Kitson brings Korean touch to HCWRT.

The Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team's latest signing brings an added Korean dimension to the team as new Marketing and PR head, Stephen Kitson spent the last three years leading the manufacturer's Overseas Public Relations efforts at the head office in Seoul.

Kitson, 46, will be heading up the HCWRT marketing and PR team commencing from the Corsica event and seeking to develop the team's growing relationships with the motorsport media and Hyundai distributors around the world.

As a former journalist - including several years covering motorsport for UK provincial newspapers - and with experience in motor industry public relations, Kitson will be looking to add support to the team's established PR and Marketing operation by providing added focus on customer relations and building interest in the team among rally fans.

"The team already has a strong professional relationship with the motorsport media and has been building its services to Hyundai distributors both in host countries and elsewhere. I feel that my role will be to develop those strengths by taking the excitement of the World Rally Championship and the involvement of a top flight team to a wider audience," said Kitson.

He added: "I feel that it is essential that the Hyundai customer and the rally fan should be able to get as close as possible to the team and that the team is able to deliver added value to Hyundai and its global network of more than 190 distributors."

Team Principal David Whitehead added: "We are delighted that Steve has joined us and I am convinced he will add an extra dimension to our press, distributor and customer service. His three years in Seoul with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) give him a unique insight into the relationship between Korean and European companies and that will help us to maximise the understanding between HCWRT and HMC and to develop our services to the media and the distributors."