Timmy Hansen: “It’s Not Going to Be Easy”

Coming off a strong second-place finish in the opening round in Portugal, Hansen currently sits second in the championship standings. The 2019 world champion is aiming for another standout performance at the legendary Swedish track, but he remains realistic about what lies ahead.

“It’s going to be a completely different race than in Portugal,” Hansen explained. “Portugal suited the EV cars really well. It was very stop-and-start, with high grip and long straights, which naturally played to our strengths. But at Höljes, I think the petrol cars will be especially fast.”

Hansen expects strong competition from the internal combustion engine contenders, particularly singling out Juha Rytkönen and Patrick O’Donovan as key threats.

“Patrick will certainly be one to watch,” he said. “He won here last year in the European Championship. And Juha was incredibly quick when I raced against him in the French Championship in slippery conditions. He also took his first win in Turkey under similar circumstances, so I think he’s at his best when the track becomes difficult.”

Höljes is well known for its unpredictable and ever-changing conditions, and with rain forecast for both Saturday and Sunday, the weather is expected to play a crucial role in the outcome of the weekend.

“I know it’s going to be a challenge,” Hansen said. “This place can be really tricky in the wet. The track can be dry in some sections and soaked in others, and that forces you to constantly adjust your driving style to stay quick.”

One driver who has consistently excelled in such conditions is KMS’s Johan Kristoffersson, who has secured multiple victories at Höljes in the rain.

“Johan is great in the wet,” Hansen noted. “He always pushes you to your absolute limit. That’s the challenge—if you push too hard trying to stay with him, you risk making a big mistake and taking yourself out of the race. You need to find that balance. But if you have a good car, strong confidence, and choose the right places to attack, you can definitely take the fight to him.”

Despite the tough competition and unpredictable weather, Hansen will benefit from the boost of racing on home soil. As one of four Swedish drivers in the field, he is looking forward to competing in front of a passionate crowd during what fans call the "Magic Weekend."

“It’s great to be here,” Hansen said. “Everyone loves this place. One of the highlights of the season is to win at Höljes, so of course you want to do well. The fans are amazing, and hearing them cheer from the grandstands really gives you extra energy.”

Hansen already has one home victory under his belt, having claimed a memorable win at Höljes in 2021. While he admits the circuit does not naturally suit his driving style, he remains confident that he can contend for another win.

“This track is usually not my best,” he said. “I feel more comfortable on high-grip surfaces, and the car tends to feel better there as well. But Höljes is Höljes, and anything can happen—especially when the rain comes. I’ve won here before, and I’m definitely aiming for that second home victory.”

In preparation for the Magic Weekend, Hansen and his team have been working hard to fine-tune every detail of the Peugeot 208 RX1e, aiming to extract every ounce of performance for a serious run at the podium.

“We’ve done a lot of laps here over the years,” Hansen said. “While the track evolves and conditions change, we have plenty of data from previous seasons. The team has worked incredibly hard to get the most out of the car, and we believe we’ve put together a strong package that can deliver a top-level performance.”