Suninen announces 2024 WRC plans with Hyundai squad

The Finn was in the running for a Rally1 seat with Hyundai for 2024 before the Korean manufacturer opted to share its third entry between Esapekka Lappi, Dani Sordo and new signing Andreas Mikkelsen.

Suninen, whose best WRC finish to date came when he placed second for M-Sport on the 2019 Rally Sardinia, joined Hyundai’s revamped driver development programme in 2023 alongside Emil Lindholm.

He was promoted to team’s third Rally1 entry for rounds in Estonia, Finland, Chile and Central Europe, taking three top-six finishes.

The 30-year-old had started the 2023 season driving a Hyundai Rally2 car, scoring a best finish of second in Sardinia, and will now return to the WRC2 division for five rounds with the CHL Sport Auto team.

The French squad will also run a Hyundai i20 Rally2 for development driver team-mate Lindholm, who begins his campaign in Sweden this week.

“Excited to share that I’ll be driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car in 2024,” Suninen posted on social media.

“We are joining forces with the legendary CHL Sport Auto team, who are reigning seven-time French Rally team champions.”

Suninen is yet to confirm where he will begin his WRC2 campaign.