Hyundai has confirmed its in-principal support for proposed changed car eligibility rules for the Australian Rally Championship for 2002 and beyond, announced last Friday by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.

The new regulations are designed to increase the number of different car makes competing at the top of the national rally competition.

Formerly dominated by a duo of mega-costly, offshore-designed and exotically-engineered World Rally Cars from just two manufacturers, the ARC will introduce ‘prototype’ categories for both four- and two-wheel-drive cars which can be built locally for less cost and which aim to be competitive with the continuing Group N or moderately-modified production cars which are the next level down from the WRCars.

Hyundai is one of several car makers competing in the World Rally Championship with WRCars but Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia has been reluctant to commit to an ARC involvement with these cars because of their high cost.

“The new rules will steer the ARC in a more appropriate direction for Australia which, given its low population and small market, cannot afford such expensive cars as are run in the WRC,” said Peter Evans, HADA General ManagerMarketing.

“The 4WD prototype class addresses this by facilitating rally adaptation of locally sold cars with an engine up to two litres and a relatively simple and inexpensive 4WD rally drivetrain.

“HADA is however concerned about the inclusion of a 2WD prototype category with as yet no engine size limit. This would appear to unduly cater for any manufacturer with an appropriate car focussing on winning the proposed tarmac event in the otherwise all-gravel ARC series, at the expense of those who have fully committed to all the other ARC rallies during the season,” Mr Evans said.

HADA is currently studying the viability of competing in the revamped ARC and will make an announcement in the next couple of months.

Hyundai’s World Rally Team claimed its best ever result last month when its two cars finished fourth and sixth in the Rally of Great Britain, the season finale.