It’s all systems go for the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship with an eight-round championship now confirmed for 2022, including three new venues and the return of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo.
With a new year now well underway, plans are being made to ensure a stronger, more successful FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – one that will deliver even more excitement than the incredible inaugural season of racing in 2021.
With eight rounds locked in for this year, Hard Enduro competitors and fans will welcome the addition of new events and countries to the series, while also being thrilled to see the return of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo following its two-year Covid-enforced hiatus.
Now nine weeks away from the 2022 series opener, the Minus 400 in Israel is set to kickstart this year’s championship into life on April 5-7. Course inspections have already uncovered what promises to be a truly unique Hard Enduro event.
From Israel, the championship heads to the isolated mountainous wilderness of Serbia for the Xross Hard Enduro Rally one month later in May. A complete contrast to what riders experienced in Israel, the Serbian mountains are set to have Hard Enduro fans hearts racing thanks to its raw ruggedness and challenging forestry tracks.
For 2022 the iconic Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is back! After a two-year Covid-enforced break, Austria’s Iron Giant will roar into life this June. The people’s favourite, the event has developed into a Hard Enduro festival with thousands of competitors and spectators attending the fabled Eisenerz quarry. The pinnacle of the weekend is Sunday’s Hare Scramble. Broadcast live on Red Bull TV, 500 riders will once again tackle legendary sections like Dynamite, Carl’s Dinner and Machine.
July will be a busy month with rounds four and five following in close succession. Things begin in Italy with the Red Bull Abestone. After its introduction in 2021, it proved an instant season highlight. Hosted at the Abetone ski resort in Tuscany, it boasts a beautiful mix of scenery and tough terrain. Expect this year to be even more memorable than last year.
After a short two-week break, it will be time for Red Bull Romaniacs. Entering its 19th edition, the Hard Enduro Rallye is set to go from strength to strength and always guarantees to dish out numerous surprises during its five days of racing.
Heading across the Atlantic for the first of two North American stops, the Red Bull TKO in Tennessee, USA will host round six on August 13-14. When the championship visited Red Bull TKO for the first time in 2021 it was immediately made to feel at home by the American fans. 2022 is promising to be bigger and better.
Heading north to Canada, the penultimate round of the championship will take place at Red Bull Outliers. Billed as the hardest Hard Enduro in Canada, the feature race is a mass start, multi-lap extreme enduro. Testing steep climbs and equally steep descents fill the rugged wastelands of Badlands in Alberta and are sure to deliver some spectacular action.
Signing off 2022, Hixpania Hard Enduro will host the season finale in early October. Seven months after the series opener in Israel the new FIM Hard Enduro World Champion will be crowned in Aguilar de Campoo. With its tried and tested three-day format, the Hixpania Hard Enduro will guarantee an explosive and exciting end to the championship.
*Note:
Although initially included in the provisional 2022 schedule, it was decided not to include Poland’s HERO Challenge in the final calendar. After listening intently to competitors, teams and fans, while working closely with event organisers, it was agreed to omit the race from the calendar. The goal is to return in 2023 with a much tougher and extreme version that matches its championship counterparts. The event will go ahead in 2022, though without FIM Hard Enduro World Championship status.
Winfried Kerschhaggl – FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Manager: “Preparations for 2022 are in full swing as we steadily build towards the opening round in just nine weeks’ time. Despite a tough Covid environment to plan in, 2021 proved itself as an amazing inaugural year for the championship. It was proof that despite all uncertainties, exceptional racing is always guaranteed in Hard Enduro. We’re looking forward to welcoming Minus 400, Xross and Red Bull Outliers to the series and have full confidence each one can add something unique and special. We also welcome back Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. While we enjoyed our time immensely at HERO Challenge in 2021, we agreed with organisers that a year’s absence will allow time to develop it into the true Hard Enduro venue it’s capable of becoming. As the championship develops and grows, we’re always listening to riders, industry, and Hard Enduro fans to ensure the very best championship.”
2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Schedule
Round 1: Minus 400 – Israel, April 5/6/7
Round 2: Xross – Serbia, May 18/19/20/21
Round 3: Red Bull Erzbergrodeo – Austria, June 16/17/18/19
Round 4: Red Bull Abestone – Italy, July 9/10
Round 5: Red Bull Romaniacs – Romania, July 26/27/28/29/30
Round 6: Red Bull TKO – USA, August 13/14
Round 7: Red Bull Outliers – Canada, August 27/28
Round 8: Hixpania Hard Enduro – Spain, October 7/8/9
