Podium target for Hyundai Motorsport in Wales Rally GB
- Hyundai Motorsport will be looking to score its first Wales Rally GB podium in next weekend’s penultimate round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
- The team will be fielding three New Generation i20 WRC cars with Thierry Neuville in the #3, Dani Sordo in the #4 and Hayden Paddon in the #20
- Hyundai Motorsport has twice finished fourth in Wales. With the team’s recent double podium results in Germany and Spain, hopes are high for a maiden GB top-three.
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Hyundai Motorsport will make a return to full-gravel next weekend as it heads to Britain for Wales Rally GB, the 12th round of the 13-event 2016 FIA World Rally Championship.
After claiming a competitive double podium in Spain last weekend, the team will be aiming to extend its recent run of consecutive top-three results, which dates back to Rallye Deutschland in August.
Three New Generation i20 WRCs have been entered into the Wales GB, which will feature the Championship’s first stage in England since 1999. Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo, who starred for the team in Spain, will return for the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team in the #3 and #4 cars respectively. Hayden Paddon, who took his best-ever tarmac result at the last event with fourth, will compete in the #20 Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team entry.
Three New Generation i20 WRCs have been entered into the Wales GB, which will feature the Championship’s first stage in England since 1999. Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo, who starred for the team in Spain, will return for the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team in the #3 and #4 cars respectively. Hayden Paddon, who took his best-ever tarmac result at the last event with fourth, will compete in the #20 Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team entry.
The 22-stage Wales Rally GB has hosted the season finale in recent years but has moved slightly earlier on the 2016 schedule. Run over a total of 330.21 kilometres, the rally will offer teams another stern test. Friday’s itinerary comprises over half of the total distance with a staggering 178km of punishing gravel stages.
Although names like Hafren and Sweet Lamb are familiar to rally aficionados, they will be run in reverse direction this year. Saturday features stages that have not appeared on the rally since 1997. Adding to the complexity of the event, there will be no lunchtime service on any of the three days - meaning drivers will have to look after their cars with the unpredictable British weather almost certain to play a part.
Although names like Hafren and Sweet Lamb are familiar to rally aficionados, they will be run in reverse direction this year. Saturday features stages that have not appeared on the rally since 1997. Adding to the complexity of the event, there will be no lunchtime service on any of the three days - meaning drivers will have to look after their cars with the unpredictable British weather almost certain to play a part.
All three drivers had a one-day gravel test ahead of Wales Rally GB to prepare their New Generation i20 WRC cars, but the real work starts with shakedown on Thursday, which acts as a precursor to the Ceremonial Start at Colwyn Bay.
For Hyundai Motorsport, the rally will also be an opportunity to put the New Generation i20 R5 through its paces in a second event, following the debut in Corsica last month, with Kevin Abbring and Seb Marshall back at the wheel.
For Hyundai Motorsport, the rally will also be an opportunity to put the New Generation i20 R5 through its paces in a second event, following the debut in Corsica last month, with Kevin Abbring and Seb Marshall back at the wheel.
Sordo and co-driver Marc Martí head to Wales buoyed by their recent second places in Germany and Spain, which have equalled their best result for Hyundai Motorsport. The duo finished fourth in GB last season, so will be hoping to go one better in this year’s event.
Neuville (#3 New Generation i20 WRC) and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul have been one of the most consistent crews since their win in Sardinia. A trio of consecutive podiums up to Spain have moved Neuville up to joint second in the Championship.
Paddon (#20 New Generation i20 WRC) and co-driver John Kennard enjoyed their most competitive showing on tarmac in Spain but the Kiwi crew will be relishing a return to gravel. Paddon is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, embroiled in a close battle for second. Just 16 points separate a quartet of drivers vying for the position with two rounds remaining.
The stage action for Wales Rally GB gets underway on Friday 28 October, starting with the 32km Myherin, and runs right up until Sunday 30 October with the Brenig Power Stage bringing the event to a conclusion.
Neuville (#3 New Generation i20 WRC) and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul have been one of the most consistent crews since their win in Sardinia. A trio of consecutive podiums up to Spain have moved Neuville up to joint second in the Championship.
Paddon (#20 New Generation i20 WRC) and co-driver John Kennard enjoyed their most competitive showing on tarmac in Spain but the Kiwi crew will be relishing a return to gravel. Paddon is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, embroiled in a close battle for second. Just 16 points separate a quartet of drivers vying for the position with two rounds remaining.
The stage action for Wales Rally GB gets underway on Friday 28 October, starting with the 32km Myherin, and runs right up until Sunday 30 October with the Brenig Power Stage bringing the event to a conclusion.
Contacts
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Florian Büngener
Head of Department PR & Communications
fbuengener@hyundai-europe.com LinkedIn ProfileAdriana Cerami
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Hyundai Newsroom Lead
kkupper@hyundai-europe.comAnja Wente
Product PR & Communications Expert
awente@hyundai-europe.comElvira Herrera
Corporate Communications Expert
eherrera@hyundai-europe.comÁngel Pino Pérez
Product Communications Professional
apinoperez@hyundai-europe.comMaria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
