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Hyundai Coupe Heads for Tarmac Swan Song

(06 October 1999 - Hyundai press release)

The Hyundai World Rally Team, recently crowned Asia-Pacific 2-Litre Manufacturer Champion, heads for Italy next week to contest the Rallye Sanremo (11-13th October). This will be the last all-tarmac event for the venerable Coupe Evo2 and the team is optimistic for the FIA 2-Litre World Cup for Manufacturers, despite the prospect of stiff competition.

Following the team's fantastic result in China, the difference between Hyundai and Renault in the 2-Litre Championship is now just 14 points. However, as Renault have already achieved eight scores and Hyundai only six, the Korean manufacturer can still add two maximums to its tally, while Renault can only top up existing scores.

The Hyundai Coupe in action in China

In Sanremo, the Hyundai pairing of Alister McRae and Kenneth Eriksson will face no less than a dozen Renaults, including those of British Champion Tapio Laukkanen and team-mate Martin Rowe. It is widely acknowledged that while the Coupe Evo2 is arguably the class of the F2 field on gravel, it is at a slight disadvantage on tarmac. However, Eriksson and McRae will not be taking things easy:

"With so many Renaults to fight against, there's simply no point in us driving conservatively to get to the finish," said Eriksson. "We will go flat out all the way to try to get as many points as possible for the championship."

McRae also understands the pressure the team faces; "Sanremo is a tarmac event, which doesn't suit our cars as well as gravel, and there are 12 Renaults entered. However, only four or five of them are what you would call competitive and only two can score points. So we have to keep close to them and see if they have problems."

McRae and Eriksson will also face competition from Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Opel in Formula 2 but none of these are registered for the Championship. The Citroen pairing of Bugalski and Puras are likely to set the early pace, Bugalski having won both the Rallye Catalunya and Tour de Corse earlier this year.

The rally begins in Sanremo on Monday 11th October with the first car leaving the start ramp at 8.00am, before tackling 385 stage kilometres and a total distance of just under 1400 Kms. Legs one and three take place in the Liguria region north of Sanremo, while leg two heads for Acqui Terme, 150km north-east of Sanremo.


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