PRAISE FOR LATVIAN WORLD RX CIRCUIT

Swedish rallycross legend Kenneth Hansen says the new World Rallycross Championship venue of the Bikernieki circuit on the outskirts of Riga in Latvia could be one of the best new circuits introduced to World RX since the series’ inception in 2014.

The venue will host the 10th round of the championship in October.

Hansen’s works-backed Team Peugeot-hansen outfit ran at the venue last week in two official test days, alongside a number of other World and European Championship competitors.

Hansen said: “They are working hard to get to a high level. The gravel sections are very compact and we didn’t see any wear on it after the two days, so it will be a good event.

“The circuit is good, it’s technical and interesting and they held a round of the North European Zone Rallycross Championship there the weekend before, so they know more about running a rallycross event. This is a circuit that they don’t need to work on, they have done a proper job and it will be here to stay.

“It’s a big thing for Latvia: it isn’t used to having this level of championship.”

Peugeot-hansen drivers Timmy and Kevin Hansen both drove at the test, while Sebastien Loeb didn’t attend.

Hansen Sr, who hasn’t raced since the end of 2011, completed a number of laps in the squad’s Peugeot 208 test car. “I did some laps, just to have a feeling of the car,” he said.