WRC – Hyundai Motorsport has claimed its tenth podium finish

Hyundai Motorsport has registered a podium finish in Rally Turkey, the tenth round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), with Hayden Paddon and Seb Marshall completing a punishing event in a fine third place.

For the Kiwi and his British co-driver, the result marked their first podium of the 2018 season and Hyundai Motorsport’s tenth in total this year.Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger, who had led the rally on three separate occasions before technical issues on Saturday afternoon, finished in fifth place. Following two incredibly rough days of action, Sunday’s itinerary was a relatively calmer affair with crews focused on securing their positions. However, the title protagonists Thierry Neuville, Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tanak all had eyes on the extra Power Stage points.

Following their retirement on Saturday morning, Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul re-joined under Rally 2 on Sunday morning. The Belgian crew laid down a strong benchmark in the day’s opening run through the 7.14km Marmaris stage, claiming their third fastest time of the weekend. They went on to set a blistering pace in the Power Stage, the only crew to complete the route in less than five minutes, to score five crucial extra points.

The WRC manufacturers’ championship has intensified with a resurgent Toyota Gazoo Racing moving into the lead by just five points over Hyundai Motorsport after their 1-2 result in Turkey. Despite a hard-fought but ultimately disappointing rally, Neuville retains his lead in the drivers’ championship, just 13 points ahead of new runner-up Tanak and 23 from third-placed Ogier. With three rallies remaining of the 2018 season, it promises to be an exciting fight to the finish.

Crew Notes: Paddon/ Marshall (#6 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• First podium of 2018 season and best result since Australia 2017
• Seventh WRC career podium

Paddon said: “I am really happy to take our first podium of the season. It has been a very tough rally. We have adopted a particular strategy this weekend that has required us to hold back and be patient. Thankfully that approach has paid off and we have been rewarded with third place – it’s been a while since we’ve been on the podium! It hasn’t been the rally that the team wanted or deserved. I am fully behind them coming back in the final rounds of the season and I am personally looking forward to Wales Rally GB.”

Crew Notes: Mikkelsen/Jæger (#4 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• Three stage wins and three separate occasions in lead of Rally Turkey
• Fifth place secures important points for the championship

Mikkelsen said: “It was very important for us to finish the rally with a safe, clever drive today. We took it easy on all four remaining stages, including the Power Stage, because we needed to secure the points for the manufacturers’ championship. Finishing fifth is not what we wanted, nor what we were capable of. Despite our speed, which we showed by leading the rally on three separate occasions, unfortunately the issues we encountered yesterday prevented us from capitalising on our potential. We have lost a lot to Toyota this weekend, so we now look forward to a strong return at the next event in Wales GB.”

Crew Notes: Neuville/Gilsoul (#5 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• Led the rally at end of Friday, scoring four stage wins in total over the weekend
• Impressive Power Stage performance scored five additional drivers’ points

Neuville said: “I was absolutely flat-out in the Power Stage, and could not have done any more. We really needed those five points. We are fighting for the championship against some very hard guys to beat, so we had to give it everything. In all honesty, I feel we should have taken the win this weekend. We were clearly the fastest, especially on Friday when we were first on the road and leading at the end of the day. Were it not for a small issue on our car, we could have achieved so much more here. I am disappointed, but as a team we win and lose together. We will dust ourselves down and come back strong in the final three rallies.”

Going down to the wire

• Seven stage wins and tenth podium of 2018 season
• Despite showing promise, team drops to second in manufacturers’ championship

Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “I am pleased to see Hayden and Seb register their first podium of the season today after a measured and intelligent drive this weekend. It is always nice to take a top-three finish but we know we have missed out on so much more. Thierry and Andreas both led the rally on different occasions, and the pace of the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC was strong on these very rough Turkish stages. The impressive performance of Thierry and Nicolas in the Power Stage showed what might have been. Unfortunately, we have to accept the situation and come back fighting; it is what rallying is all about. We have seen a shift in the championship battle this weekend, one from which we need to bounce back quickly. We will aim to do just that in Wales.” 

Next Rally

• Wales Rally GB takes place from 4-7 October
• Hyundai Motorsport will field a three-crew line-up with Mikkelsen/Jæger, Neuville/Gilsoul and Paddon/Marshall
• Final Overall Classification – Rally Turkey

2018 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ Standings After round 10

    2018 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers’ Standings After round 9  

    All results remain subject to official FIA confirmation.

Press release Hyundai Motorsport