BAT Korea to sponsor Hyundai.

The Korean corporation of British American Tobacco, British American Tobacco Korea (BAT Korea), will become an official sponsor of Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team.

BAT Korea held a signing ceremony on April 20, at the Hyundai Department Store in Samsung-dong Seoul, to announce that it will be sponsoring the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team for 2001 season.

With its 'Winfield' brand, BAT has been the sponsor of the Hyundai World Rally Team since 2000 and BAT Korea will participate as an official sponsor of the team with the corporate brand 'BAT Korea' from 2001 season.

After the signing ceremony, BAT Korea held various events celebrating the partnership. They displayed the rally car that will participate in 2001 FIA World Rally Championship and following the lead of the team's specialist tarmac driver, Piero Liatti, asked citizens to autograph the car to wish the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team good luck.

John Taylor, CEO of BAT Korea said, "BAT Korea will make every effort to support the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team and the sponsorship will provide an attractive platform for the team to focus on successful performances in international rally. Through the partnership, BAT Korea also expects to place the company on a firm basis as a successful international company in Korea".

The FIA World Rally Championship, in which the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team currently participates, is the most popular form of motorsport around the world, covering regions as far and wide as Europe, South America and Australasia.

With its first participation in the World Rally Championship in 1998, the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team introduced its first Hyundai Accent World Rally Car for the 2000 season. Following the launch of the Accent WRC?, the second generation World Rally Car, by the Rally of Portugal in March this year, the Korean marque had achieved third position in the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, giving the team an excellent start to the season.