Hyundai Motorsport Gears Up for Challenging Safari Rally Kenya

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team targets a podium at the Safari Rally Kenya, emphasizing the need for reliability and endurance. Drivers Neuville, Tänak, and Fourmaux prepare for the challenges of the treacherous terrain and changing weather conditions. The rally comprises 383.10km over four days showcasing iconic stages, with strategies focused on risk management and vehicle stability for success in this demanding event.

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is striving for a podium finish at the Safari Rally Kenya, which is the third round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season. This gravel rally presents unique challenges, including an unpredictable terrain filled with fesh fesh sand, rocks, and water pools, putting crews at risk of damage or retirement. The volatile weather adds to the uncertainty, further complicating the competition.

Drivers Adrien Fourmaux, Ott Tänak, and Thierry Neuville are gearing up to leverage their experience with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Fourmaux aims to replicate his successful finish from the previous year, while Tänak and Neuville hope to utilize their knowledge to balance risk effectively, which is crucial in this grueling rally. Notably, Tänak achieved Hyundai Motorsport’s only podium at this event in 2021, where Neuville faced a disheartening retirement despite leading.

The rally spans 383.10km over four days, showcasing iconic stages such as Sleeping Warrior (26.97km), Soysambu (28.97km), and Hell’s Gate (10.53km), alongside new routes like Camp Moran (31.40km) and Mzabibu (8.27km). The competition kicks off Thursday with two initial stages, followed by a comprehensive Friday featuring eight stages, culminating in a refreshed itinerary on Sunday.

Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul emphasized the importance of a strong performance in Kenya. He stated, “Our goal for Safari Rally Kenya is clear and simple: we need to have a strong weekend to build momentum in the championship fight. It is a rally of attrition, so even setbacks can lead to opportunities for a great result, making it crucial to persevere.”

Thierry Neuville aims to repeat his early-season podium in Sweden while highlighting the distinct challenges posed by Kenya’s conditions. He noted, “Safari Rally Kenya is very different from any other rally… we need to have a clever drive. Taking care of the car and staying away from trouble will be key to that.”

Ott Tänak described the Safari Rally as “the most testing rally we have on the calendar… we need trust in our car to be reliable so we could push ourselves.” His experience from previous podium finishes at this event adds to their strategy of balancing risk and speed.

Adrien Fourmaux, focusing on a podium finish again, acknowledged the event’s demands. He remarked, “Finishing on the podium in Kenya last year, I learned that it’s a very different rally than the others… we need to be smart to get to the end.” Each driver is prepared to meet the rally’s unique physical and mental demands.

The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team approaches the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya with a strategy focused on endurance and risk management. With experienced drivers like Neuville, Tänak, and Fourmaux, the team is prepared to tackle the challenging terrain. Their success hinges on the reliability of the upgraded Hyundai i20 N Rally1 and the drivers’ ability to navigate the unpredictable conditions, aiming for a strong finish to gain championship momentum.

Original Source: motorsport.hyundai.com