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Swedish talent Isak Sjökvist and the #YellowSquad team entered the FIA RX2e series finale at the iconic Montalegre track with the title within reach. The all-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship support category reached an exciting conclusion, and a brilliant second place from Sjökvist in Portugal secured the runner-up spot in the championship.

Second in the series standings by just 11 points as the drivers entered the fourth and final event of 2024, Sjökvist delivered strong performances throughout the weekend. Finishing in the Top 3 across all four of his Qualifying races – including a win in Heat 2 – put the #YellowSquad driver in a good position heading into the Semi-Finals.

A dominant performance to take the win in Semi-Final 2, despite never having raced at Montalegre before the Saturday, secured Sjökvist a spot on the front row of the Final. In the last race of the RX2e season, Sjökvist would chase down fellow Swede Nils Andersson, before contact with Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky would set him back and seal his fate in second place.

In the running for the title ever since his podium at Nyirád in Hungary – another unfamiliar track – Sjökvist just missed out on the championship title but took home the silver medal to accompany his three podium finishes from the year’s four events.

Racing the sister #YellowSquad machine, Australian star Molly Taylor returned to RX2e for a second event thank to the support of E.ON and Veloce. Demonstrating the importance of seat time, Taylor stormed to her first ever Heat win in her first race. Securing a spot in the main event with third in Semi-Final 2, Taylor would go on to finish in fifth but gained valuable experience along the way.

In Euro RX1, Patrick O’Donovan arrived at the season finale with a comfortable lead in the championship standings. Having won all three of the events leading up to Montalegre, O’Donovan secured the European Rallycross title with a win in the Semi-Finals in just his second season of competing in the category. While the young British driver fell just short of a clean sweep of wins, third place in Portugal marked a podium at every event and a dominant performance from O’Donovan all season.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow. We knew it was going to be a big mountain to climb at the weekend, but we did everything that we could, and the team delivered a superb car. P2 in the championship is great but naturally I want more.

“We will take some time to reset and go through the whole season to see where we can improve for next time. It has been so great being with the #YellowSquad team and I want to thank all of them for their support and their hard work. We keep on working and we never give up.”

Molly Taylor, #YellowSquad driver, said: “P5 in Portugal! It was an amazing weekend, and I reached a few rallycross milestones with a first Heat win, a fastest overall time of a Heat, and a fastest lap in our Semi-Final.

“In the Final I tried to go around the outside in Turn 1 and it didn’t work out so well, but the progress and pace over the weekend was positive and I’m feeling very satisfied with what we have achieved. I can’t thank E.ON, Veloce, and the #YellowSquad crew enough for making this all happen. Let’s do some more!”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, added: “It’s great to get another RX2e championship medal but it wasn’t what we all hoped for. We pushed hard to get the title this year, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nils Andersson was very strong. Isak had some ups and downs, but he fought through it well and we put up a great fight. A huge thank you to all the team for their hard work, we’ll come back even stronger next year.”

This weekend (7-8 September) #Yellowsquad driver Isak Sjökvist will head to the RX2e season finale in Montalegre, Portugal, hoping to claim the title for the first time.

Sjökvist’s consistency across the season has placed the Swedish driver second in the overall standings, just 11 points behind current championship leader Nils Andersson.

If Sjökvist does surmount the gap, this would be his first RX2e title after finishing as the runner-up last season.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “The final round is coming up and I couldn’t be more excited to race at a completely new track! Montalegre seems super fun and we have a great chance to reach the top of the podium. I’m going to enjoy every second in the car and just have loads of fun.”

Returning to #Yellowsquad for the finale after missing Nyirád and Mettet, Molly Taylor will be competing in the sister #Yellowsquad car.

Although Taylor has missed a couple of rounds, the Australian driver hasn’t been out of action entirely. Most recently, Taylor took back-to-back victories alongside #Yellowsquad Founder Kevin Hansen at Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix double-header in Scotland.

Taylor’s return to the RX2e paddock could give Sjökvist the competitive edge needed to secure the title as the pair work together to steal championship points from their rivals.

Molly Taylor, #YellowSquad driver, said: “I can’t wait to get back out in RX2e. I know I’m still at the very beginning of my rallycross journey, but I feel like last time out in Höljes we made really good progress and I’m looking forward to picking up where we left off.

“These events are all about maximising every chance I have in the car, and we are ready to do that! I’m very grateful for the continued support from EON Next, Veloce Racing, and #YellowSquad to make this happen.”

In Euro RX1, #Yellowsquad member Patrick O’Donovan heads into the season finale in control of the championship standings. Leading the standings from the first round, O’Donovan arrives in Portugal with a healthy 15-point lead.

