Breen/Nagle 7th Rally Finland (#42 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

Aug 04, 2019

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Rally Finland – Day Three Report

• Hyundai Motorsport has taken a fourth-place finish in Rally Finland, the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with a spirited performance over the weekend
• Andreas Mikkelsen claimed a hard-fought top-four result and third place in the Power Stage to end the rally as the highest placed Hyundai Motorsport driver
• Thierry Neuville secured a strong second in the Power Stage to take sixth overall, one place ahead of his team-mate Craig Breen in seventh

August 4, 2019 – Hyundai Motorsport has emerged from a closely fought Rally Finland with valuable points for the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), as the team retains a 24-point lead in the manufacturers’ table after nine of 14 rounds.

It was a fascinating fight to the finish in Finland as crews put on a sensational display of world class rallying for the cheering crowds, with high-octane stages and heart stopping jumps that epitomise Rally Finland.

Sunday’s itinerary included two stages; Laukaa (11.75km) and Ruuhimäki (11.12km). Each was run twice with the second run through Ruuhimäki acting as the Power Stage. Despite covering a total distance of just 45.74km, in a rally where every tenth-of-a-second counts, there was no let-up for the crews as they fought hard for their respective positions.

Andreas Mikkelsen had been embroiled in a tug-of-war battle with Sébastien Ogier for fourth place, the two drivers having swapped positions regularly throughout Saturday. On the final morning, it was the Norwegian who took the upper hand, cementing his advantage with a stage win on SS22 (Laukaa), his third fastest time of the weekend, and a strong run to third in the Power Stage.

Thierry Neuville, recovering from a tough start to the rally, took sixth place, benefitting from the support of his teammate Craig Breen, who ended his debut with Hyundai Motorsport in seventh place after an impressive performance all weekend. The Belgian finished second in the Power Stage to secure four points for the drivers’ championship, in which he lies third – three points behind Ogier.

In total, Hyundai Motorsport claimed five stage wins over the weekend, more than it ever has at Rally Finland, and demonstrated a notable performance improvement compared to previous visits. With two cars finishing in the top-six, the team holds onto its lead in the manufacturers’ championship with a 24-point lead over its nearest rivals and five rallies remaining on the calendar.

Crew Notes: Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger-Amland (#89 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• Three stage wins over the weekend (SS8, SS19, SS22)
• Third place in the Power Stage secured fourth place and valuable championship points

Mikkelsen said: “Fourth place, even if it wasn’t quite a podium, means a huge amount to me. We have been involved in an incredibly close battle with Sébastien for much of the rally, and it has really come down every tenth of a second, fighting right to the very end. Thankfully, we had the speed and performance in the car, and the confidence in ourselves, to get the job done. It’s been a tough rally in the past, so it’s fantastic to have cracked the code this weekend. I have had a good feeling with the car all weekend and we’ve been able to set some competitive times. This is thanks to the efforts of the whole Hyundai Motorsport team over many months. We had some upgrades on the car for this rally, including some specifically to help my driving, which have worked wonders. I feel like my old self again!”

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (#11 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• Tough start hampered the Belgians’ progress
• Two stage wins over the weekend and second place in the Power Stage

Neuville said: “We gave it everything we had this weekend and it is important to focus on the positives. We were able to take away from really important points for both championships, including four from the Power Stage. We could not have done more. The car has shown an improvement in these fast gravel conditions, which is encouraging. We didn’t have the best of tests ahead of this rally, and I struggled to find the right feeling on Friday, which really dictated our weekend. We keep our heads high and look forward to the next one.”

Crew Notes: Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (#42 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

• A strong WRC debut in the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC for the Irish crew
• A hat-trick of top-two stage times on Friday, and many other highlights to take away

Breen said: “This has been an amazing rally, I have to say. To have the opportunity to return to this level of rallying has been very special and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has made it possible. I have enjoyed myself immensely as part of the Hyundai Motorsport team, and I was immediately comfortable in the car. We knew the job we had to do this weekend, and I think we’ve achieved that; it’s been a privilege to play our part in the team’s championship efforts. ”

Team Director Andrea Adamo: “I have been very impressed by the pace, performance and attitude from all three of our crews in Finland. Without wanting to sound like a stuck record, I really wish we had been able to give them a better car this weekend. Having said that, compared to our previous results in this rally, we have seen a significant improvement. We weren’t scared to come here; instead we have worked incredibly hard to make our car more suited to the demands of this rally. These results are not only thanks to the efforts of our crews but also to everyone at HMSG. I know what I have been asking of them with many sleepless nights to get us ready for Finland. It might not yet be a victory but it is a clear sign that when you work hard you get results.”

Next Rally

• The tenth round of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rallye Deutschland, will take place August 22-25.
• The event marks the first tarmac round since Tour de Corse at the end of March.

Final Overall Classification – Rally Finland

1	O. Tänak	M. Järveoja	Toyota Yaris WRC	2:30:40.3
2	E. Lappi	J. Ferm	Citroën C3 WRC	+25.6
3	J.M Latvala	M. Anttila	Toyota Yaris WRC	+33.2
4	A. Mikkelsen	A. Jæger-Amland	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC	+53.4
5	S. Ogier	J. Ingrassia	Citroën C3 WRC	+56.1
6	T. Neuville	N. Gilsoul	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC	+1:32.4
7	C. Breen	P. Nagle	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC	+1:38.2
8	T. Suninen	J. Lehtinen	Ford Fiesta WRC	+2:33.8
9	K. Rovenperä	J. Halttunen	Škoda Fabia R5	+7:54.1
10	N. Gryazin	Y. Fedorov	Škoda Fabia R5	+10:28.7

2019 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers’ Standings
After round 9

1	Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team	262
2	Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team	238
3	Citroën Total World Rally Team	198
4	M-Sport Ford World Rally Team	158

2019 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ Standings
After round 9

1	O. Tanak	180
2	S. Ogier	158
3	T. Neuville	155
4	E. Evans	78
5	A. Mikkelsen	71
6	T. Suninen	66
7	K. Meeke	60
8	E. Lappi	58
9	J.M Latvala	56
10	D. Sordo	52
11	S.Loeb	39

All results remain subject to official FIA confirmation.

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