Sarrazin Motorsport chosen by Hyundai in WRC 2 for 2018

Sarrazin Motorsport was chosen by Hyundai Motorsport as partner of the South Korean firm's driver development program. The French team, led by former French asphalt rally champion Stéphane Sarrazin, will run a Hyundai i20 R5 for young Jari Huttunen on certain rounds of the WRC 2 in 2018.

The Asian manufacturer selected Sarrazin Motorsport from several applications. The training created at the start of the year already knows the i20 R5 model well having scored a podium in WRC 2 during the rally from Finland, in the hands of Tom Cave. Hyundai Motorsport places one of its young shoots, Jari Huttunen, in the French team. The 23-year-old Finn was competing this season in the European Rally Championship (ERC) on an Opel Adam R2. He will prepare for the 2018 campaign by lining up for the next Wales Rally (October 26-29).

Its next season will begin in Sweden (February 15-18) in the WRC 2 class. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our team.”, underlines Stéphane Sarrazin. “We try to grow with a professional approach, while preserving that family spirit. We look forward to starting the collaboration with Jari, and we will be able to support him during his learning of rallying. We have a testing ground next to the factory, that will help us. »

Alain Penasse, the team manager of Hyundai Motorsport, explains the choice of this team. “It’s certainly a young team, but they already know the i20 R5. With his experience of the biggest competitions, Stéphane Sarrazin will be able to give valuable advice to Jari to complete his knowledge of the tarmac, and take him towards the status of factory driver in the WRC. »