As predicted by DirtFish last month, Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed Teemu Suninen will tackle Rally Estonia and Rally Finland in a Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
The Finn replaces the late Craig Breen on the season’s two fastest events.
He is joined in a recently revitalized Hyundai Motorsport Driver Development Programme by Emil Lindholm, who will compete in Estonia and Finland in WRC2.
This marks a significant U-turn in the Korean firm’s driver policy, having abandoned a development program – which included 21-year-old Oliver Solberg – in favor of a more experienced lineup at the end of last season.
Suninen said: “This is a great opportunity to get back to top-tier cars and I have been really missing it.
“Estonia and Finland have previously been strong rallies for me, but it will be a big challenge to learn the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid and the hybrid system with limited testing.
“Both rallies are known as sprint rallies where you need 110% confidence and to push flat-out from the first corner to get good results, so that will ask for a lot of patience from me and only time will show our approach.
“My goal is to learn the car step by step and to gradually show more pace and bring good points for the team.”
His countryman Lindholm was similarly pleased, adding: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to become part of one of the most accomplished and successful rally teams globally.
“My decision to join Hyundai Motorsport stems primarily from the brand’s proven track record of success in rallying and especially their commitment to nurture young talent. Their clear dedication to rallying aligns perfectly with my own passion and ambition.
“I see Rally Estonia as the perfect starting point for my journey with the team; it’s been a strong event for both myself and the team in the past which brings me a good deal of confidence. I firmly believe that we have every opportunity to step on the podium multiple times this season.”
Team principal Cyril Abiteboul defended the decision to bring the junior program back.
He said: “The Hyundai Motorsport Driver development Programme is not here to fill a gap, instead it is a strategic platform to ensure that Hyundai has multiple choices and options among the young drivers out there.
“We already have an exciting stable of talent, featuring Teemu and Emil, and I’m looking forward to supporting their development as we start to build the program further.”
