Team Peugeot Hansen will be back in action in this year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship which promises to deliver yet another fiercely fought season, with the calendar due to kick off in Barcelona, Spain, on April 1-2. Sébastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen have the 2017 Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns in their sights, while young Kevin Hansen will continue his apprenticeship of the world series.
The Franco-Swedish 2015 title-winning squad is busy preparing for its fourth campaign in the rapidly-developing FIA World Rallycross Championship. Building on its performance in 2016, when it secured runner-up honours in the Teams’ standings, Team Peugeot Hansen will once again run two PEUGEOT 208 WRXs, for Sébastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen.
“We won the Teams’ title in 2015 and were runners-up in 2016," said Peugeot Sport Director, Bruno Famin,"so the aim is to take things a step further this time by targeting both the Teams’ and Drivers’ crowns. To achieve that, we know we can count on the services of two battle-hardened drivers since Sébastien Loeb, who will once again be teaming up with Timmy Hansen, now has a complete season’s experience under his belt. That said, we know very that the level of the World Rallycross Championship is improving all the time. We are pleased to see that Audi and Volkswagen have joined Ford and Peugeot by backing strong teams. It’s going to be a quality season. We are continuing our association with Hansen Motorsport as Team Peugeot Hansen. Peugeot Sport is responsible for the cars’ development, while Hansen Motorsport will run them in the championship. We have strengthened our technical squad although our approach will continue to be reasonable and cost-conscious. Although our factory program will still focus on cross-country rallying, we are convinced that rallycross has a bright future ahead of it, so long as the media coverage continues to remain competitive for the costs involved.”
In addition to the two cars that will be eligible for Teams’ points, Team Peugeot Hansen will run, last year’s European Rallycross Champion. The FIA’s ‘Rookie of the Year 2016’ will contest the entire series in a 2016-specification PEUGEOT 208 WRX with a view to gaining further experience at the discipline’s top class.
“I’m very happy to be a full-fledged world rallycross driver at last," said Kevin Hansen, "It’s been a long winter getting to this point after my EuroRX gold in 2016! It feels amazing to have signed for a WorldRX campaign with Team Peugeot Hansen. Personally, for 2017, I would like to find the feeling I had last year behind the wheel of the PEUGEOT 208 WRX and then build on that. I will do my very best and try to eke out a place amongst the sport’s elite. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to get started in Barcelona!”