For the third time in the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship, there will be four Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars looking to take victory this weekend at the spiritual home of Rallycross: Lydden Hill.
The 2016 World RX of Belgium witnessed the first ever podium for 9 times FIA WRC Champion and 2016 Team Peugeot-Hansen driver Sebastien Loeb as he finished in second place behind winner Mattias Ekstrom and the Frenchman will be looking to go one better at the 2016 World RX of Great Britain.
Team-mate Timmy Hansen is looking for that first elusive victory this year after being such a dominant force in 2015. Hansen has so far only qualified for the Final at Portugal this year and will be looking to improve upon that painful fact.
As well as these these two lions in the ring, the event will also see the Peugeot-Hansen Academy pairing out in force as well. 2015 World RX of Germany and 2015 World RX of Canada winner Davy Jeanney will be looking to progress to the Final after twice making it to the Semi-Finals this year whilst his young team-mate Kevin Hansen will be hoping that he can carry the momentum of his maiden victory at the 2016 Euro RX of Belgium last time out to try and secure a place in the Supercar Final.
“I like Lydden Hill. It’s one of the calendar’s faster circuits where you can really make the most of the potential of a car like the PEUGEOT 208 WRX.” said Team Principle Kenneth Hansen. “I know it’s a venue that suits Timmy, Davy and Kevin, and I am certain that Sébastien will lose no time adapting given his experience of racing on asphalt. We will need to adapt our strategy to the fact that the Joker Lap veers off at Turn 1. We are determined to up our game a notch and our intention is to fight for the win. We have shown recently that we have the speed to achieve that goal.”
Loeb is looking to stay with the leading pack as he learns Lydden Hill, “After finishing on the podium in Mettet, I couldn’t be more fired up ahead of Lydden Hill. The aim is to continue being competitive and up there battling with the leading pack, despite the fact that Lydden Hill is unknown territory for me.
“I saw in Belgium how a good start position can make a huge difference and how your weekend can tip one way or the other very quickly. I hope Lydden Hill goes well from that point of view.”
Timmy Hansen is looking for his maiden podium this season at the Kent Venue,“The early races have been pretty hard for me, so I hope Lydden Hill will mark the start of a more positive spiral. I know we have the speed for that to happen and this is one of my favourite circuits.
“I always enjoy its sweeping corners and the flowing rhythm it calls for. For me, Turn 1 is one of the most interesting corners of the season. It’s on gravel, with a brief portion of asphalt. I love it. It’s a track that suits both the PEUGEOT 208 WRX and my driving style, and I’ve got some fond memories of my previous visits. It’s here that I competed for the first time as a full-time rallycross driver. I finished on the podium and I’m hoping history will repeat itself this time round!”
