From May 30th to June 2nd, Hyundai Motor's N brand secured the championship at the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Italy round.
Ott Tänak, representing the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, emerged victorious, claiming the team's third win of the season. With a total of 25 points, Tänak now sits in second place in the drivers' championship, while the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, fueled by the exceptional performances of its drivers, remains firmly at the top of the teams' standings.
This victory marks not only Hyundai Motor's third triumph in the 2024 WRC season, following Monte Carlo and Sweden, but also its seventh overall and third consecutive win at the 21st Italy rally.
The sixth round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship, held on the Sardinian island of Italy from May 30th to June 2nd, saw Hyundai Motor once again triumph with outstanding results. By achieving this feat, Hyundai Motor has not only secured its third victory in the 2024 WRC season, following Monte Carlo and Sweden, but has also won the Italy rally for the seventh time in total and the third consecutive time in 21 years. Hyundai Motor's remarkable achievements in international competitions underscore the exceptional prowess of its high-performance N brand on a global stage.
Hyundai Motor N Brand Triumphs at the 2024 WRC Italy Championship
Braving Challenges, Achieving Glory: Crowning the Italy Rally Championship
As one of the world's premier motorsports competitions, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), which dates back to 1973, is part of the FIA's prestigious quartet of international events. All competing vehicles must be developed and manufactured from mass-produced cars, racing across diverse terrains worldwide, including rainforests, mud, snow, deserts, and winding mountain roads, to determine the ultimate champions of both teams and drivers. Among these, the Italy rally, held on Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is considered one of the toughest for racers due to its narrow, rugged roads and sweltering early summer heat.
Ott Tänak, representing the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, piloted the i20 N Rally1 Hybrid racecar to victory, narrowly edging out Sébastien Ogier by just 0.2 seconds, securing the team's third triumph of the season. Dani Sordo, who had previously won the Italy rally in consecutive years from 2019 to 2020, delivered a steady performance to secure third place. In the drivers' championship standings, Ott Tänak shares second place with Elfyn Evans, both accumulating 25 points, while the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, fueled by the outstanding performances of its drivers, leads the teams' standings with a total of 50 points.
"Ott Tänak Secures the Third Victory of the Season for Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team"
"We are absolutely delighted to have achieved our third victory in the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season at the Italy rally," said Till Wartenberg, Vice President of Hyundai Motor's N Brand and Motorsport Division. "We will continue to give our utmost effort to showcase the strength of the N brand to its passionate fans."
"Frequent Triumphs in International Competitions Continuously Validate the High-Performance Capabilities of the N Brand"
Since its inception in 2015, Hyundai Motor's high-performance N brand has garnered numerous accolades in top-tier motorsports events worldwide, crafting a legendary narrative of relentless progress. Through rigorous competition at the international level, Hyundai Motor has continually honed the high-performance DNA of the N brand, infusing the racing philosophy into every N-branded production vehicle, enabling every customer to truly experience the ultimate driving thrill.
In 2024, Hyundai Motor's N brand has not only achieved a remarkable feat of claiming the first, second, and third places in the TCR class at the 52nd ADAC TotalEnergies 24H Nürburgring, marking its fourth consecutive championship title, but it has also dominated the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) by winning the Monte Carlo, Sweden, and Sardinia (Italy) rallies. Furthermore, in the TCR World Tour, Hyundai N secured victory at the Vallerenga round in Italy, continuing to lead both the drivers' and teams' championship standings with outstanding performances.
On the Chinese racing scene, Hyundai Motor's N brand has also made significant strides, capturing the championship title at the opening round of the 2024 TCR China series. Adding to this momentum, the brand is poised to embark on a new chapter in China with the launch of the Hyundai N One Make Race, a series that promises to excite racing enthusiasts with its standardized regulations.
Worth mentioning is that to offer Chinese high-performance enthusiasts even more exciting options, Hyundai Motor will officially launch the pre-sale of the IONIQ 5 N this month. The IONIQ 5 N seamlessly integrates the advanced electrification technology of Hyundai's IONIQ brand with the racing heritage of the N brand, perfectly embodying the three core elements of N's high-performance DNA: Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability, and Everyday Sports Car. With the IONIQ 5 N as its starting point, Hyundai Motor will officially embark on a new chapter of high-performance electrification development in China, bringing a whole new driving experience to Chinese consumers in the era of electrification.
In recent years, the Hyundai Motor N brand has lived up to expectations, shining brightly in numerous top international races. Looking ahead, Hyundai Motor will adhere to its original aspiration of "Never just drive," continuously honing and validating the high-performance capabilities of the N brand through international competitions. It remains committed to providing global consumers with thrilling and exhilarating driving experiences filled with joy. The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) comprises 13 races, with the 7th event scheduled to take place in Poland from Thursday, June 27, to Sunday, June 30, local time. Concurrently, the IONIQ 5 N will officially commence its pre-sale this month, accompanied by exciting benefits. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
