2002 Cherokee Trails Rally - Pro Rally

"Being a front-wheel-drive car converted to all-wheel drive, the roll cage is pretty spidery to pick up [and support] the new rear cross-member. For the past few years, we've used a big, heavy sub-frame, but now have a one-off sub-frame specific to Hyundai Rally Team USA. It links the chassis rails to the diff. and we made the cage to fit," says Buffum.

Both cars now feature the latest Hyundai factory-built beta turbo 2.0-liter engines. New Zealander Randall Edgell programs the Autronic Management System and keeps an eye on the powerplants, which produce an estimated 398 hp at 7000 rpm and 355 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. The power passes to a Tilton Carbon clutch through a one-off dog-box transmission built by Gemini specifically for the Tiburons. John Hook of Race and Rally Services used KAAZ internals in the custom limited-slip differentials. In a departure from last year, the center clutch-type diff isn't locked.

Buckley Motorsport has a long history of supporting both Subaru and Mitsubishi cars in Europe, and Buffum and Buckley early on decided to base the new Tiburon's rear suspension on the very successful Subaru WRC design. Buckley designed the front suspension based on the Mitsubishi Group A and John Hook again helped with fabricating the parts. "There's no sense going out and making an all-new design," says Buffum. "Of course, it's a different car, the rear end won't fit a Subaru but we used some parts. The shocks and springs are one-offs; they're Hyundai made by Proflex."

Harry Hockly Motorsports did much of the metal fabrication-engine mounts and strut plates, for example-making two sets of each. Hockly also seam welded the English shell and installed the cage. Libra and Vermont Sportscar did the same with Choiniere's car. The two shops then assembled the cars. Buckley admits being a little surprised at how similar the cars are, except for minor detail differences, despite being built on two continents.

"It's going to take a short while to get them up to speed, although they went pretty well," says Buffum. A new cooling system seems to have solved the team's overheating problems and the only major change planned after Cherokee involves raising the rear strut turrets to lower the rear of the car.

Hyundai Rally Team USA 2003 Tiburon