Hyundai’s Western Australian Dealer network is getting behind the Hyundai i30 turbo Diesel production car entry into the 2008 QUIT Targa West tarmac rally .

The entry is the result of a joint venture initiative between Hyundai Motor Company Australia, which is supplying the car, and the Western Australian Hyundai Dealer network, which is supporting the event with drivers, technicians and a professional race support team.

Driving the i30 CRDi turbo Diesel is local racing driver Razvan Vlad, with his wife Ioana Vlad taking the role of co-driver. The pair have been racing cars in Europe and Australia since 1999. “I work for an environmental monitoring company and so I wanted to enter this year’s QUIT Targa West rally driving something that was environmentally responsible“ said Razvan Vlad. “The Hyundai i30 CRDi turbo Diesel stood out as the best car to enter and we are delighted that both Hyundai and its Dealer network have got behind us - it’s going to be lots of fun“.

There are two competition classes in the 2008 QUIT Targa West, one for the race cars and one for the productions cars (The Challenge). The i30 CRDi will compete in the second class which is open to all production cars, either Classic or Modern. The i30 does not require any modifications apart from tyres, brake pads and safety equipment, so spectators will get to see how a car they can buy from a Hyundai Dealer competes in a tarmac rally being driven by professional drivers.

The event will run over three days from the 5th to 7th September 2008. “We are delighted that we and our Hyundai Dealer partners in W.A. are involved in this challenge“, said Heinz Wiesner, Regional General Manager. “The environmentally friendly i30 is a landmark car for the Hyundai brand, having won three major Australian awards since its launch last year.“

The i30 CRDi is winner of two highly acclaimed automotive green awards - Carsguide’s ‘Green Car of the Year’ 2007 and ECOCAR’s ‘Best Small Car’ 2008 - as well as Carsguide’s ‘Car of the Year’ 2007.

From Hyundai PR