Jari Huttunen with Hyundai in 2018

Jari Hutunen was selected for the development program of Hyundai Motorsport for the 2018 season. After evaluating his performances, the Korean manufacturer will enter the 23-year-old Finn in several events of the WRC 2 behind the wheel of an i20 R5.

Hyundai chose from a selection of drivers based on their pace, communication skills and technical knowledge. Jari Huttunen was unanimously chosen.

“It is a great honor to have been selected for the Hyundai Motorsport Driver Development Program, comments Jari Huttunen. There were many talented drivers shortlisted who had more experience than me and it was a nice surprise to be chosen. The support of such a structure will allow me to concentrate solely on my driving and to train to improve my performance behind the wheel. »

Jari Huttunen played brilliantly in Germany before joining ERC in category R2. The Finn took his first steps in R5 by also competing in two European Rally Championship events.

“Although I didn't spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 R5 in testing, I quickly felt comfortable there and was able to attack even in difficult conditions. I can now prepare for the next few months and I am very excited about the year ahead,” adds Jari Huttunen.

The Nordic caught the attention of recruiters by showing himself comfortable on the R5 in slippery conditions on all types of surfaces during tests carried out in France. His next season will be completed by a testing program.

“We were very impressed by the level of all the candidates, recognizes Alain Penasse, the team manager of Hyundai Motorsport. They all took a very professional approach and left a good impression. Jari made the difference with his determination. He had less experience than most of the other candidates with only a few entries in an R5, but he was immediately competitive and consistent in the i20 R5 on gravel and asphalt. He is a very talented driver who has a lot of potential. »

The selection of tested drivers included eight pilots including the Frenchman Pierre-Louis Loubet.