Sordo makes Hyundai's team to Safari Rally

Hyundai had made official the line-up that it will field at the Safari Rally which will be the sixth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), scheduled to run from June 24. 

Ott Tanak, the 2019 WRC champion, navigated by Martin Jarveoja, will be joined by Thierry Neuvillle who is teaming up with Marijn Wydaeghe as Dani Sordo of Spain completes the list alongside his new navigator Borja Rozada. 

Sordo burst onto the WRC scene in 2005 with the help of two-time world champion Carlos Sainz. His form in Spain’s domestic series caught Sainz’s eye in 2004 and he helped his younger compatriot to get behind the wheel of a Super 1600 Citroën C2 for the 2005 FIA Junior World Rally Championship battle. Sordo’s success was instant and he romped to the title with ease.

Citroën rewarded Sordo with a limited programme of events in a Xsara WRC the following year and, with various podium finishes under his belt, it wasn’t long before the youngster was given a berth alongside Sébastien Loeb in the main Citroën squad for 2007.

Sordo repaid Citroën’s faith by scoring seven podiums in 2007, six podiums in 2008 and finishing third in the 2009 drivers’ title race. But his form started to wane in 2010 and his place in the team was soon taken by rising star Sébastien Ogier.

Tanak, Neuville to race in Kenya

Sordo decided his future lay elsewhere for 2011 and he led Mini’s charge into the WRC, but after a string of points-scoring performances, he was left in the cold when the team withdrew from the series in 2012. He returned to Citroën in 2013 and scored his maiden WRC victory in Germany.

The following year marked another new beginning as Sordo joined Hyundai. His consistency and ability to deliver strong points finishes proved pivotal for the Korean manufacturer and he played an integral part in helping the team to manufacturers’ world titles in 2019 and 2020.

He completed back-to-back victories in Italy in 2020, his third WRC win, and shares an i20 with Craig Breen in 2021.