Abiteboul: Hyundai must increase performance for WRC title push

After dominating the podium at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece last month, Hyundai’s advantage in the race for both the drivers' and manufacturers' crowns was diminished last time out at Rally Chile Bio Bío. Abiteboul has underlined the importance of the final two rounds of the season in Central Europe and Japan.

Abiteboul said: “It is imperative that we give our drivers a more competitive car for the last two tarmac rallies, where we hope to unleash the full potential of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid and rebuild our advantage.

Thierry Neuville’s lead stands at 29 points, while Hyundai holds a 17-point advantage over Toyota.

Abiteboul added: “Chile was a very difficult rally for us, and a complete contrast to where we were at Acropolis Rally earlier this month. We didn’t have the package to win, and so we focused on the championship battles and avoiding the pitfalls we saw over the weekend.

“In that respect, it was mission accomplished, but we departed Chile with the gap we had built in the manufacturers’ standings halved.”

Neuville will arrive in Prague for next week’s penultimate round among the favourites, having won last year and running first on the road in what are likely to be changeable weather conditions.