Hyundai Captures First SCCA ProRally Win of 2002 Season

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 31 -- Team strategy, along with the help of snow and ice expert Canadian driver Frank Sprongl, helped Hyundai Motorsports clinch its first 2002 SCCA ProRally win at the season opening Sno*Drift ProRally in Atlanta, MI, last weekend. At the same time, newcomer Mark Higgins scored a podium finish in his first U.S. Rally, with a stellar third place finish.

Hyundai's two car manufacturer supported team for 2002 includes eight time SCCA ProRally Champion, and long time Hyundai driver, Paul Choiniere, as well as top European driver, Mark Higgins, a former British Rally Champion. Two all-new 2003 Tiburons are currently under construction and will debut at the Cherokee Trails ProRally in mid-March. The Sno*Drift event marked the retirement of the team's current Tiburons.

Under the newly implemented SCCA ProRally rule system, manufacturers must nominate two vehicles prior to each event to earn points toward the coveted Manufacturers Championship.

In anticipation of the typically treacherous snow and ice conditions at this event, team manager John Buffum opted to stack the deck in Hyundai's favor by tapping Sprongl, a recognized expert on snow and ice, to drive the team's semi-retired 1996 Elantra.

For this event only, Buffum chose to nominate Sprongl and Choiniere. Sprongl is a multi-time Canadian Rally Champion, who occasionally ventures across the border to compete in the U.S. An eight time SCCA ProRally Champion, Choiniere, is also an acknowledged specialist under these conditions.

By nominating Sprongl, Buffum also felt he would relieve some pressure from Higgins, who was meeting his new team and crew for the first time, driving an unfamiliar vehicle and competing in his first-ever U.S. rally. The move left him to concentrate on scoring valuable Driver Championship points instead. However, it did not take Higgins long to acclimate to his new surroundings. Out of 16 stages, he posted seven of the quickest times and tied for the fastest on another.

Despite unseasonably warm weather and lack of the event's trademark snow, the chosen driver lineup served Hyundai well. Sprongl, who spent just a half- hour in the car prior to the rally, adapted well to the Elantra, posted quick time on four stages and finished a minute and a half in front of second place finisher, Mark Lovell in a Subaru WRX.

``The Elantra ran beautifully from the start,'' said Sprongl after the rally. ``I was impressed with it and the entire Hyundai team for keeping me running strong throughout the event.''

Higgins broke a rear wheel and severed a brake line on his Tiburon on Day One. Despite that setback, he ran as high as second overall and took a third place podium finish in his first U.S. rally, against strong competition from Subaru and Mitsubishi factory teams.

``I quite enjoyed my first time in America and my first rally experience here,'' said Higgins. ``It was a great opportunity to meet the team and get a feel for how we will all work together.

``I think we can bring the Manufacturers Championship back to Hyundai this season and I look forward to being a part of it all.''

Choiniere, whose own rally ended when his steering broke after a slight off-road excursion, was extremely complimentary of his new teammate.

``I knew he was good,'' said Choiniere. ``But now I have even more respect for his talent. I predict he will be the 2002 Drivers Champion.''

Buffum agrees with Choiniere's assessment. ``Our (the team's) job is to keep good cars under our drivers and they will do the rest,'' he said after the successful season-opener.

Round two, the Cherokee Trails ProRally in Chattanooga, TN, is set for March 14-16. The debut of the all-new Tiburon rally cars coincides with the timing of the production version's arrival at Hyundai dealerships during the first quarter of 2002.