Hyundai’s revised 2025 World Rally Championship automotive will characteristic “some affordable change” because the testing section of upgrades continued final weekend.
The Korean producer had deliberate to homologate a virtually all-new model of its i20 N Rally1 for subsequent yr earlier than plans had been deserted amid uncertainty over the 2025 rules.
Following the FIA’s U-turn on 2025 technical rules after pushback from the groups, Hyundai has been in a position to salvage a part of its i20 N growth plans courtesy of an settlement to convey ahead its 2026 growth jokers for use for the 2025 marketing campaign.
It means the group has 4 jokers it can utilise to finish a raft of updates to its automotive which might be but to be disclosed.
Hyundai has been testing its revised automotive in latest months, with that venture persevering with ultimately weekend’s Rally La Nucia-Mediterraneo the place championship chief Thierry Neuville was evaluating among the upgrades.
Neuville was joined by team-mate Andreas Mikkeslen, who was operating a 2024 spec i20 N, because the pair additionally logged precious asphalt mileage forward of the season finale in Japan subsequent week.
Rally Japan will resolve each the drivers’ and producers’ titles with Neuville main Tanak by 25 factors, whereas Hyundai has a 15-point lead over Toyota.
Hyundai’s WRC programme supervisor Christian Loriaulx was tight-lipped on the main points of the adjustments for subsequent yr’s automotive however hinted that there could be some important variations.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Group Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport
“We don’t need to say an excessive amount of what we’re doing for subsequent yr,” Loriaulx advised Autosport.
“It was a preparation for Japan for Mikkelsen and for Thierry we’re some stuff for subsequent yr.
“We have now submitted the homologation papers and it’s nonetheless within the testing section however for subsequent yr and 2026 we now have 4 jokers. I’d say we’re some affordable change however I can’t say extra.
“We’re within the section of testing it and it’s fairly busy as we have to show reliability and acquire efficiency.
“We all know that what we’ll do will end in a very good weight-saving acquire however we now have to work on the reliability. We have now been testing in very onerous circumstances and it has been dependable thus far. Now we’re engaged on the arrange and can see the way it goes.”
Hyundai will as soon as once more area full-time entries for Neuville and Ott Tanak subsequent yr whereas its plans for its third automotive are anticipated to be introduced following the Japan season finale. M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has been closely tipped to take up the drive.
Hyundai’s future within the WRC past 2025 can be but to be confirmed following the model’s transfer into the World Endurance Championship for 2026 beneath the Genesis banner.