Positive shakedown for Hyundai WRC car

The 'i20 WRC' was tested at a private track in Alzenau, Germany, with the Hyundai Motorsport team reporting "no significant issues" with the new car.

The debut consisted of a three day, 550 kilometre shakedown, followed by the car's first comprehensive testing session, during which various set-ups were tried out and valuable data gathered. While all key areas of the car's performance were evaluated, the major focus was on collecting feedback from the i20 WRC's 1.6 litre turbocharged engine.

"The car is on the road and I have to admit it was quite an emotional moment to see the latest specification of the i20 WRC in action for the first time," said Michel Nandan, Team Principal.

"We have an intensive testing schedule for the rest of 2013. It will take us to different venues across Europe, to evaluate the i20 WRC in different conditions and on different terrains, which reflect the variety of circumstances we will encounter in the World Rally Championship next year."

"The learning from the first tests for me is quite positive," Nandan said. "We have now a lot of useful feedback to digest for the next steps of our preparation."

The Hyundai i20 WRC was designed at Hyundai's Namyang R&D Centre in Korea and is being made race-ready at the Hyundai Motorsport headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. A rigorous test schedule will follow, in order to ensure that Hyundai Motorsport arrives ready to compete at the Monte Carlo Rally in January, 2014.