Their main rival, Toyota, has been in dominant form throughout the early season. The Japanese manufacturer delivered maximum points in both Rally Monte Carlo and Rally Sweden.
Last weekend’s Safari Rally Kenya also ended in celebration for Toyota, with Elfyn Evans claiming his second victory of the year. This time, however, Hyundai were not entirely outclassed.
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville finished second and third respectively, while Hyundai maximised its score on Super Sunday, with Adrien Fourmaux and Neuville setting the pace. As a result, the team reduced Toyota’s lead in the manufacturers’ standings by 22 points.
Nevertheless, after three rounds, Toyota boasts three wins to Hyundai’s zero.
“We have to respond. But I do believe that one result doesn’t tell the whole story. I want to think – without arrogance – that we are stronger than what this 3–0 scoreline suggests. Now we just have to prove it,” team principal Cyril Abiteboul told Belgian broadcaster RTBF
Abiteboul was particularly impressed by reigning champion Thierry Neuville’s performance in Kenya. Despite facing several issues throughout the weekend, as well as illness, Neuville fought on and secured his best-ever finish in the African classic.
“From one rally to the next, I’m always hugely impressed by how resilient he is after difficult starts. In Monte Carlo, he fought back into the points. In Sweden, he made it onto the podium. And here again, he came from far behind and ended up on the podium,” Abiteboul said.
“He’s realistic and patient. He could have gone faster on the final two stages, but we agreed it wasn’t worth taking the risk.”
In the drivers’ standings, Neuville moved up to second place, but he now trails leader Evans by 36 points. In the manufacturers’ championship, Toyota leads Hyundai by 26 points.
The next round of the WRC season takes place in the Canary Islands at the end of April.
