Hyundai wants to use Sweden's difficulties to improve in Kenya

Say that Hyundai found himself in a difficult position during the Rally Sweden's claim is far from exaggerated. The Korean manufacturer was powerless against... Toyota who simply achieved a quadruple victory in the second round of the season. If Thierry Neuville secured two stage wins, including the Power Stage win, while the i20 Rally1s were largely out of contention.

Andrew Wheatley, sporting director of the Hyundai team, also makes this observation. WRC : “Sweden was a difficult rally for the team; we didn’t get the most out of the car given the conditions that weekend. Despite two fastest times for Thierry, we lacked the consistency to fight for podium places; but it was a very good opportunity to learn more about the Evo chassis on low-grip surfaces.”

The unique profile of Rally Sweden, with its numerous high-speed sections on snow and ice, only compounded Hyundai's difficulties at this second event of the season. Wheatley hopes to turn this setback into a positive, as the team has been able to work on its weaknesses in its preparation for Kenya.

“The high average speed of the stages really amplified the problem because our drivers lacked confidence in their feel for the car's grip. However, we took the opportunity to assess the issues and test several options, which helped us accelerate the learning process as we switched to the testing program for Kenya.”

For the third rally of the season, in Kenya, Hyundai hopes to be able to respond to Toyota, and is counting on the difficult conditions usually encountered on the Safari Rally Kenya to take advantage of them.

“To achieve a good result in Kenya, we have to expect the unexpected and be prepared for all possible changes in conditions. We know that the Safari Rally Kenya can throw surprises at any competitor, and the winner will be the crew that best handles them. We have drivers with good experience of the conditions in Kenya; we know what it takes to be fast, but we have to put everything together to beat our competitors—and that’s much easier said than done.”

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