World RX finale beckons for three-strong Hansen World RX Team in Hong Kong
A brand-new venue, a fresh driver line-up, and an exciting FIA World Rallycross Championship season-finale looms for the Hansen World RX Team in Hong Kong this weekend.
For the first time ever, a double-header of World RX action will take part in one of the world’s most famous cities – Hong Kong – where 2019 FIA World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen, 2016 European Rallycross Champion Kevin Hansen, and double British Rallycross Champion Patrick O’Donovan will fly the flag for the Swedish team.
Following a double podium finish for Kevin Hansen in the penultimate weekend of the season in South Africa, the first time World RX has used identical all-electric Zeroid X1 machines for every team, the 25 year-old sits second in the standings with two points’ scoring rounds remaining.
Timmy Hansen (31) also showed fast pace in South Africa but was out of luck in the final stages of both rounds, but did finish on the podium earlier in the year in the teams’ home round at Höljes, Sweden.
Both will embark on the double-header finale at the brand-new circuit on the Hong Kong waterfront driving the same identical cars in the thick of the fight to claim an overall podium in the 2023 World RX Championship, while the team targets its first victories of the season.
In a third car for the Hong Kong weekend, British driver Patrick O’Donovan makes his World RX debut, having worked with Hansen Motorsport’s Junior programme, #YellowSquad, throughout his maiden FIA European Rallycross Championship campaign, which included a maiden victory at Holjes, Sweden.
The 19-year-old also secured a second successive British Rallycross Championship title last weekend at Lydden Hill, and has previous experience of all-electric racing, having twice claimed victory in the RX2e series, in 2022.
You can watch the action unfold live all weekend on the RallyTV service (via the World RX website) and via the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen said: “It’s our first time in Hong Kong and the first time there is this possibility to have an incredible event in this environment. We don’t know exactly what we’re going into but it’s very interesting, and a new step for rallycross. A new level and a new way. I really hope it’s a big success, giving good entertainment with this new city race. We have worked hard on our own job, to make sure we have at least similar pace and even better to the last race in Cape Town. In these equal cars it’s again a blank sheet of paper, so let’s fill that in and fill it in with a top result.”
Kevin Hansen said: “We’re all really excited for Hong Kong, it’s going to be a fantastic event. So many people have put in so much time and effort to make this happen. For me the future of the World Rallycross Championship is these city centre events so it’s going to be exciting to see how this new flagship event goes together. I’ve heard it’s a great turn out of media and fans, so we can’t wait to get going. In the championship we’re second in the points, it’s a good spot to be and we’re going into the weekend giving 100% trying to get the first win of the season on Saturday. We have a better understanding of the cars now and we’re looking forward to a great weekend.”
Timmy Hansen said: “Hong Kong is new for us, it’s going to look pretty spectacular racing with that skyline in a milestone event for the sport. I hope we can put on a good show for new fans to show them how fantastic rallycross is. It’s the last race of the season, we haven’t won this year yet, so if Kevin or I could get on that top step that would be fantastic for the team to keep the spirits up going into the winter. We have been working hard since Cape Town, there was loads of learning for us there, hopefully we can apply that this weekend. We’re all in to try and achieve the first win, or even two, of the year.”
Patrick O’Donovan said: “I had an amazing time last weekend repeating a childhood dream by winning the British Rallycross Championship for the second year in a row, and now I’m so excited to head into my World RX debut with that title under my belt. I hope I can carry the momentum from Euro RX and 5 Nations BRX this year into my first World RX race with Hansen Motorsport in Hong Kong. Racing on the first city centre circuit in the championship with such an iconic team is going to be amazing. It’s a big step up for me in many respects, but I know the cars and we’ll see what we can do. I can’t wait to reveal our one-off livery later this week.”
For the first time ever, a double-header of World RX action will take part in one of the world’s most famous cities – Hong Kong – where 2019 FIA World RX Drivers’ Champion Timmy Hansen, 2016 European Rallycross Champion Kevin Hansen, and double British Rallycross Champion Patrick O’Donovan will fly the flag for the Swedish team.
Following a double podium finish for Kevin Hansen in the penultimate weekend of the season in South Africa, the first time World RX has used identical all-electric Zeroid X1 machines for every team, the 25 year-old sits second in the standings with two points’ scoring rounds remaining.
Timmy Hansen (31) also showed fast pace in South Africa but was out of luck in the final stages of both rounds, but did finish on the podium earlier in the year in the teams’ home round at Höljes, Sweden.
Both will embark on the double-header finale at the brand-new circuit on the Hong Kong waterfront driving the same identical cars in the thick of the fight to claim an overall podium in the 2023 World RX Championship, while the team targets its first victories of the season.
In a third car for the Hong Kong weekend, British driver Patrick O’Donovan makes his World RX debut, having worked with Hansen Motorsport’s Junior programme, #YellowSquad, throughout his maiden FIA European Rallycross Championship campaign, which included a maiden victory at Holjes, Sweden.
The 19-year-old also secured a second successive British Rallycross Championship title last weekend at Lydden Hill, and has previous experience of all-electric racing, having twice claimed victory in the RX2e series, in 2022.
You can watch the action unfold live all weekend on the RallyTV service (via the World RX website) and via the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen said: “It’s our first time in Hong Kong and the first time there is this possibility to have an incredible event in this environment. We don’t know exactly what we’re going into but it’s very interesting, and a new step for rallycross. A new level and a new way. I really hope it’s a big success, giving good entertainment with this new city race. We have worked hard on our own job, to make sure we have at least similar pace and even better to the last race in Cape Town. In these equal cars it’s again a blank sheet of paper, so let’s fill that in and fill it in with a top result.”
Kevin Hansen said: “We’re all really excited for Hong Kong, it’s going to be a fantastic event. So many people have put in so much time and effort to make this happen. For me the future of the World Rallycross Championship is these city centre events so it’s going to be exciting to see how this new flagship event goes together. I’ve heard it’s a great turn out of media and fans, so we can’t wait to get going. In the championship we’re second in the points, it’s a good spot to be and we’re going into the weekend giving 100% trying to get the first win of the season on Saturday. We have a better understanding of the cars now and we’re looking forward to a great weekend.”
Timmy Hansen said: “Hong Kong is new for us, it’s going to look pretty spectacular racing with that skyline in a milestone event for the sport. I hope we can put on a good show for new fans to show them how fantastic rallycross is. It’s the last race of the season, we haven’t won this year yet, so if Kevin or I could get on that top step that would be fantastic for the team to keep the spirits up going into the winter. We have been working hard since Cape Town, there was loads of learning for us there, hopefully we can apply that this weekend. We’re all in to try and achieve the first win, or even two, of the year.”
Patrick O’Donovan said: “I had an amazing time last weekend repeating a childhood dream by winning the British Rallycross Championship for the second year in a row, and now I’m so excited to head into my World RX debut with that title under my belt. I hope I can carry the momentum from Euro RX and 5 Nations BRX this year into my first World RX race with Hansen Motorsport in Hong Kong. Racing on the first city centre circuit in the championship with such an iconic team is going to be amazing. It’s a big step up for me in many respects, but I know the cars and we’ll see what we can do. I can’t wait to reveal our one-off livery later this week.”
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