In Greece, Hyundai "wants to win the rally"... but above all, to take big points

Hyundai will have to play as a fine tactician and get out the calculators this weekend in Greece. The Korean team is in an ideal position in both championships before the Rally from the Acropolis: among the Pilots, Thierry Neuville leads with 27 points ahead of Sébastien Ogier while among the Manufacturers, Hyundai has widened a gap of 20 units with Toyota. A mattress far from comfortable four dates before the end of the season...

With the current points scale, the teams have almost more interest in securing their positions on Saturday and attacking on Sunday rather than playing for victory over the entire rally. In Finland for example, Thierry Neuville only scored one point less than the winner Sébastien Ogier thanks in particular to a prolific "Super Sunday" (4 points on the day, 4 points in the Power Stage). According to Cyril Abiteboul, more than the victory, it will be the rankings at the end of each day that will be essential.

“After a very mixed weekend in Finland, we go to Greece looking for better results as a team. Of course, we want to win the rally, but it is essential that we are at the top of the standings on Saturday and take as many points as possible on Super Sunday.”, underlines the principal director and president of Hyundai Motorsport. A strategy that is working, for the moment, for the Korean team leading the Constructors' championship with only three victories, against six for Toyota.

Hyundai well prepared for the Greek challenge

Hyundai also wants to confirm its progress made this season on gravel rallies, particularly on rough stages like those of the Acropolis. "It is essential that we stay focused on such an event: we have no room for error, whether in terms of strategy or special stages., adds the French leader. Our pre-event testing has been essential for all three crews to familiarise themselves with the pace of gravel, and we are confident that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 is ready to tackle the demanding stages in Greece. We have demonstrated the car’s improved performance on fast gravel stages, and our aim now is to finish on a high at the Acropolis Rally and maintain our lead in all three classifications.”

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