[Auto]World title moves Huttunen into WRC2

[SougarLord]

 

The Finn and his co-driver Mikko Lukka will begin their season on national territory at this month's Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox (February 26-28).

 

Huttunen will join Ole Christian Veiby in the Rovaniemi test with the Korean manufacturer's i20 R5. Oliver Solberg is the third member of Hyundai's WRC2 squad.

 

Huttunen won both rounds of WRC3 last year en route to claiming the title in the final of the ACI Rally Monza and has similar ambitions in the top class.

 

"Last year we were on the WRC3 podium in every event we participated in as we were aiming for victory every weekend," said Huttunen, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on the final day of the Arctic event.

 

"We will have the same goal in WRC2 this year as we have a lot of the same rallies ahead of us, a car that I know well, and with the Kowax 2BRally team, which Mikko and I work very well with in 2020. So we have everything. prepared to show the same performance we had to win the WRC3 title. "

 

Huttunen, who also bagged the Polish title last year, already has in mind to follow in Solberg's footsteps. The young Swede will compete in an i20 World Rally Car for the first time in Lapland.

 

"My goal in rallying is to drive a WRC car in a WRC event, as is the case with Oliver in Finland, so I have to see them [Solberg and Veiby] a bit as my rivals when it comes to racing." added.

 

Huttunen previously competed in WRC2 in 2018 and 2019, loading second at Neste Rally Finland in his most recent outing of the category. The three drivers will also participate in the development of Hyundai's new i20 N Rally2 in the coming months.

 

Team Principal Andrea Adamo believes that a move to WRC2 was the only way forward for Huttunen.

 

"To win the WRC3 and Polish national titles last year, he showed excellent pace on snow, gravel and tarmac, and there is no reason why the same form should not continue this season," he said.

 

"We've been working hard for the past few months to find a way to work with him and reward him for his excellent performances, so confirming Jari in the Hyundai Motorsport WRC2 lineup for 2021 is great. I think at Arctic Rally Finland he can. start the season strong and fight for victory. "