Hansen: World RX is moving in the right direction

Kevin Hansen is confident that the FIA World Rallycross Championship is ‘moving in the right direction’ following the confirmation of its 2024 calendar earlier this week, as he underscored the importance of taking the sport to new territories.

World RX’s forthcoming campaign – set to race into life at Höljes in Sweden at the beginning of July – will herald the advent of the eagerly-anticipated ‘Battle of Technologies’, which will pitch the cutting-edge electric RX1e cars head-to-head against their sustainably-fuelled RX1 combustion counterparts for the very first time. It is a prospect that Hansen – a career-high second in last year’s world championship standings – is clearly relishing.

“It’s something that has never previously been done in motorsport, but I think it’s a very exciting change,” he told Swedish regional daily newspaper Nya Lidkopings-Tidningen. “Most importantly from our perspective, with the regulations stipulating that the combustion cars must run on sustainable fuels, we have retained an environmentally-friendly approach.

“I’m very much involved in Hansen Motorsport’s operations on a day-to-day basis, which includes close liaison with the championship promoter, event organisers and the FIA. We regularly discuss our vision for the sport and how we want to see it evolve in the short and medium-term. I’m very satisfied with the way things are going – we’re moving in the right direction.”

That optimism similarly extends to the forthcoming calendar, which includes a raft of rallycross favourites – as well as a new season finale in Australia.

“I think this is a fantastic step for World RX,” Hansen enthused. “It’s so important that we continue to explore new markets and take our incredible sport to new audiences to really help it to grow, like we did in Hong Kong last year.

“Motorsport passion in Australia is simply incredible. Some of the most iconic races are held there, so for World RX to head ‘Down Under’ for the first time will be a real buzz. For me personally, considering my close relationship with Molly Taylor – one of our #YellowSquad drivers from 2023 – it will be great to finally visit the country I’ve heard so much about. Just like the fans in Hong Kong, I’m sure the Australians will fall in love with this insane adrenaline sport!”

Those sentiments are echoed by elder brother and Hansen World RX Team stablemate Timmy Hansen, who hopes to see more new venues added to the schedule following the success of the championship’s inaugural city-centre contest last November.

“The crowd in Hong Kong was absolutely amazing and it was a fantastic event to end the season – a real high and a huge win for the sport,” the 2019 world champion reflected. “To see rallycross growing and to put on a great show like that gives me a lot of motivation. I love this sport. I grew up with rallycross. It’s in my heart, and I want to give everything I can to it. Hopefully we can have more events like this moving forward. Let’s shoot for the stars!”