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “It is great to have two cars again with Molly coming back for her second race of the season. For Molly she’s back to try to get that podium she nearly got in Sweden, and to keep progressing her rallycross skills.

“For Isak he took a strong haul of points in Belgium so now he is within reach of the top of the leaderboard. He’ll have no choice but to go flat out and see if he can get that championship title. The team will give it everything we’ve got for both drivers.”

A classic event on the World RX calendar, Montalegre hosted the very first World RX event when the championship was formed in 2014.

A challenging circuit combined with unpredictable weather has made Montalegre a crowd favourite over the years, and #Yellowsquad will have to use all its experience to ensure its drivers have the best chance of achieving silverware this weekend.

The action begins this Saturday, 7th September, and continues into Sunday, when we’ll find out the RX2e and Euro RX1 champions.

Make sure to keep up with #Yellowsquad across all our social media channels to see if Sjökvist and O’Donovan can do the double.

Isak Sjökvist took his second podium of 2024 in spectacular fashion at the penultimate round of the season in Mettet, Belgium, as the FIA RX2e Championship title battle approaches a nail-biting conclusion.

The third round of RX2e got underway at the weekend (17-18 August) with the #YellowSquad crew entering the event off the back of a solid second place in Nyirád, Hungary, at the end of July.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, Sjökvist continues to improve. Taking the win in Mettet this time around, having struggled at the track in difficult conditions just last season, shines a light on the development of the Hansen Motorsport junior driver.

Determined to not let the momentum gained from Hungary go to waste, Sjökvist took two race wins out of the four Qualifying Heats in Belgium.

For the first, in Heat 2, Sjökvist was leading the race until contact from behind sent him into a spin. The #YellowSquad star recovered to cross the line in second, but was then promoted to the top spot following a penalty for his opponent in the aforementioned incident. Sjökvist carried his dominant pace into his next race, and the Swede took a comfortable win which would secure him second in the Qualifying rankings.

Lining up on the front row for the main event, it was crucial that Sjökvist replicated the quick race starts he achieved in the Heats. Launching to the front of the pack, Sjökvist looked in a strong position through the opening laps. A freshly watered track proved challenging for the whole field, but putting into practice all he has learned, Sjökvist managed to cross the line in second place.

More silverware for Sjökvist in the third event of the season puts him second in the RX2e championship standings, 11 points adrift of the top spot, and in an assertive position heading into the last event of the campaign.

The RX2e finale will take place as part of the FIA World Rallycross Championship event in Montalegre, Portugal, on 7-8 September.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “It feels great to have such a strong comeback from last year where we struggled with this track. I had a great launch in the Final and I think that moment alone highlighted our potential throughout the weekend. It was a bit of a rollercoaster with some pushing and crashing, but I tried to manage those situations as best as I could. It was a completely different track in the Final due to the watering, but I gave it everything I could.”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “I think we had a good event. Isak was on it from the beginning, which was impressive when he wasn’t too comfortable here last time. He has clearly learnt a lot and was often the fastest on track. Even though he got pushed and had some trouble in the Heats he managed to qualify on the front row. We’re happy with second and scored a lot of points to close the gap to the top of the standings, so overall it was a very good weekend.”

After storming to a strong second place in Hungary’s Nyirád (27/28 July), frontrunner Isak Sjökvist is looking to go one place better in Mettet, Belgium, to take home #Yellowsquad’s first victory of the season in RX2e.

Sjökvist finished in the runner-up spot in last year’s standings and laid down a statement of intent with his podium in Nyirád, showing that he is in the hunt for top honours in the championship.

After a difficult opening weekend (6/7 July) at his home event in Höljes, Sjökvist will be hoping to carry the momentum to the weekend and take control of the Championship lead.

The round in Mettet (17/18 August) is the penultimate of the four-round series, therefore a good result is critical for the Swedish driver’s title fight.

He currently sits third in the Championship standings, just 19 points behind the overall leader. With plenty of points up for grabs in Belgium, there could still be a dramatic swing in favour of the #Yellowsquad driver.

Isak Sjökvist, #Yellowsquad Driver, said: “Time for Mettet! A really challenging track but with a great amount of different combinations will make it a fun one. Eager to see what the weekend has in store for us and I’ll do the best I can to reach the top of the podium!”

Eric Färén, #Yellowsquad Team Principal, added: “Isak [Sjökvist] improved a lot in Hungary so we’re on a good momentum going into this weekend. He didn’t have the easiest race in Mettet last year but he knows what he needs to change this year and how to attack it. We had a big step forward between Sweden and Hungary hopefully we will keep going and get a win here and restart our championship fight.”

