However, while the strengths of the car are undoubted Hyundai Motorsport’s Customer Racing department is continuing to push forward with development work to further improve the car. The latest testing, with a brand-new chassis built specifically for the purpose, began in late July. Paddon and Camilli both drove the car for a day to offer their expertise and feedback. WRC driver Dani Sordo completed the testing plan, before using the car to dominate Rallye Cristian Lopez Herrero, where he won all nine stages.
Testing over the coming months will validate updates to the car’s engine, new differential options and suspension parts, as well as small cosmetic changes. The developments will make use of the Jokers available to the team under the current Rally2 regulations and be fully homologated for the start of the 2025 season.
Earlier this year new pistons and variable valve timing were homologated for the engine, providing a significant horsepower boost and extra acceleration compared to previous evolutions. The improvements now being tested will build upon these positive steps to add further to the all-round performance of the engine.
Testing will also focus on optimising the i20 N Rally2’s drivetrain to enable customers to tailor the car to their needs, especially when tackling rallies dominated by technical stages where excellent acceleration is vital. Testing will also include work to confirm new suspension parts and differential settings for different conditions. In all areas the focus will be on improving the performance of the package, especially on tarmac, where the car is already known to perform well, as shown on the Welsh roads of last weekend.
The renewed focus on the development included building a brand-new test car at Hyundai Motorsport’s Alzenau base. The new chassis, fitted with all the latest parts available to customers, will provide the test engineers with a better base from which they can validate performance gains of new parts. These new parts will then be homologated and made available to both current and new i20 N Rally2 customers.
