Hyundai i20 WRC testing ahead of 2014 entry continues

Hyundai Motorsport has been continuing testing on its i20 World Rally Championship machine ahead of its entry to rallying's highest discipline in 2014.

All three of the team’s recently-signed development drivers, Juho Hänninen, Bryan Bouffier and Chris Atkinson, got behind the wheel of the i20 WRC as the team evaluated a range of new components in unique gravel conditions in preparation for its debut season in 2014.

Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “We have had a very solid month of testing and learned a lot about the performance potential of the new Hyundai i20 WRC in a range of conditions. As with any inaugural testing, there have been some teething issues to overcome but this is precisely the purpose of testing and we have taken time to analyse and understand the problems. We have signed three very competent development drivers in Juho, Bryan and Chris, and the balance of the last month of testing has, for me, been positive.”

The team carried out two separate private tests during July in which to put the latest iteration i20 WRC through its paces with the prime objective of component testing in appropriate conditions for the WRC.

Hyundai's previous forays in the WRC were brief, with two stints in 1998-99 and 2000-03. The Accent was chosen from the auto manufacturer's model line-up to take on rallying's best.

It's first outing was in the F2 class of the WRC before the Korean manufacturer launched a factory campaign from the 2000 season.

Despite having experienced drivers like Alister McRae, Armin Schwarz and the legendary Juha Kankkunen, the Accent never threatened WRC's established order and the company ended its involvement in rallying at the end of the 2003 season.

The president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Jean Todt is believed to have been actively involved in luring Hyundai to the WRC.

The Hyundai i20 has been one of the best selling cars in India ever since its launch and is assembled in Hyundai's plant in Chennai.