- The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) heads back to gravel for Rally Turkey, round eleven of the 2019 season
- Hyundai Motorsport is aiming for a competitive weekend in Marmaris across all three of its crews as it bids to extend its lead in the hotly contested manufacturers’ championship
- Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul, Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger-Amland and Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio will compete in the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC cars.
6 September 2019 - Hyundai Motorsport turns its attention to Rally Turkey, round eleven of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, as it aims to maintain and extend its lead of the manufacturers’ standings.
The improved tarmac pace of the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC cars at Rallye Deutschland was unfortunately hampered by a transmission problem on Friday, and a mid-stage puncture on Saturday. The team was, however, able to retain hold at the top of the championship with four rounds of the season remaining.
Rally Turkey sees a return to gravel at an event where ambient temperature and demanding stage conditions place great stress on the cars and their engines. Several routes run along the picturesque coastline of the Turkish Riviera, but the beauty does not outweigh the risk: the rocky roads can be unforgiving, requiring a clever approach and speed.

Turkey is a special venue for Hyundai as the home of the i20 road car, which is produced at the Hyundai Assan Izmit plant close to Istanbul. The facility has an annual maximum capacity of 245,000 units, manufacturing the i10 and i20 models, while acting as Hyundai’s gateway to Europe together with its Czech factory.
Hyundai Motorsport will field an unchanged three-crew line-up from Rallye Deutschland for its second WRC participation in Rally Turkey. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul and Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger-Amland will be joined by Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio for the Spanish crew’s first gravel rally since taking victory in Rally Italia Sardegna.

The trio had the opportunity to test the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC on gravel ahead of Turkey as the team looks for a strong, reliable and rounded team performance.
Team Director
Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (#11 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
- Belgians aiming for first victory since Tour de Corse
- Neuville holds second in the drivers’ standings after fine fourth in Germany

Crew Notes: Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger-Amland (#89 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
- Norwegian crew were in contention for victory at last year’s event
- Aiming to support team’s manufacturers’ title bid with a strong outing

Crew Notes: Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (#6 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
- Triumphed in their most recent gravel rally event (Rally Italia Sardegna)
- First Rally Turkey - in its new location and format - for the Spanish crew

Weekend at a glance
- 17 stages run over a competitive distance of 309.86km
- Thursday’s opening stage is a 2km sprint through the Marmaris marina
- Friday covers over half of the rally’s distance at almost 160km in six stages
- Six stages on a compact Saturday include the scenic Datça test and the brand new Kizlan stage to finish both loops.
- Sunday features four stages, culminating in the Marmaris Power Stage.


