2014 may have been Hyundai Motorsport’s debut season in the World Rally Championship but the team impressed with a podium as early as the third event (in Mexico) and a historic 1-2 finish at Rally Deutschland.
The Korean outfit knows that WRC doesn’t become easier with each year and are therefore only targeting a third place in the championship, one place better than it fared in 2014.
Having learned a few hard lessons last year the team is looking forward to the new season, according to Hyundai Motorsport manager Alain Penasse.
“The Korean management was very pleased with the results achieved in our first year of WRC, the board understands that it is difficult sport compete in let alone with a new team.”
“For 2015 we are targeting more podium positions and a top three finish in the overall standings.”
Hyundai will return to the fray with the same i20 that it raced last season, though this car will be replaced by the all-new i20 later this year.
Penasse continues: “We know that there are some aspects of the car that need improvement. We struggle a little bit with low- to mid-speed grip, which is why are more competitive on the faster events such as Poland.”
“Our engine is also underdeveloped, so we are going to address this issue, firstly by using a new block. We are not quite sure when we will run the new car as we are still testing it. With the new racecar we are hoping to close the gap to our competitors.”
Penasse also welcome multiple champion Sebastien Loeb’s return to rally competition.
“It is great to have Loeb back, any more competition can only be good for the sport and for us. The teams may take on a different strategy and if they are pushing too hard maybe we will benefit. There will also be lots of excitement and media coverage when this old face returns which is good for rallying.”
Speaking of drivers, Hyundai has retained its big guns, Belgian Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo. These two will be joined at nine events by Hayden Paddon.
“We are being used in a development role in real race conditions and since we aren’t the front-running names in our team there is no pressure to really score points. We are being developed by the team for the future, which is great position to be in as Hyundai has made a long-term commitment to the sport.”
This Kiwi hotshot, is a self-confessed gravel man who “likes to go sideways” and is looking forward to the dirt rounds rather than the snow or all-tar events.
Considering how cautious the team was at the start of 2014 (you can read those comments by clicking here), we’d bet that Hyundai will be challenging for wins and will be in contention at the end of the year.