Will Hyundai Rejoin WRC In 2007?
Tuesday, March 28th, 2006At the MIA’s annual motorsport conference in South Korea evidence has emerged that the country is on the verge of a multi-faceted involvement in high-level motorsport.
Casting our minds back briefly for a moment to 2003, where Hyundai’s participation in the remainder of the WRC season came grinding to a halt and eventually the Korean car giant withdrew its cars, went back to the drawing board and promised to comeback stronger than ever in time for the 2006/2007 season.
Well that time has elapsed, the Rally season is well underway and things seem to have gone a little quiet in the Korean camp at the moment. But are things about to change?
The early indicators would suggest that: a renewed impetus behind bringing F1 Grand Prix to Korea; the wish of Hyundai to rejoin the WRC series and, major investors researching possible new motorsport venues.
Said the MIA‚Äôs Chris Aylett, “The key to all this is a change in import laws that is allowing foreign car manufacturers to compete head on with the indigenous ones ‚Äì Hyundai, Kia and Daewoo. While they had a monopoly in their own land they did not need the marketing kudos of motorsport to sell their wares. Now they will. This is a major market poised for take-off.”