7 Drivers That Should Join Nitro RX

Nitro Rallycross exploded onto the racing scene in 2018, birthed into the world by the one and only Travis Pastrana.

As a recent convert to the racing series, I can confirm that it is nothing short of game-changing. While I still haven’t been able to find quite the right words to describe it – although I’ve asked many of the drivers competing in it if they can indeed describe it in three words for the Nitro RX Podcast with great success – to me, the best I can currently come up with is that Nitro RX is a hybrid between World RX and Extreme E with some added spice.

Since 2018, Nitro RX has evolved from an epic one off event to a fully fledged international championship that has already taken it across Europe and America so far in 2022. With at least three different categories racing over a single weekend, tons of racing action and an approach to the rules that at times brilliantly treats them more as guidelines, it’s an absolute beast of a show that combines sport and entertainment in an ideal balance that Thanos himself would be envious of.

If you’re not familiar with it, do go and check it out on YouTube, it’ll be worth it. With all this in mind then and with Nitro not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon, here’s seven drivers from across the motorsport spectrum who I believe would make fine additions to the Nitro RX line-up.

1. Daniel Ricciardo

Image: McLaren Media Centre

The McLaren driver has had a bit of a rough time of it lately and consequently won’t be on the Formula 1 grid for 2023. But we know that Ricciardo is still an epic driver – and remains the only teammate Max Verstappen has ever had that’s been able to beat him consistently. The Aussie fully intends to still be around the F1 Paddock as a reserve driver but that would still leave him with a fair amount of time on his hands. Therefore it would be an ideal time for the Honey Badger to swap disciplines, let loose, get competitive and try something new whilst having a laugh at the same time. How brilliant would it be to see Ricciardo reunite with Jenson Button and partake in some healthy door banging and attempt some more outlandish overtakes that he’s known for on a multitude of different track surfaces? Ricciardo even has a handy plot of land back home in Australia that looks like the perfect place to set out a makeshift Nitro RX for some practice or to even host a race on. If it happens, you heard it here first!

Ricciardo would also be a lot of fun outside of the racing as he’d definitely get up to some mischief in the paddock, probably with Nitro RX’s resident mischief maker Street Bike Tommy. If I do say so myself, I think this could be a motorsport match made in heaven and would help to further elevate Nitro RX to new fans across the globe too.

2. Rebecca Busi

Image: Rebecca Busi

Hailing from the world of Dakar, I wouldn’t be surprised if Rebecca Busi already has some Nitro RX running through her veins. It takes a certain type of driver to make the infamous Dakar their first ever competitive race afterall. With more rallies under her belt since her debut in some rather harsh environments, as well as starring in a film about Michèle Mouton that’s set for release in 2023 AND another Dakar campaign coming up in January, I think it’s fair to say Rebecca would embrace and thrive in the challenge that is Nitro RX.

With an ever expanding experience of racing in Can Ams, Rebecca would fit perfectly into the SRX category where we wouldn’t have to wait terribly long before we saw her giving Travis himself a run for his money. It’s probably best for his sake that he doesn’t make another $1,000 bet about who would be faster this time though!

Nitro RX varies wildly in the locations and trials and tribulations that it throws at a driver and for someone coming up through the ranks like Rebecca, it would be an excellent stomping ground for the Italian Stallion to keep developing and improving. I know I can’t be the only one who’s thought that this combination would be a fantastic one. Just thinking about the prospect is making me smile. Come on Nitro RX, make it happen already.

3. Christine GZ

Image: Alastair Staley/LAT Images

I feel like this one won’t take much convincing. Christine GZ seems like the long lost child of Nitro RX in many ways and as a result, it would only be right for her to come into the fold and join in. Following what has been a whirlwind of a career so far that has taken her all over the globe, including two seasons of racing in Extreme E where she battles the likes of Carlos Sainz Sr. and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, GZ is now on the hunt for a new challenge that I feel only something like Nitro RX could deliver on.

