Former single seater driver Tamas Pal Kiss has announced that he will tackle both the FIA European Rallycross Championship and the Hungarian Rallycross Championship in 2016. The Hungarian driver will pilot the same ex-Hansen Development Peugeot 208 Supercar that he drove in the Italian round of last years EuroRX Finale.
Kiss made the switch to Rallycross in 2015 and qualified the Peugeot 208 WRX on the front row for the EuroRX Supercar Final, however in 2016 the Hungarian based Speed Box Racing team will run the car in both championships. Kiss confirms that there will also be assistance from the Peugeot-Hansen squad also: “I’m really excited to be able to commit to a full season of Euro RX in such a fantastic car. We wanted the best car available and we’ve built a good relationship with the Hansen family. We decided that we would buy the car I raced in Italy and it will be run by our own team, with some technical support from the Hansen team,” said Kiss.
The Hungarian driver has already set his targets for this year, having only just received the car back from Sweden: “I would like to be on the podium a couple of times in Euro RX this year, and we have a clear target to try and win the Hungarian championship. We have just received the car from Sweden, where it has been fully rebuilt and now we’re preparing for the first round of the Hungarian Championship,” said Kiss, who will continue his relationship with the Hansen family this season, “The Hansen’s operate on a very high professional level. They are very helpful and kind. They have a very similar way of working to us, and we get on extremely well. I’m excited to work with them this year.”
The former single seater driver is excited by the continued growth of rallycross. “We realised the potential of the sport and the new era on time. I have been looking for full year of international challenges and for sure I have made a correct decision. The format is very exciting for spectators, partners and television. I can see me doing this for a long time.”
Speed Box Racing Team Boss Laszlo Kiss Jun is well aware of the challenge ahead of the team, “The whole package is new for the team and driver,” he said. “The start of the year will be challenging, but it will be ideal preparation for the first Euro RX race. The whole team is motivated and very determined to achieve success.”
Team Peugeot-Hansen Team Principal Kenneth Hansen will be keeping an eye on how Kiss develops in Euro RX this season, “We’ve known Tamas since the days he and Timmy (Hansen) did circuit racing together.
“We worked with him for the first time in 2015 and he impressed us with the professional way he faced the challenges of a new sport and team. Tamas is a highly skilled driver and with the speed he has, we believe he will have a successful future in the Peugeot 208 WRX.”
