Bart
17-09-2003, 16:36
Hyundai Motor Company will pull out of the World Rally Championship at the end of 2003.
In a press statement, the South Korean company re-affirmed its determination to complete the 2003 World Rally Championship and its long-term commitment to the sport, but disclosed that it will pull out for two years to re-organise.
Its appearance on the Sanremo Rally was called into question when its British team Motor Sport Developments sent its staff home yesterday, citing a contractual dispute.
“MSD has failed to provide us with audited financial records which we are legally entitled to review,” said B.H. Lee, HMC’s director of overseas marketing and promotion, claimed. “Until we can get a true picture of the state of their finances, we have no choice but to withhold further payment.”
Following the conclusion of the 2003 campaign, Hyundai will pull out of the 2004 and 2005 seasons to concentrate on the development of a new powertrain and car in preparation for a comeback in the latter half of 2006 and the return to a full season of rallying in 2007.
“It is a painful decision, but also a realistic admission that a break is absolutely mandatory for us to reorganize and rethink our entire approach to motorsport. But we'll be back in 2006 in fighting form with a completely new engine and car to mount a more credible challenge for the WRC crown," Lee added.
As part of the reorganization, the company will set up a new World Rally Team Headquarters at the company's 50,000,000-euro Design and Technical Center in Rüsselsheim in Germany.
( Bron: worldrallynews.com )
toch maar afwachten of dit jaar Hyundai nog aan de start komt :(
In a press statement, the South Korean company re-affirmed its determination to complete the 2003 World Rally Championship and its long-term commitment to the sport, but disclosed that it will pull out for two years to re-organise.
Its appearance on the Sanremo Rally was called into question when its British team Motor Sport Developments sent its staff home yesterday, citing a contractual dispute.
“MSD has failed to provide us with audited financial records which we are legally entitled to review,” said B.H. Lee, HMC’s director of overseas marketing and promotion, claimed. “Until we can get a true picture of the state of their finances, we have no choice but to withhold further payment.”
Following the conclusion of the 2003 campaign, Hyundai will pull out of the 2004 and 2005 seasons to concentrate on the development of a new powertrain and car in preparation for a comeback in the latter half of 2006 and the return to a full season of rallying in 2007.
“It is a painful decision, but also a realistic admission that a break is absolutely mandatory for us to reorganize and rethink our entire approach to motorsport. But we'll be back in 2006 in fighting form with a completely new engine and car to mount a more credible challenge for the WRC crown," Lee added.
As part of the reorganization, the company will set up a new World Rally Team Headquarters at the company's 50,000,000-euro Design and Technical Center in Rüsselsheim in Germany.
( Bron: worldrallynews.com )
toch maar afwachten of dit jaar Hyundai nog aan de start komt :(