Team HANSEN MJP returns to a happy hunting ground in Canada for round seven of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Consecutive wins at Trois-Rivières in 2015 and 2016 mean that team has good past form at the temporary city circuit venue. But there’s also strong form in the present, with both Kevin and Timmy Hansen performing superlatively in last weekend’s Titans RX round at Lydden Hill. Kevin, who currently tops the FIA World RX standings by six points from his older brother Timmy, comes to Canada off the back of his first Titans RX win at Lydden, making him championship leader in both World RX and Titans RX. Timmy is equally on form: he scored two second places at Lydden Hill to move into third in the Titans RX series, and was also a World RX of Canada winner in 2016. Both Timmy and Kevin will now jump back into their Peugeot 208 WRX machines this week, with plenty of positive momentum behind the team and its drivers ahead of the special challenge of Trois-Rivières.

Timmy Hansen, #21 Peugeot 208 WRX

“Canada is one of my favourite circuits of the year, because it’s a really complete rallycross track. You have asphalt, you have gravel, you have a bit of everything. The asphalt and gravel are in two distinct sections and there’s a jump between each section so you really have to switch from one mode to the next. “The asphalt section has the highest top speed of the year, and it’s somewhere that you have to use all the road, getting as close to the walls as you dare, and that’s where you can really make up time. So you need to be quite brave!”

Kevin Hansen, #71 Peugeot 208 WRX

“I’m really looking forward to Canada. It’s a really cool track and every year we go there, it seems to be getting better and better. It’s been a really busy weekend – we were at Lydden Hill for Titans RX and had a really great result there, so I’m very pleased about that. “It’s a nice atmosphere with our travel to Canada, because we have rented a house this year, which keeps the costs down but also means we stay together. The atmosphere in the team is great, and the fact that we can spend more time together means we have lots of great discussions and can think longer about how to improve the car.”

Kenneth Hansen, Team Principal

“We go to Canada with the objective of trying to put a bit more speed in the car. In Sweden we were a little bit disappointed with the pace, so we have one or two ideas that we can maybe use in Canada to go a little bit faster. “Timmy and Kevin know what to do: we’re not worried about them racing each other. The important thing is that they have respect for each other. Even if they have contact, the main thing is that they have respect, so I have every faith in them to drive according to what is needed. “We know we’ve got our work cut out: we’ve had some good results as a team and with the drivers, but it’s far from an easy year. Our rivals are very strong, as always.”