Fan-favourite driver returns to Hyundai Motorsport to feel the Mediterranean heat
Round ten of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship sees Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team take on the legendary Acropolis Rally (September 5-8). The ‘rally of the gods’ is popular for its unforgiving terrain and suffocating dust clouds–all while climbing the treacherous Greek hillsides.
After a short summer break, Hyundai Motorsport arrives in Greece with back-to-back podiums from Latvia and Finland. The fierce gravel stages of Rally Finland allowed the squad to stretch out the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships and the Acropolis Rally could be a pivotal moment in all these battles.
Greece produces some of the harshest conditions on the entire WRC calendar. Scorching temperatures mixed with unforgiving terrain is a recipe for disaster – and it takes a shrewd approach to survive. Millimetre-perfect driving and tyre management are key to making it through the 305 km and 15 stages in one piece.
Returning for the first time since their podium in Rally Italia Sardegna are Dani Sordo and Cándido Carrera, with the duo focusing on the title fights.
“All three championships are tight,” said Sordo, “so I know we need to do whatever we can to help the team. We are hoping for the best finish possible in Greece.”
Alongside the Spanish specialists is the Estonian duo of Ott Tänak and Martin Jäveoja, who are eager to get some more points on the board after a costly crash in SS3 of Rally Finland.
“This is an event you can enjoy as a driver,” explained Tanak, “but the rough gravel can make the loop quite demanding for both the car and crew. You need to have a well-calibrated car to get a good rhythm and the better the feeling in the car, the easier it is to do a good job.”
Rounding out the Hyundai Motorsport crews are championship leaders and 2022 Acropolis Rally winners Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe.
“I enjoy this rally a lot,” said Neuville. “I like the technicalities of managing tyres and the car, and the roads are very different to what we usually see on a weekend.”
“For a strong weekend, we need a good mix of performance, precision and protection from the car setup; strong rims are also a necessity to protect tyres as much as possible.”
All three crews took part in a pre-event test in their Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrids in mid-August.
Acropolis Rally has been kind to Hyundai Motorsport drivers on previous visits. In 2022, Tänak and Sordo followed Neuville for the squad’s first 1-2-3 finish in WRC. Since the same crews will be back again in Greece, there’s good potential for some positive momentum in this crucial latter half of the season.
“We are confident that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid is ready to take on Greece’s demanding stages,” said Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“We’ve demonstrated the improved performance of the car at fast gravel events, and now our goal is to finish strong at Acropolis Rally and maintain our lead in all three standings.”
