A former occasional competitor in the FIA European Rallycross Championship in the mid-2000s, Tom Geenen has decided to bet on the Open 2WD category. Coming from the Belgian championship, the Hoogstraten native will take on a full season in RallyX South.
After finishing sixth in his national championship last season, Tom Geenen is finally set to reconnect with the unique atmosphere of European competitions.
“In the past, we had the opportunity to take part in a few rounds of the FIA European Championship with our Opel Corsa Supercar. These are undoubtedly unforgettable memories and races where we had an incredible amount of fun. Of course, when we first heard about the creation of a RallyX South championship that would allow us to enter our own car, we didn’t have to think twice before getting involved.”
A well-known figure in the Belgian and Dutch championships, Tom Geenen is anything but a newcomer to the rallycross scene.
“Back in the 1990s we built our first Opel Corsa, a 2-litre front-wheel-drive car for the Euro 2000 category. We were still young and hungry for more. That’s why we later developed a turbocharged version and that’s how I started to make a name for myself in Belgium.”
As the nephew of Belgian rallycross legend Jos Sterkens, it didn’t take long for Tom to fall under the spell of the sport.
“As a kid, I already loved motorcycles and cars, but from the age of 16, I started helping Jos Sterkens by working on his Rallycross cars. That’s how I gradually found myself attending races as a mechanic and eventually caught the Rallycross bug.”
For the time being, the Belgian driver will be looking to make his mark in the Open 2WD Pro category at the wheel of a Volvo S40.
“We acquired this Volvo S40 two years ago. It wasn’t in great condition when we got it, so we decided to rebuild it completely. In Finland, we managed to find all the bodywork parts that were used on Ludvig Hunsbedt’s Volvo S40 Supercar when he competed in the European Rallycross Championship. Technically, we opted for a 3-liter 16-valve Volvo engine producing around 365 horsepower, paired with a sequential gearbox and a multi-link rear axle.”
One thing is certain: Tom Geenen is heading to Montalegre with unmistakable enthusiasm.
“For a first season, even though we will give it our all to achieve good results, simply being able to take part in the races will already be a great satisfaction.”