Team Peugeot-Hansen are hoping to extend their run of podiums this weekend at the World RX of Sweden, round six of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship.
Both of the squads two drivers, Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen have taken podium finishes already during the 2016 season, however as the event is the first of two home races this year, the sole aim for the team is to take their first win of the year. The Peugoet 208 WRX has been improving more and more with each round and is fast becoming the nearest challenger to the EKSRX Audi S1 which is dominating the season so far.
Last year Hansen came agonisingly close to taking the victory after a last corner move on eventual winner Mattias Ekstrom and nothing less than a win will banish that memory and the young Swedish driver is looking forward to racing on home turf:
“Not only is Holjes my favourite track but it’s always a magic weekend! Along with Lohéac, it’s one of the two races everyone wants to win. We came as close to victory as you can get last year because I was first over the line before being dropped back to second. It’s a circuit I enjoy and the huge crowd always makes the atmosphere something special. The race takes place just after the summer solstice and Sweden’s Mittsomar festivities. The track is located in the north of the country so it stays light practically all night, and that helps to make the atmosphere special.”
Loeb has adapted well to World RX this year and is now looking to be a real threat to a series that in 2016 has seen several three different winners so far and the Frenchman is looking to gain further knowledge this weekend:
“This is the first time this year that I have previous knowledge of a circuit. It’s a great venue but my Scandinavian rivals also know the track well because they come here often. I saw that for myself when I came testing here. It’s a complex circuit because there are a number of blind corners and you need to be on the right line all the way round. I’m told there’s a fantastic atmosphere all weekend.”