Neuville competed in last weekend’s Safari Rally in Kenya, where he secured third place – his first-ever podium finish in Africa.
Read more: Thierry Neuville took a jab at Toyota after a tough week – “That’s at least a good sign”
The next round of the World Rally Championship will take place at the end of April in the Canary Islands, but Neuville will already be back in action next week. The reigning world champion will take part in the Rally Sierra Morena in Spain as a test event.
The asphalt rally, held around the city of Córdoba, is part of the European Rally Championship calendar this year. It’s expected to serve as ideal preparation for the WRC’s newest round, the Rally Islas Canarias.
On the mountainous tarmac roads around Córdoba, Neuville will get the chance to test Hyundai’s updated Rally1 car in real competition conditions. He’ll also gain valuable experience with the new WRC tyre supplier Hankook’s tarmac tyres.
Speaking to RallyJournal.com after the Safari Rally, Neuville confirmed he would get proper preparation for the Gran Canaria round. His test rally appearance shows that Hyundai isn’t leaving anything to chance for the first all-tarmac event of the season.
“I haven’t prepared much yet, but I will do a pre-event rally,” Neuville said.
The Canary Islands event will be a pure tarmac rally. Neuville has past experience from Gran Canaria – though it dates back 15 years.
“I’m looking forward to a proper tarmac rally. I did it in 2010 and 2011. Obviously it’s not the same anymore, but I liked it at the time,” Neuville recalled.
The WRC Rally Islas Canarias takes place from 24 to 27 April.
