WRC
Hyundai expects to have three cars in Sweden podium fight
Hyundai Motorsport remains confident in its package to challenge Toyota for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship and expects to have three cars in the podium fight at Rally Sweden next week.
The Korean marque heads to the snow of Sweden off the back of a difficult start to the season in Monte Carlo, where Toyota claimed a 1-2-3, headed by new signing Oliver Solberg. Hyundai had expected Monte Carlo’s asphalt stages to provide a challenge for its package, a situation that was heightened by unexpectedly extreme wintry weather.
However, Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley is adamant the team has made “big steps” to close the gap to Toyota and is confident the i20 N Rally1 package will deliver results this year.
Hyundai has spent the off-season developing an updated front end to widen the car’s operating window, while also upgrading the transmission.
“It is always a concern when they [Toyota] are first, second and third on the podium in Monte Carlo, so that is always a concern, but we have to evaluate where the challenges are and make sure we come back in a better place,” said Wheatley.
“I’m much more confident starting this year than I was at the Central European Rally last year. We have made big steps and the team is making big steps all the time, and I think we can be genuinely confident.”
The Toyotas will be strong, there is no doubt. Let’s see what we can do.
Likewise, Thierry Neuville shares the belief that, when it comes to snow and gravel rallies, Hyundai will be in a better position to fight with Toyota.
“We know that on gravel we are generally feeling much more comfortable in the car,” said Neuville.
“The Toyotas will be strong, there is no doubt. They are always strong and they showed last year how they stepped up, so let’s see what we can do.
“Generally in Sweden and Finland last year we had some pace, and hopefully we can do some work in the Sweden test to be faster than we were last year.”
2024 Sweden winner Lappi returns to action
© WRC
Next week’s Rally Sweden offers a chance for Hyundai to once again take the fight to Toyota. The i20 N has proved to be fast on Sweden’s snow stages, winning the rally in 2024 with Esapekka Lappi, who will rejoin the team for the event to pilot its third car.
Lappi and co-driver Enni Mälkönen tested the i20 N on snow last weekend, fresh from competing in the Finnish Rally Championship round at the Arctic Lapland Rally. The duo, driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, finished second overall behind Elfyn Evans, who was at the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
“I’m excited about Sweden. Monte Carlo was one of three rallies in the year where the third driver’s target was only to finish in the window of where we need them to be,” Wheatley added.
“From Sweden we have EP back and his target is to go as fast as possible, so we are back to, let’s say, three cars fighting for the podium. The car has been quite quick in those conditions in the past, so let’s see how it goes.”
