Hyundai will field three i20s at the Rally de Portugal

Après un début de saison compliqué au Monte-Carlo, Hyundai a marqué ses premiers points à l’occasion de la seconde manche en Suède. Alors que la caravane du WRC will head to Mexico for the third rally of the season (March 6 to 9), the Korean team announced this morning that it would field three cars for the Portuguese round. Thierry Neuville (n°7) will obviously be there and will be assisted by the Finn Juho Hänninen in the n°8 and especially the Spaniard Dani Sordo in the n°20. Good news for Sordo who many saw only taking part in asphalt rallies. The former Mini and Citroën driver surprised last year on the Portuguese specials by showing himself up to the task at the start of the event.

“Having three cars will be positive for us and will allow us to accumulate data and kilometers for our WRC debut. » explains the Team Principal, Frenchman Michel Nandan. “I think we have a good line-up with our three drivers who will each bring their experience and provide us with feedback to help us continue the development of the i20. The level of performance of Thierry associated with the qualities of Juho on the dirt and the experience of Dani, make me think that it is a good choice. »

The team also declared that it would be at the start of the Fafe Rally Sprint contested on March 29 with three runs at 14:20 p.m., 15:50 p.m. and 18:50 p.m. for 6.34 km each on the famous special stage in the North of Portugal, where the rally was run in the years 80 and 90. “We are happy to participate in this event. of course, it will be like a warm-up, but also an opportunity for the hundreds of fans to see the heroes of the WRC in action on one of the most famous special stages in the history of rallying. » says Nandan.