Hyundai Confirms Year 2000 World Rally Championship Program

The Hyundai World Rally Team today confirmed that it would contest twelve of the fourteen rounds of the 2000 World Rally Championship, with the much-awaited Hyundai Accent WRC making its competition debut on the frozen roads of Sweden in February 2000.

The two rounds the team will not contest in 2000 are Monte Carlo in January and the Safari rally in late February.

"Hyundai were initially very keen on us contesting the full fourteen-round championship," said Team Principal David Whitehead, "but it was decided to adopt a slightly more conservative approach and contest twelve events in the Accent's first season."

Commenting on the team's hopes for 2000, Whitehead said; "We are looking for strong podium finished towards the second half of the year and of course, we will be scoring points for the 2000 Manufacturers' and Drivers' championships."

The team is continuing development of the Accent WRC and is about to begin event-specific testing, in advance of the Swedish Rally. Both drivers, Kenneth Eriksson and Alister McRae, are increasingly excited by the car's potential and performance and are looking forward to contesting the Accent come February.

• 1999 London Motor Show
• 1999 FIA World Rally Championship

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