More details of Hyundai's WRC return

Hyundai have announced more details about their 2014 World Rally Championship comeback.

Michel Nandan will head up the firm's WRC campaign as Team Principal. The Frenchman ran the Peugeot WRC Team from 1999 to their withdrawal in 2005. It was during this time they claimed two Drivers World Rally Championships, three Manufacturer World Rally Championships and 24 individual wins in three years. He was also Technical Director of the Suzuki World Rally Team during their development year of 2007 before being replaced when the team entered the WRC in 2008.

“I am honoured to have been chosen by Hyundai to spearhead its exciting new entry into the WRC.“ said Nandan, “The project is still in its infancy, but things are moving rapidly, and I am looking forward to developing the team as this year progresses. There is much to be done, of that we are fully aware, but with a dedicated facility in Alzenau and an ambitious core of highly motivated personnel, we are already making good progress.”

Hyundai have also formed a motorsport arm of the company, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH. The WRC team will be based in Alzenau, Germany. Hyundai's European HQ is based not far away from their Motorsport base.

Nandan also said the firm were purposely using a temporary version of their i20 World Rally Car because they are carrying out component testing and analysis in other areas.

“We are deliberately using an interim version of the i20 to carry out important component testing and to ensure that we have done our homework before we enter competition. This phase will continue throughout 2013 as we prepare for our first full season back in WRC in 2014. There are a lot of other decisions that we will have to make during the course of the year, particularly regarding the selection of drivers, but this also requires time and due diligence. We will, at the same time, keep a close eye on how the 2013 WRC season unfolds.” Nandan said.

The car Hyundai will use in the WRC, the Hyundai i20 WRC, has been tested in South Korea and Europe ahead of it's planned WRC début in 2014. Details of drivers have not been announced as yet.