Hyundai Motorsports celebrate as Hayden secured a second podium finish in the first two rounds of the 2016 WRC. This is the first time that they have claimed back-to-back podium finishes and is an encouraging start to the 2016 campaign for their New Generation i20 WRC.
Dani also showed podium pace before a puncture on Saturday slowed him. His sixth-place finish makes Sweden the second event in a row with two of our drivers finishing in the top-six. Despite transmission problems on Friday, Thierry ensured all three of our New Generation i20 WRC cars completed the rally.
The shortened final day featured just one stage: the Värmullsåsen Power Stage. Thierry and Dani finished with no drama but there was one more test for Hayden before he could claim his podium. The Kiwi hit a wooden post and suffered a radiator leak that he and John Kennard had to repair before they could make it back to service. But once they did, the celebration started!
Hayden’s result is his best since his second-place in Sardinia last year. The result secures 18 Manufacturer points and they are just five points behind leaders VW. Dani’s result was his second top-six finish in two events, and could have been higher until a puncture slowed him. He now looks to Mexico to continue his efforts for another podium finish. Thierry has driven well since his podium at Monte last month, but saw any chance of a good result end with technical problems on Friday. He continued with determination and still picked up six valuable Championship points for the team.
Hayden’s result makes ten individual podiums since Hyundai entered the WRC in 2014. In a few weeks at Rally Mexico more success is expected.
