Round eleven of the FIA World Rally Championship takes teams and crews to Repco Rally New Zealand for what is arguably the most eagerly-anticipated event on the 2022 calendar - and one team could already have a march on its rivals.
Bosses at Hyundai Motorsport resorted to deploying team tactics on the final day of Acropolis Rally in Greece to ensure Thierry Neuville led home its first 1-2-3 finish in the World Rally Championship.
Three-time Acropolis Rally winner Sebastien Loeb snatched top spot on the closing Friday stage and, in the process, denied M-Sport Ford team-mate Pierre-Louis Loubet the chance to hold the overnight lead for the first time in his career.
Ott Tanak enjoyed his first shakedown stage win of the 2022 World Rally Championship campaign, while the involvement of nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb was curtailed by an engine misfire.
Sebastien Ogier says the fact he has “unfinished business” at Rally New Zealand is the core reason why he is returning to the Auckland-based event later this month with the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad.
World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanpera says rediscovering his stage winning form is the number one priority for him on this week’s Acropolis Rally in Greece.
Ott Tanak executed his final day “action plan” to perfection in Belgium to score a third World Rally Championship victory in Hyundai Motorsport colours alongside Martin Jarveoja – and a first at Ypres Rally.
Ott Tanak was handed the reins at Ypres Rally after a mistake by Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville on Saturday’s penultimate stage dashed all hope of a repeat victory in front of his home supporters.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville caught his Rally1 rivals napping over the closing miles of Ypres Rally this afternoon to move into the lead of his home round of the World Rally Championship.
Thierry Neuville edged out his Rally1 rivals on this afternoon’s short, sharp Ardeca Ypres Rally shakedown stage by powering through it six tenths of a second quicker than anyone else.
History beckons for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Kalle Rovanpera should he emerge victorious on Ypres Rally, with the super talented Finn saying he is “feeling good” about what this weekend has in store for him.
Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville has spoken of his relief that the World Rally Championship is switching back to Tarmac for the first time in four months after five consecutive outings on gravel.
Oliver Solberg has received the backing of his boss at Hyundai Motorsport who has said the young Swede must be given the opportunity to “learn and improve” as World Rally Championship driver.
World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanpera displayed great maturity by doing “a clever job” on his home round of the series to strengthen his grip on this season’s drivers’ title.
Hyundai Motorsport’s Deputy Team Director believes their Rally Finland performance heralds an important turning point for their much-maligned I20 N Rally1 car as far as speed and reliability are concerned.
Hyundai Motorsport’s Ott Tanak has drawn level with some of the World Rally Championship’s most decorated drivers from the last 50 years by claiming a third victory at Secto Rally Finland alongside Martin Jarveoja.
Kalle Rovanpera – the runaway leader of the World Rally Championship – insists he does not feel under any undue pressure despite the weight of fans’ expectation leading up to his home round of the series.
Hyundai Motorsport deputy team director Julien Moncet appears to undecided about what he believes is possible from his leading Rally1 drivers at Secto Rally Finland next weekend.
Kalle Rovanpera comprehensively won Rally Estonia alongside Jonne Halttunen and will now carry a sizeable 83 point advantage heading into the second half of the World Rally Championship season.
Kalle Rovanpera remains on course to increase his World Rally Championship points advantage by making it five victories from seven starts with only one day of Rally Estonia remaining.
Kalle Rovanpera was promoted to the top of the Rally Estonia leaderboard on the final Friday stage after his Toyota team-mate and long-time leader Elfyn Evans dropped 22.6 seconds.
Ott Tanak has revealed preparations within the Hyundai Motorsport camp for his home round of the World Rally Championship this weekend have not quite gone the way he would have wanted.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Esapekka Lappi went fastest on this morning’s Rally Estonia shakedown - his best effort a whole second quicker than his closest World Rally Championship rival.
From this week’s Rally Estonia, World Rally Championship teams are to be given more time to work on those Rally1 hybrid cars that have been retired from either the Friday or Saturday leg.