Double World Rally champion Marcus Gronholm is closing on a deal with Hyundai Motorsport to head up a two-car Hyundai i20 team in the World Rallycross Championship next season.
The Finn is planning to run a pair of former World Rally Championship-specification i20s in World RX for his son Niclas and a second driver.
The programme will initially be a private effort using 2016-based cars, run by Gronholm’s GRX concern together with multiple European Rallycross champion SET Promotion, led by Jussi Pinomaki. However, the former works Peugeot and Ford WRC driver is in discussions with Hyundai about technical support and is hoping to attract official backing in the future.
“We have discussed with them [Hyundai], but the final decision will be soon,” Gronholm told Motorsport News. “I hope everything goes together, it’s not yet there and time is running quickly because we are in late November already.”
Asked of his motivation behind targeting the rally-based machine, Gronholm said: “We are hoping to get some support. We are working on that. It will not be a factory team at this point. A two-car team would be nice; we are working on that as well.”
The former European Rallycross race winner has already been contacted by a number of drivers about the second seat in the squad, with only a few drives officially confirmed for World RX 2018 so far.
“There are people who have contacted us, quite a lot actually. Of course this is the time that people are running around looking for deals. I cannot say anything, we will see,” he said.
Gronholm’s GRX Management Team set-up currently has 2014 Global Rallycross champion Joni Wiman and rising rally star Jari Huttunen on its books, alongside his son Niclas. Huttunen recently won Hyundai’s young driver shootout and secured a WRC2 programme with the marque for 2018, strengthening links between the Finn and the Alzenau-based WRC team.
Gronholm says Wiman is not in the frame for a drive in World RX with his squad.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 22,2017 من Motorsport News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 22,2017 من Motorsport News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Meeke's Walk in the (Car) Park
Northern Irishman survives a huge late scare to win
Brutal Bogie
Scot hammers BTRDA opposition in BRC preparation.
F1's Social Revolution
The way we watch F1 is about to change, but mostly on your phone.
Breaking Point for McLaren-Honda?
Pressure is on for the Anglo-Japanese
Victory For Moyers At Last
The saying goes that if at first you don’t succeed, try and then try again.
Payne Is The Malton Master With Third Win In A Row
Charlie Payne took his sixth win on the Malton Forest Rally and his third event win in succession. With Carl Williamson on the notes, their Ford Fiesta RS WRC was never headed over the six stages in tricky conditions.
Proton Iriz Debuts With A Podium Run
Ollie Mellors gave the brand new Proton Iriz R5 its competition debut on the Malton Forest Rally, finishing third.
Evans: I Want To Partner Ogier In 2018
Welshman sends plea to his world champion team-mate
Newby Wins At Leisure
Six stage wins in succession on the opening day of the Brean Stages Rally sealed victory for Arron Newby/ Andrew Leech (Subaru Impreza), ahead of Jim Munden/Nick Eccles (Impreza) and Thomas Cooper/Ian Davis (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) in third.
Solberg Targets WRC Return In Polo
World-beater samples new R5 challenger and wants an event deal
