Hunt to defend IRC 2WD Cup

Harry Hunt will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season to defend the IRC 2WD Cup he won in 2011 in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2.

The British driver will take advantage of a change to the regulations, which now allow drivers to use cars from non-registered IRC manufacturers to chase points in the IRC 2WD Cup, by switching to a Citroën DS3 R3.

Hunt, who beat Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio to the IRC 2WD spoils last season, has completed a two-day test in his new car and is currently carrying out reconnaissance for the IRC season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo with stand-in co-driver Gareth Roberts.

Roberts replaces Seb Marshall, who is still recovering from a injuries sustained in a crash late last season.

Hunt finished 34th on his Monte-Carlo debut last season and plans to put that experience to good use. “We had full snow and ice and it was like being in a motorised bobsleigh at times,” said Hunt. “But we got through it OK and had great fun. Hopefully we can use that experience to our advantage this year.”