Paris 2012: Hyundai WRC i20

Hyundai has used the bright lights of the Paris Motor Show to announce they will be returning to the World Rally Championship. Their weapon of choice is this “rally-ready” WRC i20.

The term “rally-ready” is important insofar as Hyundai hasn’t nominated a firm date for their return. Although, wrc.com is claiming Hyundai could be racing as early as next year.

Speaking in Paris, Mark Hall, Marketing Director at Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “The World Rally Championship is recognised as one of the most dramatic sporting series on Earth. It’s a spectacle filled with excitement and dynamism—the perfect embodiment of the Hyundai brand.

“The WRC also offers the most technologically-diverse challenge for an automotive manufacturer. Our participation will demonstrate Hyundai’s engineering excellence and durability, and will also help to enhance our road-going vehicles in future.”

Hyundai Ready for WRC Return

Hyundai Motor Company is poised to return to the FIA World Rally Championship (known as the WRC) and has today unveiled a rally-ready version of the new i20 at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

The WRC is one of the world’s toughest motorsport series, and the Hyundai i20 vehicle has been engineered to withstand the extreme terrains and weather conditions competitors face throughout the championship.

In 2003 Hyundai withdrew from motorsport to concentrate its efforts on developing an in-house WRC team in Europe, and to develop a performance rally car. The result is the debut of the WRC i20 in Paris.

Mark Hall, Marketing Director at Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “The World Rally Championship is recognised as one of the most dramatic sporting series on Earth. It’s a spectacle filled with excitement and dynamism – the perfect embodiment of the Hyundai brand.”

“The WRC also offers the most technologically-diverse challenge for an automotive manufacturer. Our participation will demonstrate Hyundai’s engineering excellence and durability, and will also help to enhance our road-going vehicles in future.”

Hyundai’s rally history

The company’s involvement in the sport began in 1998, when it competed in the F2 class of the WRC for two seasons. In 1999, the team announced it would step up to the top class in 2000, with a fully-developed WRC car based on the three-door Accent.

At the end of 2003 season, after four years of WRC competition, Hyundai withdrew from the championship, embarking on its long-term strategy to set up an in-house WRC team in Europe.

About the WRC

The WRC is regulated and controlled by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for worldwide motorsport.

Current World Rally cars are based on 1.6-litre production models, and feature dramatic aerodynamic enhancements, 4×4 systems, turbochargers, sequential gearboxes and various high-tech additions and alterations.