There had been doubts over its pace on quick gravel rallies, however Hyundai Motorsport is assured it will probably problem for podiums in Finland this week and on the remaining World Rally Championship rounds.
Quick gravel roads is the place the Hyundai i20 Rally1 automobile has spent a good chunk of its testing and improvement, with Finland the placement of Hyundai’s everlasting check base since 2022. Nevertheless, this yr the group opted to modify its check base to the south of France, which provides each gravel and asphalt roads to develop its automobile.
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Whereas the i20 N Rally1 has struggled on asphalt this yr, its key power on tough gravel has remained, headlined by a victory in Portugal and a second place in Greece. However there have been some considerations that the automobile might have misplaced floor on quick gravel given the event focus has shifted away from that floor.
However third and fourth place finishes scored by Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville respectively on quick gravel in Estonia two weeks in the past has the group assured its bundle can problem for podiums on all forms of gravel.
“The group efficiency in Estonia confirmed that the onerous work finished by the engineering group over the past three months has produced the outcomes we must be aggressive throughout the completely different gravel occasions remaining within the 2026 season,” stated Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley.
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“There was a small potential alternative of doubt as a result of we moved the check base from Finland to South of France, and we knew that the consequence of that is perhaps that we misplaced a bit of little bit of pace right here. However we managed to principally maintain the identical pace that we had previously. That is fairly optimistic and we are able to construct from that.
Candido Carrera, Dani Sordo, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Candido Carrera, Dani Sordo, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1
“There was each cause to be assured that we are able to go ahead in the direction of the tip of the yr now with not less than a powerful feeling that we could be in the suitable window for efficiency.
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“Estonia options lengthy, high-speed flat-out sections in addition to slim connecting roads, and to be aggressive on each is encouraging. Finland is analogous in nature, though not precisely the identical, however regardless of the house benefit for Toyota, our efficiency in Estonia confirmed that now we have the outright tempo to problem for the rostrum.”
Finland will once more provide Hyundai a powerful beginning highway place with its crews beginning sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Nevertheless, the group will likely be up towards 5 Toyota crews which are all able to victory.
Estonia offered Fourmaux a much-needed confidence enhance after securing a primary podium end since Kenya in March. The Frenchman believes one other podium go to may very well be on the horizon in Finland after each he and Neuville discovered themselves firmly within the victory hunt final yr earlier than struggling punctures.
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“The rostrum we achieved in Estonia provides us confidence heading into Finland. Final yr we had been preventing for second and third with Thierry till we each suffered punctures after hitting the identical rock on Saturday, so I imagine we could be robust this yr as effectively. Now we have an excellent highway place, accomplished a optimistic check in Finland, and we’ll be pushing onerous. I am assured we are able to combat for an additional podium,” stated Fourmaux.
Learn Additionally:
Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux unclear on WRC futures past 2026
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Neuville headed to Finland every week sooner than his team-mate to contest a nationwide rally to assist his Rally Finland preparations, however his outing was reduce brief by a technical concern.
The 2024 world champion added: “We discovered quite a bit in Estonia and nonetheless have a bit of room for enchancment, so we’ll be working to make the automobile even stronger forward of Finland. Expertise all the time helps, however most of the drivers know these roads extraordinarily effectively and have the benefit of native information. Our aim is similar because it was in Estonia: to combat for victory, be within the battle from the very first stage, keep out of bother and have an ideal weekend.”
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