The RX2e racing kicks off on Saturday, 17 August, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled on the #Yellowsquad social media for the latest updates and results.

• Following a promising performance in the opening round at Höljes, #Yellowsquad now faces a new challenge for Round 2 of the RX2e championship.

This weekend (27-28 July) the RX2e circus heads to Nyirád, Hungary, to take on one of rallycross’s longest and most traditional tracks on the calendar. The twisting nature of the circuit, mixed with the unsealed surface, makes it one of the most spectacular events in rallycross.

#Yellowsquad have one entrant for this event, Isak Sjökvist, who is looking to cement his championship charge after a strong haul of points in the opening round.

Sjökvists teammate in Höljes, Molly Taylor, will rejoin #Yellowsquad for the final round of the RX2e championship in Montalegre, Portugal, 07-08 September.

Eric Fären, #Yellowsquad Team Principal, said: “I’m very excited to go to Hungary, it’s a very unique track, some people call it the Monaco of rallycross because there’s no run-off area and it’s quite a hard track to learn.”

“Now we only have Isak at this round, we can focus all of our effort on him and make sure he’s learning the track as best as possible. Most of the RX2e field hasn’t been there so we must get up to speed quickly and hopefully have a good result.”

Sjökvist looked quick throughout the opening weekend in Höljes. The home favourite secured second in the overall standings after the heats and comfortably won the semi-final by over eight seconds.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Sjökvist was hoping to repeat this success in the final but contact in turn 1 would deny this and the #Yellowsquad driver would have to settle for third.

Isak Sjökvist, #Yellowsquad driver, added: “A new country and a new track is always a great challenge. I’m excited to see what the weekend has in store and I’m ready to bounce back and get my revenge after Höljes.”

“I’m still humble about the task ahead. New race weekend means it’s like a new hockey game: 0-0 and everything to play for.”

As the Nyirád countdown begins, #Yellowsquad are in full preparation mode ahead of this weekend’s racing action.

The opening round of the FIA RX2e Championship kicked off in dramatic fashion at Höljes, 6-7 July, with the #Yellowsquad crew collecting a solid haul of points despite the tricky conditions.

After a long off-season, the #Yellowsquad team kickstarted another thrilling RX2e season with a strong driver line-up in Isak Sjökvist and Molly Taylor.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, home favourite Sjökvist narrowly missed out on the championship title last year, but with that experience now under his belt he firmly has his sights set on taking the crown in 2024.

Partnering Sjökvist in Höljes was Molly Taylor, who returns to #Yellowsquad for two rounds of RX2e action this year. In 2023, Taylor did a partial RX2e campaign, whilst also competing alongside Kevin Hansen in Extreme E, taking on the tracks at Mettet in Belgium and the season finale at Estering in Germany.

Höljes marked a new challenge for Taylor, while Sjökvist has seen consistent third-place finishes on home soil. The pair got off to a tricky start on Saturday, however, as the team worked to adjust the set-up of the car and the drivers adapted to the track.

Sunday marked a strong comeback for the #YellowSquad team, as Sjökvist took wins in both Heat 4 and the Semi-Final, putting him on the front row for the Final. In the sister car, Taylor pulled a phenomenal overtake in her Semi-Final race to take the last spot in the Final in her first appearance at a Magic Weekend.

The #YellowSquad duo set off in hot pursuit of a podium to start the season but contact in Turn 1 would deny Sjökvist the opportunity to compete at the front of the pack. Taylor got through the opening laps trouble free, and a third-place finish looked within the Australian’s grasp, before a mistimed joker lap sealed her fate in fourth position.

Isak Sjökvist, #YellowSquad driver, said: “It was a bit of a tricky season opening in Höljes, but we still managed to secure a P2 in the overall standings after the Heats. After that I rode the momentum and took a clear win in my Semi-final with over eight seconds to the driver behind.

“I started in the second spot for the final and had a great feeling that we could have at least a drive for a podium, but I got taken out in the first corner. Gutted that we did not even get the chance to race for it in the Final, but motorsport can be brutal and I’m sure we will reset and bounce back even better to Hungary.”

Molly Taylor, #YellowSquad driver, said: “P4 in Höljes! The weather made things very interesting on Sunday. We were in a good position for third, but a mistake by me on the joker timing put us in fourth, so a lesson learned there.

