Hyundai faces the challenge of Monte-Carlo

Hyundai will begin its second campaign in the World Rally Championship at Monte Carlo from next Thursday with the firm intention of making a better start than in 2014. Last year, the Belgian Thierry Neuville (road exit) and Spanish Dani sordo (battery) had been forced to withdraw prematurely from the inaugural event of the World Cup. The two Hyundai spearheads have been actively preparing since the end of the 2014 championship.

“It’s true that we have not had success in Rally Monte Carlo in the past, but it's always a pleasure to drive on these roads and this year we really want to do well, admits Neuville. We had a very short winter break since we started testing in mid-December but we had good preparation for this event and we are ready. This rally is always special, it is the first of the season and the conditions can be very variable and it is difficult to predict what may happen. Of course I want to do more kilometers with the Hyundai i20 WRC than last year, for me and for the team. We will use all the experience we have in this event to aim for the best possible result. »

“A podium is possible because in Monte-Carlo, anything can happen due to the unpredictable weather, continues Sordo. It's important to remember that we were third last year when we had a small, but unfortunately fatal, technical problem. Even though it's a very difficult rally, you have to push but you also have to stay calm when the conditions are complicated. »

Team Principal Michel Nandan believes for his part that his pair of drivers will be able to adapt to these delicate conditions, while relying on the work with the manufacturer Michelin, the choice of rubber is often crucial on the roads of the South-East of France.

You can find our photo gallery of the 2015 livery of the Hyundai i20 WRC by clicking this link.