Ott Tanak will use an older-specification Hyundai i20 Rally1 automobile at subsequent week’s Central European Rally, with the 2019 world rally champion deeming it higher suited.
The choice follows a back-to-back take a look at of the 2025-specification automobile and final 12 months’s mannequin, with out the hybrid unit as per this 12 months’s laws, following final month’s spherical in Chile.
Hyundai has to date struggled to maximise its closely upgraded 2025 automobile this 12 months, with its maiden outing on asphalt on the Canary Islands in April offering a number of complications for the staff.
With the World Rally Championship heading again to asphalt subsequent week, Tanak reported that he felt way more snug in what’s successfully the 2024 automobile. This specification is what Hyundai fielded within the opening spherical of the season in Monte Carlo.
Tanak has been afforded an uncommon quantity of set-up flexibility heading into subsequent week’s rally after Hyundai determined to not discipline the Estonian as considered one of its drivers nominated to attain producer factors for the remaining rounds of the season. This name has allowed Tanak to make the most of the sporting laws and match a brand-new engine after maximising his allocation in Chile, with out incurring a five-minute time penalty.
Given Tanak is Hyundai’s greatest hope at securing the drivers’ title, 43 factors behind Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, Hyundai has acknowledged that Tanak is the staff’s precedence subsequent week.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Picture by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
Workforce-mates Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux will drive the complete evolution-spec 2025 i20 N Rally1 automobile subsequent week. Chatting with Autosport this week, the Belgian revealed that he’s assured there’s extra potential within the 2025 automobile in comparison with its predecessor. The drivers will likely be operating new damper struts.
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“We’re fully committed to the championship fight and pushing for every point. In a bid to support Ott and Martin, we’re taking advantage of the sporting regulations,” mentioned Hyundai staff principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“As they’re not nominated for producers’ factors, we’ve been capable of deliver a brand new engine into circulation with out incurring a time penalty. Ott and Martin will return to the Monte-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1 for this occasion, having reported a greater feeling within the automobile in testing.
“Meanwhile, our continuous development of the 2025 evo car continues, with both Thierry and Adrien carrying damper updates next weekend. Their focus will be on further developing these technical upgrades for Rally Japan, and beyond.”
Looking forward to the rally, Tanak added: “We’ve competed at Central European Rally a number of instances now, so we’ve got a superb sense of what to anticipate. That is an occasion that may be very depending on the climate circumstances; there’s lots of cuts and the highway can turn out to be extraordinarily soiled.
“The additional again you’re within the highway order, the extra surprises you encounter – each automobile pulls extra filth onto the highway. Driving fashion can also be key, particularly with grip ranges altering dramatically, notably after rain. Expertise actually counts right here.
“We are still in the hunt for the championship, so delivering a top performance is absolutely essential.”
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