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Liam Doran and Hansen Motorsport gold medallists in X Games

- An amazing victory, Kenneth Hansen laughs, now team manager. I am so happy and proud over that we as a new team in X Games can manage to win already at our first attempt.

The Swedish team got off with a good beginning of X Games by being quickest during free practice. Liam, who drives a Hansen Motorsport prepared Monster Citroen C4, faced problems on timed qualification and was forced to go the long was through the elimination heats. In the semi-final he won over Tanner Foust, the European Rallycross Championship leader. In the final Liam was up against the Finn Marcus Grönholm. Best out of three heats Liam went on to take two victories in a row and was crowned winner of X Games 17 Rally.

- Liam has really done some fantastic driving today, race strategy was perfect and the team has worked concentrated without mistakes, Kenneth Hansen comments.

Doran was quick off the mark and had a few meters on Grönholm already in the start. The jokerlap was the trumf card for the young Englishman, who with a smart tactic jinked away Grönholms chances. With a faultless drive Liam Doran took the chequer flag first.

Tomorrow, Sunday (am.time), rallycross is on the programme, which should suit Doran and the Hansen Team well.
- Yes, it should be better for us, but at the same time nothing can be taken for granted, Hansen says, knowing that no success gives any advantages in the next race. We continue to work in the same way as allways, one thing at a time. We have a great driver, a fast car and a tight team, so now we wait and see where it can get us.

Liam will have a strong competition from the American superstars Travis Pastrana, Ken Block and Tanner Foust, but also Michael Jernberg will be on the starting line.

Susann Hansen