Hyundai: Ypres “crucial” for the i20 R5

Hyundai Motorsport is preparing for an important weekend from June 24 to 26 with the Rally of Ypres (Belgium) where the Korean manufacturer, the latest winner in WRC with the success of Thierry Neuville in Sardinia, will launch the R5 version of its i20.

“This will be its first outing in public, in front of the public and in front of our future customers, but it is also a special test in the history of Hyundai Motorsport, underlines Michel Nandan, Team Principal of Hyundai Motorsport. We have mainly focused on our WRC program over the last four years, but at the Ypres Rally our focus will be on the i20 R5, Hyundai Motorsport's first customer car. »

“This is a very important project for the company, not only because we will introduce ourselves to customers, but also because it will place the Huyndai brand on a wider audience”, adds the Frenchman.

Kevin Abbring will be in charge of making the car shine in the face of particularly keen competition. The Dutchman will notably have to confront the well-developed Ford Fiesta or the astonishing Skoda Fabia.

“We are entering the final phases of development, continues Michel Nandan. This weekend in Ypres is crucial for our Customer Competition department, but we will also take the opportunity to continue testing. The Ypres stages are unique, they are very fast and very narrow while being demanding on the brakes. Due to the R5 market, it is important that our car is competitive on all types of roads. »