Hyundai Sets Strategy for Safari Rally Kenya, Shelves 2025 Car Upgrades

Hyundai has decided to compete in the Safari Rally Kenya using the 2024 specifications of its i20 N Rally1 car, foregoing the 2025 upgrades. The team focuses on reliability following past challenges in Kenya while introducing an improved snorkel. Despite past difficulties, preparations aim to enhance performance in one of the World Rally Championship’s most demanding events.

Hyundai has opted to compete in the upcoming Safari Rally Kenya using an earlier specification of its i20 N Rally1 car, foregoing the much-anticipated 2025 upgrades introduced in Sweden. The South Korean manufacturer believes that this decision is for the best, as they aim to tackle the notoriously challenging event without additional complexities from the newly updated package.

The team will utilize three i20 N Rally1 vehicles adhering to the specifications that concluded the 2024 season, modified to comply with the 2025 technical regulations while omitting the hybrid unit and incorporating necessary air restrictor changes. Hyundai previously focused on substantial upgrades over the last year, with modifications centering around improved suspension and weight reduction, designed primarily for gravel and asphalt conditions.

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul expressed satisfaction with the car’s performance in Sweden but acknowledged the necessity to pause the upgrades for Kenya, believing that it will not detrimentally impact overall performance. He emphasized, “The car we will use will be the end-of-2024 specification,” which differs from last year’s issues encountered in Kenya, particularly regarding transmission.

In preparation for the Safari Rally, Hyundai has developed an improved snorkel to protect the engine from harsh environmental conditions typically encountered in Kenya, including deep water splashes and thick fesh-fesh sand. Abiteboul noted, “This also shows some of the homework that we have completed,” indicating the team’s commitment to enhancing vehicle reliability in challenging situations.

Hyundai’s past performance at the Safari Rally has been subpar, securing only one podium finish in four attempts, while its chief competitor, Toyota, has consistently dominated the event since 2021. After experiencing several reliability concerns in previous rallies, Abiteboul is hopeful the recent pre-event testing has addressed these issues, despite new ones arising during preparations. He stated, “Each time we go to Kenya we seem to unearth new issues.”

The Safari Rally Kenya is set to commence next Thursday, featuring 21 stages and taking place in one of the most difficult terrains of the World Rally Championship. Hyundai’s comprehensive preparations and revised strategies reflect its determination to improve its standing in this demanding event.

In summary, Hyundai has opted to compete in the Safari Rally Kenya using the 2024 specification of its i20 N Rally1 cars, foregoing the newly introduced 2025 upgrades. This decision highlights the team’s focus on reliability and optimization of their operations ahead of the rally, addressing past issues that have hindered performance. With improved components such as a revised snorkel, Hyundai aims to tackle the harsh conditions of the Safari Rally head-on, hoping to enhance their historical performance in this challenging race.

Original Source: www.motorsport.com