Sweden targeted for Hyundai to debut upgraded WRC car

Thierry Neuville is hopeful Hyundai will debut its revised 2025 World Rally Championship automotive at Rally Sweden subsequent month.

Hyundai spent a lot of final season creating a big improve to its i20 N Rally1 automotive, however confirmed late final yr that it’ll start the brand new season in Monte Carlo with its 2024 automotive – minus the hybrid energy unit as per the brand new technical laws.

The Korean marque had initially deliberate to successfully homologate what could be a virtually all-new automotive for 2025 earlier than this plan was deserted following uncertainty over the 2025 technical laws. The improve that has been salvaged from that authentic venture is prone to eventuate into being a big improve that has required the usage of 4 homologation growth jokers.

Particulars relating to the precise adjustments to the automotive are but to be disclosed by the group.

Drivers began testing the upgraded automotive final season with the event course of persevering with by means of the winter, and it’s now hoped the revised i20 N Rally1 may break cowl at Rally Sweden on 13-16 February.

“Hopefully in Sweden [you will see the new upgraded car],” Neuville instructed Autosport.

When probed additional on the upgrades, he added: “It’s good. We’re very restricted with what we are able to do however I really feel comfy within the new automotive.”

Hyundai’s group principal Cyril Abiteboul defined final yr that he wasn’t involved by the delay to the debut of its 2025 upgrades on condition that Monte Carlo is a specialist rally; a view shared by defending world champion Neuville heading into subsequent week’s asphalt traditional.

“It isn’t a fear [to run the 2024 car in Monte]. It’s a particular occasion and anyhow, the [new Hankook] tyre would be the largest battle in Monte Carlo,” he stated.

“There are many new variables with the adjustments on the automotive, with out the hybrid unit and fewer weight.

“There are many issues coming collectively and I’ve no clue how troublesome it is going to be. It can rely a bit on how comfy we really feel within the automotive after a number of levels, and that may be the deciding issue.”

Along with adjustments to the technical laws for 2025, Hyundai has undergone a administration reshuffle over the winter triggered by the departure of its WRC programme supervisor Christian Loriaux, which got here as a shock to Neuville.

The famend engineer performed a essential function since first becoming a member of the operation in 2021 as a technical marketing consultant. Loriaux has joined Overdrive Racing to work on the group’s Toyota rally-raid programme.

“It has come as a shock and clearly, we’re very disenchanted that he left the group. However one in every of his targets had been achieved with [us winning] the drivers’ title and clearly, he has the chance to have a brand new problem and I want him all the perfect,” Neuville added.