Thierry Neuville has completed what is understood to be the first meaningful mileage in a 2025-specification Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
The championship-leading Belgian drove the car as part of his pre-event test in Czech Republic earlier this month. In addition to his regular day of testing, Neuville completed the Herbst Rally in Austria, running the i20 as a zero car.
DirtFish understands Neuville was the only Hyundai driver to sample next season’s i20.
Talking about that initial 2025 mileage, Neuville told DirtFish: “It was interesting. We are working in the right direction.
Neuville was guarded in his response to DirtFish's questions on Wednesday
“I didn’t do a lot of driving with it, but it felt good. But after that, we focused more on the end of the season – that’s what counts at the moment.”
DirtFish sources close to the test reported a significant redesign of the i20’s suspension, with the angled dampers understood to be replaced with a more vertical set-up. There are also significant developments on the transmission front with the new car.
The source said: “The test looked busier, but there was not so much chance to come close with the car. We could not go to the service park to look to anything.”
Hyundai’s original plan was to run a completely new Rally1 car next season, but those plans were shelved following the potential for revised technical regulations at the start of the year. Instead, Hyundai is taking advantage of the opportunity to utilize two years’ worth of homologation jokers in one year – a decision granted by the FIA earlier this season.
Fans and media were reportedly keps at a distance during the testing of the 2025 car
Neuville starts this week’s Central European Rally with a 29-point advantage over team-mate Ott Tänak as he goes in search of a maiden World Rally Championship title.
Hyundai is 17 points ahead of title rival Toyota as it looks to end its Japanese rival’s recent domination of the WRC.
This year's i20 N Rally1 is flying, with the Alzenau-built machine ahead in both championship races
