Euro RX1 (formerly Supercars)
The top technical class in rallycross, referring to extremely powerful, purpose-built machinery with enormous power-to-weight ratios, distinct from — and considerably more powerful than — most rally cars they distantly resemble in silhouette. Under World RX this class was branded "Supercars"; since the sport's 2026 restructuring to the European Rallycross Championship, the identical specification runs under the name "Euro RX1," now internal combustion only after the RX1e electric class was dropped.
Despite the earlier "Supercars" name, these are single-seater-adjacent competition machines built specifically for short-circuit rallycross racing, not road-legal supercars.
Joker Lap
A mandatory, slightly longer alternative section of the circuit that every driver must take exactly once per race. Missing it results in disqualification, and its timing is one of the central tactical decisions in the sport.
Read our full explainer on the Joker Lap, including an interactive timing simulator, for how the timing decision actually works.
Heats, Semi-Finals and Finals
The progression structure of a rallycross event day: drivers first compete in qualifying heats, with the strongest performers advancing through semi-finals into a final. Points are typically awarded throughout this whole progression.
This structure means a rallycross event, unlike a single-race format, rewards consistency across multiple short races rather than performance in one race alone.
Standing Start
A race start where all cars begin from a complete stop rather than a rolling start, common in rallycross and central to why the opening seconds of a race are so disproportionately important — reaction time and launch quality directly affect the crucial first-corner positioning.
It contrasts with the rolling starts used in some other motorsport disciplines, where cars are already moving at the moment the race officially begins.
ERX and the FIA Rallycross World Cup
ERX — the European Rallycross Championship — is rallycross's top continental series, resuming that role for 2026 after 12 seasons of World RX operating above it as a full world championship. The FIA Rallycross World Cup is a separate, standalone, non-championship event launching in Jakarta, Indonesia in December 2026, giving the sport a global showcase without a full year-round intercontinental calendar.
A genuine World Rallycross Championship is planned to return in 2028, alongside new technical regulations shared with the WRC — see our history of rallycross for the full story of why the top tier changed.
Mixed Surface
The defining characteristic of a rallycross circuit: a single lap crossing between tarmac and loose gravel sections, forcing a car and setup to handle both surfaces simultaneously rather than specializing in one, unlike WRC events which specialize by surface for an entire rally.
This constant surface change is a large part of why rallycross driving and setup differ so much from other rally-derived disciplines.
The full glossary, as flashcards
All eight terms above, condensed — click to flip each card and test yourself.
Flip Through the Full Glossary
Click any card to flip it and reveal the definition.
Frequently asked questions
What is Euro RX1?
The 2026 name for rallycross's top technical class under the European Rallycross Championship — the same specification as the Supercars that competed under the earlier World RX banner, now internal combustion only.
What does standing start mean in rallycross?
A race start where all cars begin from a complete stop rather than already moving, making launch quality and reaction time critically important to first-corner positioning.
Is RX1e still used in rallycross?
No — the electric RX1e class, introduced in 2022, was dropped entirely for 2026. The current Euro RX1 top class runs combustion power only.
What does mixed surface mean in rallycross?
A single circuit lap that crosses between tarmac and loose gravel sections within the same lap, forcing cars to handle both surfaces at once rather than specializing in one as WRC events do.
What is the difference between a heat, a semi-final and a final in rallycross?
Heats are the initial qualifying races, with the strongest performers advancing through semi-finals into the final. Points are typically awarded throughout this whole progression, not just in the final.
Why does rallycross use a standing start?
It is the traditional format for the discipline and directly contributes to the sport's chaotic, close first-corner racing, since all cars accelerate from a complete stop simultaneously.
Are rallycross Euro RX1 cars the same as rally cars?
They share rally-derived heritage and all-wheel-drive layouts, but Euro RX1 cars are considerably more powerful and purpose-built specifically for short-circuit rallycross racing rather than multi-day rally stages.
What is ERX?
The European Rallycross Championship — rallycross's top continental series, which resumed that role for 2026 after World RX's 12-season run as a full world championship ended.
What is the FIA Rallycross World Cup?
A standalone, non-championship global showcase event, launching in Jakarta, Indonesia in December 2026, separate from the ERX season.
Why was Supercars renamed to Euro RX1?
The rename reflects the championship's 2026 shift from World RX to the European Rallycross Championship — the car specification itself carried over essentially unchanged, only the branding changed.
When will a true World Rallycross Championship return?
2028 is the FIA's planned target, timed to new technical regulations shared with the World Rally Championship.
What happened to the electric RX1e cars that used to race?
The class was dropped entirely for 2026 after a few seasons of testing, including a period racing directly alongside combustion cars in a 'battle of technologies' format — Euro RX1 today is combustion-only.
Maya grew up watching rally stages and motocross before following both sports closely as an adult, and covers the off-road side of motorsport for CNMOTOS — from World Rally Championship gravel stages to Supercross stadiums and grassroots karting.
View all articles by Maya Torres →