“In any case, to be fighting for podium places is better than I could have expected from my first time here. After feeling a bit frustrated on Saturday, I felt like we made really good steps forward and am feeling super motivated by our progress. They call Höljes the Magic Weekend and they weren’t wrong.”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “We struggled a little bit at the start to find the right set up and for the drivers to get comfortable, but by the end of Saturday we started to find the right kind of speed. On Sunday the conditions changed completely with the rain but we adapted well.

“Both drivers qualified for the Final, with Isak on the front row before he was pushed out. He didn’t get a fair chance to fight for the win, but I think he would have given a good fight for win which was a good recovery from him across the weekend.

“Molly progressed well through the weekend too, and almost took a podium in her first event at Höljes. Fourth was still a strong result and it was great to see her fighting with the pack and working hard along with the rest of the team. Overall, I’d say it’s looking promising for the next races.”

The 2024 FIA RX2e series will be supporting four rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Next up on the calendar is Hungary (27-28 July), followed by Belgium (17-18 August), with the season finale in Portugal (07-08 September).

The opening round of the FIA RX2e Championship kicks off this weekend at Höljes, 6-7 July, and the #Yellowsquad crew are aiming for the top step of the podium at their home event.

After a long off-season, the #Yellowsquad team are ready to kickstart another thrilling RX2e season with a strong driver line-up confirmed for the opener.

Finishing runner-up in the standings last year, home favourite Isak Sjökvist will be hoping to mimic his opening-round heroics from last season in Hell, Norway where he took the win. The Swedish-born ace would continue this form going into the second round at Höljes, claiming a third-place finish to maintain his championship lead.

Sjökvist narrowly missed out on the championship title last year, but with that experience now under his belt he firmly has his sights set on taking the crown in 2024.

Isak Sjökvist has been eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 RX2e season, noting: “I’m excited to finally hit the track again after a long time since the last race in the RX2e Championship. I was gutted to not be racing in France, but that did not stop me from continuing with preparations for the season opener, which now gets to be in Höljes, Sweden.

“It’s always a special feeling to race on home soil and at such an iconic track. It’s a new year and a new opportunity, so I’ll stay humble throughout every race, and always give 100 percent. I’m feeling better prepared than ever, so let’s see what the weekend brings us.”

Partnering Sjökvist in Höljes, Molly Taylor returns to #Yellowsquad for two rounds of RX2e action this year. In 2023, Taylor did a partial RX2e campaign, whilst also competing alongside Kevin Hansen in Extreme E, taking on the tracks at Mettet in Belgium and the season finale at Estering in Germany. Although Höljes will be a new challenge for Taylor to face, last year’s seat time could prove vital.

Molly Taylor, said: “I’m really excited to get back into the RX2e car, particularly at Höljes. I spectated there 10 years ago, which was my first time watching Rallycross and it blew my mind. So, it’s pretty surreal to come back and be in the driver’s seat!”

Often hailed as one of the toughest events to win on the rallycross calendar, Höljes puts extra pressure on the drivers fighting at the front. The Höljes crowd is always a standout on the RX2e calendar, especially for #Yellowsquad who always put on a show for the home fans cheering in yellow.

Eric Fären, Team Principal, added: “Isak is looking for revenge. He has never felt that Höljes is a track that fits him, but we had a test there and he’s really excited. He has a lot of podiums but never a win at Höljes, so I think that’s the main goal.

“Molly is also excited for this year now that she has more mileage after testing and feels more prepared. I think she will be quicker from the beginning now she’s used to the format and the car.

“We’re very happy to have these two drivers and the team cannot wait to start the season at our home event.”

The 2024 FIA RX2e series will be supporting four rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship: Sweden, Hungary (27-28 July), Belgium (17-18 August) and Portugal (07-08 September).

Shooting for the top spot in the standings at every round, #Yellowsquad will aim to utilise the home advantage to begin a strong 2024 campaign.

Swedish driver Isak Sjökvist has re-signed with #YellowSquad for the 2024 FIA European RX2e Championship. Following a nail-biting season last year, in which Sjökvist finished a close runner-up, both team and driver are committed to reaching that coveted spot at the top of the RX2e leaderboard.

This season marks three years since Sjökvist made the switch to rallycross, taking on the Supercar Lites division of RallyX Nordic in 2021. That same year marked the Swede’s RX2e debut, claiming a home podium in Höljes at his maiden event.

With three seasons of the all-electric single-specification category under his belt, the now 22-year-old has become one of the front-runners, scoring more RX2e podiums than any other driver. In his first full campaign in 2022, Sjökvist finished on the podium in four of the five rounds, claiming a maiden victory in the final round in Barcelona and securing the runner-up position in the championship standings.

