HANSEN WORLD RX TEAM TARGETS VICTORY IN PORTUGAL
From the technical, abrasive circuit in Riga, Latvia almost two weeks ago, the FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to the fast, flowing gravel-heavy circuit of Montalegre in Portugal this weekend for the second double-header of the season, where the Hansen World RX Team is targeting its first victories of the year.
The reigning World RX Teams’ Champions took a step forward in performance last time out in Riga, and came tantalising close to claiming victory in each of the two rounds, but instead left with a trio of podiums with drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen.
The Swedish brothers, who also challenged for victory at the Montalegre circuit last year, are now focusing, along with the entire Hansen team, on the new challenge this weekend with the all-new all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e machines introduced to the highest level in rallycross for 2022.
As World RX charges into a more sustainable new era with the introduction of the electric machines, then multiple European and World Championship winning Hansen team – having made its biggest ever investment in the discipline – has faced one of its biggest challenges too, to get on top of the new technology in the 500kW, four-wheel-drive car, and with a podium in every event so far in 2022, is focused on climbing onto the top step of the rostrum this weekend, with two opportunities to do so in the two individual rounds.
The Montalegre circuit was introduced to international rallycross in 2007, but will feature a revised layout for 2022, with a new-look first corner and a re-located joker lap in a bid to bring even more excitement to the racing action.
Key Facts | Montalegre RX
Where
The Montalegre Circuit is situated high in the mountainous Vila Real region of Portugal and is one of the drivers’ favourite venues, the track home to big kerbs and a fast, flowing gravel sections. For 2022, the lap has been changed, turn one will now be in what used to be the joker lap, while the joker lap section has been moved to between turns two and five, and will now be on loose surface too.
When
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [September 17-18] via the World RX Website.
Saturday September 17
Practice: 09:00
SuperPole: 10:30
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00
Sunday September 18
Warm-up: 09:00
SuperPole: 09:35
Heat 1: 11:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00
Blast from the past
Hansen Motorsport introduced a new car for the 2006 FIA European Rallycross Championship, a Citroen C4, but a small problem while testing with engineer supplier Oreca in France on the way to the first round delayed the team.
Then, when mechanic Kennet Nyberg, who still works for the team today, picked up a sickness bug, it was left to Kenneth Hansen himself to drive the team’s bus from France to Lousada in Portugal, something he describes as ‘the worse journey ever’.
But, the weekend went better than the journey, Hansen won the event, his eight Portuguese victory, in front of the passionate Portuguese crowd.
“We learned a lot at the last race in Riga which we will carry forward into this weekend. I hope the pace we had on the second day there will mean we can really be fighting for the win in Portugal.
This is a is a track with more gravel than we’ve had so far this year, and there have been some changes there. I think the first corner will be better than before as it’s a little more open, so it’s possible to go more than one car wide into it.
It’s difficult to say how the joker lap will be until we really see it, but it’s very good that the organisers are trying to make changes, and it’s great that the joker will be in front of a grandstand.”
“Portugal is the most gravel style circuit that we have on the calendar and I think it’s a favourite for all of the drivers. The rhythm you can get there is incredible through the gravel section, throwing the car over the massive kerbs.
It’s going to be a big challenge setting these new cars up for the gravel sections which relative to Riga are very different. Last year Portugal might have been our strongest track in terms of pace, we didn’t win the event, we came second and third after a big battle in the final. I’m going there with high hopes that we can be strong and we can take some good results and climb back into the championship fight. I’m very excited to dive into the weekend.”
“The season so far has been has been busy and very short. We’ve had a very steep learning curve to climb, we’ve still only properly run the cars for six days in total, so we’re still looking for solid ground.
From the last race in Riga I think we have found a solid direction to take the car, which is really good. We have some exciting times ahead, Portugal is very different to Riga and it’s going to be very interesting setting the cars up for going sideways, I think we will have to compromise on setup.
I think we’ll see a new top speed record on the long straight, going more than 200kph down into turn one. Hopefully we can fight for the wins this weekend.”
More free great photos, videos and other content on Red Bull Contentpool for editorial use.
