Hyundai’s future WRC challenger is based on the new i20

Content

Hyundai, as we know, has embarked on its debut season in the World Rally Championship in 2014 with the i20 WRC. Alongside its participation in what is one of the toughest forms of motorsports, the Korean auto giant has rolled out the first prototype of its next WRC challenger.

Interestingly, this future WRC vehicle is based on the recently launched i20 (called the Elite i20 in India). Frenchman 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 i20, the WRC version incorporates all the learning and feedback that the team has collected during its first season in the World Rally Championship. Hyundai, in fact, has revealed that it has been working on the development of its future WRC car for some time now. Furthermore, the brand is not in a rush and will only introduce the future WRC vehicle in competition when it is absolutely sure that it is ready to replace the current i20 WRC vehicle.   

Hyundai’s return to the rally championship started and ended on a bad note as Thierry Neuville crashed heavily on the first stage and team-mate Dani Sordo was forced to retire with a suspected electrical fault. Nonetheless, we wish guys over at Hyundai Motorsport good luck with the future i20 WRC.