Fourmax already feels “quite comfortable” in the Hyundai WRC car

new hyundai signature Adrian Fourmaux He says he is already feeling “pretty comfortable” in his new World Rally Championship surroundings for next week’s season opener in Monte Carlo.

The Fourmoux driver emerged as a key player in the market after deciding to move from M-Sport-Ford to Hyundai, where he will drive the Korean marque’s third i20 N Rally1 entry on a full-time basis.

The Frenchman had a busy off-season settling in at Hyundai, including an outing at the team’s testing facility in Finland and a win at the Rally National Hivernal du Devoluy in December, before he took the pre-event Monte Carlo test in France last week Was.

While Fourmaux says it’s difficult to feel fully prepared for the challenges presented by the Monte Carlo, he feels he has quickly adjusted to the i20 N.

“It (testing) has been really positive for us but the big test for us was the Devoluy Rally and I think it was a really valuable experience with the (new Hankook) tires and the car,” Fourmaux told Motorsport.com. ”

“Last Friday was also good because we were lucky to get a little cool in the morning and moisture in the afternoon before all the rain, so we had mixed conditions and some snow, so I’m feeling quite prepared.

“But for Monte Carlo you can never feel prepared. You will always want to try more (settings) because there are so many different situations.

“I really appreciate the team who put me in a good position to gain confidence in the car before Christmas, and we also did two days of testing with the new car on snow in Finland, so I spent a lot of time with the car in December. Driven quite a bit.

“I think you always need a rallying cry to feel comfortable. I remember last year and even though I knew Puma, there are always changes and you’re looking for a bit.

“But after the test and the Devoluy rally, I’m feeling quite comfortable, so I’m hopeful we can have a good rally.”

Fourmoux believes that the i20 N is easier to drive now that hybrid power has been removed from the car as per the new 2025 technical regulations.

He said, “We’ve lost a lot of weight, so the car is easier to handle and better to drive, but we’ve definitely lost some power, and drivers always want more power.”

“But weight is a big thing, especially on gravel, it will be interesting. I like the new rules but for me politically it would have been better to keep the hybrid, but that’s what the FIA ​​and the promoter have decided.