BRITS TO FIGHT FOR RALLY GB GLORY

Hyundai to launch new WRC in Monza

Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy rivals Osian Pryce and Gus Greensmith will step their battle up to WRC2 in Wales this week – where they will take on British Rally Championship frontrunners David Bogie, Fredrik Ahlin, Jamie Anderson and Rhys Yates in what’s certain to be a fascinating finale for them all.

Pryce and Greensmith are both in hired Ford Fiesta R5s, while the other four bring their regular BRC machinery: Fiestas for Ahlin, Anderson and Yates and a Skoda Fabia R5 for Scotsman Bogie.

DDFT regulars Pryce and Greensmith are relishing the step up from the Fiesta R2s they’ve spent the season in.

Greensmith said: “I still can’t believe I’m in an R5 car for my home world championship round – it’s an incredible opportunity and one I don’t intend to waste. The car’s fantastic, just fantastic.”

Pryce contested WRC2 two years ago, when he starred on the opening day and ran second in a CA1 Sport Fiesta.

“I was really pleased with what we did two years ago,” said the DDFT champion. “That was my first time ever in a four-wheel-drive car, so to come out and run second in WRC2 was pretty good. This time, I want to try and keep that pace going for longer into the event. It’s a big step up to this car after the R2, but hopefully we’ll get a bit of a test at shakedown and get settled into the R5 early.”

Away from the British battle in WRC2, there’s going to be a fascinating scrap between Vauxhall team-mates Chris Ingram and Rob Duggan in a brace of Vauxhall Adams and Tony Jardine returns with Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams co-driving his Mitsubishi Lancer for a second year in succession.

Hyundai’s 2017 specification i20 WRC will break cover at the Monza Rally on December 1.

The Korean firm will be the first manufacturer to show its interpretation of the WRC’S all-new technical regulations for next season. After being shown to the press, the car will then remain on show at the Italian end-of-season festival event.

Team principal Michel Nandan said: “It is a fantastic event and Monza is the ideal location to launch our latest WRC car. New regulations for 2017 mean wider, more powerful cars, and we’re sure next season will be an entertaining one. Although the main launch will be a static media event, we also want to give the passionate fans who attend the show something to cheer. It’s going to be a weekend to remember – and another important chapter for our maturing team.”

More immediately, Hyundai’s i20 R5 will make its debut on a gravel rally at this week’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, driven by Kevin Abbring and co-driven by Britain’s Seb Marshall.