Andrew Wheatley (Hyundai) after the Rally of Portugal: "It's a huge relief"

The relief is palpable in Andrew Wheatley's words. After several difficult rallies at the start of the season, often frustrated by bad luck or the conditions, Hyundai finally gets her 2026 victory — and it comes at the best time, on the eve of a series of clay-court rounds. "For the whole team, for everyone, it's a huge relief. We know the car is fast, but sometimes you also have to deal with the conditions. And we knew, when we arrived in Portugal, that there was a chance to be really competitive here.", he reacted to the AUTOhebdo microphone.

The arrival of the rain had initially sown doubt, but Thierry Neuville and Martyjn Wydaeghe did the job by managing their pace intelligently in the Dantean conditions on Saturday, staying close enough to the leaders to maintain constant pressure.

Andrew Wheatley emphasizes the collective dimension of this result, paying tribute to the work done beforehand by the entire structure: “I have to thank everyone on the team who did an incredible job, from the guys and girls in the workshop to the test team, who put in a huge amount of work to make the car as competitive as possible.” A victory built on weeks of intensive preparation, particularly focused on performance on clay — and the result is there.

Japan as Hyundai's next opportunity

The performance ofAdrien fourmaux This has also not escaped the attention of the sporting director, who sees the Power Stage victory by the Northerner as an encouraging sign before the upcoming challenges: "Adrien has really raised his performance level, and taking the Power Stage was a great confidence boost for him before going to Japan." A doubly successful Sunday for Hyundai, with an overall victory and domination on the bonus stage.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Andrew Wheatley clearly sees the opportunities available to his team. First, Japan — asphalt, certainly, but with particular characteristics that could suit the Hyundai: "Given the nature of the stages and if we get the weather we're expecting there — generally warmer and drier than usual — there's a chance. Short corners, a bumpy road, average grip: we have a chance." And then, a succession of rounds on gravel which constitutes the natural playing field of a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 which has clearly not said its last word in this 2026 season.

Interview conducted by Pierre Barré, in Portugal.

ALSO READ > Rally Portugal: Thierry Neuville wins, Adrien Fourmaux takes the Power Stage