Hyundai Motorsport has had an amazing year with the New Generation i20 WRC, making tremendous improvements and raising high expectations for its future in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
Hyundai Motorsport finished the final round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with a strong podium position. Thierry Neuville took third place on a dramatic final day at Rally Australia.
Hayden Paddon took fourth place with Dani Sordo just 1.6s behind him in fifth. Neuville and Sordo scored extra points by finishing second and third respectively on the Power Stage.
The result elevates Neuville to second place in the drivers' championship after a tough race at the weekend.
All three New Generation i20 WRC crews finished inside the top five, with Hayden Paddon finishing fourth for Hyundai Shell World Rally Team just 1.6s ahead of Dani Sordo (#20 Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team). Neuville and Sordo scored additional points as they finished second and third on the Power Stage.
The result allowed Neuville to secure second place in the drivers' championship. The Belgian's fifth consecutive podium and seventh overall for the season takes him to 160 points, just six points behind his nearest rival - and Australian Rally winner - Andreas Mikkelsen.
The Australian Rally is the tenth rally of the season, out of thirteen rallies, in which Hyundai Motorsport has claimed a podium position with the New Generation i20 WRC. Having already confirmed second place in the Constructors' Championship at the last round, the team concludes its third and most competitive WRC season with two wins, twelve podium positions, 47 stage wins and 24 Power Stage points.
For Neuville (#3 New Generation i20 WRC) and Nicolas Gilsoul, who also secured second place in the Co-drivers' Championship, it was a fitting end to such a competitive season. A podium at Monte Carlo, victory in Sardinia and then three consecutive top results from Germany to Australia made for a memorable season for the Belgian crew.
Ο Neuville, stated: "I am pleased with the way this rally has been completed. We had some difficult conditions in the first few days, so it wasn't easy. We focused on maintaining our clean driving and we were able to achieve our goals - a podium finish and second place in the championship. It was also particularly nice to finish the race with some points on the Power Stage. We had speed in the car all weekend, so I'm happy to end the season in this positive way. Thanks to my team for doing such a good job this year. We had a difficult start, but in Sardinia we were able to prove our speed and consistency, essential elements to be real contenders. I'm already looking forward to 2017."
Paddon (#4 New Generation i20 WRC) and his co-driver John Kennard had a disappointing end to their season. Damage to their tyre on the Bucca Stage resulted in a loss of time and they finished fifth. However, their strong comeback moved them up one place by the end of the race.
Ο Paddon said: "We did not want to retreat without a fight. We started knowing that we would have to push for the win, but we were determined to give our best. We may not have had the speed to achieve victory, but a podium was still a great way to end the year. For that reason, I was quite disappointed with what happened. We hit a corner where we blew a tyre, and as a result we had to drive 20 kilometres with a patched tyre. We recovered quickly and recovered in the final stages, finishing fourth. There were ups and downs, but overall there are a lot of positives and lessons learned for next season. Thanks to our whole team and all our fans for their support. We will be back next season, stronger than ever!"
Sordo (# 20 New Generation i20 WRC) and his co-driver Marc Marti finished their season with one Power Stage point and just 16 seconds off the podium. Considering the 20-second time penalty they were handed, the Spanish crew left wondering what could have happened this weekend.
Ο Sordo stated: "We wanted to give a big push to see how strongly we could finish the rally - and this season. We were in a very tough battle with Hayden for fourth place, and we made a good effort. Of course, if you finish fourth or fifth in those situations it doesn't really matter, but it was nice to get a point in the Power Stage for our efforts. Without the time penalty, we could have been in contention for the podium, but those things happen. Thanks to the team for their support this season. We may have lost a win, but we've won a few podiums. It's been a positive season and we've gained enough to build on going forward."
With two wins and second place in the Constructors' Championship, 2016 has been the most competitive season for Hyundai Motorsport in WRC, culminating in a top five finish for three New Generation i20 WRCs in Australia.
Mr Michel Nandan, Team Principal, commented: "We knew we were in for an exciting last day. There were a few twists and turns at the end of the season, but overall we are happy with the podium in Australia. Well done to Thierry and Nicolas for their performance and for taking second place in the Drivers' and Co-drivers' Championship. They had a fantastic season, especially after their victory in Sardinia. It was a shame for Hayden that the tyre incident stopped his path to victory. Dani, too, was unlucky not to be able to fight for a better result. As a team, we had a good year. The New Generation i20 WRC has done us proud, but it's the result of hard work from the whole team. We have shown great progress and maturity this year and I am personally grateful to every Hyundai Motorsport executive for their valuable contribution. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Volkswagen Motorsport for being such tough competitors. They set the bar very high. We will miss competing with them, but we will continue to be inspired by their achievements."
Overall Final Ranking
1. A. Mikkelsen / A. Jager (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 2:46:05.7
2. S. Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +14.9
3. T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul (Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC) +1:12.6
4. H. Paddon / J. Kennard (Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC) +1:26.7
5. D. Sordo / M. Martí (Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC) +1:28.3
6. M. Østberg / O. Floene (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +1:41.5
7. O. Tanak / R. Molder (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +3:04.3
8. E. Lappi / J. Ferm (Škoda Fabia R5) +7:32.3
9. J. M. Latvala / M. Anttila (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +7:56.9
10. L. Bertelli / S. Scattolin (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +8:00.1
FIA World Rally Championship 2016 drivers' ranking
S. Ogier 268 points / T. Neuville 160 / A. Mikkelsen 154 / H. Paddon 138 / D. Sordo 130 / J. M. Latvala 112 / M. Østberg 102 / O. Tanak 88 / K. Meeke 64 / C. Breen 36 / E. Camilli 28 / E. Lappi 16 / S. Lefebvre 14 / H. Solberg 14 / M. Prokop 12 / K. Abbring 10 / T. Suninen 8 / P. Tidemand 8 / J. Kopecky 7 / M. Ligato 6 / E. Evans 6 / L. Bertelli 5 / N. Fuchs 2 / A. Kremer 2 / V. Gorban 1 / K. Kruuda 1
FIA World Rally Championship Constructor Ranking 2016 FIA World Rally Championship 2016
Volkswagen Motorsport 377 points / Hyundai Motorsport 312 / Volkswagen Motorsport II 163 / M-Sport World Rally Team 162 / Hyundai Motorsport N 146 / DMACK World Rally Team 98 / Jipocar Czech National Team 18 / Yazeed Racing 4
