quattro Rally2 car has been launched by World Rallycross Championship winner EKS JC.
Former World RX champion and EKS team owner Mattias Ekstrom recently announced an increased collaboration with reigning World RX teams’ champion JC Raceteknik to form the new EKS JC squad, which ran Ekstrom in a Skoda Fabia R5 last weekend on the Arctic Rally Finland World Rally Championship round.
The team has now revealed its first new project, an A1 rally machine built in cooperation with South African rally outfit Rally Technic using a ‘Rally2 kit’.
Rally2 is the new name for the second tier of rallying, below cars in the top class of the WRC.
The new A1 boasts a 1.6-litre engine that produces 263 horsepower, driving all four wheels through a five-speed sequential gearbox, using a kit presumed to be supplied by French firm ORECA, the renamed version of its FIA R4 kit concept.
“When the new generation of Audi A1 was launched, we knew we want to build something out of it,” said Ekstrom.
“And since everyone knows my passion for rallying, it quickly became clear that we will build a rally car. For now, this car is just for our own use, but when we will be satisfied with its performance, we will offer it for rent or purchase to other competitors.”
Audi A1 quattro Rally2
Photo by: EKS
The car will be driven by FIA Junior WRC champion Emil Bergkvist for its development programme, first on snow and gravel, and later on Tarmac. The A1, which the team says will be will be eligible to enter national and international events, will begin competition this year.
“At the moment the car is fully built and ready for racing, but we will still work on set-up fine tuning of it,” said EKS JC team principal Joel Christoffersson. “We will start with snow and gravel specification tests and later in the year we will also focus on tarmac spec.”
EKS built its first Audi S1 rallycross Supercars for the 2014 World RX season, and was subsequently joined by Audi Sport for later iterations of the S1. The squad won both the drivers’ and teams’ world titles in 2016, while JC Raceteknik used EKS-built S1s to claim the teams’ crown last season.
EKS has also semi-converted an S1 Supercar for rally use, with Ekstrom sharing the car at San Marino’s Rally Legend event in 2019 with MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso.
Speaking about the new A1 project, Rally Technic director Chris Coertse said: “We are very happy to collaborate on this project with EKS JC.
“The Rally2 kit provides a unique price-performance balance for competitors but, in this case, it is also combined with a legendary brand and a glorious body kit.”
Adamo impressed by Hyundai's WRC Arctic Rally fightback
New Toyota Rally1 WRC car to commence testing by summer
WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021
WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021 WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021
Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running
Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running
The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar
The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar
How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result
How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result
Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari
Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship" Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders
McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders
How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph
How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph
How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg
How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg
How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland
How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland
How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination
How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination
How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout
How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout
The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought
The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough
How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.