- Team named as Hyundai Shell World Rally Team - Drivers
confirmed for Rally Monte-Carlo with
Dani Sordo partnering Thierry
Neuville, while Juho Hänninen and Chris
Atkinson also drive second car on selected rallies - Hyundai i20 WRC 2014 livery unveiled as preparations for debut
finalised - Hyundai Motorsport has
unveiled its full team line-up at a special launch event in Offenbach today, as
the manufacturer gears up for its debut in the 2014 FIA World Rally
Championship at Monte Carlo next month.
Hyundai Motorsport has set realistic targets for its debut
season with the primary objective of finishing each rally event with two cars.
The young team will approach each rally with the goal of accumulating vital
knowledge and data in order to strengthen its foundations for subsequent years.
Going up against vastly more experienced WRC competitors, the team knows that
it has a steep learning curve, but it certainly relishes the challenge and will
be aiming to compete for podium places during the season.
"We have worked tremendously hard to get where we are
today and to be able to launch our new WRC team to the world," explains Team Principal of Hyundai Motorsport GmbH,
Michel Nandan. "In less than one year, we have built and tested a
brand new WRC-specification car, the Hyundai i20 WRC, and established a
professional team and modern motorsport facility. It's a huge accomplishment
but we know that we have a lot to learn in our first season. Our aims for 2014
are realistic: we want to finish each rally with both cars and build up a
database of information and experience so we can develop ourselves into
prospective rally winners in the future. If all goes well, we will hope to be
competing for occasional podiums as the year progresses."
The launch event was held at the home of Hyundai Motor
Europe in Offenbach, just a short drive from Hyundai Motorsport's facility in
Alzenau, where final preparations are taking place for the team's rally debut
in just over one month. Over 150 journalists and guests attended the event to
see the newly liveried Hyundai i20 WRC and team on display.
The complete line-up for 2014 includes a new title partner,
Shell, which will see the team named Hyundai Shell World Rally Team. The
multi-year partnership will see Shell Helix-Ultra logos adorn the Hyundai i20
WRC at all WRC events.
"Shell is delighted to be returning to the WRC in 2014
with Hyundai," said Colin Abraham, Shell Vice President Marketing (Fuels
and Lubricants). "Shell and Hyundai have worked closely together to
deliver a high quality product to customers around the world for more than
eight years. We bring a genuine understanding of each other's strengths to this
exciting new team as the Hyundai i20 WRC prepares for its first competitive
season."
Thierry Neuville made his first public appearance in Hyundai
Motorsport colours as the teams lead driver, while Juho Hänninen, who will
drive the second i20 WRC at selected events, was also present. It was also
announced that both Dani Sordo and Chris Atkinson will partner Thierry Neuville
at several events during the season, with Dani Sordo running on Rallye
Monte-Carlo and Atkinson confirmed for Rally Australia.
"I am really excited at the prospect of helping Hyundai
Motorsport to integrate itself into the tough WRC environment," said
Thierry Neuville. "It is an honour to be representing a manufacturer like
Hyundai Motor Company but also to have the extra responsibility of leading the
team in our first season. I am looking forward to Monte Carlo. I can already
feel the professionalism, motivation and passion of this team so although it
will be a steep learning curve, I am sure it will be a positive one."
Juho Hänninen
said, "I respect the opportunity that I have been given to join Hyundai
Motorsport in its debut WRC season. I was the first to drive the Hyundai i20
WRC back in May so I feel really close to the project and have a great
relationship with the team. I am looking forward to competing in Rally Sweden
and continuing our learning curve."
Dani Sordo
commented: "I am very happy to be part of this exciting Hyundai WRC
project. It might be a young team but there is a high level of experience and
professionalism that makes the team a really appealing package. I am looking
forward to bringing my years of WRC experience to the team in its debut season
and to take part in Rallye Monte-Carlo, the first event."
"It's been a pleasure to be part of Hyundai Motorsport
in testing this season and to have had the chance to contribute to the
development of the i20 WRC," said Chris Atkinson. "It's fantastic to
be able to carry on with the team into 2014, our first WRC season, and to be
able to drive in Rally Australia later in the year."
Hyundai Motor Company also used the occasion of its WRC
launch to announce that Hyundai "N" will be used to symbolise
Hyundai's high performance technology on both the i20 WRC car and future
mass-produced high performance cars. Linked directly to the company's renewed
involvement in WRC, "N" brings together Hyundai Motor's technology
and innovation with the learning from motorsport to provide a new experience
for customers.
Representing the company's passion for high performance,
"N" takes inspiration in both name and spirit from the Namyang
R&D Centre that has collaborated with Hyundai Motorsport on the development
of the i20 WRC. The Namyang R&D Centre is at the heart of the technological
innovation and development that serves as the driving force behind Hyundai's
growth as a global brand.
The Hyundai WRC team has come a long way since the first
iteration of the i20 WRC car made an appearance at the Paris Motor Show in
September 2012. Hyundai Motorsport has developed from scratch into a fully
functioning motorsport team, defying the odds to build, test and prepare two
rally cars ready to compete in 2014. With more than 90 staff from 18
nationalities, made up of motorsport specialists and experienced Hyundai
personnel, the team represents the perfect mix of Hyundai and motorsport
ideals.
In just over one month's time, Hyundai Motorsport is set to
add a new dimension to the FIA World Rally Championship by competing in its
debut event of 2014. The company has already shown what can be accomplished in
a short space of time with the right mentality and approach. For the Hyundai
Shell World Rally Team, January cannot come soon enough.
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