R5 makes headlines with wins and podiums
Our i20 R5 customers have enjoyed significant results as national series enter the final stages of the season. A major victory at the Transchaco Rally in Paraguay, along with podiums in Spain and Portugal, has kept our customers at the forefront of the action.
Diego Dominguez and Hector Nunes took nine fastest times on their way to winning the Transchaco Rally by over 90 seconds. The centrepiece of the Paraguayan championship heralded Dominguez’s fourth win of the season with the Hyundai Paraguay supported team. He has closed the gap in the title chase with one round remaining.
Podiums across Europe
Hyundai España supported i20 R5 customers scored a double podium at the Rallye Villa de Llanes (September 28-29), the latest round of the Spanish Tarmac season. Iván Ares finished second to lead the overall standings, as he aims to defend the national title he won with his i20 R5 last year.
Armindo Araújo has maintained his lead in the Portuguese rally championship after the penultimate round, Rali de Amarante Baião (September 21-22). The Hyundai Portugal supported driver finished third overall, the best of four i20 R5 entered into the event.
There were podiums also in France and Ireland with Quentin Giordano securing third in Rally Coeur de France (September 29-30), and Meirion Evans capturing five stage wins en route to third in the Cork 20 International Rally in the same weekend.
Keep the pressure on
Claudio de Cecco continued his Hyundai Slovenia backed 2018 campaign at Rally Porec (September 29-30). The Italian was eighth overall but second of those crews chasing the Slovenian title. He remains second in the standings, keeping the pressure on the points’ leader with one round left.
Wales Rally GB offered another perfect showcase for the i20 R5, as the car performed strongly in the international and national contests.
Tom Cave returned to the wheel of an i20 R5 after a part season in last year’s British championship. Running against the full-time WRC 2 teams and crews, Cave was the fastest R5 runner on four occasions. In the national rally, John Wink and John Forrest were among the top-three in every stage, ultimately finishing second overall.
“Supported by national Hyundai markets, the i20 R5 teams in Spain and Portugal are in good positions to win their titles,” commented our Customer Racing Deputy General Manager, Andrea. “In Paraguay, the victory in Transchaco Rally is a superb achievement for the crew and the team, but also shows the reliability of the i20 R5 in extraordinarily tough conditions.”
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