Hyundai Motorsport saw its first major success in the hybrid era of the WRC at Rally Italia-Sardinia last year. Ott Tänak achieved victory in the Sardinian stages, opening his record this season and giving the first victory to the new Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Although in the South Korean structure they are aware that there is still a lot of work to be done, the objective is to extend this good moment to the Kenya Safari Rally. The demands of its sections can work in favor of Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and Oliver Solberg, riders present at the sixth round of the World Championship.
Although reliability has been one of the handicaps of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, the hardness that draws and defines the Safari Rally gives a touch of unpredictability to the event, so the fastest do not always win. A trick to keep in mind for Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and the returning Oliver Solberg if you take into account that the South Korean brand’s ‘Rally1’ has proven to be a little step behind Toyota, even if it won in Italy. The good level of Thierry Neuville in the last edition of the test is another argument to hold on to.
Thierry Neuville was the star of the 2021 Safari Rally. In fact, the Belgian had everything to achieve victory, but a car problem ruined this possible victory: «Last year was my first time in Kenya and I have good memories. We left a bit disappointed because we were clearly in the lead and could easily have won the rally if we hadn’t had a little problem. It’s a tough event where you need to find a good balance between pushing hard and knowing when to take it easy.. The weather is also an important factor. I feel comfortable in these scenarios and this year I seek ‘revenge’ for what happened in 2021 ».
Ott Tanak He comes from winning the Rally of Italy-Sardinia. In addition, the Estonian was third last year in the Safari Rally: “Last year this rally was an incredible adventure, but also a great challenge. We thought it would be a demanding event, but it was even more demanding than expected. The roads are very bumpy, with very difficult soft sand sections. It will be just as challenging this year. The first priority is to keep the car safe and finish. It is possible to push 100%, but you have to know where to do it. Hopefully we can take advantage of our victory in Sardinia and get another good result in Kenya.”
Oliver Solberg completes Hyundai’s bet on the Safari Rally: «Kenya is going to be exciting. It is a really special rally. It will be very demanding and tough, but I am really looking forward to being there with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1. The country and the fans are amazing, even if we didn’t do well in 2021. This year there are new possibilities and we will try to achieve a good result. The weather had a big impact last year, so this year should be the same. It will be a real challenge. We want to find a good rhythm and achieve a good result for the team».
Photos: hyundai motorsport