Former teammate Ollie Bennet already races in Nitro RX so perhaps there’s an in there and if not, I reckon Travis could supply her for a car for at least one weekend before all the other teams and sponsors start clamouring around her to sign her for the foreseeable future. GZ’s energy and vibes just match the world of Nitro RX so well that I just can’t see a downside to this. Plus, she’s bloody quick behind the wheel and anyone who’s ever watched her race will know it’ll definitely be worth it if for no other reason that to hear her utter her famous catchphrase as she goes over the gap jumps – “Awwwwiiiiii!!!”

4. Kimi Raikkonen

Image: Alfa Romeo Media Centre

The Iceman in Nitro RX going up against the likes of Fraser McConnell, Robin Larsson and Travis Pastrana? Do I really need to say anything else? Thought not.

5. Tamara Molinaro

Image: Extreme E Media Centre

If you haven’t seen Tamara’s superb Extreme E two wheel save from the Atacama Desert in Chile earlier this year, then I urge you to go and do so now. Once you’ve seen that and her other Extreme E highlights so far from 2022, you’ll be able to see why I think it’d be such a great idea for the Italian to join the Nitro RX grid. Packed full of potential and with the chemical formula for adrenaline literally tattooed onto her body following her awesome podium finish in Sardinia, I’m finding it hard to think how I would need to convince any of you reading this further.

As mentioned above, Nitro RX is an ideal place for drivers to really show what they’re capable of. Think about Lia Block, Laticia Bufoni and Ben Maier as three great examples of this. I believe it would allow Tamara to develop even further as a driver and maybe changing from category to category would be good for her too. Gaining experience can be hard in motorsport, due to finances if nothing else and when you’ve got someone who’s clearly got the racing chops behind the wheel. So this would be a win win for all involved as we would get to watch another rising star get better and better.

6. Kevin Magnussen

Image: Haas Media Centre

As much as the opening round of the 2022 Formula 1 season promised us that Haas could truly be a force to be reckoned with in this brand new era of the sport, the exact opposite has sadly proven to be the case. Magnussen gave up a perfectly good IndyCar seat for this opportunity and while nobody can blame him for grabbing it with both hands, the Dane deserves better. Nitro RX just might be the answer.

K-Mag strikes me as a driver that would be a bit of a dark horse when it comes to Nitro RX and that’s exactly why we should get him in there at some level, be it in the NRX Next cars, the Can Ams or in Group E itself. I think he’d get on with the drivers pretty well and in something like Nitro RX where the paddock is a really open and friendly place, that’s equally important and key to both having a good time and thriving in the sport. I don’t think K-Mag will sacrifice his remaining time with Haas to make this happen but when his time is up there, maybe Nitro RX is where his future lies. I’d love to see it.

7. Klara Andersson

Image: Extreme E Media Centre

Last but most certainly not least on this list is the one and only Klara Andersson. The Swede has been making waves on the motorsport scene this year as she’s competed in World RX and Extreme E, impressing immensely in both and becoming the first woman on the podium in World RX history. That certainly doesn’t happen by accident – that’s talent.

Now World RX is good but in my personal and professional opinion, Nitro RX gives both drivers and fans a lot more bang for their buck as things currently stand, both in terms of sport and entertainment. So while poaching a driver of Klara’s calibre is very much based on her skills behind the wheel in different but related disciplines, it’s also most definitely a selfish act because I just really want to see what she can do in those Group E cars! Motorsport is all about pushing drivers to the very edge to see what they can do and Nitro RX is currently one of the best ways to go about doing that while having a silly amount of fun in the process. Oh and the fact that it would have been criminal of me not to have a Swede on this list when I’m writing about an off-road form of motorsport.

There are so many more drivers that I could add to this list so maybe there’ll be a part two to this article at some point in the future. But for now, we’d definitely be lucky ducks if just some of these drivers joined Nitro RX in the near future.

Who else would you like to see in Nitro RX in the future?

Author: Thiemo Albers-Daly