Hyundai has massive problems with its new Rally1 bolide – Nevertheless, the Koreans have developed first approaches to solve them in order to save the i20 n WRC
The new Rally1 era with hybrid cars poses massive problems for Hyundai. The Koreans are not really competitive against Toyota in the World Rally Championship (WRC), which is why the basis of the i20 N WRC is now under scrutiny. New solutions should help to lift the brand back to the top of the championship, but this will probably not be possible overnight.
Last time Hyundai was powerless against Toyota in Estonia: Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville managed to finish third and fourth, but Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans were uncatchable for the duo at the top. In the manufacturers’ standings, Hyundai is a distant second, 62 points behind – but 41 points ahead of M-Sport-Ford.
Hyundai started developing the Rally1 car relatively late compared to Toyota and M-Sport with Ford, as the programme had been discussed within the company. This is also the reason why the Koreans are currently running behind the competition in terms of development. At the Rally Sardinia in Italy, Tänak was able to outpace the competition and win the rally, but the sticking point is durability.
Durability or balance
But once the car holds up, the balance is not right. The team travelled to Estonia full of confidence, only to hear from the drivers that the grip level was not right. That is why neither Tänak nor Neuville were able to catch Rovanperä and Evans. That’s why the Hyundai is now under close scrutiny.
But how can an already homologated car be improved at the grassroots level in the first place? The WRC teams can use so-called tokens to change homologated parts of the car. This way, the teams are not locked into the car for several years if there are massive problems like at Hyundai. However, they may only be redeemed at certain times in the season.
Hyundai has five tokens up its sleeve and team boss Julien Moncet would like to use the first one to work on the chassis and gearbox. He speaks of “fundamental elements” on the car that now need to be reworked. Some of these areas could not be tackled without “Joker”.
The team is taking its time
Hyundai will not rush the development now, however, as the solutions to improve the vehicle will be developed in peace. Hyundai, he said, first wants to answer the question “in which direction” it should go in the future. According to Moncet, drivers mainly complain about “the stability of the car”.
Hyundai will work on developing the i20 N at its Finnish test base in mid-July to be ready for the Rally Finland in August 2022. According to Moncet, some rivals will forgo testing in the north, so he is keen to gain an advantage. The next race should also help to find the right way to steer the car’s development in the desired direction.
