Hyundai Motorsport director Andrea Adamo has explained the changes made to the i20 Coupe WRC running at this week’s Rallye Serras de Fafe ahead of Rally Mexico next month.
The Alzenau-based team has entered a brace of i20 Coupe WRCs for the 80-mile Portuguese event which kicks off with three stages today (Friday) before a further 10 tests tomorrow. This is in advance of next month’s Rally Mexico, round three of the 2020 World Rally Championship.
Defending World Rally Champion Ott Tänak drives the updated car in Fafe, while Dani Sordo runs the car in the same specification as used at Rally Sweden earlier this month.
Adamo told DirtFish: “You know that I’m not the technical person and I don’t usually talk about technical things, but I tell you we have changed the rear wing and the front fenders. These are the only changes, but we will see these changes at the next round in Mexico.”
The changes at the front include a pair of extra wings above the extended arch. At the rear, the wing looks to be angled more steeply with bigger and squared-off winglets on either side.
Asked for the thinking behind the changes, Adamo said: “If we homologate something then we change it to make it better. We work at the front and rear of the car here, we’re working on the balance.”
The aero changes are the only alterations to the i20 ahead of Rally Mexico, but Adamo confirmed there will be more engine work coming later in the season.
Adamo also confirmed his team would continue to enter national events such as the Fafe rally through this season.
“This is good for Tänak to become familiar with the car,” Adamo added, “but it’s not just about that or about the test, it’s about the show. Like last season, we will do more of that this year. And not just with him, we will do it with all the drivers.
“We have local importers, this time in Portugal, who are working really hard to bring us to their rallies. It’s a really nice way to involve them and to bring these cars to a wider audience. This is really nice for the fans to see these drivers and cars more than just once a year on the WRC rounds.”
