Top female Barratt secures Hyundai WRC deal.

Natalie Barratt has secured a deal that will see her continue to drive a MSD-prepared Hyundai Accent WRC? on rounds of the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship. The world's top female rally driver will initially contest three out of the first four rounds of the series.

Co-driven by former British and FIA Teams' Cup Champion Roger Freeman, Natalie will make her 2003 competition debut on the second round of the World Rally Championship, the Swedish Rally (February 5-9), followed by the Rally of Turkey (February 26-March 2) and then the Rally of New Zealand (April 9-13).

"I'm pleased to announce such a positive start to my 2003 rally programme, and although we can only commit to three events at the moment I hope to be able to expand the programme in due course," explained Barrett. "We ended 2002 on a high and it's important we continue into 2003 in the same way.

"We are still looking for sponsors and it's been a difficult decision to commit to these events without additional financial help, but you have to be in the World Championship to be noticed and that's what we are doing," she explained. "I hope to be able to expand on these three events and announce more events after New Zealand."

The Michelin-shod Hyundai Barrett will drive will be a familiar one, as it is the same 300bhp car in which she contested the final three rounds of last year's WRC, in New Zealand, Australia and Rally GB.

Likewise, she has good experience of the Swedish Rally, having contested it for the last four consecutive years, and has tackled the Rally of New Zealand twice before.

Experience on the Rally of Turkey will be limited to a very few WRC drivers, lessening the disadvantage for Natalie who has also not contested the event before, as this will be the first time the event has hosted a round of the World Rally Championship.

Having finished 22nd on last November's Rally of Great Britain, a two-day test in central Sweden on February 1-2 will be the first time in 11 weeks that Natalie has driven the Hyundai WRC?. In the ice and snow covered Swedish forests, the test will be a warm-up to the start of a busy 2003 rally programme.

Paul Risbridger, MSD Customer Support Team General Manager, stated that everything is in place for Natalie's 2003 campaign.

"Having made so much progress towards the end of 2002, we're pleased to be starting the new year with Natalie with such a strong programme," commented Risbridger. "Her car has been fully rebuilt, a dedicated team is in place and we are all looking forward to the Swedish Rally, which will be first time Natalie has contested that particularly event in a World Rally Car."