For the 2018 season, Huttunen took part in selected WRC-2 events for Hyundai Motorsport, which started with the Rally Sweden and Rally Mexico.
Huttunen struggled in these rallies, failing to overcome the more competitive packages of Škoda Motorsport and Tommi Mäkinen Racing at Sweden, coming home 6th in the WRC-2 class.
In Mexico, Huttunen was forced out of both legs 1 and 2 early due to mechanical failures, and finished 6th once again, this time over an hour behind class winner Pontus Tidemand.
Despite these faults, Huttunen came back stronger later in the season.
In his return to Rally Finland, he fought for WRC-2 class victory throughout most of the stages, and eventually finished a competitive second in the WRC-2 class, behind WRC-debutante Eerik Pietarinen.
Huttunen also made a return to the European Rally Championship for Rally Poland, this time fighting for overall honours with a BRC Racing Team-entered Hyundai.
Huttunen was in the running for victory the entire rally, his closest opponent being Nikolay Gryazin in Sports Racing Technologies.
Despite a late charge in the final stages, a 10-second penalty meant he was forced to settle for second place once again.
Huttunen capped off his development season with Hyundai at the Wales Rally GB, in which he finished 4th in the WRC-2 class, thus securing an 8th place finish in the World Rally Championship-2 standings.
For the 2018 season, Huttunen took part in selected WRC-2 events for Hyundai Motorsport, which started with the Rally Sweden and Rally Mexico. Huttunen struggled in these rallies, failing to overcome the more competitive packages of Škoda Motorsport and Tommi Mäkinen Racing at Sweden, coming home 6th in the WRC-2 class. In Mexico, Huttunen was forced out of both legs 1 and 2 early due to mechanical failures, and finished 6th once again, this time over an hour behind class winner Pontus Tidemand. Despite these faults, Huttunen came back stronger later in the season. In his return to Rally Finland, he fought for WRC-2 class victory throughout most of the stages, and eventually finished a competitive second in the WRC-2 class, behind WRC-debutante Eerik Pietarinen. Huttunen also made a return to the European Rally Championship for Rally Poland, this time fighting for overall honours with a BRC Racing Team-entered Hyundai. Huttunen was in the running for victory the entire rally, his closest opponent being Nikolay Gryazin in Sports Racing Technologies. Despite a late charge in the final stages, a 10-second penalty meant he was forced to settle for second place once again. Huttunen capped off his development season with Hyundai at the Wales Rally GB, in which he finished 4th in the WRC-2 class, thus securing an 8th place finish in the World Rally Championship-2 standings.
Jari Huttunen