Hyundai is moving its test base to France

Hyundai has made 2026 its target and is making it known. Based in Finland since 2022, the team's permanent test base has been relocated to France, more precisely to the Aude region, near the Château de Lastours and Fontjoncouse, locations well-known to fans of rally All-terrain. With this move, Hyundai intends to perfect its preparation for the 2026 season, which will be primarily focused on gravel, with nine events on this surface compared to four on asphalt and one on snow in Sweden. Andrew Wheatley, the team's sporting director, confirmed this to our colleagues at DirtFish: "The decision was made to help us best approach the second half of the championship this season. Tactically, it's a very interesting opportunity," he explained. Indeed, from May onwards, the World Rally Championship will be contested exclusively on gravel, and the Occitanie region will thus become perfect training grounds.

More practical and easier to access

However, the Finnish bases were also on gravel. But Wheatley was keen to point out that "one of the challenges in Finland was the need for constant road repairs to keep them in the best possible condition," while the new French bases will be exclusively dedicated to testing. Another important factor was the geographical location of the South of France, closer to destinations such as Sardinia, the Acropolis, and Portugal, which also influenced the decision. "Furthermore, from our facilities in Germany, it's much easier for us to travel to France than to Finland, even though the initial choice was driven by a desire to improve our performance," the sporting director explained. Testing at these French bases has not yet begun, however, as all the teams are currently focused on preparing for Monte Carlo. Once the first rallies of the season are over, it will no longer be surprising to see the Korean cars in the South of France.

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