The recent Secto Rally Finland proved to be a turning point for Hyundai in the battle for the 2024 World Rally Championship titles. However, for the majority of the week, Toyota dominated the competition. Hyundai struggled to keep up with their own car’s performance, with Kalle Rovanperä’s unexpected exit from the lead and Elfyn Evans’ driveshaft issue. Thierry Neuville managed to secure a second-place finish, but he expressed his disappointment, stating that the team lacked performance. Throughout the weekend, Neuville tried various adjustments to improve the car’s performance but was unsuccessful. He admitted that driving on Finland’s classic stages was daunting due to the car’s limitations. Neuville’s lack of confidence was evident on the fast stages.
Neuville shared his frustrations, stating that something was clearly missing from the car’s setup. He acknowledged that there were multiple factors contributing to the team’s struggles, but they needed to thoroughly analyze the situation before making any conclusions. All three drivers lacked confidence and struggled to attack. Whenever they pushed harder, mistakes occurred, as seen with Evans and Ott. Neuville, however, chose not to take unnecessary risks.
Meanwhile, teammate Esapekka Lappi’s potential was overshadowed by an unfortunate encounter with a tree on Friday afternoon. He also felt that the car was not performing well in Finland. Lappi believed that Hyundai needed to improve the transmission, but the team management concluded that the i20 N Rally1 had become too unpredictable and needed a broader range of performance. The car’s current setup was only suitable for specific conditions, making it challenging to find the right balance. Additionally, the overall grip level was insufficient, leading to a lack of confidence for the drivers. This issue had persisted since the introduction of the car.
Team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged the challenges faced by Hyundai in Finland. He emphasized the need to expand the car’s operating window and improve grip levels, especially in low-grip conditions. Abiteboul admitted that they did not have all the answers, but they were planning tests and working towards finding solutions. He also acknowledged that the difficulties faced in Finland were not unexpected, considering the team’s previous efforts. Abiteboul did not make any promises regarding finding a solution for future events like Chile, as there were limitations due to regulations and homologation processes. He stressed the importance of planning for the worst-case scenario and playing the long game to achieve better results in the future.
Photo from Thierry Neuville Instagram
