The recent World Rally Championship season left a complex legacy for the Hyundai squad, as the team principal candidly admitted facing an embarrassing problem regarding their car's behavior. The South Korean outfit knew well before the campaign began that it would be an uphill battle, especially running a leaner lineup with just two full-time drivers in Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, while Esapekka Lappi, Hayden Paddon, and Dani Sordo shared driving duties in the third entry.
This strategy immediately placed Hyundai at a tactical disadvantage right from the opening round. In stark contrast, arch-rivals Toyota fielded a massive five-car army at every single rally, creating a significant numerical disparity in the fierce battle for manufacturer supremacy.
"We knew we were up against an extremely formidable Toyota army. Strategic considerations had led us to limit the number of our own entries," the team boss stated in an interview with Belgium’s RTBF. Despite the strategic limitation, he noted there were positive highlights alongside missed opportunities that ultimately shaped their campaign.
Despite the numerical mismatch, Hyundai managed to challenge Toyota's powerful five-car lineup on multiple occasions. Thierry Neuville's brilliant victory in Portugal served as a prime example, alongside numerous podium finishes secured throughout the demanding championship calendar.
"Nevertheless, I think we managed to demonstrate a very high level of performance in competition. I want to give credit to the team, which was exceptional. This year we had no reliability problems whatsoever, unlike last year. We have also made huge strides in our understanding of the car’s performance on gravel," he explained.
However, the team's progress was occasionally derailed by an alarming spike in punctures, which heavily impacted their final results and turned endurance into a lottery. Furthermore, unresolved handling traits on asphalt continue to baffle engineers, tracing back to a fundamental development shift implemented at the conclusion of the previous season.
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