Hansens target return to winning ways at happy hunting-ground

Ferratum World RX of Sweden marked the first time in over a year that neither of the siblings had reached the rostrum in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, with each of them claiming a best finish of fourth at the ‘Magic Weekend’ – but three weeks on, they are confident of a stronger showing.

The forthcoming double-header represents Hungary’s debut on the World Championship calendar, with Nyirád’s challenging and undulating nature notorious for punishing even the tiniest of errors. Moreover, the ‘Red Cauldron’ – so-called due to the distinctive colour of its unsealed surfaces, having been built on the site of a disused bauxite quarry – has been a happy hunting-ground for Hansen Motorsport in the past.

Team Principal Kenneth Hansen prevailed there in 2008, on the way to the last of his record-breaking 14 European Championship crowns. Timmy Hansen then replicated that feat five years later – the Swede’s breakthrough victory on the international rallycross scene – before both he and younger brother Kevin triumphed at the track in Titans RX in 2019.

After both finals at Höljes were won by Johan Kristoffersson – claiming first blood for the sustainably-fuelled combustion cars in World RX’s new ‘Battle of Technologies’ – the Hansens are bidding to strike back with their pair of electric Peugeot 208 RX1es this weekend...

“Höljes was a bit more challenging than we had hoped,” acknowledged 2019 World Champion, Timmy Hansen. “It seems like we’ve got to do a lot of work to understand the new tyres, but as always there’s great motivation within the team. We’re pushing forward with new ideas and I’m excited to come to Hungary.”

“I’m looking forward to Nyirád –  it’s the first time I’ve been back since 2019,” added Kevin Hansen, who sits one position and two points further adrift in the championship standings. “It’s one of the more exciting tracks as it’s super-narrow between the walls and quick.

“Hopefully, this circuit will suit our technology a bit better, but we are well-prepared and working hard all the time. There are obviously restraints on how much we can do over a season due to the regulations, however we are doing our best to figure out a way forward to improve from Höljes.”