The massive speaking factors forward of WRC Rally Sardinia

Sardinia is considered one of many roughest rallies on the World Rally Championship calendar, and is commonly a crucial spherical because the title race edges in direction of the midway mark.

Heading into the rally, Toyota’s Elfyn Evans continues to steer the standings, albeit his benefit has been lower to 30 factors over team-mate Kalle Rovanpera, with part-time driver Sebastien Ogier in third. Nevertheless, all eyes will probably be on Hyundai’s it seems to ignite its season and finish Toyota’s 100% profitable begin to 2025.

Listed below are the important thing speaking factors heading into Sardinia.

Can Hyundai rekindle its Sardinia magic?

The stress is nicely and actually on Hyundai to finish its winless begin to the season at an occasion the place it has solely been defeated twice since 2016.

Final month’s spherical in Portugal supplied much-needed momentum for Hyundai as Ott Tanak dominated the occasion just for an influence steering difficulty to disclaim the 2019 world champion a probable win.

Hyundai’s spectacular historical past in Sardinia coupled with Tanak, world champion Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux beginning behind the main Toyotas of Evans, Rovanpera and Ogier has offered Hyundai with a powerful case for victory. Its two lead drivers Neuville and Tanak have additionally scored three wins apiece on the occasion.

“I hope [we can take a victory]. Let’s see. There’s the optimistic statistic of fine outcomes right here previously however that can be creating some stress on us to ship. There’s additionally the unhealthy statistic of our championship begin, which can be creating some additional stress to ship right here, so clearly the stress is on us,” mentioned Hyundai crew principal Cyril Abiteboul.

“In motorsport at this degree it’s all the time going to be marginal between the winner and the loser. We hope to be within the first class, however let’s see. We have to be extraordinarily humble relating to the championship star and the harshness of a rally like this one.”

Cyril Abiteboul, Group principal Hyundai World Rally Group

Photograph by: Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport

Whereas Neuville, Tanak and Fourmaux are determined to be standing on the highest step of the rostrum, the trio are totally conscious that this can be a rally the place drama can strike at any second.

“Hopefully [we can win]. You by no means know what can occur on a rally, however we’re going to discover out,” mentioned Neuville, who has moved to the same set-up to Tanak searching for replicating the latter’s velocity in Portugal.

A plethora of unknown new phases for this yr’s version add one other curveball, whereas Tanak is eager to level out that the gravel floor is “totally different” to Portugal. Fourmaux additionally highlighted the hazard of free rocks which can be troublesome to select and may finish victory bids in a heartbeat.

“The floor is totally totally different and the stage traits are totally different. Rallying could be very troublesome to foretell to be trustworthy,” mentioned Tanak.

Whereas Fourmaux added: “That is most likely the hardest Sardinia I’ve seen in my profession. On Friday and Sunday the phases are fairly slender and there are rocks on the facet of the street. It’s fascinating to have some new phases. Our place is nice so I have to optimise that. If I’m ok I needs to be main the rally on Friday night.”

Highway place will hamper Toyota’s problem

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photograph by: Toyota Racing

There is no such thing as a doubt Toyota will face a tricky job to take care of its 100% profitable begin to the season in Sardinia advantage of its domination of the championship to this point.

Occupying the highest three positions within the championship means Evans, Rovanpera, who is just not a fan of Sardinia’s phases, and Portugal winner Ogier face the worst of the circumstances on Friday, on phases the place street cleansing has an enormous impact. Toyota does nonetheless have Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari beginning additional down the order, who may stand to learn from cleaner street circumstances.

Championship chief Evans is already anticipating a “robust experience” however is hopeful some modifications made to his GR Yaris will assist fight the flip in struggles he battled in Portugal.

“It’s pretty typical Sardinia, there are sections which can be tough and sections which can be good, however like all the time there will probably be cleansing, so nothing new actually. It’s all the time unhealthy right here,” mentioned Evans.

“There have been some bits completed [to the car] and let’s see the way it performs out. We have now positively performed with a number of issues to try to gamble to assist the automobile flip a bit higher.

Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Photograph by: Toyota Racing

“We all know we’re in for a tricky experience on Friday however we nonetheless have to provide it the very best and assess from there.”

Nevertheless, eight-time world champion Ogier has proved it’s attainable to win in Sardinia from first on the street again in 2021 and is aware of greater than most that something can occur after dropping final yr’s version by 0.2s on the ultimate stage.

“I’ve a little bit of a love-hate relationship with this rally. It received’t be over till it is over, which is commonly in rallying,” mentioned Ogier. “We all know we face an enormous problem as a crew with three automobiles on the entrance which is able to make it more durable for us, however I’ll have at the very least two automobiles in entrance so will make the very best of the traces in entrance of me.

“We face a tough problem however I all the time begin with a optimistic perspective and suppose that it’s attainable. The arrogance is nice and the hopes are nonetheless excessive.”

How a lot will warmth be an element?

Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Photograph by: Toyota Racing

Sardinia is famend for its extremely excessive ambient temperatures and the thermometers will as soon as once more be rising this weekend.

Forecasts recommend temperatures will peak at 32 levels over the course of the rally, which is decrease than in recent times, however it received’t be any much less punishing on the crews. Cabin temperatures are anticipated to succeed in the 70 diploma mark, though drivers and groups may have the respite of noon companies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, not like the newest spherical in Portugal.

Nevertheless, excessive temperatures will nonetheless provide difficult circumstances to deal with.

“Will probably be sizzling and it’s not going to be nice within the automobile,” mentioned Tanak.

Evans added: “It’ll be correctly sizzling however fortunately there aren’t any tremendous lengthy phases.”

The summer time temperatures at rallies, corresponding to Sardinia, are among the many the reason why Toyota changed its black color scheme with a silver livery to mirror a few of the warmth away from its GR Yaris entries.

Can M-Sport’s suspension improve transfer it nearer to the pack?

Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Group Ford Puma Rally1

Photograph by: M-Sport

M-Sport will debut a revised suspension bundle throughout its Ford Puma Rally1 automobiles because it seems to shut the hole to rivals Toyota and Hyundai.

New specification dampers have been fitted to all 4 Puma Rally1 automobiles piloted by Josh McErlean, Gregoire Munster, Martins Sesks and Jourdan Serderidis.

Dampers are an space that groups can develop all through the season with no need to deploy one in all its restricted homologation jokers which can be normally deployed to re-design extra important elements on the automobiles within the quest for extra efficiency and reliability.

“Clearly, we’re looking for a arrange that works to try to give them extra feeling and work the tyre higher,” mentioned crew principal Richard Millener.

“Actually us and Hyundai are nonetheless making an attempt to grasp how the tyre works, and Toyota are perhaps a little bit bit additional forward than us. We have to see what actually occurs within the rally, so long as it provides them a little bit of confidence [that is good].”

The bundle has already garnered optimistic suggestions from the crews.