Similar to former team principal Rhys Millen Stéphane Verdier became affected by Hyundai’s retreat from motorsport programmes in America.

In the 2011 Global RallyCross Championship former downhill-skier Stéphane Verdier was the highest placed privateer. The US based Frenchman drove his own Subaru Impreza GD to 5th place overall in the AWD category of the eight rounds series and subsequently became member of the Hyundai backed 2012 RMR team of Kiwi Rhys Millen. Millen and Verdier made good use of their rather exotic Hyundai Veloster Rallycross cars, both drivers were able to score fine results and eventually finished 4th respectively 6th overall of last year’s six rounds GRC.

Without further Rallycross backing from the Korean car manufacturer RMR is currently trying to sell its two Veloster SuperCars while Verdier is seeking a seat in another team for 2013. “Last week I went to the ‘OMSE Lites’ tests, but didn’t drive the car, just watched it. The Fiesta looks like a lot of fun and pretty fast too. All the test drivers loved the car. Later Andréas [Eriksson] let me try Brian Deagan’s car. That was awesome,” claimed Steph Verdier in a Facebook chat with ERC24’s crew member Qba Nitka. “I tell you one thing, the OMSE SuperCar is just unbelievable, I loved it and I really hope that I can find a way to race on this year. I’m talking to a couple of teams to get a ride and it might happen. Andréas said that I drove really good. GRC announced that the full 2013 schedule should be released soon, like next week, and I hope to be with them again.”

Photo: US based Frenchman Stéphane Verdier hopes for another SuperCar seat in the 2013 GRC series. © QBA/ERC24