Hyundai, confidence regained before the Rally of Belgium

Building on its success in Finland under the leadership of Ott Tänak, Hyundai is now heading towards the Rally of Belgium with more certainty. Especially when we know the motivations and ease of Thierry Neuville on his favorite playing field.

Published on 16/08/2022 à 15:23

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Hyundai, confidence regained before the Rally of Belgium

Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville with high ambitions in Belgium, for the ninth rally of the season. ©Nikos Katikis / DPPI

At the end of a bitter battle, Hyundai finally won his second success of the season, before heading to Ypres for the Rally of Belgium, on the lands of Thierry Neuville obviously. The Walloon, who won here last year, hopes to find the same sensations behind the wheel of these new single-seaters, even though this is only the second event on pure tarmac.

“The car is capable of winning”

Hyundai's objective is obviously to continue its momentum from Rally Finland, for this ninth round of the season. Although on paper, the stages seem less delicate than in the last rounds, the drivers will have to demonstrate extreme precision, especially when the mud accumulates over the passages:

“The victory at Rally Finland showed that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 is reliable, competitive and certainly capable of winning rallies, said Julien Moncet, assistant director of the team. Although the situation is unlikely to turn around compared to the last event, we are taking a lot of confidence with us to Belgium. »

In 2021, Thierry Neuville and his co-driver and compatriot Martijn Wydaeghe won there at the end of a well-run rally, and finished with more than thirty seconds ahead of their first pursuer. Can the Belgian finally achieve his first success of the hybrid era?

“The Ypres Belgian Rally, our national rally, is probably the event we look forward to most of the season, declared Thierry Neuville. We hope to return to victory in front of the home spectators, fans, supporters and family members; we will definitely be motivated and ready to do our best. »

If the profile of the test differs from Finnish gravel, you must also count on Thank you, with its two successes in 2022 already, and which counts “keep this dynamic”. Alongside them, Oliver Solberg will once again be at the wheel of the third car, he who was forced to retire at the first corner of the first day of driving in Finland.

“The disappointment of Rally Finland was huge, so I am determined to bounce back quickly, he explained. Ypres is a very specific event on the calendar. You need a precise car to cope with narrow roads, and a car that is easy to drive with all the cuts. Most importantly, we don't want any surprises. »

The Belgian Ypres Rally will take place from August 18 to 21, and it could already, at the end of a combination of improbable circumstances we grant, see Rovanperä be crowned.