Hyundai Motorsport has targeted the Irish market with a specific i20 R5 set-up designed to get the best out of the country’s changeable asphalt conditions.
Craig Breen tested the i20 for two days ahead of last month’s West Cork Rally and was ready to start the British Rally Championship counter before it was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Irishman’s presence on the entry list demonstrated Hyundai’s commitment to the program, according to team principal Andrea Adamo.
“We have many customers in Ireland,” Adamo told DirtFish, “and Ireland needs something specific for the damper set-up. Andrew Johns [Hyundai Customer Racing] pushed for this and I supported him.
“The dampers are the same ones we homologated, but it’s the setting and the set-up evolution we are pushing to make better.
“Our Irish customers are deserving our strong support. We have nine or 10 cars there and to go there and make some testing is something we have to do.”
Adamo admitted Breen’s persistence also paid off in terms of the West Cork entry.
“He was stressing me about doing the rally,” said Adamo. “He said while we were testing and we had the car there, it made sense to do the rally.
“I agreed. I know a lot of people are saying I am – what is this word your colleague Colin [Clark] is using about me? Ruthless. I think this shows I’m not so ruthless, I have a heart.
“Craig wanted to go to the rally, so I said: ‘OK, if we’re there, let’s do the rally’.”
