Hyundai Motorsport kicks off testingfuture WRC car based on New Generation i20
- Hyundai Motorsport has carried out the first roll-out of its next WRC car, based on the New Generation i20
- Bryan Bouffier tested the car for the first time on a private testing ground last month
- The team will continue development of the car with a series of tests scheduled until the end of 2014 and throughout 2015.
Alzenau, Germany
October 8, 2014 – Alongside its participation in the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Hyundai Motorsport has recently rolled out the first prototype of its next WRC car, which is based on the recently-launchedNew Generation i20.
French driver Bryan Bouffier carried out the very first shakedown of the car on a private testing ground in Germany last month, with the aim of checking all systems and to start collecting valuable data for upcoming development tests.
Based on the New Generation i20 - Hyundai’s third-generation B-segment vehicle is a completely new car compared to the current model - the WRC version incorporates all the learning and valuable feedback that the team has collected during its first season in the World Rally Championship.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “It’s always an important moment when you take a car to the road for the first time and this one was no exception. We have been working on the development of our future WRC car for some time now and we were finally able to put the first prototype on its wheels last month. The data and experience that we have accumulated during our debut WRC season has contributed to our approach with this new car.We will introduce it in competitionwhen we are absolutely sure that it is ready to replace the current Hyundai i20 WRC– we’re not in a rush. It’s a totally different car compared to current WRC model; the platform is different, the car is longer, lower and wider and it features a new engine, transmission and other components. Of course we are just at the beginning of a long process andwe will continue to work hard on development and continue testing in the next months and throughout 2015.”
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About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company, which leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars, offers top-quality best-sellers such as Elantra, Sonata and Genesis. Hyundai Motor has seven manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centers outside of South Korea and in 2013, sold 4.73 million vehicles globally. With almost 100,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localized models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell.
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About Hyundai Motorsport GmbH
Established on 19 December 2012, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH is responsible for Hyundai’s global motorsport activities and primarily for its World Rally Championship programme. Based in Alzenau on the outskirts of Frankfurt in Germany, the company has embarked on its debut season in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2014 with a bespoke team of skilled staff and a brand new car, the Hyundai i20 WRC.
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