Hyundai has revealed experienced motorsport engineer Michael Nandan as team principle of its new WRC team. Nandan will oversee advancement of the Hyundai i20 WRC car, which is being readied to handle the VW Polo R WRC as well as Citroen DS3 WRC from 2014.
Nandan, 54, started at Peugeot in the late 80s, as well as has helped Opel, Toyota, Suzuki and, most recently, at the French motor sport federation. However, the Hyundai WRC visit is his very first team principle role.
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An interim version of the Hyundai WRC vehicle has already been developed as well as tested in South Korea. But, with the visit of Nandan, Hyundai Motorsport will now embark on an intensive test as well as advancement programme for its new i20 WRC car. The teams plans to contend on one event this year, ahead of a full campaign in 2014.
Drivers will be revealed at a later date, with the experienced Petter Solberg, currently out of a drive, believed to be a front-runner.
The Hyundai WRC programme is likely to spawn higher performance road-going models. speaking about the firm’s decision to go into the WRC, Tak Uk Im, executive Vice president & COO of Hyundai Motor, said:
“Hyundai is excited to re-enter WRC, as well as we’re back not just to compete, however to win. Hyundai as well as WRC type a perfect match, as well as our racing experience will equate directly into performance as well as handling enhancements in our road-going vehicles.”
The Hyundai world Rally team will be run from the firm’s bespoke motorsport subsidiary, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH, which is based in Alzenau, Germany, just outside of Frankfurt, where Hyundai’s European HQ is likewise situated.
Hyundai’s previous WRC effort ran from 2000 to 2003. However, that vehicle was run by British team motor sport Developments. The Hyundai i20 WRC effort is completely in-house, mirroring Volkwagen’s WRC team.