Sordo welcomes third WRC co-driver of 2021 after latest split
Dani Sordo has elected to switch his co-driver for the second time in a matter of months for the remaining rounds of the World Rally Championship season.
The Hyundai Motorsport driver has announced that he has split with Borja Rozada, who only took over the seat earlier this year from long-time co-driver Carlos del Barrio, with whom Sordo scored his three WRC wins.
However, only three events into their partnership, Sordo has confirmed that Rozada will be replaced by Candido Carrera, who has more than 30 WRC outings in the books.
It will be Sordo’s third co-driver of the season given he started the campaign in Monte Carlo with del Barrio, before Rozada joined for Portugal, Sardinia and Kenya. Sordo and Rozada scored a second in Portugal before crashing out from both the Italian and Safari rallies.
"I am grateful to Borja for his dedication and professionalism," said Sordo in a statement. "He has shown me to be a great co-driver inside and outside the car.
Dani Sordo, Borja Rozada, Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
“Unfortunately, despite the enormous work that the two of us have done to understand each other 100%, the understandings of my marks on the stages have not been perfect.
“I hope to connect with Candido Carrera as soon as possible and be able to celebrate great successes together this year.”
It is not yet known when Sordo and Carrera will make their WRC debut, with Hyundai choosing to share its third car between Sordo and Craig Breen.
Breen is set to remain in the car for next month’s Rally Ypres in Belgium after finishing second in last weekend’s Rally Estonia.
It is likely Sordo will make a return later this year with events in Greece, Finland, Spain and Japan to come.
The 38-year-old’s WRC future beyond this year is yet to be secured as Hyundai has not confirmed plans for its third car for 2022, which will feature the WRC ushering in new hybrid Rally1 rules.
Sordo had been linked to a move to Toyota earlier this year as the Japanese marque will need to find a driver to share its third car, with seven-time champion Sebastien Ogier likely to only compete in a partial campaign.
Related video
Previous article
BT Sport secures new WRC broadcast deal until 2024
Next article
Ogier plans to help Toyota as much as possible with 2022 WRC car
How Neuville stole the show from Ogier vs Evans slugfest in Spain
While all pre-event chat focused on the two World Rally Championship title fighters, their closest challenger charged into the spotlight on Rally Spain. Thierry Neuville's star turn and another strong drive from Elfyn Evans in his fight with Sebastien Ogier made for an intriguing event as the 2021 campaign nears its crunch point
The steely determination behind the WRC’s Solberg 2.0
Two decades after Petter Solberg emerged as a World Rally Championship winner, his son Oliver is ready to take the WRC by storm. Having secured a part-time WRC factory drive for Hyundai in 2022, he's raring to repay the marque's faith in him and follow in his 2003 champion father's footsteps
Analysing the key moves in WRC’s 2022 silly season
The World Rally Championship will step into a new hybrid era in 2022, but the car changes haven't been the only excitement that has built within the paddock. WRC's 'silly season' kicked off in a big way and all the key driver moves for 2022 - of which there are many - look set to shake things up
How joining Finland’s exclusive club was Evans' true WRC coming-of-age
By his own admission, the fifth World Rally Championship victory of Elfyn Evans' career in Finland last weekend was the drive of his life. Winning five stages in a row and soaking up huge pressure from the Hyundais on the fastest gravel stages around, the Welshman put in a faultless showing that proved what he is truly made of
Does Neuville have a point with his Rally1 rant?
OPINION: Thierry Neuville's diatribe against the upcoming Rally1-spec machines that will usher in the World Rally Championship's new hybrid era was remarkable in an era where drivers are usually reticent to air their views in public. But are the Belgian's concerns about speed, safety and cost entirely valid?
How the WRC's new flying Finn reached new heights in the Greek mountains
After Kalle Rovanpera’s historic feat at Rally Estonia, the Finn scaled new heights at the Rally of the Gods with a commanding victory. And this time Toyota’s young star demonstrated why the future is bright with his devastating speed and consistency at the Acropolis Rally
The WRC drivers that came of age at the Acropolis Rally
Five drivers have won first time out at the Rally Acropolis, transcending the tough dirt and gravel Greek roads to cement a place in rallying folklore. Here are three of the first-time winners' tales
Understanding Suninen’s sudden WRC exit gamble
From being considered a likely contender to drive the next-generation M-Sport Ford Puma in 2022, Teemu Suninen's abrupt exit has created plenty of questions. The Finn's bid to become his country's next World Rally Championship winner won't be furthered by being sidelined, but there may be reason behind the decision
