The reigning world champion Thierry Neuville tested Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1 car in Portugal this week in preparation for the Safari Rally Kenya, which takes place in a couple of weeks.
As WRC teams are only allowed to test in Europe, they must do their best to simulate the conditions of long-haul rallies on the “old continent.”
Neuville completed his test earlier this week but faced difficulties during the recce due to the conditions. Tänak, on the other hand, felt that the test location in Portugal did not sufficiently replicate Kenya’s unique conditions, even though the area had previously hosted a round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) events.
Tänak got his way, and Hyundai moved its testing equipment to southern Spain. Originally, Hyundai had planned to conduct all three test days in Portugal, but things turned out differently.
Portuguese João Castro Pereira has reported on Hyundai’s tests via his social media channels. If the embed is not visible below, you can view the post here.
It is clear that the roads in Portugal or Spain do not fully match Kenya’s special stages. The Safari Rally is known for being extremely rough and bumpy, where car reliability plays a crucial role.
The legendary Safari Rally will take place this year in its traditional slot from 20th to 23rd March.
