Cooper Tires is excited to continue its partnership as the exclusive supplier for the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2022.
New Cooper Control Tyre for Electrified Rallycross
After a 2021 season that thrilled viewers around the world, the championship is back this weekend with one major difference, the cars are now fully electric. Cooper Tires has collaborated with the championship and teams to develop a standard tyre that not only performs well across tarmac and gravel but is also suited to the unique demands of a high-performance electric powertrain. Rallycross is a discipline in which, similar to rally, drivers compete on a mixture of gravel, tarmac and snow. What sets rallycross apart is that drivers share the track as they duel with up to five other competitors in heats that treat spectators to flat-out, side-by-side action.
For the first time in its history, the World Rallycross Championship will be made up of battery electric vehicles. It’s also the first existing FIA championship to switch from fossil fuel to fully electric powertrains. Electric drivetrains are ideal for shorter rallycross distances and provide the same explosive power fans and drivers love about the series, with cars boasting 680bhp, 880Nm of instant torque and batteries placed to achieve optimum weight distribution.
Cooper Tires has developed a bespoke tyre to adapt to the increased weight and the unique way electric powertrains deliver power to the ground. The top-class RX1e machine accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 1.8 seconds, faster even than a Formula 1 car. Selected FIA World Rallycross Championship weekends will also feature the support category RX2e. Ten drivers competed in the support series on Cooper Tires when the championship launched in Höljes, Sweden on 2-3 July.
