Team Peugeot Total aim to maximize their full potential at the Estering.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIAWorldRallycross.com

Team Peugeot Total returns to competition at the penultimate round of the FIA World RX championship this weekend in Germany. The Estering track should suit the Peugeot 208 WRX Evo.

Estering track is fast and contains a lot of variety in terms of speeds and grip, as well as many challenges for the drivers. The circuit is 952 metres long and contains a 60-40% asphalt to gravel split, with the track width varying between 10 and 16 metres.

“Germany is quite challenging. It’s a track where you fly a lot because there’s not much grip at all, either on the asphalt or the gravel, and this makes it particularly tricky," said Loeb. "It’s reasonably narrow but it's interesting."

Sébastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen kept up Peugeot Total’s track record of progressing to the Finals, last time out in the United States. They were classified in 5th and 6th respectively. 

The Estering may not be the Frenchman's favourite track, but he aims to maximize the full potential of his Peugeot 208 RX Evo. "To be honest it’s not my favourite place, but I hope with our latest evolutions that the car will be competitive there and we can get a result," says Loeb. "As usual, the objective will be to have a clean weekend from the very start and avoid running in traffic: this is the real key to success in rallycross."

Loeb's teammate Timmy Hansen really had a tough weekend at the World RX of USA, and has dropped out of contention for second place in the championship after taking a second engine penalty, which sees him 30 points down, from his teammate Loeb. Despite the difficult weekend in the United States, Hansen is ready to go racing. 

"After the weekend in the United States, where it’s very difficult to overtake, Buxtehude will be a bit different; anything can happen," said Timmy Hansen. "I’m looking forward to being there: it’s the sort of place where you throw the car into the corner, get on the throttle, throw up some gravel and enjoy yourself." 

Timmy sets his sights on victory in Germany: "I was second in Germany last year, so it’s clear that there’s only one way to improve!”

After his promising performance in the USA, Timmy's younger brother and Peugeot Total's junior driver Kevin Hansen is eager to join his teammates in the Final once more this season. After securing a place in the final, in the last 2 years Kevin is raring to have another opportunity to prove himself.

"I’ve been in the Final for the last 2 years there, so I really have a good feeling with the place and I hope to do well again now," said Kevin. "Traditional gravel like you have in Germany is much looser, so you have to slide the car more and be quite aggressive with it: that’s great fun!”