Hyundai engine upgrade expected in Finland

Hyundai Motorsport will start testing an upgraded engine this month, as it bids to boost the performance of its i20 World Rally Car.

The German-based team could introduce the new unit as early as Rally Finland - midway through its debut season in the World Rally Championship.

After an impressive performance at Rally de Portugal, where the i20 WRC claimed three stage wins, Hyundai team boss Michel Nandan told wrc.com the engine would be released only when the team was sure it was ready.

Hyundai will use FIA homologation jokers to make the changes, but once the homologation is updated they have to stick with it.

“We should start some proper bench testing in two or three weeks. This is something we want to introduce after the middle of the season,” he said.
Michel Nandan

“We have to be sure before we use the jokers because we cannot change back afterwards. Tests have to be done first to check if the performance is okay and also on the durability side. It will take a bit of time. Certainly it will be impossible to introduce before the middle of the season.”

Meanwhile, progress is also being made in the chassis and suspension of the i20. “Normally with every development on the suspension and dampers we have seen a small step in performance, so I think we can make good progress until the end of this year, this is the plan,” he added.