Hyundai Wins 1st Ever World Rally Championship

Published on 2019/11/17 | Source

Hyundai racers Nicolas Gilsoul (left) and Thierry Neuville celebrate after winning a round of the World Rally Championship series in Spain in October. /Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Hyundai has won its maiden World Rally Championship -- one of the world's biggest motor racing events, along with Formula One -- more than two decades after organizing its auto racing team.

The WRC, a rallying series organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) consists of more than a dozen rallies driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice, unlike F1 events which take place on circuits.

Spectators watch a World Rally Championship series in Finland in August. /Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Hyundai earned an overall score of 380 points, edging out defending champion Toyota by 18 points, followed by Citroën and Ford.