Hyundai signs up Schwarz.

Hyundai has completed its 2002 World Rally Championship line-up by signing Armin Schwarz on a two-year deal.

The rapid German, along with co-driver Manfred Heimer, who have been competing for Skoda for the previous three seasons, will join Freddy Loix for the entire campaign - with Juha Kankkunen lining up for gravel rallies.

"Everything is perfect and settled, the contract is signed," Schwarz says on his personal web-site. "For the next two years I will be driving for the Hyundai World Rally Team. Manfred and I will compete all WRC rounds. My team mates will be Freddy Loix and Juha Kankkunen. Freddy is going to start at every round, too. Juha will do nine rallies next year.

"I had a good look around in the Milton Keynes team base, and I was deeply impressed by their technical possibilities and the resources they have at their disposal - not to talk about the team members. Many of the faces are very familiar to me, because they have been around in the WRC for quite a while. Team boss David Whitehead is one of the leading experts in the sport. Michelin is Hyundai's tyre partner.

"All this gives me an incredible amount of optimism and confidence for next year. I can't wait to try my new car at the Monte tests."

Going into the final round of the 2001 WRC, Schwarz is 13th in the drivers' championship, just one place behind team-mate-to-be Loix.