WRC, Sportrik Media - Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux will spearhead Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team’s 2026 campaign after the manufacturer officially unveiled an updated Hyundai i20 N Rally1, targeting a performance reset ahead of the World Rally Championship 2026 season.
Hyundai confirmed it has completed 16 days of intensive testing since the conclusion of the 2025 season, focusing on resolving the i20 N Rally1’s key weaknesses in consistency and reliability. Those areas proved decisive last year as Hyundai managed only two victories, while Toyota Gazoo Racing dominated the championship with 12 wins from 14 rallies, securing both manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles.
Alongside the technical revisions, Hyundai introduced a new 2026 livery that marks a visual shift for the brand. The design brings back Performance Blue and Active Red, combined with graphical elements paying tribute to Hyundai’s global motorsport heritage. Specific references honour Nürburgring, home of Hyundai N’s performance development, and Namyang in South Korea, the location of Hyundai Motor Group’s main R&D and design centres. The team also confirmed that selected WRC events will feature special one-off liveries during the season.
From a sporting structure perspective, Neuville and Fourmaux will contest the majority of rallies, while the third car will rotate between Dani Sordo, Esapekka Lappi, and Hayden Paddon, who returns to Hyundai after an eight-year absence. The rotational approach mirrors the strategy that previously allowed Hyundai to maximise flexibility and constructors’ points across varying rally profiles.
Preparation intensified ahead of the Rallye Monte-Carlo 2026, with Hyundai conducting winter testing in southern France to replicate the demanding asphalt conditions typical of the season opener. Adverse weather forced the team to abandon Neuville’s scheduled test day before it was successfully rescheduled, while Fourmaux completed his programme as planned. Paddon logged his first competitive mileage in the i20 N Rally1 during a media day before continuing further evaluation at Hyundai’s newly established test base in France.
Team principal Cyril Abiteboul underlined that Hyundai enters 2026 with renewed determination and a more focused technical direction. He stated that targeted Evo upgrades, combined with refinements to the leadership structure and experienced personnel, reflect Hyundai’s intent to return to title contention, while acknowledging Toyota remains the benchmark across all surfaces.
With Hyundai openly targeting all three championship crowns, the competitive impact of its winter development programme will become immediately visible in the opening rounds. The implications for the WRC 2026 standings will begin to take shape from Monte-Carlo onward, within the broader context of the official WRC 2026 calendar and the full WRC 2026 driver lineup.
Baca Juga
Esapekka Lappi kembali ke WRC 2026 tanpa tekanan dan tampil impresif di Rally Sweden bersama Hyundai Motorsport.
Oliver Solberg finis keempat di Rally Sweden 2026 dan tertinggal dari Elfyn Evans, mengakui kesalahan serta dampaknya pada klasemen WRC.
Elfyn Evans di Rally Sweden 2026 menghadapi suhu minus 30°C lewat strategi ban stud, duel teknis Toyota dan Hyundai, serta dampaknya pada klasemen WRC.
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