Sordo has served as a part-time driver for Hyundai in the WRC this season. The Spanish veteran won’t be competing in the season-ending Rally Japan next week, but he will be in action this coming weekend, driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car in a smaller competition.
Sordo will line up for the Rally Pozoblanco, part of the Spanish rally championship, where he can test the car ahead of next season. Hyundai has been making frequent use of national rallies for testing purposes, as last weekend saw both Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen competing in the Alicante region.
Hyundai’s car is set to receive substantial updates for next year. In addition, hybrid units are expected to be removed from Rally1 cars, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
“With test days being limited, rallies are being used to test the car. This weekend it was Neuville and Mikkelsen in La Nucia, and now it will be my turn in Pozoblanco. The only goal is to test different things,” Sordo explains.
However, there’s one thing that disappoints Sordo about his test event this weekend.
“I’m very excited to race in Spain, but I would have preferred to do so with a car on equal terms with the others, so I could measure myself against the drivers in the Spanish Championship,” Sordo says.
The Rally Pozoblanco will feature seven gravel stages on Saturday. The rally’s route is set around the town of Pozoblanco in the province of Córdoba.
“I don’t know the rally, but the area is beautiful for racing; I know there are some great stages, and everything looks promising. Plus, there is a big rally fan base in Córdoba, and this is a great chance to see a World Championship car on gravel, which is truly spectacular,” Sordo previews.
Hyundai has not yet announced its final driver lineup for next season. Neuville and Ott Tänak are confirmed to remain with the team, but there’s still no official word on the fate of the third car. Rumours suggest that Adrien Fourmaux, currently with M-Sport Ford, may switch to Hyundai’s third car as a full-season driver.
This year, Hyundai has rotated Sordo, Esapekka Lappi, and Andreas Mikkelsen in the third car. There has also been speculation that Sordo might step into the role of Hyundai team principal next year, potentially replacing Cyril Abiteboul.
