Hyundai Hires Juho Hänninen as WRC Test Driver

HyundaiHyundaiRepublic of Korea, 1967 > present79 models
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has hired Finnish driver Juho Hänninen as a test driver for its 2014 i20 WRCHyundai i20 WRCRepublic of Korea, 2013 > present car. The team is headquartered in Alzenau, Germany, and has just begun test driving the car to refine it.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Juho on board for our 2013 test program. I’m sure his experience and background will contribute to the project and I’m happy with the job he’s done so far,” said Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan.

Hänninen was Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion in 2010, WRC Super 2000 class champion in 2011 and FIA European Rally Championship winner in 2011 and 2012. He will also be a member of Hyundai’s 2014 WRC driving team.

“The first run with the i20 WRC was quite positive for me; I’m very impressed with the work the team has done so far in such an incredibly short space of time. I feel comfortable with everyone in the team and I look forward to carry on working with them in the next six months,” said Hänninen.

The i20 WRC is scheduled to debut at the Rallye Monte Carlo in January 2014.

The team plans to announce who its second driver will be later in the summer.

Hyundai last raced in the WRC from 2000 to 2003 with the Accent WRCHyundai Accent WRC 2Republic of Korea, 2001 > present1 photo
. Its career best finish was two, fourth place finishes in the 2000 season.