Hyundai Struggles to Keep Up with Toyota Dominance in Rally Islas Canarias
Hyundai’s hopes have been dashed as they face a tough battle against Toyota’s supremacy at Rally Islas Canarias. The team has openly admitted underestimating the challenges of the event, leaving them scrambling in damage limitation mode while Toyota secures the top five positions. Despite driving their upgraded 2025 i20 N Rally1 cars, Hyundai’s drivers Thierry Neuville, Ott Tanak, and Adrien Fourmaux have been unable to match the pace of Toyota on the smooth asphalt roads of the Canary Islands.
The struggle for Hyundai has been attributed to balance and grip issues, particularly with the new Hankook hard tires, hindering the drivers’ confidence to push to the limit. The team’s attempts at setup changes have yielded little improvement, hinting at more fundamental issues with the car in these specific conditions. With limited options for changes during the rally, Hyundai finds itself at a disadvantage compared to their competitors.
As Thierry Neuville expressed his concerns about the car’s performance, especially on upcoming asphalt events in Central Europe and Japan, the team remains unable to pinpoint the exact cause of their performance deficit. This unexpected pace difference to Toyota has prompted discussions of utilizing their final development homologation joker to address the issue.
In contrast, Toyota has been dominating the rally, with Kalle Rovanpera leading the pack and showcasing an impressive performance. The team’s technical superiority and consistent speed have put them in a commanding position, leaving Hyundai struggling to keep up.
Hyundai’s technical director FX Demaison has acknowledged the team’s miscalculation of the rally’s difficulty and the need to regroup for future events. While considering the possibility of using their last joker for improvements, the team is facing an uphill battle to match Toyota’s pace and reclaim a competitive edge.
Overall, Hyundai’s unexpected struggles and Toyota’s overwhelming dominance have set the stage for a thrilling and intense battle in Rally Islas Canarias, highlighting the fierce competition and challenges in the world of rallying.