Hansens looked resigned to watching its first ever World RX round from the sidelines, until its nearest rival called...
Photography by World RX
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
Down the decades, Kenneth Hansen has taken plenty of calls. But never one like this. By his own admission, this was a first.
There was plenty of sympathy around for Hansen when funding issues forced his family team out of this week’s World RX of Finland. Plenty of folk wringing their hands and wondering if there was anything they could do to help this famous team avoid missing its first ever World RX round.
Nobody saw Micke Jansson’s move coming.
Jansson is the CEO of CE Dealer Team & PWR Group, principal rival of Hansen Motorsport. Lead driver for the Volvo CE-backed squad Niclas Grönholm sits just 10 points ahead of Timmy Hansen going into the KymiRing race; CE Dealer Team holds the same margin over Hansen World RX Team in the teams’ title hunt.
Instead of the CE Dealer Team rubbing its hands at the prospect of an open goal in Finland, Jansson called and offered to bridge the financial gap to get the pair of Hansen Peugeot 208 RX1es back on track.
Kenneth Hansen said: “A few days ago, we could not see a way back to Finland. Then these discussions began, and suddenly there was hope.
“I could never have imagined this as a solution – it just doesn’t happen in motorsport. This is an incredible act of goodwill, proving the love for the sport and the commitment to its future.”
Jansson explained the thinking behind the decision to help make its own life harder, saying: “We support Hansen Motorsport because keeping them on the grid reflects exactly why we started CE Dealer Team with Volvo CE four years ago.
CE Dealer Team's move means there will be more of this in Finland this weekend
“Of course, we are a highly competitive team, but our purpose has always been bigger than trophies. It’s about driving motorsport and industry towards a sustainable future. Seeing rival teams come together to make this happen proves the spirit and potential of World RX. In the end, it was a clear choice to step up.”
The decision wasn’t just Jansson’s to make. CE Dealer Team’s principal backer is Volvo Construction Equipment. When the plan was put to head of brand, marketing and communications Bill Law, what was his response?
“As a global business, we don’t invest in motorsport just for the love of competition,” said Law.
“We invest in teams and technologies that align with our mission – advancing sustainability, innovation, and diversity – while giving us a powerful platform to showcase those values. This collaboration demonstrates that rallycross is not only about adrenaline and speed but also about leadership, creativity, and a willingness to work together for a more sustainable future. That’s exactly why Volvo CE is here.”
And that’s exactly why Hansen Motorsport is in Finland. The fight goes on.
Words:David Evans
Tags: CE Dealer Team, Hansen Motorsport, Kenneth Hansen, Kevin Hansen, Klara Andersson, Niclas Gronholm, Timmy Hansen, World RX, World RX of Finland
Publish Date August 21, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/08/TQFDaOhb-CE-Dealer-team-780x520.jpg August 21, 2025
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