Justin Dale to Drive Hyundai Accent WRC

Motor Sport Developments Ltd (MSD) announced today that British driver Justin Dale is to drive a Hyundai Accent WRC on six rounds of the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship.

Justin and long-term co-driver Andrew Bargery, will kick-start their WRC campaign with Cyprus Rally in June followed by Rallye Deutschland (July), Australia (September), Rallye Sanremo and Rallye Catalunya (October) and finish with Wales Rally GB (November).

While the 2002 British Super 1600 Champion has contested the Rally of Great Britain before, he has limited experience on the southern European events through working as a gravel crew but Deutschland and Australia will be an all-new experience.

"This is obviously going to be a big learning curve for me but my aim this year is to get miles and experience of the six events," commented Dale. "I am also planning on doing the recce for as many rallies as I can that we're not competing in to start familiarising myself with those roads too."

The 31-year-old Brit has undertaken several test drives in the Accent WRC. A shakedown test will take place later this month in preparation for his first real test in the world rally machine, when the British duo contest the South Swedish Rally, a round of the FIA European Championship.

"I like the feel of the Accent and it has good power, but I have not yet played with the suspension or differential settings so the Swedish rally will be a good test for me. And I'm looking forward to working with MSD - from the people I have met so far they seem a good bunch of technicians."

Dale's MSD-built Hyundai Accent WRC programme will be sponsored by Dubai-based The House of Cars Group and Sony (UK), and managed by UAE-based Protrak World Motorsport Management.