Hyundai fills several senior positions for i20 WRC programme

Hyundai has filled several more senior positions as its recruitment drive for its new i20 World Rally Championship programme in 2014 continues.
Ypres Rally organiser and former Toyota, Peugeot and Michelin man Alain Penasse is to become Hyundai's team manager, while Stephane Girard becomes engine manager, working alongside chief designer Bertrand Vallat, whose last project was the Peugeot 207 S2000.
Team boss Michel Nandan, appointed in January, said the appointments proved Hyundai would be well-placed to take on the established WRC manufacturers.
"We've been evolving rapidly since the beginning of the year and made great progress in filling all the main roles to establish our core team," Nandan said.
"We're facing a big and exciting challenge, in building a team from scratch and we have now only nine months to prepare for next year.
"I'm now surrounded by the best people in the business and I'm confident we'll be ready to meet our ambitious goal to be ready at the start of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.
"While we have a very busy year ahead of us, I believe that team-work together with shared commitment and passion for motorsport are the keys for success."