2023 saw Sjökvist kickstart his first year in #YellowSquad colours with a win in Hell, Norway, making it back-to-back victories in a Zeroid X1 machine. Two more podium finishes in Höljes and Estering, Germany, placed the Swede second in the standings once more, just seven points adrift of the trophy.

Sjökvist‘s experience is reinforced by the expertise of Hansen Motorsport’s junior team and the lessons learned during their first championship battle together, putting #YellowSquad and Sjökvist in a strong position for the FIA RX2e title this season.

Hansen Motorsport’s commitment to RX2e supports its vision for a more sustainable future. The Hansen outfit enters its third season running all-electric cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship and will be adding further #YellowSquad drivers to its electric racing roster this year.

#YellowSquad notably claimed the RX2 International Series crown in 2020, alongside wins in NRX NEXT and success in the European Rallycross Championship and RallyX Nordic in Supercar. This week sees Sjökvist taking on the opening event of the 2024 RallyX Nordic season, taking to the track for a double-header at the Tierp Arena in Sweden (10-11 May) in preparation for his RX2e campaign.

For 2024, the FIA RX2e championship kicks off its calendar in Essay, France (8-9 June) before supporting the FIA World Rallycross Championship across its four European rounds, in Sweden, Hungary, Belgium, and Portugal.

Isak Sjökvist said: “I’m super excited that I’ve signed for another year with #YellowSquad. We are making great progress and I know we have what it takes to reach our goals together.

“It’s an honour to get this opportunity once again and encouraging for me that they have the trust in me. I would also like to take a moment to thank all my partners, including the Hansen family and my own, and everyone else that is giving me this opportunity.

“We’re starting up this year’s programme by taking on the first two rounds of RallyX Nordic on home soil, which feels exciting and a great run-through until the RX2e season begins. You could call it the best possible warmup!”

Eric Färén, #YellowSquad Team Principal, said: “We’re excited to do another year with Isak. I think from the beginning last year it felt like a perfect fit. We were all working well together and having a lot of fun.

“Of course, it feels a bit like unfinished business. We have long term goals, but we want to win the RX2e championship so that is what we’ll be pushing for this year. I know Isak has been working hard over the winter and we will try to be as prepared as we can to give him all the tools that he needs to get the title.”

Following a strong 2023, we caught up with Molly Taylor during the off-season. In light of her fantastic maiden campaign in RX2e, we wanted to find out more about the Australian and what it was like working with #YellowSquad.

#YellowSquad: What made you want to get involved in the RX2e championship?

Molly Taylor: I’ve always followed rallycross, but since being involved with Extreme E I’ve been able to get to know the legends of the sport, and through Veloce and the Hansen’s I was given the opportunity to give it a go myself. I remember spectating in Höljes in about 2013 and I was completely blown away when I saw it up close. It only took 10 years from that point to finally get behind the wheel!

#YS: What was the biggest highlight of your 2023 RX2e season?

Molly: It was a real baptism of fire, so I feel like I learnt and improved so much, but only really got a small taste of what is possible. Taking the lead off the start in the wet in Mettet was cool, but I think driving the Estering track was probably the biggest buzz.

#YS: You are one of the few female drivers to have raced under the Hansen umbrella. Was that something on your mind as you were competing?

Molly: To me, as with most of the other female drivers, we are there because we want to be a driver and compete at the top. So, on one hand, I don’t think about it when it comes down to business. However, on the other hand, having someone like Susann Hansen as a mentor is incredibly special. She is such a trailblazer and knows what it takes to succeed and all the dynamics at play. I really value that. I think visibility is also important to inspire more young girls at a grassroots level.

#YS: What was it like racing for #YellowSquad with the support of Hansen Motorsport? How important was their help and advice last year?

Molly: It’s a huge asset to be part of a crew with so much experience and success. Especially when you are so new to the discipline, you are just a sponge trying to soak up everything you can. The experience, and also the attitude and positivity of the team, is not only valuable from a performance perspective, but also just great to be around. I think we sometimes underestimate how important that is.

#YS: It was not just you who raced for #YellowSquad in 2023, but also Catie Munnings. With two women driving for the team in one year, is that a sign of increasing opportunity for female talent?

Molly: I think there are definitely more opportunities coming up, largely because of Extreme E. They have shown that given the opportunity and support to develop, we can compete in equal arenas.

#YS: What did you learn from the 2023 season that you’ll be taking into 2024?

Molly: The amount I learnt from just two events was next level. So, there’s about a book of learnings I will take into 2024! But probably the biggest learnings came from the race craft side of things and experiencing more side-by-side racing.