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Red Bull Global Rallycross preview: What to watch for in 2017

By Brittany Frederick

Steve Arpin prepares for competition at Red Bull Global Rallycross in Dallas, Texas on June 4, 2016
Steve Arpin prepares for competition at Red Bull Global Rallycross in Dallas, Texas on June 4, 2016 /
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The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross season begins on April 29, and here are the three things you should be watching for in the new campaign.

This weekend marks the start of the 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross season. After a 2016 season that saw plenty of changes, followed by even more in the offseason, the world of Global Rallycross looks a lot different.

So who will be able to adapt to the new world order, and who will need some more time to get up to speed?

We’ve highlighted the three most important things to watch for in the 2017 Global Rallycross run below. These are the differences — and drivers — that we believe will make the biggest impact this season, starting with the season opener in Memphis this Sunday, April 29 at 1 p.m. ET.

Here’s what we have on our radar in the 2017 Global Rallycross season:

1) Steve Arpin unveils Loenbro Motorsports

The most intriguing headline of the offseason was Steve Arpin’s team transitioning from Chip Ganassi Racing to Loenbro Motorsports. It wasn’t something we saw coming, and we’re curious what the move will do for the most undervalued driver in GRC. Arpin proved in his two years under the Ganassi banner what we figured all along — that he has tremendous talent and had just never been given the appropriate resources to maximize it.

Ganassi will be missed, but Arpin is still working with many of the same people under the Loenbro banner, and having his own team can also be looked at as a further step to building his own legacy. Arpin has all the tools to become a Global Rallycross champion and now he’s completely in the driver’s seat, pun intended, of his own destiny. Hopefully the 2017 season will be the one in which he gets more of the spotlight.

2) Patrik Sandell moves to Subaru Rally Team USA

The tenacious Swede Patrik Sandell found a new home for 2017, moving from Bryan Herta Rallysport to Subaru Rally Team USA. This was a huge pickup for Subaru. In 2016 they struggled to even field the same two drivers at any given race. Now with Sandell and Chris Atkinson, they have a consistent lineup, and that consistency ought to breed much better results just by virtue of there being a team to build around.

But in particular, Sandell is a shark in the choppy waters of GRC. He may not win, but he’s usually in there somewhere taking bites out of other drivers’ chances. As the senior driver at Subaru, he could go full-on Jaws by the end of the year.

3) Austin Dyne enters with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

IndyCar and IMSA organization Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing moved into Global Rallycross for this year, fielding a single entry for Austin Dyne. Dyne is a GRC veteran who’s been around a while, and like Arpin, getting the backing of an established brand is a fantastic opportunity for him.

But it’s even more significant for Global Rallycross as a whole. The league needs more high-profile teams on the grid to attract attention and raise the level of competition. Especially with the exit of Chip Ganassi Racing, having Rahal Letterman Lanigan aboard is a big mark in the win column. Now can Dyne produce the results that will keep RLL as part of Global Rallycross for years to come?

Next: Ed Carpenter talks his history with, future of Phoenix Raceway

The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross season begins Sunday, April 29 from Memphis International Raceway in Memphis, TN. The race will be nationally televised on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. For the latest Global Rallycross news, follow the Motor Sports section of FanSided here.