Remember to ger RX+ All Live to see ALL the ACTION from the new electric FIA World Rallycross Championship.
The Swedish brothers, who also challenged for victory at the Montalegre circuit last year, are now focusing, along with the entire Hansen team, on the new challenge this weekend with the all-new all-electric Peugeot 208 RX1e machines introduced to the highest level in rallycross for 2022.
As World RX charges into a more sustainable new era with the introduction of the electric machines, then multiple European and World Championship winning Hansen team – having made its biggest ever investment in the discipline – has faced one of its biggest challenges too, to get on top of the new technology in the 500kW, four-wheel-drive car, and with a podium in every event so far in 2022, is focused on climbing onto the top step of the rostrum this weekend, with two opportunities to do so in the two individual rounds.
The Montalegre circuit was introduced to international rallycross in 2007, but will feature a revised layout for 2022, with a new-look first corner and a re-located joker lap in a bid to bring even more excitement to the racing action.
Key Facts | Montalegre RX
Where
The Montalegre Circuit is situated high in the mountainous Vila Real region of Portugal and is one of the drivers’ favourite venues, the track home to big kerbs and a fast, flowing gravel sections. For 2022, the lap has been changed, turn one will now be in what used to be the joker lap, while the joker lap section has been moved to between turns two and five, and will now be on loose surface too.
When
All of the action is broadcast on the RX+ All Live platform this weekend [September 17-18] via the World RX Website.
Saturday September 17
Practice: 09:00
SuperPole: 10:30
Heat 1: 12:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00
Sunday September 18
Warm-up: 09:00
SuperPole: 09:35
Heat 1: 11:00
Heat 2: 13:30
Progression: 15:00
Semi-Final and Final: 17:00
Blast from the past
Hansen Motorsport introduced a new car for the 2006 FIA European Rallycross Championship, a Citroen C4, but a small problem while testing with engineer supplier Oreca in France on the way to the first round delayed the team.
Then, when mechanic Kennet Nyberg, who still works for the team today, picked up a sickness bug, it was left to Kenneth Hansen himself to drive the team’s bus from France to Lousada in Portugal, something he describes as ‘the worse journey ever’.
But, the weekend went better than the journey, Hansen won the event, his eight Portuguese victory, in front of the passionate Portuguese crowd.
Kenneth Hansen HANSEN World RX Team – Team Principal
“We learned a lot at the last race in Riga which we will carry forward into this weekend. I hope the pace we had on the second day there will mean we can really be fighting for the win in Portugal.
This is a is a track with more gravel than we’ve had so far this year, and there have been some changes there. I think the first corner will be better than before as it’s a little more open, so it’s possible to go more than one car wide into it.
It’s difficult to say how the joker lap will be until we really see it, but it’s very good that the organisers are trying to make changes, and it’s great that the joker will be in front of a grandstand.”
Timmy Hansen Hansen World RX Team – Driver
“Portugal is the most gravel style circuit that we have on the calendar and I think it’s a favourite for all of the drivers. The rhythm you can get there is incredible through the gravel section, throwing the car over the massive kerbs.
It’s going to be a big challenge setting these new cars up for the gravel sections which relative to Riga are very different. Last year Portugal might have been our strongest track in terms of pace, we didn’t win the event, we came second and third after a big battle in the final. I’m going there with high hopes that we can be strong and we can take some good results and climb back into the championship fight. I’m very excited to dive into the weekend.”
Kevin Hansen Hansen World RX Team – Driver
“The season so far has been has been busy and very short. We’ve had a very steep learning curve to climb, we’ve still only properly run the cars for six days in total, so we’re still looking for solid ground.
From the last race in Riga I think we have found a solid direction to take the car, which is really good. We have some exciting times ahead, Portugal is very different to Riga and it’s going to be very interesting setting the cars up for going sideways, I think we will have to compromise on setup.
I think we’ll see a new top speed record on the long straight, going more than 200kph down into turn one. Hopefully we can fight for the wins this weekend.”
More free great photos, videos and other content on Red Bull Contentpool for editorial use.
Remember to ger RX+ All Live to see ALL the ACTION from the new electric FIA World Rallycross Championship. 
