With one car not making it through a single shakedown run and a second failing to complete the opening leg of the event, it’s hard to argue with Cyril Abiteboul’s thoughts on Safari Rally Kenya.
The Hyundai Motorsport team principal talked of the Naivasha-based event being one that exposed weaknesses, adding that the last few days had demonstrated how much work remained for the team.
Esapekka Lappi’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 failed twice with the same propshaft problem on Wednesday, while Theirry Neuville’s sister car was ruled out of the opening full day of action after the front-left suspension leg punched its way through the hood.
“It’s a harsh rally,” Abiteboul told DirtFish. “It’s a type of rally that exposes your weakness, the weakness of the car, weakness of the team and the weakness of the drivers. Frankly [it’s] as simple as that.
“I think here we see the harsh reality of the work we have to do. That’s five months I am into the job and clearly I see there are some areas that need some improvement.”
Abiteboul refused to apportion blame for Neuville’s issue after the Belgian admitted a nut had come loose on the suspension in the second run through Geothermal.
“Clearly,” he continued, “that should not happen and that will not happen again. So we need to have a look at the procedures to make sure it does not happen.
“But it’s not due to a change because we did not touch anything to the suspension in service or this morning. When we assembled the car yesterday, it was absolutely fine and actually, it’s done quite a big stage and a big loop this morning without any issue. But clearly we need to improve our procedure to make sure that it does not happen.
“It’s not normal. But having said that, it’s not because of anything or trouble from the mechanics or the service.”
Abiteboul admitted he was baffled at elements of Hyundai’s team structure ahead of his arrival.
He said: “We now have FX working as technical director since a couple of weeks. Let’s remember that for years, Hyundai did not have a technical director which is a bit of a strange set-up, but now we fixed and he has lots of ideas how to make the car lighter, stronger and simpler.
“We now want to be in a position to execute that and probably having a lighter car and stronger car is clearly what’s been missing today as well as maybe having a slightly different approach things including on the procedures.
“It’s a tough rally, it exposes you and now we need to take that as an opportunity to improve all areas of the team.”
Lappi ends day one running fourth and having won a stage on his Safari debut. Dani Sordo sits sixth overnight.
