Hyundai Motorsport has achieved a strong podium finish in Wales Rally GB, securing the team second place in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Manufacturers’ title in the penultimate round of the season.
Eighth overall for Paddon and co-driver Seb Marshall has been a valuable opportunity to regroup and rebuild confidence. A top-eight finish may not be a representative result for the crew but offers a platform from which they can build for Rally Australia next month.
Paddon said: “We have been in a bit of a no man’s land today, so we have concentrated on keeping things nice and smooth. The result isn’t what we wanted, of course, but we have started to regain our confidence in the car, and just enjoy ourselves a bit more.
“It has been hard to read the stages this weekend, but it’s been fun to get behind the wheel and to be part of the team again. We can now reset and refocus our efforts on Rally Australia, where we have our sights set much higher!”
Thierry Neuville completed the 21-stage event in second position overall, behind Welshman Elfyn Evans, who claimed a popular victory on home soil. The result was not enough to stop Sébastien Ogier from clinching a fifth Drivers’ Championship, but the Belgian crew gave it absolutely everything. Alongside co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, Neuville took five stage wins over the weekend, including a dominant Power Stage victory – and five extra points.
Sunday’s schedule covered five stages with the 10.41km Alwen and 6.43km Brenig tests run twice, split by the 7.49km Gwydir run. The slippery gravel stages made for an entertaining final day of action with 12 seconds separating second to sixth positions at the start of the morning. The close battle kept crews fighting until the very end, and ensured a thrilling finale.
Demonstrating the strength of the Hyundai Motorsport package in Wales, Andreas Mikkelsen took fourth place overall in just his second event with the team. Scoring two stage wins on Sunday morning (SS18 Brenig and SS20 Alwen 2), he fended off Jari-Matti Latvala and Ott Tanak for fourth, and ended the rally only four seconds from the podium. He also picked up an extra point for fifth place in the Power Stage.
The team’s two other drivers Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo endured a more complicated weekend en route to eighth and tenth positions overall.
Despite conceding the Manufacturers’ title to M-Sport, Hyundai Motorsport is able to reflect on its most competitive season to date in a season that is rightly lauded as one of the most fiercely contested in WRC history. Over the 12 rounds of 2017 to date, the team has amassed three victories, 77 stage wins, 14 stage 1-2s and ten podiums, with Rally Australia still to come.
Today’s result is the second consecutive Wales Rally GB podium for Hyundai Motorsport, and represents an improvement on its third place in 2016. The team extends its congratulations to M-Sport and Sébastien Ogier for winning the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championships respectively.
The final round of the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Australia, will take place from 16-19 November.
Final Overall Classification – Wales Rally GB
1 E. Evans D. Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC 57:00.6
2 T. Neuville N. Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 37.3
3 S. Ogier J. Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 45.2
4 A. Mikkelsen A. Jæger Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 49.8
5 J. M. Latvala M. Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 50.3
6 O. Tänak M. Järveoja Ford Fiesta WRC +1:02.3
7 K. Meeke P. Nagle Citroën C3 WRC +1:20.5
8 H. Paddon S. Marshall Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +2:16.3
9 E. Lappi J. Fern Toyota Yaris WRC +2:46.5
10 D. Sordo M. Martí Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +3:50.5
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ Standings
After round 12
1 S. Ogier 215
2 T. Neuville 183
3 O. Tanak 169
4 J.M Latvala 136
5 E. Evans 118
6 D. Sordo 95
7 J. Hänninen 71
8 K. Meeke 70
9 C. Breen 64
10 H. Paddon 59
11 A. Mikkelsen 52
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers’ Standings
After round 12
1 M-Sport World Rally Team 398
2 Hyundai Motorsport 305
3 Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team 241
4 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 210
Comments