Timmy Hansen takes first home win in another one-two finish
FIA World Rallycross Championship leaders Hansen World RX Team scored its first one-two finish on home soil, as Timmy Hansen led home younger brother Kevin at World RX of Sweden in Höljes.
Wins for both drivers in their respective semi-finals set up an all-Hansen front-row for the final, with Timmy leading away from pole position and holding the top spot all the way to the chequered flag in typically unflappable style.
Only a second behind across the line was Kevin, who briefly went side-by-side with Timmy through turn one in the final before ceding track position into the tight second turn.
Timmy’s run to victory had been a confident and assured one, finishing as top qualifier for the second consecutive race weekend ahead of Johan Kristoffersson. His performance in the first semi-final was similarly controlled, putting in an assured lights-to-flag win to bag a maximum 30-point haul from his home race.
Second place was a testament to Kevin’s perseverance, as being one of the last drivers selected for the grid draw on Friday made qualifying a difficult endeavour.
Kevin had found himself starting on the far side of the grid throughout qualifying and, finding himself stuck in traffic in every race, struggled to show his true pace and could only manage sixth place in the final intermediate standings.
Starting third in the second semi-final, Kevin followed up a strong start with an early joker strategy, which paid dividends as he leapfrogged Krisztián Szabó for the win. His progress up the order was also aided by Johan Kristoffersson pulling off with car trouble, sealing a front-row slot alongside Timmy in the final.
Victory for Timmy ends an eight-year wait for Hansen World RX Team to secure its first home win at world championship level. Timmy had previously won on the road in 2015 before a post-race penalty demoted him to second – but this time around no last-lap pass was needed to cross the line in first place.
After his win in Barcelona, Kevin had started the year leading the World RX standings but the brothers have now switched places, as Timmy’s perfect 30-point score jumped puts him six points up on Kevin in second overall.
Hansen World RX Team also further strengthened its lead in the teams’ championship, building its advantage over GRX SET to 40 points.
Second place was a testament to Kevin’s perseverance, as being one of the last drivers selected for the grid draw on Friday made qualifying a difficult endeavour.
Kevin had found himself starting on the far side of the grid throughout qualifying and, finding himself stuck in traffic in every race, struggled to show his true pace and could only manage sixth place in the final intermediate standings.
Starting third in the second semi-final, Kevin followed up a strong start with an early joker strategy, which paid dividends as he leapfrogged Krisztián Szabó for the win. His progress up the order was also aided by Johan Kristoffersson pulling off with car trouble, sealing a front-row slot alongside Timmy in the final.
Victory for Timmy ends an eight-year wait for Hansen World RX Team to secure its first home win at world championship level. Timmy had previously won on the road in 2015 before a post-race penalty demoted him to second – but this time around no last-lap pass was needed to cross the line in first place.
After his win in Barcelona, Kevin had started the year leading the World RX standings but the brothers have now switched places, as Timmy’s perfect 30-point score jumped puts him six points up on Kevin in second overall.
Hansen World RX Team also further strengthened its lead in the teams’ championship, building its advantage over GRX SET to 40 points.
