Timmy Hansen has damaged his winless streak in spectacular vogue, taking victory on the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet, Belgium, in spherical 5 of the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship. The 2019 world champion took an emphatic lights-to-flag victory forward of Ole Christian Veiby and teammate Kevin Hansen, securing a double podium for Hansen World RX Workforce for the primary time in 2024.
It was a day marked by difficult circumstances, each on the circuit and by way of the climate. In warmth 1, each Hansen brothers had points with the rear-left tyres, that means each suffered punctures and permitting Anthony Pelfrene to take victory of their warmth race. Each CE Supplier Workforce drivers suffered in warmth 1 as properly, permitting the VWs of Veiby and Johan Kristoffersson to take a 1-2. The Hansens’ luck reversed in warmth 2, permitting Kevin to guide residence a 1-2 end for the all-electric vehicles. No such luck for Niclas Grönholm who, as soon as once more, was unable to get his PWR RX1e going correctly.
The semi-finals demonstrated the “Battle of Applied sciences” with the electrical vehicles thriving on the straights however struggling within the extra technical sections. Kevin Hansen defended from Kristoffersson, deploying electrical energy to flee from the mighty VW Polo KMS 601 RX and safe victory in his semi-final. Timmy had a way more simple time of it in his semi-final, racing towards a disgruntled Grönholm and an unfortunate Pelfrene, who was battling for victory till a technical challenge dropped him to the again of the order.
The ultimate began properly for the Hansen brothers. They shot away, having lined up alongside one another on the entrance row of the grid, to command the sector down into flip 1 with Kristoffersson proper behind. Timmy pulled forward, creating a niche as his teammate defended mightily from Kristoffersson for the primary couple of laps. Veiby took his Joker lap on lap 2 to try to get the soar on Timmy Hansen for the lead.
Kristoffersson took his Joker on lap 3, forcing the Hansens to Joker on lap 4 to defend. All appeared to be going properly for KMS – HORSE Powertrain. They couldn’t get forward of Timmy however they each leapfrogged Kevin Hansen. Nevertheless, Kristoffersson picked up a front-left puncture whereas operating in third. Veiby tried to chase down Timmy however couldn’t fairly do it. In the meantime, Kristoffersson returned the favour and defended from Kevin to permit Veiby to carry on to 2nd. Kevin was behind Kristoffersson on the closing flip however beat him in a drag race to the road, snatching third by 0.029 seconds.
Driver Response
“This was 100% a crew effort at this time” an ecstatic Timmy Hansen stated after the race. “We got here out of the primary nook 1st and 2nd, and we all know what the aim is. He sacrificed his race and backed Johan up. I pushed as onerous as I may from begin to end, however there’s a lot threat on the market with punctures. I’m very completely satisfied. It’s a bit unusual with these double-headers that we’ve got one other race arising tomorrow, so mentally we don’t actually calm down but. However a win is a win. I’m so proud, and so grateful to my crew and my household.”
Championship Replace
Kristoffersson nonetheless reigns supreme on the high of the standings on 123 factors. Veiby stays in 2nd however the hole has been considerably decreased. Timmy Hansen has leapt up the third within the standings, simply 2 factors behind Veiby, with Kevin Hansen 7 factors behind his brother in 4th. Klara Andersson drops to fifth, however it’s Grönholm who suffers probably the most together with his disastrous Saturday dropping him down three locations to sixth within the standings.
Nevertheless, all isn’t misplaced. With the second half of the double-header occasion approaching Sunday 18 August, the standings might be set to alter as soon as extra. In Hungary, it was adversity that spurred Kristoffersson to victory on the Sunday. Can he repeat the identical success once more? Can Hansen World RX Workforce preserve their momentum? Will CE Supplier Workforce get Grönholm again within the combine? Comply with The Checkered Flag to search out out.
