Hyundai launches i20 WRC car and N performance brand

Hyundai has released images of its 2014 I20 WRC car, and during the launch of the event announced that the company will be launching a new high performance road car division, known simply as ‘N’.

The i20 rally car is currently in development by Hyundai’s motorsport division, and will make its debut at the Monte Carlo Rally next year. Based in Alzenau, Germany, Hyundai motorsport will also be the home of the new N division.

Named after the company’s Namyang R&D Centre in Korea, the N division hopes to draw inspiration from the company’s motorsport activities, and influence a new line of performance variants.

Next year, Hyundai’s main driver WRC will be Thierry Neuville, with Juho Hanninen, Dani Sordo and Chris Atkinson sharing the second car thoughout the season. The team also announced Shell as a title sponsor. The team faces tough competition from Citroen, which has just announced British driver Kris Meeke as part of the team’s comeback plan.