Hyundai Motorsport has made a positive start to Rally Poland, round 7 of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), with two cars firmly inside the top-five at the end of the first full day.
Hyundai Motorsport has already taken two victories (Argentina / Sardinia) and a further two podium results (Monte-Carlo / Sweden) in 2016. The team will be aiming to reach the podium once again this weekend, which marks the halfway point of the Championship.
Hayden Paddon has ended Friday in third place overall, just 10.2 seconds behind rally leader Ott Tänak, with the Kiwi taking two stage wins on this morning’s loop and one this afternoon. Thierry Neuville holds fifth position, just over 20 seconds behind Tanak, with Dani Sordo just outside the top ten.
Paddon (#4 New Generation i20 WRC) and co-driver John Kennard look to have bounced back in style after two disappointing rallies since their win in Argentina back in April. The Kiwi crew won Friday’s opening stage (SS2 – Chmielewo) and were again quickest at the end of the morning loop (SS5 – Stare Juchy). A solid afternoon left them well positioned to chase their third podium of 2016.
“We had a good start to this rally, and I felt immediately comfortable in the car during this morning’s loop,” commented Paddon. “I was enjoying myself a lot. Registering two stage wins early on was an ideal way to get the event underway. It’s been pretty close at the front throughout the day.
“Even this afternoon, when things didn’t run quite as we’d hoped, we’ve been able to stay in touch and add another stage win. There’s still some room for improvement. We know where we need to focus so we’ll sort out a plan of action for Saturday. It’s a fast, fun rally and I’m feeling confident.”
Hyundai Motorsport has established itself as a regular podium contender with the New Generation i20 WRC this season. A top-three finish is the minimum objective in Poland this weekend as the team builds on its most successful WRC campaign to date.
The rally continues on Saturday with almost 125km of special stages. A loop of three stages will be repeated with one run in the morning and one in the afternoon and the day finishes with a third run of the Mikolajki Arena Super Special.
Overall Classification after Day One
O. Tanak / R. Molder (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) 1:01:23.0
A. Mikkelsen / A. Jaeger (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +4.2
H. Paddon / J. Kennard (New Generation i20 WRC) +10.2
S. Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +16.3
T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul (Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC) +20.4
J. M. Latvala / M. Anttila (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +36.6
S. Lefebvre / G. Moreau (Citroën DS3 WRC) +39.4
C. Breen / S. Martin (Citroën DS3 WRC) +41.1
E. Camilli / B. Veillas (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +58.6
M. Østberg / O. Floene (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +1:06.7
D. Sordo / M. Marti (Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC) +1:12.2
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