With ten days before the start of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, Hyundai Motorsport has officially presented their team.
Now into its seventh season of WRC, Hyundai will field four crews in three cars, and what a line-up it is: reigning WRC Drivers’ champion Ott Tänak/ Martin Järveoja; Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul; Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio; and, nine-times WRC champion Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena. Tänak and Neuville will contest the full calendar, while Loeb and Sordo will share the third i20 Coupe WRC.
The 2019 FIA WRC Manufacturers’ champions have set a goal of once more winning the manufacturers’ title and the drivers’ trophy for 2020.
Team Principal Andrea Adamo commented: “We had an extremely successful 2019, but the slate is wiped clean again as we prepare for 2020. Our aims for the coming season are clear: to fight for victory in each of the events on the calendar and to mount a challenge for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles. We know the ferocity of the competition will remain intense, so we have to make sure our technical package is as strong as possible. We have arguably one of the strongest crew line-ups in WRC with Thierry, Ott, Dani and Sébastien; it is a reflection of Hyundai’s reputation in international motorsport that we are able to attract such a calibre of talent. I, for one, am tremendously focused on what the coming season will bring.”
Spearheading the crews is Thierry Neuville, the longest-serving driver at the team. He’s finished championship runner-up four times in a row, and 2020 could see him lift the Drivers’ trophy.
Ott Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja will make their Hyundai Motorsport debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo in ten days’ times and will be out to defend both theirs and the team’s titles.
Tänak said: “I have had some time to settle into my new home at Hyundai Motorsport, and I have certainly received a warm welcome. It’s never easy to get up to speed when you change team, but I feel we are heading in a good direction. The team has already demonstrated its capability of performing at the front of WRC by winning the manufacturers’ title. My first impressions of the car have been very positive, and I am convinced, together, we can compete for the titles this year.”
Spaniard Dani Sordo – who’s claimed one victoruy with the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC to date – will be looking to add more silverware to the team’s trophy cabinet in 2020. This talented driver will offer strong support in the third car.
Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena need to introduction as they begin their second season with Hyundai Motorsport.
The nine-times WRC champion commented: “I had a very enjoyable first season with the team in 2019; the podium in Chile was the highlight but we were able to make some improvements during the year which we hope to use to our advantage during 2020. We have another campaign of selected events, which will play to our strengths and allow us to play an important role in the title chase. There are some interesting new events on the calendar, so I look forward to some classic routes and some new challenges.”
The first stop on the WRC calendar is the Rallye Monte-Carlo from 23-26 January.
