Kevin Hansen leading his older brother Timmy Hansen. PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media |
Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen are currently 5th and 6th in the drivers' standings. They both still have the chance to improve their results this weekend. The team’s Junior driver, Kevin Hansen, is fully recovered from his accident at the Estering and is determined to improve on his current 8th position in the standings, having previously shown that he has the speed.
Timmy Hansen was the second best driver at the inaugural World Rallycross championship round in Cape Town last year, securing two wins in the qualifying heats and going on to secure a second place finish behind race winner Johan Kristoffersson.
“South Africa is a lot of fun and I enjoyed racing on the track last year – I finished 2nd– so I’m looking forward to going back," said Timmy Hansen. "It’s a modern-style circuit with quite a lot of grip on the gravel, where you can find a nice rhythm and let the car flow."
Timmy has been showing strong pace in his Peugeot 208 WRX EVO this season, but has not had the luck. The Swede was hit with two engine penalties in Latvia and America dropping him out of contention for second place in the drivers' standings.
Hansen is hungrier then ever to claim a win for Team Peugeot Total at the teams last event in the championship.
"I’m obviously really hungry to get a win with the 208 WRX Evo: we’ve been in the final and very close on so many occasions, but just missing that small final ingredient, or bit of luck, to get there," the Swede said.
Team Peugeot Total took to the track in Portugal with Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen working on improving the car ahead of the season finale.
The Hansen Family: Kenneth (left), Kevin, Timmy and Susann Hansen (right) PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media |
Timmy's younger brother Kevin Hansen suffered a nasty crash in the World Rallycross Championship round in Buxtehude, Germany and is fully recovered and raring to go racing, despite it being an emotional weekend as Team Peugeot Total bow out of the sport.
“For a number of reasons I think South Africa will be a very emotional event for everyone in our team and we’ll be giving it absolutely everything we have: there’s no point holding back," said Kevin Hansen.
Kevin progressed to the final's last year in Cape Town, but never made it to Turn 1 due to mechanical issues with his car.
"I like the track a lot because there’s a nice rhythm to it, with quite a high average speed, and there are plenty of spectators that give the place a very nice atmosphere," the young Swede said
Hansen is aiming to carry his speed from Germany into the season finale in South Africa, and he has set his sights on a podium finish.
"From my point of view, I’m just going to go absolutely flat-out from the start: we know we have a car that is fast and reliable. In Buxtehude I was absolutely on course for a podium, so I want to try and get that back in South Africa," says Hansen.
"I’ve learned so much from being in a professional factory team like Peugeot, so now my goal is to put that to good use.”
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