ERC Junior Hansen back on form at home

Hansen started the 2023 FIA Junior ERC Championship on a high by finishing third in the Hankook-equipped category on ORLEN 79th Rally Poland in May before taking second in class on Tet Rally Liepāja the following month.  

However, the 23-year-old was unable to replicate his early-season pace when the Junior ERC Championship stopped off in his homeland in early July for BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, finishing eighth. The Tarmac-based Rally di Roma Capitale and Barum Czech Rally Zlín also brought frustration with Hansen finishing ninth and fifth respectively.  

But Hansen and co-driver Victor Johansson were able to rediscover their pace from earlier in 2023 on the TV Svängen event, a six-stage contest covering 33.89 kilometres.  

“I’m really happy with the day and enjoyed driving at home,” Hansen said afterwards.

Hansen was also in positive mood at the finish of his last Junior ERC appearance in Czech Republic. After crashing out in 2022, Hansen was never outside the top 10 in terms of stage times 12 months later.  

“Luckily we reached the finish this year and we are happy with that,” said Hansen. “Okay, we miss some pace, we were off by I don’t know how much. If we can be better in the future that would be good because the last stage was really good.”  

Rally Hungary hosts the deciding round of the FIA Junior ERC Championship from 6 - 8 October.