Hansen World RX Team on the hunt for more podiums in Portugal
Returning to Montalegre this week for the penultimate double-header of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship (7-8 September), the most historic outfit in rallycross will be looking to secure a strong performance at the Portuguese venue.
A steadfast feature in the World RX calendar, the long straight of Montalegre could prove an advantage for the Hansen squad’s electric Peugeot 208 beasts. The last time the team, part of the wider Hansen Motorsport organisation, visited the circuit Kevin Hansen kickstarted his 2023 campaign with second place.
Both Kevin and team-mate Timmy Hansen enter the fray in Portugal this weekend fresh off the back of podium success in Belgium. The Swedish outfit produced a tactical masterclass in the Round 5 Final in Mettet, where a full team effort saw Kevin keep the chasing pack at bay while Timmy pulled ahead to take his first World RX win since the 2022 World RX of Catalunya.
Timmy’s fourteenth World RX victory has promoted the Swede to fourth in the 2024 championship standings, just five points adrift of OC Veiby in second and only one point behind Kevin, with four rounds remaining.
Back-to-back podiums in Rounds 5 and 6 puts Kevin in a strong position heading into the penultimate event of 2024. Third in Mettet on the Saturday was followed by second place on Sunday, and the 26-year-old will be looking to ride that momentum into the upcoming rounds in Portugal.
The Hansen team will be on the hunt for more podiums in this weekend’s action. Keep up to date with the racing on Rally.TV, via the World RX website, and on the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “It’s time for Rounds 7 and 8 and we’re really looking forward to going back to Portugal. The track at Montalegre is a very nice one with a long straight but also a gravel section where it feels fantastic to be sideways and trying to overtake.
“We have worked a little on the car so hopefully that can help take us forward. Of course, what we are targeting is both drivers in the top three, and we feel that is possible. It is so close between second, third, and fourth in the standings, so let’s see if we have a good weekend.”
Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “I think finally we can say we have reached a track where we might have a little bit of an advantage. That long straight should suit our electric cars, and it’s going to be great to look at that from the start line knowing that we have more power. Hopefully we can nail our starts and be first heading into the first corner.
“I’m really looking forward to being back in Portugal. We have a lot of Hansen fans there thanks to our dad’s success in the past, so I can’t wait to be back sending it round the big curbs and gravel section and hopefully getting my first win of the season!”
Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “The results in Belgium were just what the team needed and we’re going to be riding that momentum into these next rounds in Portugal. The track at Montalegre is one that both Kevin and I enjoy, and our family have had some success here before, so we’ll be channelling that and everything we have learned so far this season into this weekend’s races.
“The testing that we did after Hungary really paid off and the car is feeling so much better. Thanks to that and some amazing teamwork we are still in the fight and the team are feeling great. We will keep giving it everything we’ve got and if we keep playing the game right maybe we can steal some more wins.”
A steadfast feature in the World RX calendar, the long straight of Montalegre could prove an advantage for the Hansen squad’s electric Peugeot 208 beasts. The last time the team, part of the wider Hansen Motorsport organisation, visited the circuit Kevin Hansen kickstarted his 2023 campaign with second place.
Both Kevin and team-mate Timmy Hansen enter the fray in Portugal this weekend fresh off the back of podium success in Belgium. The Swedish outfit produced a tactical masterclass in the Round 5 Final in Mettet, where a full team effort saw Kevin keep the chasing pack at bay while Timmy pulled ahead to take his first World RX win since the 2022 World RX of Catalunya.
Timmy’s fourteenth World RX victory has promoted the Swede to fourth in the 2024 championship standings, just five points adrift of OC Veiby in second and only one point behind Kevin, with four rounds remaining.
Back-to-back podiums in Rounds 5 and 6 puts Kevin in a strong position heading into the penultimate event of 2024. Third in Mettet on the Saturday was followed by second place on Sunday, and the 26-year-old will be looking to ride that momentum into the upcoming rounds in Portugal.
The Hansen team will be on the hunt for more podiums in this weekend’s action. Keep up to date with the racing on Rally.TV, via the World RX website, and on the Hansen team’s social media channels.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal at Hansen World RX Team, said: “It’s time for Rounds 7 and 8 and we’re really looking forward to going back to Portugal. The track at Montalegre is a very nice one with a long straight but also a gravel section where it feels fantastic to be sideways and trying to overtake.
“We have worked a little on the car so hopefully that can help take us forward. Of course, what we are targeting is both drivers in the top three, and we feel that is possible. It is so close between second, third, and fourth in the standings, so let’s see if we have a good weekend.”
Kevin Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “I think finally we can say we have reached a track where we might have a little bit of an advantage. That long straight should suit our electric cars, and it’s going to be great to look at that from the start line knowing that we have more power. Hopefully we can nail our starts and be first heading into the first corner.
“I’m really looking forward to being back in Portugal. We have a lot of Hansen fans there thanks to our dad’s success in the past, so I can’t wait to be back sending it round the big curbs and gravel section and hopefully getting my first win of the season!”
Timmy Hansen, Hansen World RX Team driver, said: “The results in Belgium were just what the team needed and we’re going to be riding that momentum into these next rounds in Portugal. The track at Montalegre is one that both Kevin and I enjoy, and our family have had some success here before, so we’ll be channelling that and everything we have learned so far this season into this weekend’s races.
“The testing that we did after Hungary really paid off and the car is feeling so much better. Thanks to that and some amazing teamwork we are still in the fight and the team are feeling great. We will keep giving it everything we’ve got and if we keep playing the game right maybe we can steal some more wins.”
in World RX
