The Spanish newspaper AS Diario has already declared it a certainty that veteran driver Dani Sordo will return to the wheel of a Rally1 car for both Rally Sardinia at the beginning of June and the Acropolis Rally in Greece at the end of the month. The paper bases its claim specifically on comments made by Neuville during the recent European Championship rally in Córdoba.
“He can help with the strategy, and I think Hyundai is willing to bring Dani out for some events,” Neuville said, according to AS Diario.
“I hope we can get confirmation soon because where he is fast, he has every chance to achieve good results. We also need victories, so it would definitely be a good idea to have Sordo in some events.”
Although Neuville could not yet confirm the matter, the Spanish newspaper is certain: Sordo will compete in both Sardinia and Greece. He has also enjoyed great success in both events before, with two Rally Sardinia victories to his name as well as a second-place finish in last season’s Acropolis Rally.
What is certain is that Sordo will appear in the Rally Portugal in May, as the event is part of Portugal’s national rally championship, in which Sordo is competing this year. However, the first two rounds of the Portuguese series were both won by another former WRC star, Kris Meeke, with Sordo finishing second on both occasions.
Hyundai has fielded only three Rally1 cars this season, just like last year. If the scenario of Sordo making one-off appearances proves true, the Korean manufacturer will have four Rally1 cars on the starting line in both Sardinia and Greece. Neuville, Ott Tänak, and Adrien Fourmaux are all contesting the full WRC season with Hyundai this year.
