Nine time FIA World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has been confirmed as part of the driver line-up at Team Peugeot-Hansen for the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship alongside 2015 runner-up Timmy Hansen.
The Frenchman and the young Swedish driver will both pilot Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars as Team Peugeot-Hansen looks to secure its second FIA World Rallycross Teams Championship in a row. Loeb, who for the past two years has been a works driver for the all conquering Citroen Racing squad in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, is looking forward to the challenge of a full season in WorldRX:
“I’m very excited by this opportunity to participate in the full FIA World Rallycross Championship for the first time,” explained 42-year-old Loeb. “Over the years I have been fortunate to participate in some truly amazing racing, but rallycross – with the sheer power and the competitiveness of the Peugeot 208 WRX plus the intense nature of the competition – will be something very special. The car and the strategy for this type of racing is completely new to me, so I have a lot to learn, but I hope I can be competitive pretty soon.”
Team Principal Kenneth Hansen is confident of Loeb’s ability to adapt in his first full season of WorldRX:
“Last season we proved that we had the potential to perform in the series with Timmy Hansen and Davy Jeanney. By adding Sebastien Loeb to the equation, we will be even stronger. Rallycross is one of the hardest disciplines to dominate, with no room for mistakes. Loeb has incredible capacity to adapt and I have no doubt that he will be a strong challenger.”
Timmy Hansen is excited to have such a talent as Loeb as his ream-mate in 2016 as both drivers will look to secure the title:
“I’ve looked up to Sebastien Loeb my entire life: I even met him once to get his autograph. So to work with him now is like a dream come true for me. I have a lot to learn still, so to get advice from him will be amazing. And I’m sure he’ll also have a lot of specific things to learn from me in rallycross. That’s how I hope we can bring the team forward together: pushing new limits and helping each other grow.”
However the Peugeot representation in WorldRX doesn’t end there. 2015 GermanyRX & CanadaRX winner Davy Jeanney will return to the series whilst Kevin Hansen Jr joins him at Peugeot Hansen Academy. Jeanney will compete in the full championship as well as coaching Hansen Jr, who will compete in the 2016 FIA European Rallycross Championship and selected WorldRX events; both drivers will pilot Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars.
Jeanney is looking forward to continuing the form that he showed in 2015:
“In 2015, my first World Rallycross Championship with Team Peugeot Hansen, I won in Canada and Germany and finished fifth overall. I’m very happy to continue to work with one of the most competitive teams and to share my experience with Kevin for his debut in the top international series. ”
Kevin Hansen Jr is excited to learn from such a talent ahead of his EuroRX debut in 2016:
“It’s great to have Davy Jeanney on the team and to have the chance to learn from such a professional driver, he has so much experience and is a good coach to have, especially now that I will be also racing in part of the World series.”
Team Principal Kenneth Hansen is confident of how Jeanney can help Hansen Junior improve further:
“Davy continues his path as a strong challenger for the 2016 series while Kevin is the youngest competitor in the series and is learning extremely fast, ” said Kenneth Hansen. “I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly Kevin will learn by driving alongside a driver with as much experience as Davy. It’s a great opportunity for him and the entire Peugeot Hansen Academy.”
