- BORN: 10 October 1991
- NATIONALITY: Norway
- HOME TOWN: Bergen
- INTERESTS: The RX Cartel
Norwegian racer Andreas Bakkerud competed in karting from the age of eight until 15 when he switched disciplines to rallycross. He was second in the Norwegian Championship in 2009 before stepping up to the Super1600 European Championship in 2010 and going on to secure back-to-back titles for the Set Promotion team in 2011 and 2012.
From here, Bakkerud graduated to Supercar machinery in the 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship with Monster Energy and LD Motorsport, finishing fourth overall driving a Citroen DS3 and winning in Sweden and France. In 2014 he moved to Ford Olsbergs MSE for the inaugural FIA World Rallycross Championship, winning two events and playing a pivotal role in spurring the team towards the FIA Teams’ Championship title.
Retained by Olsbergs MSE in 2015, Bakkerud claimed another win at World RX of Italy before switching to Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division team for 2016. Completing a hat-trick of victories in Norway, Sweden and Argentina on his way to third overall in the Ford Focus RS RX Supercar, Bakkerud would add four more podiums to his career tally in 2017 when he secured another top six championship finish.
Bakkerud was the first driver – and remains one of only two drivers – in World RX history to have amassed maximum points through each stage of an event weekend after winning all four qualifying sessions, the semi-final and the final at World RX of Norway in 2016.
2018 saw Bakkerud take on a new challenge by joining Mattias Ekstrom’s Audi Sport-backed EKS RX team at the wheel of an Audi S1. He took five podiums in the season, including second in the World RX of Great Britain at SpeedMachine, earning him third place in the championship. Bakkerud has a strong presence on social media and often keeps fans up to date with vlogs from race weekends. He also has a fan club called the Bakkerud Blue with groups travelling to all races to support him.
After finishing 2nd in the World Championship, Bakkerud is back with the RX Cartel for 2020 to fight for the title.
Q&A
What’s been your career highlight?
Being robbed on count back; and becoming the people’s World RX champion.
If you had to drive in any other motorsport category, what would it be?
Drift
If you could only see things in one colour what would it be?
Blue
What’s your favourite animal?
Veloiraptor
You’re stuck on a desert island, what are the three things you would take with you?
Uncle Pablo, a Jetski, the Brazilian Beach Volleyball Team
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Snacks
Favourite RX track?
Lydden Hill
If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Invisibility
Thoughts on pineapple on a pizza?
Don't do it
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Southend-On-Sea
Favourite breakfast food?
Warm Apple Pie
Who is your sporting hero?
Mike Tyson
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay in School
Who’s the best driver you’ve raced against?
Liam
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why?
Mila Kunis
How would your friends describe you in three words?
Fast as F*****
