Pagenaud open to racing in Rallycross

IndyCar’s Simon Pagenaud admits he could be tempted to compete in future Global Rallycross events after enjoying his first test in the category at a Las Vegas track last week.

The 28-year-old has already raced in a wide variety of championships, and in addition to an impressive single seater and sportscar career has contested several national rallies in France.

This year he drove for the Schmidt-Hamilton squad in IndyCar, finishing fifth overall.

After taking advantage of the opportunity to test 600bhp Ford Fiesta in which Brian Deegan finished runner-up in this year’s Global Rallycross series, Pagenaud said he wouldn’t rule out making a competitive appearance.

“I have always been a huge fan of rallying, but it is rally cross which is becoming more and more popular in the USA,” he explained.

“The cars deliver something like 600 horsepower and the spectators are treated to thrilling racing round half dirt/half asphalt circuits laid out in arenas that provide a view of the entire course.

“I am a curious driver by nature and I’m starting to get a taste for rallycross.

“My priority is my IndyCar programme, of course, but I wouldn’t rule out a participation in the X Games in the near future, or maybe at another round of the Global Rally Cross championship.

“Along with Sam Schmidt, last week’s test gave us a chance to get a first-hand feel for the discipline.”

The showpiece of Global Rallycross is its X-Games fixture, which was won this year by nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb.

Marcus Gronholm was also due to compete, but was hospitalised by a heavy crash in practice.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/pagenaud-open-to-racing-in-rallycross

Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama