Hansen Jnr to make French Rallycross debut

Timmy Hansen, son of 14-times European Rallycross champion Kenneth, will make his French Rallycross debut at Circuit de l’Ouest Parisien next weekend.

The 19-year-old Swede, who will contest the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2011 after previously competing in karts and Formula BMW Europe, will swap single seater for Supercar on April 23/24 when he campaigns Marc Laboulle’s Citroen Xsara at the championship’s opening round.

Despite it being his first taste of the sport’s 500bhp+ premier class, Hansen does have at least some rallycross experience after trying out friend and ERC front runner Liam Doran’s Suzuki Swift at Pembrey in Wales last season.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to drive such a good and reliable car in one of the best national Rallycross championship series and with one of the best teams in France,” said Hansen. “Rallycross will be good for my education as a driver as this is an intense multi task motorsport with extremely powerful cars, combining gravel and tarmac surfaces, that requires quick reactions and smart moves.”

Stéphane Orré, whose championship winning MTechnologies team will run the car, believes there’s no better venue for Hansen to make his debut behind the wheel of the Xsara.

“I see this event as a symbol of the strong existing links between the two companies, KHM and MTech, who are already partners in building cars,” he said. “We are honoured by the fact that both, Kenneth and Susann Hansen trust us enough to agree for Timmy’s drive in one of our Supercars.

“The Xsara will be the perfect vehicle for this circuit and for a first time participation in Division 1. We are pretty sure that Timmy will be pleased with this car, and that he will learn a lot during the event. He can trust our team to support and advice him well, as we do with all our young drivers.”

Catch French Rallycross coverage on Motors TV in 2011.

Tom Hornsby