The Hyundai Motorsport team is well prepared to tackle the first gravel rally of the season as the fourth round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship at Rally de Portugal is just days away.
Ahead of the rally, the team feels they have a increased confidence despite not having a good start with the new Rally1 hybrid regulations in the top class but the team is focused on continuing to improve.
Rally de Portugal is the first gravel rally of the season, the three previous rounds have been on all surfaces from ice, snow and asphalt, and Portugal is known for its unpredictable and rough surface so this will be a hard challenge for the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cars and the crews.
The line-up for this rally will include the two regulars of the Estonian Ott Tänak and the Belgian Theirry Neuville meanwhile the Spaniard Dani Sordo is doing his rally1 debut in the third car.
Portugal also marks the season-start for the team’s WRC2 bet where the Finn Teemu Suninen is lining up alongside the new signing of the Paraguayan Fabrizio Zaldivar. The Estonian team RedGrey Racing will be fielding the two Hyundai i20 N Rally2 cars for the duo meanwhile the Swede Oliver Solberg who is sharing the third i20 N Rally1 with Sordo will be driving a third i20 N Rally2 under a privateer entry.
“We head to Rally de Portugal with a positive feeling after our best performance of the season so far in Croatia.” Julien Moncet, Deputy Team Principal, said.
“It was great to see our crews fighting for the overall rally victory, and although we did not get the win, it was good to secure a double podium finish. While Portugal is a new surface for the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, we want to keep this forward momentum and once again compete at the front of the field.”
“The entire Hyundai Motorsport team has worked tirelessly to improve the car over the past few months and it is clear that our efforts are making a real difference. It is We will keep pushing in our development and bring ourselves into title contention as the season progresses.”
