Take a look at some key events for our customers this weekend
Solans returns to national championship action, leading i20 N Rally2 trio
Nil Solans makes a return to the Spanish Superchampionship alongside co-driver Marc Martí in an i20 N Rally2 at RallyRACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada. The Spaniard, a former regular on the stages of both the European and World Rally Championship, has not contested a national championship round since the Catalonian event last year – when he finished fourth. This weekend will also be his first start in an i20 N Rally2 in more than two years. He and Martí, share one of three Hyundai Motorsport-built cars in the field, the others crewed by Sergi Pérez Jr and Axel Coronado, and Gustavo Soso and Alba Sanchez.
French quartet aim to add Final victory to successful seasons
The top competitors in the France Cup series come together for the Finale de la Coupe de France des Rallyes. The Nice-based event brings together crews from across the country for a winner-take-all weekend to decide the top driver in the contest. Among the entry list are four Hyundai Motorsport customers, who each arrive in Nice with a number excellent results through the season in regional events. Drivers Anthony Puppo, Louis Constant and Paul Euvrand will each drive an i20 N Rally2. Between then they can count six victories and 17 podiums in France Cup events, this year, with Constant and Euvrand both on three wins. The Hyundai Motorsport contingent at the rally is completed by i20 R5 driver Loic Grondin, who has had a successful season of his own with a win and five other podiums this year.
New Slovenian champions aim to add to already glittering season
Already confirmed as national champions after their win at Rally Nova Gorica, Rok Turk and Blanka Kacin aim to simply continue their winning streak in the Slovenian Rally Championship at Rally Soca Valley. The Hyundai Motorsport-backed pair have won every round of the season so far – often in truly dominant fashion – and have just two events, this weekend’s rally and the season-ending Rally Idrija, to complete a remarkable clean sweep of the national events. Among their challengers will be i20 R5 crew Marko Grossi and Tara Berlot. Their difficult season as defending national champions has improved in recent events with a second and third place finish. In 2023 they completed a 1-2 behind Turk and Kacin. A repeat this year would see one crew maintain their streak and the other continue a welcome return to form.
Zaldivar chases third win of CODASUR season in pursuit of second title
i20 N Rally2 crew Fabrizio Zaldivar and Macelo Der Ohannesian can strengthen their claim to a second consecutive FIA CODASUR Rally Championship title, with a third win of the season at Erechim Rally Brazil. After a retirement in the opening round – also Zaldivar’s home round of the series in Paraguay – the pair have rebounded with wins in the events in Argentina and Bolivia to take a two-point advantage into the penultimate round of the championship. A third win would – obviously – increase their lead the crews behind, but with 30 points on offer for each victory a title decider next month in Uruguay at Rally del Atlantico seems inevitable.
