Hansen pumped to ‘push for the win’ in Hong Kong

Following a South African double-header that ultimately delivered less than he had been hoping for, Timmy Hansen is bidding to sign off the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship campaign with a champagne celebration in Hong Kong next month (11-12 November).

On the pace in both SuperPole sessions in Cape Town – lapping fourth-quickest on Saturday and third-fastest on Sunday – Hansen topped the times in heat three on the opening day of racing to cement second spot in the intermediate classification behind Johan Kristoffersson. However, a coming-together with Ole Christian Veiby in the sister Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS entry – not for the first time this year – cost him a likely podium in the final.

Further contact at the beginning of heat one the next day pitched the Swede sideways, before he found himself under attack from Klara Andersson shortly after the start of Sunday’s final, sending his ZEROID X1 car into a tankslapper that caused him to swipe the tyre wall. A penalty for his CE Dealer Team rival subsequently elevated him from fifth to fourth in the overall result.

That means Hansen heads to Hong Kong sitting just fifth in the points table, with work to do if he is to extend his recent run of four consecutive top three championship finishes. Around the championship’s first-ever city centre circuit, it is a challenge he is relishing.

“Since Cape Town, our focus has been on fine-tuning and learning so we can bring a better all-round package to Hong Kong,” reflected the 2019 world champion. “It will be a different approach to usual – with no prior experience of the track, we’ll need to drive a bit more based on feeling.

“It’s super-close in these cars, and I have to say, with the downtown location and beautiful skyline, the circuit looks epic – and we’re aiming to put on a massive show. We’ve got really high hopes going to Hong Kong and we will try to be on it from the beginning. We’ll definitely be pushing for the win.”

Tickets for World RX of Hong Kong, China can be purchased here.