Hyundai Motorsport Finalizes 2017 WRC Driver Line-up
Hyundai Motorsport has announced a two-year extension to its contract with lead driver Thierry Neuville
Thierry Neuville has been part of Hyundai Motorsport’s line-up since the team’s WRC debut in 2014, taking two wins and a total of nine podiums
Finalized driver line-up includingThierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordowill offer Hyundai Motorsport team toprepare for a competitive 2017 WRC season
Oct. 5, 2016 –Hyundai Motorsport has finalized its driver line-up for the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the announcement that Thierry Neuville has signed a two-year extension to his contract with the team.
Thierry Neuville will compete with Hyundai Motorsport in the 2017 and 2018 WRC seasons alongside co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul as part of a three-crew team. Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo are also contracted for two further years, which will offer the team important consistency as WRC moves into a new era with revised regulations.
Having first been announced as a Hyundai Motorsport driver back in November 2013, Neuville has been an integral part of the team’s growth on the competitive world rally stage. There were already a number of milestones in its inaugural WRC season in 2014. He claimed the team’s maiden podium in Mexico and followed that up with a debut victory in Germany.
In his three seasons with the team to date, Thierry Neuville has claimed two victories, the most recent of which was scored with the New Generation i20 WRC in Rally Italia Sardegna earlier this year, proving the technology credentials of the new rally car to the rally environment. He has amassed a total of nine podiums, including his third-place at Tour de Corse last weekend.
Thierry Neuville said: “I am delighted to extend my contract with Hyundai Motorsport for two more years. Although I had alternative options available, it seemed the most logical decision to keep up the great momentum we have within this team. 2017 will be a new era for the WRC with the revised regulations. We have shared very special moments together since the team’s debut in WRC. Our first win together in Germany was one of my career highlights. With a new car next year, and even more ambitious targets, I am excited by what this next chapter will bring.”
Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “Thierry has been a great asset to our team so we are pleased to announce this two-year extension. There has been a lot of talk about Thierry’s future with Hyundai Motorsport, which is obviously part of the motorsport game, but the fact we continue together shows the strength of our relationship. We have had some great memories, as well as some difficult moments, but overall we’ve been on a positive growth curve together. Now we have finalized our driver line-up with Thierry, Hayden and Dani, we can aim for a competitive finish to our 2016 season, as well as focusing on development of our 2017 challenger.”
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About Hyundai Motor
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars. Hyundai Motor has eight manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centers worldwide and in 2015 sold 4.96 million vehicles globally. With more than 110,000 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 and IONIQ, the world’s first model with three electrified powertrains in a single body type.
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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 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. The team made a strong impression in its first year claiming podium results in Mexico and Poland, as well as a memorable 1-2 in Germany. In its second season, the team was involved in a closely fought battle for second place in the Manufacturers’ Championship, adding more podiums and stage wins to its tally. For its third year in WRC, Hyundai Motorsport has developed a brand new car, the New Generation i20 WRC, which made its rally debut with a podium finish in Rallye Monte-Carlo in January 2016. The team registered its first win with the new car in Rally Argentina, the fourth round of the season.
Further information about Hyundai Motorsport is available at:
Hyundai Motor Company / 12, Heolleung-ro, Seochogu,Seou, 137-938, Korea / T +82 2 3464 1114 /