Hyundai has best line-up for 2017 WRC, claims team boss
Hyundai WRC team principal Michel Nandan says his team will have the strongest driver line-up in the series next year, regardless of where Sebastien Ogier ends up.
Hayden Paddon, Daniel Sordo, Thierry Neuville, Hyundai Motorsport unveil the 2017 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
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Hyundai concluded its most successful season in WRC this year, having taken second in both championships.
The team, which is the only one to have revealed its definitive 2017 car so far, has opted for an unchanged lineup of Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo.
Nandan believes the trio will be the strongest team in WRC next year, irrespective of where reigning champion Sebastien Ogier ends up driving.
"In terms of our drivers, we have a great line-up, the best one of next year," he told Motorsport.com.
"I don’t know where Seb [Ogier] will go, but I think we will be the best from this point of view.
"We have drivers that are good on the tarmac and gravel, especially Neuville and Sordo.
"Dani is getting better and better on the loose surface, and Hayden is getting stronger on tarmac. Just think of the good result [fourth] he had in Spain this year.
"For us these three drivers will certainly be an advantage, because they can bring home points and we won’t have to choose the points-scoring drivers round by round."
Alongside its three full-time drivers, Hyundai also entered Kevin Abbring for six rallies this year, the Dutchman's best result being a seventh place in Spain.
While Nandan expressed his desire to keep him at Hyundai, he admitted the Dutchman posed "a problem" because the team cannot enter a fourth car for him in 2017.
No room for Ogier
Although Nandan said Hyundai would have gone after Ogier if it had a free seat, the team decided not to pursue the Frenchman, having already re-signed its three existing drivers.
"We had already determined our driver line-up," added Nandan when asked about Ogier. "So it was not possible to try and get him.
"But to keep our three drivers is an advantage, because we have worked with them since the beginning. They know the engineers, the way we work, and with the introduction of the new car this can only be an advantage.
Nandan also reckons Hyundai has its best ever chance to win in 2017 owing to Volkswagen's shock pull-out, but remains wary of the opposition at the same time, namely Citroen.
"It seems [we are the favourites], yes," he said. "Up to now we have grown a bit each year, now the final step awaits. This is winning the world championship and we’ll do everything to get it.
"But you always have to take Citroen into account, because the team has been working on that car for over a year.
"We have the best line-up, but in a few events they will certainly play a part."
Interview by Giacomo Rauli
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