Team Peugeot-Hansen and its SuperCar drivers Russian Timur Timerzyanov and Swede Timmy Hansen target the World RX Finland podium in Kouvola.
The FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to Kouvola in Finland this weekend for the second of three Scandinavian events in the series, and more crucially, the first of three back-to-back weekends for the teams and drivers.
Team Peugeot-Hansen reached the Final with both of the new 208 WRXs at the previous event in Norway and are targeting a podium finish in Finland, to increase their points in both the teams and drivers championships. Currently fourth in the teams championship, Team Peugeot-Hansen are just 21 points behind second place. Famous for producing World champions in many motorsport disciplines, Finland is also home to some of the most passionate and knowledgeable fans worldwide and will be treated to highly competitive World RX event this weekend, where the team will continue the progression of the 208 WRX.
Teammates Timur Timerzyanov and Timmy Hansen are looking forward to the Kouvola World RX event. © JKR/ERC24
Timur Timerzyanov: “The track in Finland is a special place for me.”
After a season best fourth place finish last time out in Norway, reigning European Rallycross Champion Timur Timerzyanov is excited to be returning to the Kouvola circuit in Finland, a circuit he has fond memories of.
“Finland is a very good track, for me it is similar to Norway and Sweden in that it goes up and down, there are a few jumps there and some tricky corners. It’s pretty technical. The track in Finland is a special place for me. I won my first European Rallycross Championship title there in 2012 and won that race when it was very wet. I’m looking forward to the event, Team Peugeot-Hansen are getting stronger all the time.”
Fourth place overall in Norway was the best 2014 season result so far for Timur Timerzyanov. © JKR/ERC24
Timmy Hansen: “We made a big step forward in Norway.”
Former single-seater race winner Timmy Hansen has shown fantastic speed since embarking on a career in Rallycross at the start of 2013. The young Swede feels that following further improvements to Team Peugeot-Hansen’s 208 in Norway, the car is one of the best he has ever competed in, despite being only three events old.
“Every time we go on track we make improvements. The test before Norway was good, and we made a big step forward during the event. The car is becoming one of the best I have driven. Driving a Rallycross car on the absolute limit is never easy, but the 208 is really allowing me to do that. The circuit in Finland offers all the things a Rallycross track should and technical circuits like this make the gap between the fast and slow guys much bigger; that should play into our hands too.”
Timmy Hansen: “Driving a Rallycross car on the absolute limit is never easy, but the 208 is really allowing me to do that.” © JKR/ERC24
Kenneth Hansen: “Hopefully we can get two cars to the final and fight for a podium.”
Team Principal Kenneth Hansen is targeting another final for both Timerzyanov and Hansen and a place on the podium this weekend in Finland, to increase the team’s points haul. The experienced Swede is confident that despite there being three events in three weekends, Team Peugeot-Hansen have the strength and experience to be strong at each of the events coming up at Kouvola in Finland, Höljes in Sweden and Mettet in Belgium.
“We are starting three events in a row in Finland, but as a team we are strong and we have a lot of experience so I am not worried about that. The track in Finland has suited us really well in the past, hopefully we can get two cars to the final and fight for a podium, the team deserve it for the hard work they have put in together with Red Bull, Total, Oreca and all of our brilliant partners.”
14-times European Rallycross Champion Kenneth Hansen having a chat with OMSE boss Andréas Eriksson. © JKR/ERC24
Top photo: Peugeot campaigner Timmy Hansen and Norwegian Volvo driver Tommy Rustad battle it out. © JKR/ERC24