Hyundai secures WRC runner-up position with Rally GB podium

Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed its best-ever result in the World Rally Championship, with a podium finish in the Wales Rally GB securing second place for the team in the 2016 championship. Thierry Neuville achieved a third-place finish, just ahead of team-mate Hayden Paddon in fourth.

The result leaves Hyundai Motorsport with 285 points in the Manufacturers’ Championship with one event, the Rally Australia, left to run. That puts the team behind first-placed Volkswagen Motorsport with 322 points, but with an unbeatable lead over the M-Sport World Rally Team on 154 points. 

For Neuville, driving the number-3 New Generation i20 WRC, and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, third place signifies their sixth podium of the season, and fourth in a row. Another strong collection of points moves them clearly into second position on the Drivers’ Championship with 143 points, 14 ahead of third-placed Andreas Mikkelsen.

 “It’s been a really nice weekend for us,” said Neuville. “The team has done an incredible job and we’ve had a good car to contest these tricky stages. We didn’t have the pace to fight for the win but I’m still happy with a podium result. To take a Power Stage point was an added bonus, even if we weren’t pushing for it.

“The conditions this weekend have been typically demanding but we’ve kept our focus and found some good pace when it has mattered. It’s nice to take the team’s first Wales Rally GB podium, and to continue our run of positive results. It’s particularly pleasing to move clearly into second place in the Drivers’ Championship. Our aim is now to finish the season on a high in Australia.”  
 
As with Spain, Paddon and co-driver John Kennard only narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the number-20 car. Despite a tough weekend, the Kiwi crew took their best Wales Rally GB result and hold fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, just three points adrift of third. It was a disappointing rally for Dani Sordo and co-driver Marc Martí in the number-4 car, finishing sixth after their second-place finish in Spain a fortnight ago. The result does, however, consolidate Sordo’s own fifth place in the Drivers’ table, only 10 points from third in the Championship standings.

With the podium in Wales, Hyundai Motorsport confirms its best championship result in the three seasons since returning to the WRC, having finished fourth in 2014 and third in 2015.

“Firstly, we are all delighted to secure second place in the Manufacturers’ Championship with today’s result,” said Team Principal Michel Nandan. “It’s a special moment in our history and confirmation of our most competitive season in the WRC.

“It’s actually been a bittersweet weekend from a performance point of view. On the one hand, I am pleased we could take our first ever Welsh podium, thanks to a strong showing from Thierry and Nicolas. On the other hand, we were not able to put up a stronger fight for the top-two positions, which shows there are some areas of performance where we still need to improve.

“Looking at the positives, the New Generation i20 WRC ran reliably all weekend, and all three crews finished in the top-six, by far our most competitive showing in Wales to date. We can look positively towards the final event of the season.”

Hyundai’s successful season has generated considerable interest among motorsport enthusiasts, with the Korean carmaker consistently outperforming brands with a much longer history in the WRC. With the team headed towards a strong season finish, Hyundai Africa and Middle East supported a group of journalists from the region to attend the Wales Rally GB and witness the action first-hand. 

“This is a great result for everyone at Hyundai,” said Mike Song, Hyundai’s Head of Operations for Africa and the Middle East. “The WRC is one of the greatest challenges in motorsport, incredibly tough on drivers, navigators and cars, and achieving such success is always a real team effort. We all are very proud to see what Hyundai Motorsport has achieved this year, and are already looking forward to 2017.” 

Rally Australia will bring the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship to its conclusion in three weeks’ time, taking place from 17-20 November.