Olympian Chris Hoy to drive a Fiesta in Spanish World Rallycross round

The Cycling gold medalist has raced in sportscars and prototypes, including in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2016, and will also test a Formula E car for the first time this weekend in Rome.

Hoy will drive an OlsbergsMSE-built Ford Fiesta Supercar in the World RX event at the nation's home of Formula 1 in Barcelona - the second round of the series - owned and run by the Xite Racing team.

He will compete alongside the team's regular driver Oliver Bennett, who is racing a BMW Mini in the series this year.

"I am really looking forward to competing in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Barcelona," said the 43-year old.

"Driving a rallycross car has always been on my bucket list, but to actually race against the world's best will really be something special - and a huge challenge."

Hoy will sample the four-wheel-drive Fiesta for the first time in a test at Pembrey Circuit in south Wales next week.

"I will be testing next week with Oliver Bennett and his Xite Racing team, and learning all I can ahead of my World RX debut in Spain," he added.

The Scottish driver is also competing in a selected number of rounds in the Caterham 420R UK Championship this season.

It's not the first time an Olympian has tried rallycross. Four-time Winter Olympic gold medalist skier Gunde Svan completed two European rallycross campaigns in Division 1 Toyota Celicas in the early 1990s.

With 11 podiums across the two terms, Svan claimed a victory at Faleyras in France and finished third in the standings at his second attempt at the series.

Former works World Rally driver Jani Paasonen will also race a Ford Fiesta in the Spanish World RX round, as team-mate to Janis Baumanis for Manfred Stohl's STARD squad.