WATCH | Hyundai takes podium finish in first-ever Rally New Zealand participation

Hyundai Motorsport has performed well in its first-ever participation in the Rally New Zealand. It was the 11th round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

At the end of the 17-stage rally, Ott Tänak and navigator Martin Järveoja continued their run of consecutive podium finishes, ending the event in 3rd place overall. It was Tänak/Järveoja's seventh top-three finish of the season, and Hyundai Motorsport's 15th podium of the season with their 2022 car, the i20 N Rally1.

The Hyundai Motorsport crews of Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe and Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson finished in 4th and 5th positions, respectively.

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Team report

Hyundai Motorsport summed their Rally New Zealand up, saying: "Wet, slippery, and challenging conditions have offered teams and crews a stern test with the picturesque and exhilarating New Zealand roads providing plenty of drama. For Hyundai Motorsport, the rally has been a complicated one, with several issues preventing the team from performing at the same level as its rally-winning displays in Finland, Ypres, and Greece.

"Tänak had initially looked in contention for a victory push on the opening days, claiming three stage wins, and completing Friday on top of the overall classification. However, a tough Saturday put any chance of the team's fourth consecutive win out of reach.

"Tänak and Järveoja returned to stage-winning ways on the final morning, claiming the fastest time on SS15, and then adding four bonus points in the Power Stage. All three Hyundai i20 N Rally1 crews took Power Stage points on Sunday with Solberg in fourth and Neuville fifth."

Tänak said: "Altogether, Rally New Zealand