Audi remains involved in rallycross in the 2018 season. The manufacturer based in Ingolstadt continues to support Mattias Ekström’s project with a factory-backed commitment. Under its new name, EKS Audi Sport, and with two newly developed Audi S1 EKS RX quattro cars the team contests the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX). Alongside team principal and driver Ekström, new signing Andreas Bakkerud, one of the most successful rallycross campaigners, will be on the grid in the second car.

Long-standing Audi factory driver Mattias Ekström had formed his team in early 2014 and went on to lead it to the top of the world’s ranking with great personal commitment within the space of just three years. In 2016, Ekström and EKS in the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro won both the drivers’ and the teams’ world championships against strong competition from Ford, Peugeot, Volkswagen and numerous privateer teams. In the 2017 season, Audi came on board. Thanks to the factory-backed support, the project was successfully continued last year. Ekström finished the World Championship by celebrating as the runner-up and EKS secured third place in the teams’ classification.

Looking at the new season, Ekström and his team, EKS Audi Sport, are full of zest for action: “With support from Audi we’re able to go for all-out attack,” says the Swede. “Our aim for 2018 is clear: We’re battling for the drivers’ and teams’ world championship titles.” To achieve this aim, EKS Audi Sport is racing with two new Audi S1 EKS RX quattro cars. “It was logical that we needed to make some changes to be in contention for top positions. That’s why we’re preparing two new cars that we’d like to outstrip the competition from Volkswagen and Peugeot with.” 

Audi Sport is involved in this endeavor more than ever before. While the main focus when the brand entered the championship in 2017 was still placed on development work and support of tests and races, the further development of the now 580-hp Audi S1 EKS RX quattro was intensively driven for the 2018 season. The Supercar (top rallycross category), among other things, is provided with a new aerodynamics package which enhances performance. Audi employees will be present at the race tracks for all twelve World RX events to provide EKS Audi Sport with engine support. However, the team based in Fagersta, Sweden, will continue to independently field the cars.