Dani Sordo has brought new perspectives and a “fresh breath” to Hyundai in their fight to improve performance in the World Rally Championship. This was stated by the team leader, Andrew Wheatley, amidst the difficulties faced by the i20 N Rally1 model during the season.
Hyundai has struggled to find a consistent rhythm, partly due to the reduced operational window of their car. Recently, Thierry Neuville commented that the team didn’t exactly know how to solve the performance issues.
Sordo’s return to Rally1
The Rally Islas Canarias marked Sordo’s return to the Rally1 category after 19 months, during which he achieved second place at the EKO Acropolis Rally in Greece in 2024. In this competition, Sordo was the best Hyundai driver, finishing in sixth place at the end of the first day.
Despite not being able to maintain the same pace during the subsequent stages, he secured important points and finished the race in seventh place. The veteran driver has not only impressed on the ground but has also brought new vital ideas to the team, which is crucial to narrowing the gap with Toyota.
Improvements in team dynamics
Wheatley highlighted that Sordo has been an injection of energy for the team, with innovative ideas about the car’s performance and a very efficient driving style. “He has brought a smile to our meetings and started the race at full performance, which was crucial,” Wheatley stated.
Positive data from the competition includes that Sordo has had the opportunity to better understand the car and the team, a fact that will contribute in the upcoming races, especially at the Rally of Portugal, where he has already achieved seven podiums during his career.
Looking to the future
The Spanish driver expressed his satisfaction with the return to the category, despite the difficulties and Toyota’s dominance. “It was fantastic to compete in Rally1 again, despite the challenges we have faced,” Sordo declared, who is now focusing his attention on Portugal, where he hopes to be competitive.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
