Hyundai World Rally Team will not run in Corsica

It is now confirmed that HWRT will not be competing in the Corsica round of the World Rally Championship and it is unlikely to participate in any further events this year following the failure of the Hyundai Motor Company to meet the contractual payments that were due to MSD.

"The simple fact is that Hyundai have failed to honour their payment obligations to MSD and we cannot continue if we do not get paid. Hyundai have no contractual basis what so ever to withhold any payments from us. I can only assume Hyundai had no intention to complete the programme despite their assurances in the past," said David Whitehead, Managing Director MSD.

"It is my absolute resolve to take this all the way to the courts so that the situation can be put right. My lawyers are currently preparing the case from which the record will be set straight."

"I am saddened by the manner in which this programme has finished and in particular I would like to pay tribute to the 100 staff who have been made redundant despite doing an excellent job in very difficult circumstances. I would also like to extend my thanks to the suppliers and drivers who have stood by the team in this trying period."

In my 28 years of motor sport I have never come across a situation like this where the departure of a manufacturer from a major motor sport championship has been executed so poorly causing such damage and ill feeling within the sport. It truly is unprecedented."