Honda Civic to make World RX debut as Olsbergs returns

The Honda Civic Coupe will make its debut in the World Rallycross Championship next weekend at Holjes, Sweden with Ulrik Linnemann behind the wheel.

The Dane has been a regular in the Nordic championship driving the ex-Global Rallycross car and is currently fifth in points in that series. His outing at Holjes in the car will also be his first World RX start.

“This is a dream come true, Holjes has always been my favourite track and to be able to be a part of ‘The Magic Weekend’ competing on the top level, simply is fantastic,” said Linnemann, “It’s an amazing opportunity for me, and it came into play when Andreas Eriksson asked me if I would be interested in showing of the Olsberg MSE Hondas in one of the most iconic races of the World RX calendar.”

“I’m very grateful to Andreas and the team that I get this opportunity, to finally make my debut in the World Rallycross Championship.”

The Civic was initially developed for the now defunct GRC series in the US. It competed for two seasons with factory backing from Honda Performance Development and regularly competed for podiums in the hands of Joni Wiman, Kevin Eriksson, Oliver Eriksson, Mitchell DeJong, and Sebastian Eriksson. The latter took the car’s only win in the series in Louisville in 2017.

The Honda Civic Coupe’s World RX debut comes as Olsbergs MSE – which built and runs the car – returns to the championship for the first time since last year.

It will field a pair of Ford Fiesta ST supercars for Sebastian Eriksson and Kevin Eriksson at the team’s home event.

OMSE’s latest-generation Fiesta made its debut last season in the hands of Kevin Eriksson and 2014 European champion Robin Larsson. Despite the team’s impressive track record across multiple rallycross series across the world, the Mk.7-based car’s best result was seventh place At Mettet courtesy of Larsson.