Hyundai returned to kind in Portugal however it’s going to postpone any determination to run a fourth automotive till it’s pleased with its upgraded World Rally Championship challenger’s efficiency.
The South Korean marque bounced again from its crushing Canary Islands defeat final month by .
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Hyundai appeared to have the sting on Toyota on gravel in what was the upgraded i20 N’s first occasion on the unfastened floor this yr.
and topped the standings on Friday earlier than the latter suffered a suspension failure. Tanak gained 12 of the 24 levels to complete second however would have most definitely gained the rally had he averted a .
“This weekend has been a return to the shape we anticipate of ourselves,” mentioned Hyundai Motorsport president and group principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“We’ve been extremely aggressive all through the occasion, with Ott expertly spearheading the cost. He has been impeccable, main for 15 levels and taking 12 wins; he was the person to beat on the market.
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“We remorse that Ott’s reliability challenge has handed the victory to Toyota, however everybody within the group needs to be pleased with their efforts this weekend.”
Hyundai has toyed with the prospect of working a fourth automotive and it seems there may be nonetheless an opportunity it might resolve to run an additional automotive, along with its three 2025 full-time entries pushed by world champion , Tanak and Fourmaux.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1Red Bull Content material Pool
Crimson Bull Content material Pool
This yr Hyundai has come up towards an expanded Toyota line-up with the Japanese model fielding 5 vehicles in three of the 5 occasions to this point. isn’t contributing to Toyota’s producer factors however part-time driver Sebastien Ogier has been registered to attain in his three rounds to this point, serving to the marque transfer right into a 55-point lead within the producers’ standings.
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Abiteboul has refused to rule out including an additional Rally1 automotive this yr for long-term Hyundai servant , who’s competing for Hyundai Portugal within the Portuguese nationwide championship. Sordo was current ultimately weekend’s Rally Portugal, which additionally acted as a spherical for the nationwide sequence.
Sordo’s most up-to-date WRC Rally1 return was final yr’s Acropolis Rally, the place the 42-year-old completed second behind Neuville. There had been solutions Sordo might have made a return in Sardinia subsequent month though his identify was absent from the entry listing.
“There’s nonetheless an opportunity for a fourth automotive,” mentioned Abiteboul throughout Rally Portugal.
“The Canary Islands has been a shock to the system and when there’s a shock to the system what you should do is regroup and suppose and placed on standby among the motion we had deliberate, and specifically take into consideration one of the simplest ways to make use of the monetary sources you have got out there.
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“Working a fourth automotive wants extra sources when it comes to employees, monetary sources and logistics. After Canary Islands, was working a fourth automotive one of the simplest ways to make use of sources, perhaps, perhaps not?
Cyril Abiteboul, Staff principal Hyundai World Rally Staff
Cyril Abiteboul, Staff principal Hyundai World Rally TeamVincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
“In any case we’re suspending that call till we’ve got a little bit of a clearer concept as a result of, frankly, should you enter 4 uncompetitive vehicles it doesn’t assist your case.
“The very first thing is to grasp our competitiveness degree and something we are able to do within the brief time period to make it higher. Then, you probably have the arrogance, you possibly can play techniques with a fourth automotive.
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“There’s additionally the case that clearly with extra vehicles you have got extra check days coming and subsequently study extra in regards to the Hankook tyres. We thought of that, however it’s an costly technique to get entry to extra details about the tyres. We prefer to suppose we are able to get to the identical end result otherwise.”
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