The Dodge Hornet is about to take flight. Literally.
Dodge has announced that it is entering the Nitrocross rallycross racing series for the 2024-2025 season that kicks off the weekend of Sept. 7-8 at Richmond Raceway.
The series is similar to motocross, but with rally style cars. Several short heat races are held on short courses that include dirt and jumps.
Dodge is entering the electric group E class, which features four-motor all-wheel drive vehicles with 1,007 hp that can accelerate to 60 mph in 1.4 seconds.
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It’s a spec class that uses a single car that was designed specifically for it called the FC1-X. Dodge has reskinned it with a wrap that makes it look like the Hornet R/T compact SUV. Its four-car effort will be run by the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team with drivers Lia Block, Robin Larsson, Fraser McConnell and Andres Bakkerud.
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“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,” Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said in a press release.
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“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.”
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The factory Hornet R/T is a plug-in hybrid with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s rated at a maximum of 288 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft., but also has an all-electric driving range of 32 miles per charge at lower power.
The five-race Nitrocross Series continues at:
- Utah Motorsports Campus near Salt Lake City – Oct. 5-6
- Firebird Motorsports Park near Phoenix – Nov. 15-16
- Miami Marine Stadium – Jan. 11-12
- Las Vegas – March 1-2
The weekends also include races using internal combustion engine cars.
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