The Hyundai Motorsport crews took 11 stage wins on the way to the team’s victory in Rally Italia Sardegna. It was Hyundai’s third victory in 2018 and tenth in the team’s WRC history.
“I am completely delighted, as are all members of the team, with this incredible victory. It was truly a perfect win for Thierry [Neuville] and Nicolas [Gilsoul]. The battle with [Sebastien] Ogier started on Saturday and the intensity of that only increased. I was on the edge of my seat all Sunday morning. And the Power Stage was a superb piece of entertainment for all fans”, Team Principal Michel Nandan commented.
He added that to take the team’s third win of the season in such exhilarating style was the ideal way to head into the summer break.
“We have had a faultless operation all weekend, thanks to the hard work of our team on site and in Alzenau. Hayden [Paddon] and Seb [Marshall] have taken their best result of the season in fourth, while Andreas [Mikkelsen] also picked up some points in the Power Stage. It was a memorable battle with Sébastien and M-Sport Ford which will undoubtedly go down in the WRC history books. We came hoping to defend our lead of both championships but instead, we have extended it – the perfect weekend!”
Nandan hails Hyundai’s success in Sardinia
With this victory, Hyundai Motorsport has extended its grip on the manufacturers’ championship with 212 points. That is an increased gap of 28 points to M-Sport Ford in second. Neuville’s five additional points for Power Stage success saw him take the maximum available for the weekend and increase his lead in the drivers’ classification to 27 points over Ogier.
Since its WRC debut in 2014, Hyundai Motorsport has now taken ten victories and a total of 40 individual podiums. As the 2018 season passes its halfway mark, the team headed into the summer break with an opportunity to reflect on a hugely successful season-to-date.
Thank you @Rally_d_Italia – it was amazing! Ciao! ???? #WRC #HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/hGEp7iLk6A
— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) June 10, 2018
