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Nicolas Atkin

Mike Chan

Construction issues on the Central Harbourfront caused the first day of this weekend’s FIA World Rallycross Championship season finale in Hong Kong to be delayed, with the track having to be shortened by more than 400 metres.
The action had been set to get under way with practice at 8.10am on Saturday morning, before the SuperPole at 10.05am and the first heat at 11.10am.
But the 1.225km half-mud, half-tarmac track was still incomplete late on Friday night, when organisers sent an “urgent” statement to media regarding Saturday’s schedule being pushed back until after midday.
The circuit had been set to feature two long straights on Lung Wo Road, to “save costs” according to promoters at March’s launch event.
But when the public roadblock began at 2pm on Friday, materials required to complete the straights, such as safety barriers and gravel, had not arrived on site yet from South Korea.

The 800m track was the shortest of the World Rallycross season, but the FIA and the drivers had no issues.
“The track shortening was necessitated by the revised schedule due to the construction delay, in order to make sure we got in as much racing as possible for all of the amazing fans who have turned out to see rallycross on the streets of Hong Kong for the very first time,” Arne Dirks, executive director of FIA World Rallycross, told the Post.
“Although obviously not by design, the shortened layout generated some superb on-track action, and I think the reaction of all the fans on-site said it all. We are absolutely thrilled with World RX’s city-centre debut here in Hong Kong – and now we’re looking forward to doing it all over again on Sunday.”
Wesley Wan Wai-hei, chief consultant for the event, said that a container carrying the necessary components and materials was delayed and only arrived after midnight.
Andersson relishes Hong Kong’s rallycross debut – ‘you could end up in the wall’
Wan did not reveal what time the container was supposed to arrive, but said had it not been delayed, the original 1km track would have been completed.
He said more time would have been needed to complete the track on Saturday morning had it not been shortened, and that all parties involved agreed on the decision.
“A shortened track is the best decision they can make in order to have the races going on at noon,” Wan said. The first qualifying race began at 12.28pm.
After a media scrum with drivers at Tamar Park on Friday afternoon, staff could still be seen preparing parts of the artificial dirt track at the Central Harbourfront Event Space.
“Due to unforeseen construction delays, there will be a shortened schedule for the first day of racing at World RX of Hong Kong, China,” an FIA statement said late on Friday night.

“All parties are working tirelessly to ensure the track action can get under way as quickly as possible but this will not be before midday.”
Gates did not open until 10.30am on Saturday, with no access to the site before then. An autograph session with drivers was held at 11am.
“Sunday is unaffected by this timetable change, with a full day of racing as originally planned,” the statement added.
World Rallycross is making its debut in Hong Kong, with cars being catapulted around the circuit at speeds faster than Formula One.
Officials are using the same area that hosted Formula E races from 2016 to 2019, with an “abundant” amount of mud transported there. Organisers had originally planned four days of non-stop construction work.

The drivers shared officials’ enthusiasm. Klara Andersson insisted she had “never” seen such a nice backdrop for a race.
“We’ve been to beautiful places, yes, but never in a city centre,” the Swede, who races for the CE Dealer team, said on Friday.
“So, it’s beautiful to have the skyline and everything about the venue is beautiful. It’s so weird to be able to walk through the track from our hotel, that’s a first. It’s very nice.”

The 23-year-old Andersson, one of two women racing on the track this weekend, said she would “love” to come back and for World Rallycross to “expand and discover new cities and new continents”.
Given the lack of racing in Hong Kong over the last four years, Andersson also admitted there was “maybe” some pressure on the drivers’ shoulders.
“We always want to deliver a good show, of course,” she said. “And I think, especially now, on a city track, which is new for everyone,
“I think the times are going to be very even. So, I think we will see some really good racing this weekend.”


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Formula One (F1)

FIA World Rallycross Championship in Hong Kong delayed, track shortened after construction issues as materials arrive late

Staff make final preparations for Saturday’s FIA World Rallycross event, at the Central Harbourfront Event Space. Photo: Dickson Lee

The concrete barriers and gravel required for the two straights on Lung Wo Road did not arrive from South Korea until late on Friday night. Photo: Dickson Lee

Staff spray the track on Central Harbourfront. Photo: Dickson Lee

The action will not get under way before midday on Saturday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Klara Andersson (left) with fellow World Ralycross drivers Timo Scheider, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, and Kevin Hansen. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

FIA World Rallycross Championship: Hong Kong looks ‘perfect’ for its debut race, Klara Andersson says as she predicts thrills and spills

Staff make final preparations for the FIA World Rallycross event in Central. Photo: Dickson Lee

(L-R) World RX drivers Timo Scheider, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Kevin Hansen and Klara Andersson attended a press conference ahead of the FIA World Rallycross event this weekend in Hong Kong, at Central Harbourfront Event Space. 10NOV23  SCMP/Yik Yeung-man

Staff make final preparations for tomorrow’s FIA World Rallycross event, Central Harbourfront Event Space,  10NOV23 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Racer Andersson can’t wait to bring FIA World Rallycross Championships to Hong Kong’s streets

Klara Andersson is seventh in the 11-driver championships standings. Photo: Mike Chan

World Rallycross Championship: Hong Kong organisers to build half-mud, half-tarmac circuit on city’s iconic harbourfront

Leslie Wong (right) of Teamwork Creative Events at Tuesday’s launch ceremony for the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Hong Kong. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Hong Kong has been put in the 2023 calendar as the season finale. Photo: World RX homepage

FIA World Rallycross Championship set to make Hong Kong debut in November

A 2022 World Rallycross series in Nuremburg, Germany in November. Photo: FIA

Officials at the recent International MotorXpo Hong Kong with a World Rallycross car. From left: Lee Yiu-pui, president of HKAA, Arne Dirks, Rallycross Promoter GmbH executive director, Bernard Chan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development and Wesley Wan, adviser of Teamwork Creative Events. Photo: Handout

Sport

Motorsport

The action was set to get under way at 8.10am on Saturday morning, but did not start until 12.28pm with two straights on Lung Wo Road removed
Organisers blame ‘unforeseen’ delay with 1.225km half-mud, half-tarmac city centre circuit reduced because of late shipment from South Korea


Organisers blame ‘unforeseen’ delay with 1.225km half-mud, half-tarmac city centre circuit reduced because of late shipment of materials from South Korea.
