After spending the last few months concentrating on the Nitrocross championship in the United States, Viktor Vranckx is preparing for a high-profile return to RallyX. This weekend he’ll be at the wheel of a Hedström Motorsport Peugeot 208 at the Valkenswaard circuit – an event the former FIA RX2e champion is taking very seriously. And with good reason.
It was on this track that the young Belgian driver fine-tuned his preparation for 2022 before launching his international rallycross career. Having already proven himself in Europe with the Zeroid X1 and more recently in the U.S. with the FC1, Vranckx will now make his competitive debut in a full-fledged supercar – and is eager to make an impression.
“This is a dream come true for me,” says Viktor. “I grew up watching races here and at other tracks, always admiring the Supercars from the sidelines. So the fact that I can now compete in a car like this at Valkenswaard is a very special feeling”.
Despite being one of the favorites this weekend, Vranckx remains cautious.
“There are a lot of variables to deal with: a new car, a home race – which always adds a bit of pressure. But I feel confident. I know I’ve got the pace and the test session we did at Nysum proved it. The team is strong, we’re solid, so I really believe we have a legitimate shot at a good result this weekend”
While debuting a new car in competition is never an easy task, Vranckx says he quickly got to grips with the Peugeot 208.
“The pace came quite naturally, really. I was already used to seeing the scenery fly by because of my time in the FC1, so dealing with the power of the 208 wasn’t an issue. What I focused on most was learning when to change gears, how to make the most of the turbocharged torque and managing the launches. These were all things I needed to absorb as a driver – and by the end of our second day of testing we were really dialed in. The lap times were strong”
Still, the pressure of racing at home is not to be underestimated – something Vranckx knows from personal experience.
“I still remember my first home race. It was back in 2022 at Spa-Francorchamps, and I have to admit that I underestimated how big the occasion would be. I felt a pressure that I wasn’t expecting. There will be the same pressure this weekend, but I’ve learned a lot since Spa. I’ve gained experience and I know I’ll be able to focus more on myself and my goals. It’s still a big challenge, but I think it will go well”
From a sporting point of view, the competition will be intense on a track as technical as Valkenswaard. Vranckx, who closely watched the season-opening race at Montalegre, is under no illusions about the threat posed by the FC2 cars.
“Montalegre was incredibly competitive and to be honest I didn’t expect the FC2s to be so close to the traditional Supercars in terms of performance. In fact, if it wasn’t for the long straight at Montalegre, I think the gap would have been even smaller. It will be even trickier here – the track is shorter, tighter and much more technical, with very few real overtaking opportunities. I really don’t think the traditional Supercars will have a clear advantage over the FC2s. It’s going to be a tight weekend and we’re going to have to be smart behind the wheel.”