Hyundai World Rally Championship drivers walked away from Rally Japan without a top‑five finish, leaving the camp to regroup as Toyota claimed the podium sweep.
Japanese asphalt round exposes performance gap
After Toyota’s dominant 1‑2‑3‑4 result in the Canary Islands, expectations rose that the French‑based squad could close the margin in Japan. Thierry Neuville showed promise on damp Friday stages, ranking fourth, but the drying roads re‑exposed the i20 N’s understeer and balance flaws that have haunted the season. A final‑stage run placed Neuville sixth, 38.8 seconds behind teammate Adrien Fourmaux, who ended the event in fifth, trailing winner Elfyn Evans by 2 minutes 34.8 seconds.
Neuville blamed a confluence of factors: “The new Hankook compound, the loss of hybrid boost since 2024 and insufficient torque for the differentials all combine to slow us down on corner exit.” Fourmaux echoed the sentiment, noting that while rain allowed brief competitiveness, the dry stages offered no chance to match the Toyotas.
Drivers assess the season‑ending tarmac campaign
Both French pilots expressed relief that the asphalt segment of the 2026 calendar is now behind them. “I’m not disappointed that this is the final tarmac rally with the Rally1 car; I’m actually looking forward to the gravel,” Neuville said, adding that Hyundai’s strength lies in “rough gravel with plenty of grip.” Fourmaux added, “It’s frustrating to lose time in the dry, but the tarmac rallies are finished, and we can focus on gravel where we have history.”
Sporting director Andrew Wheatley acknowledged the shortfall, stating the team had aimed for at least a fourth‑place effort. He praised the lack of technical failures—“three cars finished without problems”—and highlighted a surprisingly good wet‑weather performance, especially from Neuville.
Gravel season offers redemption
With seven gravel events ahead, starting with the Acropolis Rally in Greece, Hyundai hopes to leverage its past success: three wins in the last four years, including Neuville’s victories in 2022 and 2024, and a recent Portuguese gravel triumph. Wheatley emphasized the importance of a strong start in Greece, a rally where the team has historically excelled.
The transition to gravel marks a pivotal juncture for Hyundai’s 2026 campaign, as the squad seeks to convert technical lessons from Japan into podium‑worthy performances on the rougher surfaces that suit its package.
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