WRC
Fired-up Sordo ready for Portugal push
Dani Sordo says his focus has already shifted to Vodafone Rally de Portugal after using Rally Islas Canarias to get back up to speed in Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1.
Dani Sordo says his focus has already shifted to Vodafone Rally de Portugal after using Rally Islas Canarias to get back up to speed in Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1.
The Spaniard finished seventh overall on his first Rally1 outing in the WRC since 2024, showing flashes of strong pace early in the rally before Hyundai’s asphalt struggles became more apparent across the weekend.
While the final result was not what Sordo had hoped for, the 42-year-old said his return to the WRC’s top level had still been valuable ahead of next week’s gravel fixture in Portugal.
“Yes, for sure. This year, we need to enjoy it,” said Sordo. “We were expecting it would be difficult here, but at the beginning we had a little bit more expectation. At the end, yes, it was difficult, but now it’s done.
“Now we need to think of solutions, maybe for the team for Japan, but we need to be focused on Portugal.”
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Sordo’s weekend also carried a strong emotional element, with large Spanish support following him throughout the event and a particularly loud reception inside Gran Canaria Stadium during the rally’s super special stages.
“It was amazing,” he said. “Honestly, it was really, really amazing to see all these people, all the spectators on the stages. It was nice.
“It was so loud [inside the stadium]. That was nice. Honestly, I really liked it.”
Hyundai Sporting Director Andrew Wheatley said Sordo’s return had been one of the positives of a difficult weekend for the team, which was unable to match the pace of Toyota on Gran Canaria’s high-grip asphalt roads.
“One of the big positives from this weekend is that Dani’s had a full rally to learn the car, learn the team, learn his technicians, learn the engineers and get back into the full speed of what WRC is about,” said Wheatley.
“I think he can really contribute and help us as we go forward into the Portugal rally. We knew this was going to be a tough weekend.”
Wheatley also praised the impact Sordo has made since returning to the team’s Rally1 line-up.
“He’s been great,” he added. “He’s been a breath of fresh air into the team, with some slightly different ideas to try on the set-up.
“He’s got a really super smooth, efficient driving style. He brings a smile to every meeting. He started the rally absolutely full speed.
“That’s exactly what we need when we come to Portugal and when we come to Greece: that breath of fresh air and that super fired-up Dani that you don’t get if he’s doing all 14 rallies.”
Sordo will test on gravel this week before heading to Portugal, an event where Hyundai expects to be more competitive after a difficult asphalt run in Croatia and Canarias.
Asked whether he had podium expectations for Portugal, Sordo was clear.
“For sure, the same,” he said. “We try to be on the podium.”
Sordo's Portugal pedigree
Portugal is a rally with strong memories for Sordo. He finished second there in 2021, taking four stage wins on his first event alongside Borja Rozada, before returning in 2022 to claim third with Cándido Carrera on their first WRC outing in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
He was on the podium again in 2023, finishing second as Hyundai scored a double podium, and spent last season immersed in Portuguese rallying with Team Hyundai Portugal, winning the national title in an i20 N Rally2 after a season-long fight with Kris Meeke that went down to the final stage.
His first WRC Wolf Power Stage win also came on the event in 2012.
