Two-time Nitro Rallycross champions Red Bull Hansen NRX Team are back to defend their title this week at Salt Lake City, Utah, the first round in a five-stop Nitro RX season. Kevin Hansen begins the defence of his 2019 crown at this weekend’s season-opener, with 2018 Nitro RX winner and current World RX points leader Timmy Hansen in a second Peugeot 208 WRX. For its first two seasons, Nitro RX was a one-off showcase event at Utah Motorsports Campus, a purpose-built rallycross track designed by extreme sports legend Travis Pastrana. Four more tracks have been added to create a series calendar that starts on September 24-25 and runs all the way to early December. A busy week of action lies ahead for Red Bull Hansen NRX Team. Only three days after the conclusion of World RX of Riga, the team is already back on track for jump practice over the iconic 100-foot leap that forms the centrepiece of the Utah track on Wednesday. That’s followed by a full day of practice on Thursday before the real action starts on Friday. Nitro RX features an innovative new format that emphasises close racing. After a solo qualifying by each racer, the drivers are seeded into Battle Brackets, a one-versus-one eliminator tournament that awards pole position for the second day of action. On day two, the fastest two drivers from each of the two heat races get a pass straight through to the final, while the rest progress on to the semi-finals. From there, another four drivers make it through to the final, followed by a last chance qualifier to make it into the all-important Final. Unlike a World RX event there’s 10 cars in the final rather than six – providing even more opportunities for a last-minute twist.

Kevin Hansen, #9 Peugeot 208

“It’s super exciting to finally be here in the States. It’s a new adventure for our team to compete in a full American series and for Nitro RX to step up to a full series. It’s great to come back to Salt Lake City and feel the vibe from the crowds here. “It’s a completely new format for rallycross we’ve never seen before and the starting line-up is exciting. There’s some very strong competition against fast cars but I believe we have a great car underneath us and I think it should suit this track very well. “It’s going to be a hectic season but we’re here, we’re prepared, and we can’t wait to hit the track. The gap jump is epic, the other corners and jumps on the course are very challenging, and I think all the tracks are going to be like this. It’s like going up a level on a video game.”

Timmy Hansen, #21 Peugeot 208

“We’ve flown here directly from Riga to arrive here – it’s a packed schedule! It’s nice to be back here in Utah and it’s cool to see the grid here, with several new cars and the expectations being high for this new season in America. The track looks as spectacular as ever – the big jump is still there. “This American version of our car that I’ll be driving is interesting. Everything looks good and we’re feeling good, even if slightly jet-lagged. But it only takes a day or two to acclimatise and it’ll be business as usual come race day. It’s an exciting week ahead.”