AUBURN HILLS, Mich.,
Sept. 6,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
- Dodge is entering the 2024-2025 Nitrocross Series with new
Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X electric-powered cars competing in the Group
E class
- Four 1,000-plus-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Dodge Hornet R/T
FC1-X race cars will be fielded by the Nitrocross Group E
championship-winning Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) team
- Seventeen-year-old Lia Block
will drive the flagship Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race car, with DRR
teammates Robin Larsson,
Fraser McConnell and Andres Bakkerud part of the talented group of
Dodge Hornet FC1-X drivers
- Nitrocross, introduced by motorsports star Travis Pastrana in 2020, is one of the fastest
growing racing series in North
America, featuring many of the world's best rally racers in
five classes
- Called "controlled chaos" by its fans, Nitrocross features
tracks with pavement and dirt surfaces, with 10 events at five
locations, beginning at Richmond Raceway on Sept. 7-8
- Richmond event will host Dodge
Hornet Rally Rides, allowing fans to ride along for hot laps and
experience a production-spec Dodge Hornet R/T on a specially built
course
- Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X DRR race cars are powered by four axial
flux motors, generating the equivalent of 1,070 horsepower (800
kW)
- Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X vehicles are capable of accelerating
from 0-60 in just 1.4 seconds and produce nearly 2g of acceleration
from a standing start
- The production Dodge Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid, the first-ever
electrified performance vehicle from Dodge, delivers most powerful
compact utility vehicle in its segment with 288 horsepower and 383
lb.-ft. of torque
- For more information on the Dodge Hornet R/T and Dodge Hornet
GT, visit Dodge.com
- Follow Dodge Motorsports action at DodgeGarage and the
@DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel
Dodge is making its debut in the 2024-2025 Nitrocross
Series with the introduction of four Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X
electric-powered race cars in the Group E class, set to begin
competing at the season-opening Nitrocross event scheduled for
Sept. 7-8 at Richmond (Virginia) Raceway.
The Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X car, a 1,000-plus-horsepower
all-wheel-drive race car, will be fielded by the Nitrocross Group E
championship-winning Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) team, with
four vehicles entered during the 10-race national tour.
"Nearly 75% of Nitrocross race fans are between the ages of
18-34, making the series the perfect venue for Dodge to expand its
motorsports presence and to showcase the Dodge Hornet to a
youthful, enthusiastic new audience," said Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO – Stellantis.
"We're looking forward to a great inaugural Nitrocross season for
the Dodge brand, with a championship-winning organization like the
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team carrying the Dodge banner and
with fans getting the chance to experience the Dodge Hornet up
close and personal through our Dodge Hornet Rally Rides. It all
starts at Richmond."
Seventeen-year-old Lia Block
(U.S.) will race in the flagship Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X car, with
two-time Group E series champion Robin
Larsson (Sweden),
Fraser McConnell (Jamaica) and Andres
Bakkerud (Norway) also part
of the talented group of DRR Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X drivers.
Block has already made history as the youngest American Rally
Association champion and has previously raced in the Nitrocross
NEXT class. She is also the youngest competitor ever in the Group E
class and the first and only woman in the class. Larsson, 32, is a
former FIA European Rallycross Champion (2014) and captured the
last two Nitrocross Group E titles for DRR with seven victories in
the past two campaigns, while McConnell, 25, is the 2019 ARX2
Rallycross series champion and has won four Nitrocross Group E
races in the last two years. Bakkerud, 32, has placed second and
fourth in the Group E division with two wins.
The Nitrocross Series, initially introduced by motorsports star
Travis Pastrana in 2020, has been
one of the fastest growing and popular motorsports tours in
North America and features unique
competition with spectacular jumps and wild drifts. Nitrocross cars
battle inches apart in a program with practice rounds, qualifying,
heat races and main events in five separate categories, led by the
leading Group E class.
"Nitrocross is thrilled to welcome Dodge to the series as our
first official manufacturer entry," said Chip Pankow, Nitrocross general manager. "Dodge
is about performance and so are we, and we can't wait to see them
prove it on the track."
Called "controlled chaos" by its fans, the Nitrocross Series is
contested on both pavement and dirt surfaces in the 10-round
series, which will commence in Virginia. Following events include:
- Utah Motorsports Campus in
Salt Lake City (Oct. 5-6)
- Firebird Motorsports Park near Phoenix (Nov.
15-16)
- Miami Marine Stadium (Jan.
11-12)
- Las Vegas course (March 1-2)
The Nitrocross series will be televised all season on the FOX
network.
