The Hyundai Motorsport World Rally Championship Team announced on Wednesday morning that Dani Sordo and Oliver Solberg will share a third Hyundai Rally1 car for the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship alongside their already confirmed teammate’s Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville.
Speaking about the news, Dani Sordo commented saying:
I have said many times before that Hyundai Motorsport is like a family to me, so I am pleased to continue my career with them into the new hybrid era of WRC. We have been working together for many years and we have shared some important moments. I am looking forward to even more to come as we prepare for fresh challenges. It is important to have consistency as we face new regulations, but we are also fortunate to have new talent like Oliver with us on this new adventure. I am excited.
Oliver Solberg commented on his arrival at the team saying:
It’s a dream come true to be able to climb into the third WRC car to do selected events together with Dani Sordo. It is really cool. I also have the other team-mates, Thierry and Ott, who are great people to learn from and who have great experience. I’m only just 20, so it’s a huge step so early in my career. I am really looking forward to it, and finding out what events I will do. I am excited to drive the new era of car, the Rally1; it’s definitely a special time to be involved in WRC.
Team Principal Andrea Adamo commented on the new arrivals saying:
We are pleased to confirm Dani and Oliver in our third car for next season, alongside Thierry and Ott. We think it’s the best compromise between experience and youth, and the ideal mix for a new era of WRC. Not only will Dani drive a selected number of events, but he will also be working with us on events when Oliver steps in. His approach to racing and his extensive experience will be a great asset to our team when our learning curve with new regulations will be high. We will have important continuity and mutual trust; it is also good to have new blood like Oliver, alongside the experience that our existing crews will bring. We will undoubtedly have a very strong line-up as we embark on a fresh chapter for Hyundai Motorsport.
It has been a busy morning for WRC teams as Hyundai’s announcement comes after the M-Sport Ford WRC Team confirmed that Ireland’s Craig Breen and his co-driver Paul Nagle will lead their WRC programme full-time for the next two years. Andrea Adamo of Hyundai thanked the Irish pair for their hard work while with the team saying:
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Craig and Paul for their hard work and dedication since joining us in 2019. Across three seasons, they have proven to be valuable team players and have contributed to our recent manufacturers’ title successes. The results that they have secured – especially consecutive podium finishes in Rally Estonia, a fantastic second place in Ypres Rally, and most recently in Rally Finland – have shown they have the pace to be among WRC’s finest. They have also played a key role in the further development of our Customer Racing department, competing in the FIA European Rally Championship with the Hyundai i20 R5 and also taking part in the testing phase of the Hyundai i20 N Rally2. They are two fully focused individuals and form a potent, professional partnership; they have always been there for us when we needed them, and we wish them all the best for the future.
Speaking about his time with the team, Craig Breen said:
“I have been working towards achieving a full-time seat in the World Rally Championship since I was a little boy, so this was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. It is with great sadness that we can’t continue with Hyundai Motorsport but what an amazing story it has been; coming from nowhere, competing back at home in our regional Irish championship and flung back into the WRC. Hyundai gave us our lifeline, a platform on which we could perform and show what we could do. We’ve had a few rollercoaster moments along the way, as well as many highlights, including our consecutive podiums in Estonia, Ypres and Finland. We have also been part of the Customer Racing program, and enjoyed many victories, not least at Sanremo and the rallies we won in the Irish tarmac championship. We part ways on the best of terms, having had an amazing experience and making lots of friends along the way. We now look forward to the future with gratitude and excitement.