Filip Thorén is relishing the challenge of competing in the FIA RX2e Championship, with the Swede set to join the fray for Round 4 of the inaugural season at the Benelux World RX of Spa-Francorchamps (October 9-10).
Thorén is one of several fresh faces on the RX2e grid for the upcoming event, with the first-ever electric FIA rallycross championship set to deliver another bumper dose of wheel-to-wheel action as the FIA World Rallycross package returns to the iconic Formula 1 venue.
The Hallsberg native, who cut his teeth in folkracing before stepping up to rallycross in 2019, will hope to get to grips with the cutting-edge RX2e technology swiftly in order to be competitive at Spa.
However, Thorén will be up against a number of series regulars as well as fellow new arrivals and the 19-year-old has realistic expectations ahead of his series bow.
Having started karting at the age of seven, the Swedish youngster raced in national events until the age of 15 but then took a break from motorsport before returning to the traditional Swedish folkracing circuit in 2018.
This taste of competition led to Thorén catching the racing bug once more, and a full-time entry into the 2020 Junior Swedish Rallycross Championship followed. His first season in the category, driving at the wheel of his BMW E36, resulted in a sixth-place finish and 2021 started off with a podium at Höljes but a campaign of differing fortunes ultimately led to eighth overall.
Now Thorén is looking to broaden his motorsport experience by joining the RX2e championship, and the promising teenager is eyeing gradual progression when the electric action gets underway in Belgium.
Filip Thorén said: “I am very much looking forward to my RX2e debut at Spa.
“It is a great challenge for me to go from my rear-wheel drive BMW to electric four-wheel drive, with all that power and torque available.
“My target for the weekend is to make step-by-step progress each time I am out on track, and then we will se what the results will bring after that!”
Pere Gonzalez, Project Manager, FIA RX2e Championship, said: “Filip is yet another exciting young talent putting his skills to the test in the inaugural FIA RX2e Championship.
“It is greatly encouraging to see drivers from all motorsport backgrounds wanting to gain experience racing in our pioneering new series, and it is gratifying to see these promising stars already identifying our all-electric technology as the future of rallycross. We wish Filip the best of luck at Spa.”
The FIA RX2e Championship continues with Round 4 at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium next month (October 9-10). You can watch every single race live on RX+, the new FIA World Rallycross Championship broadcast platform.
About FIA RX2e Championship
Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), RX2e is a joint venture between Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies, Olsbergs MSE and RX Promotion.
The vision for the FIA RX2e Championship is to provide a pathway to the top of the sport for aspiring rallycross stars, with five European events planned for its inaugural season in 2021, all in support of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
2021 FIA RX2e Championship Calendar
July 23 – 24 Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
August 20 – 22 Höljes, Sweden
September 3-5 Lohéac, France
October 9-10 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
November 27-28 Nürburgring, Germany
About QEV Technologies
QEV Technologies, a pioneering electric mobility global company created in Spain, is backed by a long and solid track record in the sustainable mobility sector, with a commitment to electric vehicles and a decade of experience in the manufacture of electric hypercars. The company is focused on the design and manufacture of electric vehicles for different sectors, using and developing cutting-edge technology, as well as on the conversion of combustion vehicles to electric vehicles. QEV Technologies has also an extensive-winning experience in motor racing.
