With new champions Tanner Foust and Fraser McConnell crowned last weekend to complete the 2019 Americas Rallycross (ARX) season, the final event also marked the beginning of the 2020 ARX season with the inaugural ARX2 Cooper Tires Combine, on Monday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Drivers from a variety of motorsports disciplines, age ranges and skill levels experienced their first taste of ARX with an opportunity to test in an ARX2 car with Buhl Sport, DirtFish Motorsports and Loenbro Motorsports with AF Racing. 11 drivers experienced the thrill of the four-wheel drive, 310 brake-horsepower, 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engines in ARX2, built by SuperCar LITES.
“This was the official start of the 2020 Rallycross race season,” said Chris Pantani, director of motorsports, Cooper Tires. “To be able to use the permanent rallycross track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course the day after the ARX Championship weekend was great. The inaugural ARX2 Cooper Tires Combine featured ARX2 candidates testing with their sights set on their 2020 racing season.”
The 2019 ARX2 Cooper Tires combine participants also had the opportunity to meet the series executives, drivers, team managers, competition and safety team – getting a firsthand look into the sport of rallycross.
2019 ARX2 Cooper Tires Combine Drivers:
Josh Fox, Williams F1 esports driver, finished fifth in IRX World Championships on October 5
Chase Gerer, series veteran in BGM Racing Series in central Montana
Eric Gordon, Factory Professional Driver for Can-Am (BRP) Off-road team as a short course racer for Lucas Oil Midwest in Pro-Mod class
Keegan Kincaid, Stadium Super Trucks driver and Pro 2 Champion in Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course
George Megennis, competes in SKUSA Winter Tour, SKUSA Summer Nationals, ROK US
Michael Pateras, freestyle motocross rider, autocross and Gymkhana GRiD competitor
Dustin Sorenson, Three-time United States Modified Touring Series winner,
Timothy Steele, competitive karting, 2019 Class Champion at New Castle Motorsports Park, podium finishes in 2019 & 2018 at USAC's Battle at The Brickyard at IMS
Loni Unser, Global MX-5 Cup driver, NASA driver, Champ Car and WRL Driver
Tristan Vautier, IMSA prototype driver, IndyCar driver, 2012 Indy Lights Champion
Dave Wallingford, 2017 Canadian Rally Championship 2WD Champion, 2017 North American Rally Cup 2WD Champion
Alongside the combine drivers, 2019 ARX2 Champion McConnell got his first taste of a 600bhp ARX Supercar as a reward for winning the title, testing with Loenbro Motorsports with support from cbdMD. For the 2020 season, the Jamaican champion will have his entry fees waived and be provided with complementary Cooper Tires for his entire 2020 ARX or ARX2 program. In addition, he will receive four free one-day DirtFish Rally School courses in one of their four-wheel-drive prepared Subaru vehicles.
