Team HANSEN MJP is heading to a home away from home, as the FIA World Rallycross Championship rolls on to France for its eighth round of the season. The Hansen family has been using PSA Group machinery since 1993 and adopted its current championship-leading car, the Peugeot 208 WRX, in 2015. That makes the annual trip to Lohéac a special one, with plenty of warmth and support from the home fans every year. Both Kevin and Timmy Hansen are also fired up for their return to France, coming off the back of fantastic performances at Nitro Rallycross in Utah earlier this month. World RX championship leader Kevin showed why he is top of the standings with a phenomenal win, fighting off factory-backed ARX driver Patrik Sandell for victory on the world’s most challenging rallycross circuit. There was also a brilliant recovery drive from Timmy, who fought his way back to the podium after being shuffled to last place at the start of the Nitro final. He heads to Lohéac just 14 points behind his younger brother, with their combined efforts ensuring Team HANSEN MJP also leads the teams’ championship after seven rounds.

Timmy Hansen, #21 Peugeot 208 WRX

“It’s been a while since we have won a race – the last time was Silverstone – but I think we have good chances in Loheac. It’s a good circuit for us: the car has been developed and tested on circuits like this, and it’s like a second home being there. We spend so much time in France and the French fans really embrace us. We feel really welcomed when we go there, so I’m excited. “I like those situations like we had in 2015, when I win the qualifying, get pole position, make a good start, get out front and drive my own race. “It’s a new year, new challenge, so I have to be focused again and do everything I can to drive fast, make good starts and take the right decisions.”

Kevin Hansen, #71 Peugeot 208 WRX

“We were not the Team Hansen I am used to in Canada, which is fine and that’s why we are here: we are here to learn, improve and be better. We are up for the challenge to really compete for race wins and the championship. “I think we became a bit lost in the lead we had in the championship and were a bit safe, so now we have learned from that and we can go back to the way we are. We are fast as hell, we work the hardest with the fewest people, and we are the best rallycross team in the world with the two best drivers! “In Loheac we will just aim to come back to that, enjoy it and make it work like we did at the beginning of the season with the correct focus.”

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal

“We run a French car and we are partly based in France, so it feels like a home race. It’s always a warm feeling when we go there. It’s a weekend where we have been able to experience something like an enjoyable home race, without the same type of pressure as that we have in Höljes. That’s always been a source of strength for us, to see all the spectators enjoying the show we put on.”