Hyundai i20 to go WRC Rallying

Hyundai has confirmed it’s going rallying with an i20 heading for the WRC sporting around 300bhp and 4WD.

Hyundai has announced that it is going to compete in the FIA World Rally Championships with a car based on the three-door i20.

Hyundai hasn’t been rallying since it withdrew from motorsport in 2003, but the arrival of more convincing models – and growing sporty pretensions in the Hyundai range – make a rally glow a sensible move for the Korean firm.

All WRC cars have to be based on 1.6 litre production cars, but the Hyundai i20 WRC car will be a little livelier than the road car. Expect around 300bhp to be on offer driver through all four wheels by a sequential box and a bit more performance than you’re going to get from your average i20.

Hyundai hasn’t given any details about who will be running the Hyundai team – or driving the heavily modified i20s – but they have said it will be an in-house WRC team in Europe.

Hyundai’s Mark Hall said:

The World Rally Championship is recognised as one of the most dramatic sporting series on Earth.  It’s a spectacle filled with excitement and dynamism ? the perfect embodiment of the Hyundai brand.

More details when we get them.