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Hyundai WRC title hopes fade in Spain

Hyundai WRC title hopes fade in Spain

Date: 2017-10-11

Hyundai Motorsport has seen its hopes of fighting for the FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturers' title completely eradicated on the weekend after another hugely disappointing result in Rally de Espan a.

Following a double retirement for Dani Sordo and Andreas Mikkelsen on Saturday afternoon, it was Thierry Neuville who suffered misfortune on Sunday. The Belgian had to stop at the end of Special Stage 16 (Santa Marina) due to damage sustained to the front right of his Hyundai i20 CoupÈ WRC when cutting a corner.

It was a bitter blow for the team in both championships, as the lack of points drops Neuville to third place in the drivers' standings behind M-Sport duo Se bastien Ogier and Ott Tanak.

Sordo and Mikkelsen both re-joined under Rally 2 regulations on Sunday morning, but were classified down the order. The result means that Hyundai Motorsport has 275 points in the manufacturers' championship, an 83-point deficit to M-Sport with two rounds remaining and 86 points up for grabs.

Sunday morning saw crews tackle six stages - a repeat loop of the 6,28km L'Albiol, 16,35km Riudecanyes and 14,50km Santa Marina tests - with no mid-leg service. The second run through Santa Marina acted as the rally's Power Stage with drivers vying for extra points. Sordo showed what might have been this weekend with a determined Power Stage victory, securing himself five consolatory points.

The FIA World Rally Championship now moves to the gravel challenges of Wales Rally GB, the penultimate round of the season, which takes place from 26 to 29 October. Hyundai Motorsport will contest the event with a four-car entry. Neuville, Mikkelsen and Hayden Paddon will be joined by Sordo.