Hyundai i20 WRC to Star in Wales Rally GB Marketing

Event officials to drive the latest range of Hyundai models

• Thierry Neuville to attend official Media Preview in October

HIGH WYCOMBE, UK -- September 12, 2014: – Hyundai Motor UK Ltd is delighted to announce that it has been appointed as the ‘Official Car Partner’ to Britain’s concluding round of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.

Following the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team’s first WRC victory in Germany, this new partnership celebrates the exciting new team’s debut on Wales Rally GB. The now victorious Hyundai i20 WRC competition car will feature prominently on all the event’s promotional materials including billboards, posters, ticketing leaflets and publicity flyers as well as on the walesrallygb.com website and the cover of the official event programme.

Vehicles provided by Hyundai Motor UK will provide the event with a fleet of Santa Fe, ix35, i30 Tourer and i40 Tourer models for use by event officials, FIA dignitaries and other key members of the organisation team.

Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd commented, “Being back in the World Rally Championship is really exciting for Hyundai. It brings a huge amount of dynamism to our brand and helps us to be more visible to an audience of enthusiastic rally fans. We are excited to welcome the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team to the UK for their first Rally GB, and to support the smooth operation of the Rally on the ground.”

Having entered the FIA World Rally Championship at the start of 2014, the Hyundai Shell World Rally team has already made a strong impression with its lead driver, Thierry Neuville finishing third in both Mexico and Poland before winning the last round in Germany. Neuville - the promising Belgian, who’s widely tipped as a future world champion - finished third on last year’s revitalised Wales Rally GB and will attend the event’s official Media Preview to be held in Conwy during early October.

“We are delighted to have concluded a partnership with Hyundai to become ‘Official Car Partner’ to Wales Rally GB,” said Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Wales Rally GB. “It represents the first of a series of associations we are creating to support the event and we are thrilled that Hyundai has recognised the value of being involved with Wales Rally GB. We look forward to working together on this year's event.”

Tickets for Wales Rally GB are available via either the official website at Wales Rally GB or the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251. Forest Passes are available at 2013 prices as are tickets for the two enhanced RallyFest Stages at Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park, though these must be purchased in advance to help the organisers avoid the overcrowding issues experienced last year.

To attract newcomers to the sport, Wales Rally GB is also offering free of charge public access to Thursday evening’s Ceremonial Start at Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay, Friday’s remote Service Park and Regroup in Newtown, Sunday afternoon’s Ceremonial Finish in Llandudno as well as the main Service Park in Deeside.

Full ticket and spectator information is available via the official website: walesrallygb.com.