Customer team on a mission in national rally championship
Our i20 R5 customer, Hyundai Rally Team Italia, will start the 2021 Italian national rally championship this weekend (March 13-14) with the sole aim of bringing home the title.
“We are proud that Hyundai Italia can once again give concrete support to a Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing program,” said Hyundai Italia Managing Director Andrea Crespi. “In 2021 we aim for success in the Italian Rally Championship.”
A winning combination
Backed by Hyundai Italia, experienced customer Friulmotor, defending drivers’ champion Andrea Crugnola, and tyre supplier Pirelli have combined to form the new entry for 2021. This already strong team will enjoy additional support from our Customer Racing department to further boost their championship aspirations.
“Hyundai Italia have done a superb job of bringing together a team and driver combination under the Hyundai Rally Team Italia name that is clearly capable of winning the Italian national championship,” said our Customer Racing Operations Leader Andrew Johns. “With the additional support from Pirelli and the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing department, I think everyone involved can look forward to a very exciting 2021.”
The news marks Hyundai Italia’s increased commitment in rallying, after first working with our customers last year to great effect.
The Italian Job
Our customers have enjoyed plenty of success in Italy since the introduction of our i20 R5 to the stages in late 2016. However, this year will mark the greatest commitment to the national championship by one of our customers to-date.
The Italian Rally Championship will be contested over eight events, featuring famous names such as Rally Sanremo and the Rally di Roma Capitale. The opening round of the season will feature five i20 R5 crews, including our WRC drivers Thierry and Craig, both of whom have a successful history with the car.
“Italy has been a strong market for the i20 R5 ever since the first days with the car, but this season marks the best opportunity yet to have a Hyundai customer lift the title at the end of the year,” said Andrew. “I look forward to the celebrations I am certain will come.”
