Hyundai Motor Company approves WRC programme for 2003

The Hyundai Motor Company has finalized the plan for a 2003 World Rally Championship programme for the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team on the basis of a two-car entry contesting all 14 rounds.

Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets and Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer remain as the contracted drivers and will pilot the Accent WRC3 throughout next year.

The Milton Keynes-based team may also run a third car in selected events but at this stage no confirmed programme has been decided and no driver/co-driver pairing has been announced.

Team Principal David Whitehead said: "Everyone at the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team is delighted that the manufacturer has shown this continuing commitment to world championship rallying after what has been a very encouraging year.

"By focusing on a two-car team we will be able to put the maximum effort and resource into further improving our performance and closing the gap on Subaru and Peugeot. This year has shown that the team, the drivers and the Accent has the agility, durability and speed to take the fight to the leading teams and we expect to be challenging for top five placings on a regular basis.

"Our improving performance, after only three years in the WRC category is a testament to the dedication and skills of everyone in the team and in particular to the drivers who have helped us develop the car to the point where we can take on the Fords and Subarus. Obviously we want to close the performance gap to Peugeot and that will be the focus of our development programme during the next 12 months.

"Freddy has shown he has the speed to aim at podium finishes next year and Armin has proved to be a vital part of our development programme. I would also like to pay a very special tribute to four-time World Champion Juha Kankkunen for the tremendous contribution he has made to the team during 2002. Having Juha in the team for the gravel events this year has encouraged everyone to push even harder and it is typical of his skill and determination that he brought us a points finish on our very first Safari Rally."