New WRC Hyundai won't make debut until it's a Volkswagen-beater

The German-based, Korean manufacturer team is rumoured to be readying the new generation i20 WRC for Rally Germany, the scene of its first ever world championship win last season.

Team manager Alain Penasse says the expectation is to beat VW immediately when the new car arrives and not to bring it out until it is ready to do so.

"When we bring the new car, we want to beat our competitors - or should we say competitor, as we are already ahead of the Citroen and Ford with our current car," he told AUTOSPORT.

"We were a little bit surprised with the speed in Mexico. Not surprised with Thierry [Neuville], he's always up for a fight, but with how competitive we have been able to be against teams who have already brought their new cars.

"Instead of getting further away from these teams, we have got closer."

Penasse would not be drawn on the launch date for the new car, but added: "it doesn't make sense to bring the new car unless it's a Polo-beater."

Hyundai is expected to begin work on back-to-back testing the current i20 with its replacement, before moving into the finetuning stage of the new car's development.

There will also be more developments on the current car in time for Rally Argentina later this month, with Neuville and Dani Sordo both getting paddle-shift gearchanges.

"We keep working on this car," said Penasse, "because every step we make with this one can be adapted for the new car, so it's a step for the new car as well.

"We have a few jokers coming in Argentina, in different areas of the car, but that will be a good step.

"We should be even closer in Argentina."

Penasse admitted the current break between the north and south American rounds of the WRC has helped Hyundai.

"It has given us some air," he said. "The first three rallies of the year are also the three most complicated, so it's always a busy start.

"But now we have a lot of gravel rallies to look forward to and, with the new parts, it's not looking too bad for fast places like Poland and Finland - where we were already competitive with last year's car."