Hyundai Motors celebrated another victory at the 2024 WRC Sweden Rally, continuing its triumphs with back-to-back wins since the season opener.
On February 19, Hyundai Motors announced that it had secured first place in the second round of the 2024 WRC (World Rally Championship), which took place in Umeå, Sweden, from February 15 (Thursday) to 18 (Sunday, local time).
The Swedish circuit is unique in the WRC as it features a course completely covered with snow and ice. Given the continuous stretches of snow and ice, it is crucial for drivers to execute bold driving skills and flexible strategies in response to the harsh cold and slippery conditions.
Driving the ‘i20 N Rally1 Hybrid,’ Hyundai’s World Rally Team (hereafter referred to as Hyundai Team) competitor Esa-Pekka Lappi maintained a dominant performance, finishing in first place and achieving his inaugural victory of the season.
While other competitors struggled in the extreme conditions, Lappi’s steady driving allowed him to stay in the lead throughout the event, guiding his team to victory. Notably, this win marks Lappi’s first with the Hyundai Team, adding to its significance. Team member Thierry Neuville finished in fourth place.
Thanks to the stellar performances of its drivers, the Hyundai Team earned a total of 42 points, placing them at the top of the manufacturer standings alongside Toyota. This positions the Hyundai Team at the forefront for both driver and manufacturer categories, heightening expectations for the remainder of the season.
Til Batenburg, Executive Director of Hyundai’s N Brand & Motorsport Division, expressed, “We are thrilled to achieve victory at the Sweden Rally, following our success at the opening round in Monte Carlo. We will strive to maintain this momentum through the end of the year and continue bringing good news to our fans of the N Brand and motorsports.”
Meanwhile, the WRC is renowned as a premier motorsport event sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), featuring grueling races conducted on various terrains, including (un)paved roads and snow-covered routes.
In particular, the FIA has modified the WRC scoring system this year to maintain tension and provide an exciting experience until the end of the WRC rallies. Instead of the traditional scoring based solely on the final results of the rally, teams will now receive points accumulated from the first three days, with additional points awarded based solely on results from the final day of competition.
The 2024 WRC comprises a total of 13 rounds, with the next round scheduled to take place in Kenya from March 28 (Thursday) to 31 (Sunday, local time).
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr