Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Hyundai Motorsport wins first-ever WRC manufacturers' title
Hyundai Motorsport's team celebrates its victory at the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship in Spain, Oct. 27 (local time). / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Hyundai Motor's rally team clinched the World Rally Championship's manufacturers' title for the first time after the season-ending Australian rally was cancelled due to the threat of bushfires, the company said Wednesday.
It is the first time Hyundai Motorsport has claimed the WRC manufacturers' title in the global series, defeating defending champion Toyota Motor's rally team Toyota Gazoo Racing by 18 points.
Hyundai Motorsport celebrated four victories this year en route to the title ― the Tour de Corse, Rally Argentina, Rally Italia Sardegna and Rally de Espana ― and had 13 individual podium results.
Hyundai Motor's WRC drivers Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul scored three of those wins while Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio had their first victory in Sardinia.
The team has shown versatile performances as the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC performed competitively in all terrain, the company said.
“This has been a very special journey for us, and it is a pleasure to say we are now an FIA World Rally Championship winning team. It's an amazing achievement,” Neuville said.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice President Thomas Schemera said: “Hyundai Motorsport has truly captured the spirit of Hyundai and our N high-performance brand. The successes they have enjoyed over many seasons have been incredible to watch and the influence on Hyundai's road vehicles cannot be underestimated.
“We will now focus on transferring that winning feeling onto customers around the world and to enhance their enjoyment of driving Hyundai vehicles.”
From the start of this year, under team director Andrea Adamo, Hyundai Motorsport's objective was to fight for its first world title.
Against fierce opposition, the team strived to snatch the top spot before the season's end.
The team said it will spend the off-season preparing for the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship with a revised crew line-up.