The Rally of Portugal, the first competition of the World Rally Championship season with gravel stages, presents a key opportunity for Hyundai to revitalize its 2026 campaign. After a challenging initial season, the Korean team hopes to face this challenge with renewed hope.
The team has struggled to find the right rhythm with its Hyundai i20 N Rally1, which has shown limited performance, especially on asphalt surfaces. This situation has been aggravated by Toyota’s strong performance, which has dominated the first five races, achieving an impressive lockout of podiums on several occasions.
With the arrival of gravel in Portugal, Hyundai hopes to turn its fortunes around. The drivers, including Adrien Fourmaux, have expressed guarded optimism after tests that have shown significant improvements in the car’s position on the slippery asphalt. Fourmaux has emphasized the competitive power he usually finds at the Rally of Portugal, despite having faced issues in the past.
Additionally, Thierry Neuville, the world champion in 2024, has highlighted the importance of a realistic approach against a strong competitor like Toyota. Neuville has indicated that confidence in the vehicle’s improvements is essential to achieve positive results in the competition.
After a strong performance last year, where Hyundai was close to victory before facing technical problems, the team now presents an improved car with Dani Sordo, a veteran of the Rally of Portugal, who takes over Ott Tänak’s seat. Sordo brings rich experience to the team, with seven podiums to his name in this competition.
Andrew Wheatley, Hyundai’s sporting director, has emphasized that this event is key to setting goals for the second half of the season. With confidence that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 is fast in gravel conditions, the team aims for better performance than in recent competitions. The drivers are hopeful of securing a good starting position, which is crucial for aspiring to the podium.
The Rally of Portugal not only represents an opportunity for Hyundai to prove its worth, but also a moment to assess its competitive capacity in view of future similar stages like Acropolis and Sardinia. The team hopes that weather conditions can also play a favorable role, reducing the impact of starting position.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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