Fourmaux Confident Hyundai Can Recover on Gravel

Adrien Fourmaux believes Hyundai Motorsport has a stronger opportunity to return to competitiveness at Rally Portugal 2026 after a difficult start to the season on asphalt events. The French driver feels the characteristics of Portugal’s gravel stages suit Hyundai’s package far better than the previous rallies.

Hyundai currently trails Toyota Gazoo Racing significantly in the world championship after the Japanese manufacturer won every rally during the opening phase of the season. However, the arrival of the European gravel rallies is expected to potentially shift the competitive balance between the manufacturers.

Fourmaux secured his only podium finish of the season at Safari Rally Kenya, where he finished second in an event heavily influenced by suspension reliability and endurance challenges. That result reinforced his confidence in Hyundai’s competitiveness on loose surfaces.

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“I have always preferred driving on gravel roads rather than asphalt since the beginning of my career,” Fourmaux told Rallit.fi.

From a technical perspective, Fourmaux explained that Hyundai’s Rally1 package feels more stable on gravel, particularly regarding traction, chassis balance, and suspension response across rough surfaces. The situation contrasts with the team’s struggles on asphalt rallies earlier this season, where Hyundai faced difficulties finding optimal setup balance and tyre consistency.

The Frenchman also suggested Hyundai now needs to focus more on improving performance internally rather than continuing to complain about the current competitive situation. His comments come after 2024 world champion Thierry Neuville repeatedly voiced frustration about the car’s performance earlier this year.

“We are clearly stronger on gravel. At least I feel much more confident and our performance is better,” Fourmaux explained.

Fourmaux pointed to Hyundai’s strong pace in Portugal last season alongside Ott Tanak before technical problems affected the final result. He also highlighted Hyundai’s one-two finish in Saudi Arabia and its competitive performance in Kenya as evidence that the current package remains highly effective on gravel events.

Weather conditions are expected to become a major factor throughout the Portugal weekend, with rain forecast from Saturday onward. Such conditions could dramatically alter stage characteristics and increase the importance of tyre strategy and driver adaptability as grip levels evolve continuously.

“If we cannot win, we still need to maximise the result on Sunday to reduce the gap in the championship,” Fourmaux said.

The Hyundai driver also stressed that the key factor now is not purely the car itself, but the ability of drivers to fully maximise the available package. According to Fourmaux, Hyundai already possesses a strong gravel platform, meaning execution across the rally will become decisive.

With Portugal marking the beginning of a crucial phase in the European gravel calendar, Hyundai now faces one of its best opportunities this season to halt Toyota’s dominance and revive the fight for the 2026 WRC world championship.