• Fast-climbing Finnish hotshot set to join RX2 grid in 2019
• Flying Finn Academy member agrees two-year deal with OMSE
• 19-year-old fully focussed on preparing for sport’s electric era
Highly-rated young Finn Jesse Kallio is set to make his debut in the RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires this season, after agreeing a two-year deal with reigning drivers’ and teams’ champions Olsbergs MSE.
Over the past five years, Kallio has increasingly made a name for himself in the rallycross world, progressing from domestic series’ to the RX Academy – in which he claimed the 2017 crown with SET Promotion, following that up with title glory in the 2018 RX Academy on Ice – and most recently the Super1600 class of the FIA European Rallycross Championship, as a prize for his RX Academy success.
Victory in Norway and a further podium finish in Germany secured the 19-year-old sixth place in the final Super1600 standings – results that brought him to the attention of Swedish powerhouse OMSE. Now, Kallio is ready to step up once again, as he prepares to join the grid in the official FIA World Rallycross Championship feeder series.
“I think RX2 is the best option for the next two years to develop myself as a driver,” explained the man from Tuusula, who is also a member of the Flying Finn Academy, Finland’s national junior motorsport squad. “I know that I have the talent to compete at the very top, but at the same time I recognise that I’m not yet ready to go up against the best drivers in the world.
“My other target is to earn opportunities to test at Supercar level to prepare myself for the future. Rallycross’ forthcoming electric era looks really interesting, and my plan is that when the electric cars arrive, I will be ready to jump into the big class.”
The 2019 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires will comprise seven rounds in support of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, visiting Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, France and South Africa. Official entries are scheduled to open soon.
2019 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires Calendar
April 27/28 Barcelona, Spain
May 11/12 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
May 25/26 Silverstone, Great Britain
June 15/16 Hell, Norway
July 06/07 Höljes, Sweden
August 31/September 01 Lohéac, France
November 09/10 Cape Town, South Africa