The World Rally Championship’s first pure gravel rally of the season in Portugal this week is seen as a chance for Hyundai to ignite its 2026 marketing campaign.
Hyundai has been firmly on the again foot this season, having struggled to extract tempo from an i20 N Rally1 that incorporates a slim working window.
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The Korean group’s struggles have coincided with a step ahead from rival Toyota, which dominated the opening 5 rounds of the season. In three of these rallies, Toyota accomplished a podium lock out, together with a 1-2-3-4 on the graceful asphalt at Rally Islas Canarias final month.
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The Hyundai i20 N’s greatest weak spot has been low grip surfaces, notably asphalt, which is why the group is welcoming the beginning of the gravel season in Portugal this week. Pre-event testing has generated optimism amongst Hyundai and its drivers that it might probably flip round its fortunes on gravel. Hyundai can be anticipated to carry its full raft of upgrades to the automotive after debuting a few of its growth updates at Croatia final month.
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“The season actually begins now in Portugal, as a result of it’s a unique floor to the whole lot that has come earlier than,” mentioned Hyundai’s . “Testing has been good, and we’re far more comfy and assured with the tempo on gravel.
“I like Rally de Portugal, and I’ve all the time been aggressive right here. I’ve been unfortunate with some punctures or technical points previously, however we go to Portugal with the motivation to push and get the most effective consequence attainable. The followers are a number of the greatest on the planet at Rally de Portugal, I’m trying ahead to seeing them.”
Adrien Fourmaux is
Adrien Fourmaux is
It’s a view shared by team-mate , though the 2024 world champion is cautiously optimistic about his and Hyundai’s hopes on Portugal’s tough gravel phases.
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“It’s good to be optimistic as that’s what helps us transfer ahead,” mentioned Neuville.
“We shouldn’t be too optimistic both. We have to have each toes on the bottom and we face a really sturdy competitor that’s doing the whole lot proper. They’re 5 [cars] we’re three [cars]. We would have extra pace, however the rally is lengthy.
“The sensation was good in testing and if we are able to verify that on the rally, it is going to be a constructive begin.”
Hyundai proved its tempo in Portugal final 12 months with its drivers and Fourmaux demonstrating the pace to problem for the victory earlier than an influence steering challenge (Tanak) and a technical downside (Fourmaux) finally ended any hopes of a win.
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This 12 months, it’s going to head to Portugal with an improved i20 N and with seven-time Portugal podium finisher successfully changing Tanak within the line-up.
Dani Sordo has completed on the rostrum in Portugal seven occasions
Dani Sordo has completed on the rostrum in Portugal seven occasions
Hyundai’s sporting director Andrew Wheatley believes the group is able to have “extra bold” targets this week.
“As the primary of the European gravel occasions that may outline the second half of 2026, Rally de Portugal is essential to gauge the efficiency of the group. Portugal has been an occasion with good pace and good outcomes for previously,” mentioned Wheatley.
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“We all know that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 is quick in these circumstances and we now have been working exhausting to additional enhance reliability step-by-step. This occasion shares the same profile to Acropolis, Sardinia and Saudi, so this shall be an excellent alternative to evaluate efficiency for the upcoming occasions.
“Our targets in Portugal are extra bold than the final couple of occasions. Whereas we anticipate that our rivals haven’t stood nonetheless over the winter, we’re bringing most of what we now have realized from our testing in 2026 to Rally de Portugal.
“With an excellent begin order on Thursday and Friday, we’re assured that we might be ready to struggle for the rostrum – however with and additionally in good beginning positions, the job shall be barely extra sophisticated. It appears like there may very well be some rain across the recce, which may scale back the deficit of beginning first on the highway, however we consider we now have three crews with the pace to struggle for the rostrum.”
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