Hyundai unleashes 2017 i20 Coupe WRC

Hyundai Motorsport has recently introduced their brand new challenger dubbed the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC for the upcoming 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

The brand new challenger has been specifically customized based on the new technical regulations of the race, which was revealed during an exclusive media event at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy.

The new car regulations are made for the improvement of overall spectacle of WRC such as giving a new car an aggressive new look as well as providing evolved technologies. In addition, there has also been an increase in engine power from 304 to 385 PS and a reduction in the overall weight of the car.

Hyundai said that the three-door i20 Coupe WRC represents the team’s third new car since its debut in 2014, following the Hyundai i20 WRC (2014-15) and the New Generation i20 WRC (2016).

“We are heading into a new era for the sport with the biggest change to the regulations for some time. It’s a great new technical challenge and one that we have tackled with enthusiasm. It’s an opportunity to put into practice everything we have learned and experienced in the past three seasons. All teams are starting from scratch so we are on equal footing. Having finished in a fighting second in 2016, we want to demonstrate our ability to fight for the Championship next season – and we are confident the i20 Coupe WRC will help us do just that,” said Michel Nandan, Team Principal.

Hyundai also said that the driver lineup consisting of Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo, will remain the same for 2017.

Meanwhile, as manufacturers will be able to field up to three cars in each round, Hyundai Motorsport’s three drivers will run under a unified banner, “The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team” in 2017.