Hyundai promises a push for points

Hyundai team principal Michel Nandan wants his squad’s actions to speak louder than his words at this week’s Wales Rally GB.

Hyundai lost its lead in the manufacturers’ championship after a tough Rally Turkey where both WRC series leader Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen were ruled out of the top spot by technical problems.

A Toyota 1-2 in Turkey was enough for the Finnish-based squad to usurp the lead in the manufacturers’ title race, carrying a five-point advantage over Hyundai into Wales. Defending champion M-sport Ford is 40 points behind.

Nandan said: “Turkey was a missed opportunity for us to assert our authority on the manufacturers’ championship. Instead, we find ourselves in a very intense battle with Toyota, and of course with M-sport Ford also not far behind.”

A Hyundai has finished third in 2016 and second last year, but Nandan wants to see them finish the job on Sunday.

He added: “Our aim for this year is clear: to fight for the victory. Words are not going to achieve that; we have to demonstrate our intention by giving our crews the best car to do the job.”