Hyundai Motorsport claims double podium in Rally Argentina

Hyundai Motorsport has extended its lead in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with a competitive double podium finish in the fifth round of the season, Rally Argentina.

Thierry Neuville claimed his third podium result of the season with a fine drive to second place, one year after claiming a nail-biting victory in Argentina. Finishing two places ahead of Sebastien Ogier, and taking maximum points in the Power Stage, the Belgian has been able to reduce the gap in the drivers' championship to 10 points.

Dani Sordo completed the 18-stage rally in third place overall, registering his second gravel podium of the season after finishing second in Mexico last month. The Spaniard moves up to fifth in the drivers' table after a strong weekend.

Andreas Mikkelsen ensured all three Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team crews finished inside the top-five on the Argentinian gravel, pushing Ogier hard on the final morning but ultimately finishing behind the Frenchman in fifth.  The Norwegian's performance on the Power Stage added three points to his championship tally.

Three stages were run on Sunday, including two times through the hugely popular El Condor, with the route packed with thousands of fans, and the 22.41km Mina Clavero.

Hyundai Motorsport enjoyed a competitive final morning. Mikkelsen won SS16 (Copina-El Condor), leaving all three crews with stage victories in Argentina. Neuville increased the team's stage wins to five in SS17 (Giulio Cesare-Mina Clavero), heading up a 1-2-3 lock out for the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC crews with Mikkelsen second and Sordo third. The second run up El Condor, which offered additional driver points as the Power Stage, saw Neuville take the squad's sixth stage win of the weekend with Mikkelsen in third.