Top billing for Sordo and Paddon in Portugal

Hyundai Motorsport has named Dani Sordo and Hayden Paddon in its top team for the opening European gravel round of the WRC season in Portugal next month.

Thierry Neuville and Kevin Abbring will drive for the Korean manufacturer’s second-string squad at Vodafone Rally de Portugal (19 - 22 May), the latter at the wheel of a 2015-specification i20 World Rally Car for his season debut.

Hyundai is using a rotation system with its frontline pilots. All three will tackle all 14 rounds, but the line-up differs from event to event to allow the squad to match the drivers to their specific strengths.

Next week’s Rally Argentina (21 - 24 April) will maintain Neuville’s 100 per cent appearance record in the lead team. However, after a podium in the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo the Belgian failed to score in the next two rounds in Sweden and Mexico.