Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams got to experience a little bit of motorsport when she got in the co-driver seat next to rally driver Thierry Neuville.
She got to ride in the Hyundai i20 WRC, while Hyundai Shell World Rally Team driver Neuville got behind the wheel. He took her for a trip around the Forest Rally Stage at Goodwood.
Those who followed the 2012 Olympics will have heard about how Adams became the first woman to win a boxing title at the global sports event, also adding a gold medal to the total count that the UK accumulated when it was the host country.
Outside of boxing, however, Adams has a passion for fast cars and is the brand ambassador for Hyundai.
Neuville, meanwhile, is a competitor in the World Rally Championship and recently celebrated his second podium finish of the season when he came in third place in Rally Poland. He is currently sitting in sixth place in the overall standings.
The Belgian began his career as a rally driver in 2008, initially working with Citroen, then moving to Ford. He was signed to Hyundai Motorsport GmbH in 2013 in time to be entered into the 2014 World Rally Championship, for which he drives a Hyundai i20 WRC.
During a usual race, his co-driver is Nicolas Gilsoul, who has been working with Neuville since 2011.
Speaking about the experience, Adams said: “I was so excited to be offered this opportunity and I wasn’t disappointed. It was just so cool. Everything happens so fast and you’ve got to be really skillful to drive one of these cars. Absolutely awesome – this has to be my new sport!”
“I think Thierry tried to scare me a little but I got my own back when I invited him into the ring after!”
On getting to drive with the Olympic gold medallist, Neuville said: “It was a great honour for me to meet Nicola. We both share the same strong determination to win and she really is at the top of her game.”
While they may have enjoyed the drive together and Adams may have been enamoured by her brief foray into rally, right now she will be concentrating on getting ready for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. They start on July 23rd in Glasgow, where Adams will once again be competing in the women’s boxing event and aiming for gold.
In a press release following the spin around the Forest Rally Stage, Neuville made sure to wish Adams luck in the Commonwealth Games.
Neuville is also getting ready for the next round of his sport as he will be jetting off to take part in Rally Finland, which begins on July 31st.
Hyundai Motorsport GmbH was established on December 19th 2012 and has been representing Hyundai in a number of motorsport events ever since, particularly in the World Rally Championship programme. It made its debut in the championship this year, with Neuville behind the wheel and the Hyundai i20 WRC designed especially for it.
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