The first of 10 rounds of the World Rallycross Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi: a brand-new venue that uses parts of the world’s most advanced Formula 1 circuit. It’s a glamorous start to a spectacular season that takes in nearly every continent, combining traditional venues with exciting new adventures. It’s a fresh start to for the newly-reformed Hansen team too: a historic name from the past that is re-born as a fully privateer team this year. At the wheel of two identical 2018-specification Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars are Timmy Hansen and Kevin Hansen, while former rallycross champions Kenneth Hansen and Susann Hansen make up the team management (as well as being mum and dad). Strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride.

Timmy Hansen, #21 Peugeot 208 WRX

“In some ways, this year feels very familiar – as it will be my sixth year driving a Peugeot, the livery is similar, and many of the team members are the same as last year – but at the same time, it also feels very different. “I’m back driving the car that I had at the start of 2018, which is the same specification as Kevin’s car, and that was actually the car I felt most comfortable with and suited my driving style best. “The Abu Dhabi track looks very exciting: quite quick but also rewarding to drive and with plenty of opportunities to overtake. I’ve always watched the Formula 1 Grand Prix on TV there, so that gave me a little bit of an idea about what to expect.”

Kevin Hansen, #71 Peugeot 208 WRX

“After the hardest winter of my career so far, I’m really glad that we’re here for the start of the first round with our family team, where there’s a fantastic atmosphere. We’re all looking forward to the challenge ahead. “I’m driving the same car as I did at the end of last year, and I think it’s going to be well suited to the Abu Dhabi circuit. It’s really nice to have such a glamourous start to the season here: I think it’s a good sign of the completely fresh start that we have with the championship now. “The competition will be different but no less difficult than before: it’s really impossible to make a prediction about who will come out on top.”

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal

“We’ve had some big changes over the winter and just being on the grid is a massive victory in itself. Now we’re here, we have to make the best of it as a small team again and that’s a great challenge for us, which we’re all looking forward to. “We saw the Abu Dhabi track for the first time during the track walk and I have to say it was a very nice surprise: there was more up and down than I thought and it was also wider than I thought. It reminds me a little bit of the track that was in Turkey, so I think it has the potential to be a really good rallycross circuit. “As for our approach to the event, it’s definitely going to be wait and see. It’s impossible to say now who’s going to be quick and where we’re going to end up – and that’s what makes it so exciting!”