Hyundai to delay 2025 WRC car debut until after Monte Carlo

Hyundai will delay the debut of its advanced World Rally Championship challenger after electing to run its 2024-specification car in next month’s Monte Carlo season opener.

The Korean manufacturer had planned to prepare a practically all-new version of its i20 N Rally1 for next year before abandoning the plans amid uncertainty over 2025 regulations.

Following the FIA’s U-turn on 2025 technical regulations following the teams’ protests, Hyundai was able to save part of its i20 N development plans courtesy of an agreement to bring forward its 2026 development jokers to be used for the 2025 campaign. Has been.

This means the team has four jokers that it has used to complete a number of updates to its car that are yet to be revealed.

While Hyundai has stepped up testing and development of its i20 N in recent months, the team has decided not to run the car at January’s Monte Carlo curtain raiser for drivers. Thierry Neuville, oat tanak and new signatures Adrian Fourmaux,

Hyundai started this year’s campaign with Neuville taking his second Monte Carlo win.

Hyundai team principal Cyril said, “A lot of work has gone in and we still believe the car has good potential and obviously we are very limited in terms of the mileage we can cover or that can be covered with the car. Has been done.” Abiteboul told Autosport.

“The main question will be, what is the tipping point for this car to become a more controlled platform than the current car? It’s not actually a new car, it’s what we call an ‘Evo’ car.

“We are in the process of finding out when the tipping point will come and on that basis we will decide when will be the best introduction strategy for the car. This will not happen in Monte Carlo.

“We will use the existing car in Monte Carlo. That event is a very special challenge and it can’t be won purely on outright speed, so we feel it’s better to continue using a car that we understand and know how to set up and it has done that this year. Also won the event. ,