Hyundai Motorsport at work on its Rally1 hybrid

After M-Sport Ford and Toyota, it is the turn of Hyundai Motorsport to make the first prototype of its future Rally1 meeting the regulations WRC hybrid 2022.

©Hyundai

The reigning world champions have in fact made a first run for their future weapon, this week on the dirt in the south of France at Fontjoncouse, a surface also chosen by M-Sport and Toyota. No information, however, on the identity of the driver selected for the occasion, even if Oliver Solberg tweeted to this effect.

 The @HMSGOfficial Rally1 prototype is live! It's been awesome to be part of the development work and get a chance to drive the car already  pic.twitter.com/WsiDpE1ll7

— Oliver Solberg (@OliverSolberg01) May 16, 2021

An inaugural session aimed at roughing up the work in terms of the general behavior of the car, in usual camouflage gear and rather discreet aerodynamics. It is possible to see that the front part has been simplified as has the rear wing.

The hood receives more generous vents than on the current car and the design of the wings appears quite similar. However, there is no side air intake like that recently observed on the Fiesta and the Yaris.

“It's a special moment when you put a car on the road for the first time and, as always, there are challenges ahead, recalls Andrea Adamo, Team Principal of Hyundai Motorsport.

In the case of our 1 Rally2022, we are starting from scratch with completely new rules, a different concept and a new base model, the Hyundai i20 N. It was exciting to launch testing and begin this new adventure.

©Hyundai

Further testing sessions, on various surfaces and in different locations in Europe, are already planned by Hyundai Motorsport