Sweden first for ERC Junior runner-up Huttunen

Huttunen, runner-up to Chris Ingram in the 2017 FIA ERC Junior Under 27 Championship, was chosen by the Korean make’s motorsport division for a number of world championship events and tests in a Hyundai New Generation i20 R5, which will be run by former ERC event winner Stéphane Sarrazin’s eponymous team, albeit under the Hyundai Motorsport banner.

Hyundai Motorsport Team Manager Alain Penasse, who selected Huttunen for the HDMP chance on the back of several impressive performances in the ERC, said: “Sweden is the perfect opportunity for Jari. From his rallying in Finland he already has crucial experience of driving on snow and ice, and we are confident that he can make a strong start to his 2018 campaign at the event.”

Rally Sweden is set to take place from 15-18 February with Huttunen and co-driver Antti Linnaketo’s remaining world championship schedule due to be announced at a later date. Before then, however, Huttunen will make his competitive debut in a i20 R5 on Rally GB this week with Ingram also in action in an Opel ADAM R2.