Nine-time FIA World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will join Team Peugeot-Hansen to compete in all 12 rounds of 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship. Loeb will partner last year’s runner-up Timmy Hansen in a two-car squad with both drivers piloting a Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar.

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The opening round of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship kicks off in Montalegre, Portugal, from 15-17 April.

New adventure for the best rally driver ever

Before the start of the season, Loeb and Hansen were put to the test in Hansen’s home country, over a challenging ice track on a frozen lake in Are, Sweden. It wasn’t Loeb’s first experience in a rallycross car, because he competed at his home round at Loheac back in 2013 and also won a rallycross gold medal at the 2012 X Games in California.

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“I’m very excited by this opportunity to participate in the full FIA World Rallycross Championship for the first time. Over the years I have been fortunate to participate in some truly amazing racing, but rallycross – with the sheer power and the competiveness 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,” explained 42-year-old Loeb.

Four-car Peugeot squad at some events

Team Principal Kenneth Hansen said: “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.”

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Timmy Hansen added: “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.”

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As well as the main squad, Peugeot Sport and Hansen Motorsport have started a new team venture with Peugeot Hansen Academy this year, with Davy Jeanney and Kevin Hansen. Frenchman Jeanney, who won two rounds of last year’s World RX (Canada and Germany) will be the new team’s mentor driving a Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar in ten rounds of this year’s World Championship. Kevin Hansen, who won last year’s RX Lites Championship and finished second in the Swedish Championship in 2015, will compete in the FIA European Rallycross Championship this year as well as selected world outings.

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Video: Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen are testing Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars

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Photos: Red Bull