From press release
Former Belgian Rallycross Champion Koen Pauwels not only races in FIA World Rallycross Championship events, but has also also been an integral part of bringing rallycross back to Belgium and creating the track that will host round six of World RX this weekend at the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet.
Pauwels first approached the club that runs the circuit and it’s manager Philippe Dujardin at the start of last 2013 about hosting rallycross, and after a 18 months of planning the first event at the venue is held this weekend.
“Everything is looking good. Of course, the rallycross track is new so we have had some small issues, but I think we have managed to sort them all out now,” says Pauwels. “The goal was to have rallycross back in Belgium, and now we have the World championship and the European championship this weekend, so that’s very exciting.”
While helping to run the event, Pauwels will also be trying to concentrate on making it to the semi finals in his home round of the series in his Ford Focus Supercar, having already make it to the final at round one in Portugal, back in May.
“I have had such little time to think about the racing, my engineers are very good and they have taken care of everything. I hope that on Friday evening I can put my organizers badge down and get ready to put my racing suit on before practice, but I don’t have any expectations of results this weekend.
“ Making the final in Portugal was a great start to the season, but in England we had bad luck and didn’t make the semi finals, and in Norway the turbo broke in the third heat, we didn’t fix the car because we knew we were out then. I hope for better luck here.”
Former Belgian Rallycross Champion Koen Pauwels not only races in FIA World Rallycross Championship events, but has also also been an integral part of bringing rallycross back to Belgium and creating the track that will host round six of World RX this weekend at the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet.
Pauwels first approached the club that runs the circuit and it’s manager Philippe Dujardin at the start of last 2013 about hosting rallycross, and after a 18 months of planning the first event at the venue is held this weekend.
“Everything is looking good. Of course, the rallycross track is new so we have had some small issues, but I think we have managed to sort them all out now,” says Pauwels. “The goal was to have rallycross back in Belgium, and now we have the World championship and the European championship this weekend, so that’s very exciting.”
While helping to run the event, Pauwels will also be trying to concentrate on making it to the semi finals in his home round of the series in his Ford Focus Supercar, having already make it to the final at round one in Portugal, back in May.
“I have had such little time to think about the racing, my engineers are very good and they have taken care of everything. I hope that on Friday evening I can put my organizers badge down and get ready to put my racing suit on before practice, but I don’t have any expectations of results this weekend.
“ Making the final in Portugal was a great start to the season, but in England we had bad luck and didn’t make the semi finals, and in Norway the turbo broke in the third heat, we didn’t fix the car because we knew we were out then. I hope for better luck here.”