The four Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race cars are powered by axial
flux motors, generating the equivalent of 1,070 horsepower (800
kW), with the capability of accelerating from 0-60 in just 1.4
seconds and producing nearly 2g of acceleration from a standing
start — more than enough to propel vehicles across the 200-foot gap
jumps that are common on Nitrocross courses. The Dodge Hornet R/T
FC1-X features a tubular chassis, carbon-fiber chassis tub, Alcon
braking system, electric power-assisted steering, front and rear
double wishbone R53 suspension with adjustable camber/caster with
12-inch wheel travel and adjustable front and rear anti-roll
bars.
The Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X Group E machines are developed and
maintained by the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing organization, a
longtime IndyCar team and current championship-winning Group E
Nitrocross operation based in Carmel,
Indiana. Founded in 1999 by Indianapolis auto dealer Dennis Reinbold, the legacy of the Dreyer and
Reinbold organization dates back to the 1920s with Reinbold's
grandfather, the legendary Floyd "Pop" Dreyer, a former Indian
factory motorcycle racer and open-wheel car constructor. Dreyer
& Reinbold Racing has successfully qualified 48 drivers for the
Indy 500.
"Dodge is well known as America's performance brand, and to
carry the Dodge brand's banner and compete in Dodge Hornet R/T
FC1-X cars is the perfect fit for our group," said team owner
Dennis Reinbold. "Like Dodge, we
love to go fast, so it's like we share the same DNA. It's such a
great alignment for us to compete in Nitrocross as it continues to
grow at a record-breaking pace. The level of excitement is growing
throughout this series and Dodge has just cranked it up even more.
Fans have to come out and see the power of these cars battling as
they literally fly around the track."
Dodge Hornet
The Nitrocross kickoff event in
Richmond will also host Dodge
Hornet Rally Rides, allowing fans to ride along in the passenger
seat for hot laps and experience a production-spec Dodge Hornet R/T
on a specially built course.
The Dodge Hornet disrupts the fast-growing compact utility
vehicle (CUV) segment, building buzz with a distinctive Dodge
combination of muscular styling wrapped around best-in-class
standard performance from a multi-energy powertrain roster and a
swarm of class-exclusive performance features. The Dodge Hornet R/T
performance hybrid — the first-ever electrified performance vehicle
from Dodge — delivers the most powerful utility vehicle in the
segment with 288 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, offering 32
miles of all-electric range via a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, as
well as 77 MPGe and 360 miles of total range.
The Hornet R/T carries extra sting with a class-exclusive,
on-demand PowerShot feature that supplies a burst of 30 horsepower,
reaching 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, while the Dodge Hornet GT
reaches 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds in Sport Mode. The Dodge Hornet
GT is the industry's fastest and most powerful gas-powered compact
utility vehicle. Fueled by the Hurricane4 engine, a 2.0-liter
turbocharged inline four cylinder, the GT boasts the segment's most
powerful gas engine at 268 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of
torque.
For more information on the Dodge Hornet, visit Dodge.com.
@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The
@DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content
capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see
action from the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman
grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock
Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports
series.
Dodge//SRT
For 110 years, the Dodge brand has carried
on the spirit of brothers John and Horace
Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into
high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each
of the segments in which the brand competes while moving forward to
a future that includes electrified muscle in the form of the
next-generation, all-new Dodge Charger.
The next-generation Dodge Charger electrifies a legend, with the
Charger retaining its title as the world's quickest and most
powerful muscle car led by the all-new, all-electric 2024 Dodge
Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The all-new Dodge Charger will also
offer performance choices via multi-energy powertrain options
including the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger SIXPACK H.O., powered by
the 3.0L Twin Turbo Hurricane High Output engine.
Dodge also keeps its foot on the gas as a pure performance brand
with the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most
powerful SUV ever, and best-in-class standard performance in the
compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet.
Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage,
the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news,
including daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news,
events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise.
Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading
global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis (NYSE: STLA).
Mopar
Mopar is the global name for Stellantis genuine
parts and authentic accessories.
A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers
exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the
name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over more
than 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic
performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.
Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with
performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road
and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service
and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and
customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer
support worldwide.
Complete information on Mopar is available at www.mopar.com and
the newly redesigned Mopar blog at blog.mopar.com.
Follow Dodge, Mopar and Stellantis news and video on:
Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Dodge brand: www.dodge.com
DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com
Mopar brand: www.mopar.com
Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge and www.facebook.com/mopar
Instagram: @DodgeMoparMotorsports, @DodgeOfficial and
@OfficialMopar
Twitter: @Dodge, @OfficialMopar and @StellantisNA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, www.youtube.com/c/mopar and
www.youtube.com/StellantisNA
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SOURCE Stellantis