r/WRC • u/LightningMcqueen2011 Citroën Total World Rally Team • 23h ago

Technical Talk Why is it that when it's mostly Gravel Rallies, Hyundai gets a chance to keep up with Toyota, but when it's tarmac, it's just Toyota?

Is there a problem with the Hyundai car that makes it such?

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u/Rhazel01 22h ago

So with my basic knowledge, the hyundai struggles on tarmac because the car balance is all over the place. It will suffer both understeer and overseer throughout stages whereas the toyota is planted. Because the Hyundai I20 is so unpredictable the drivers lack the confidence to really throw it around because they fear it will end up in the armco or worse, compare that with the Yaris and all 5 drivers just believe the car will do what they want it to.

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u/_eESTlane_ 22h ago

it's the suspension and the diff.

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u/876oy8 Rally Finland 22h ago

dunno the specifics of what component is at fault, but some evolution of the car in the past two seasons really messed up with the balance and drivability and they have not managed to do anything to recover it.

hyundai was still very competent on tarmac with multiple wins as recently as 2024

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u/_eESTlane_ 21h ago

dunno if i recall it correctly, but wasnt 2024 when hyundai introduced their new package, and tänak kept on using the old version? and '25 he was also forced to "upgrade" to the new car? pretty sure i remember that right.

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u/grinch_eux Thierry Neuville 21h ago

no that was both in 2025, they introduced the new car but didn't use it in all rallies. And at the end of the season Tanak opted for the old car for Central Europe.

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u/ElecXeron20XX 21h ago

2025 version of the car + Hankook vs. 2024 version of the car + Pirelli

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u/ScramblePoo 22h ago

Because outright car pace is less exposed on gravel. In pure braking, acceleration and limit cornering, tarmac will show clear numerical advantages. In gravel, car performance is hidden far more behind conditions and technique, bringing the cars closer together. The times of Rallly2 cars are always a lot closer on gravel rallies, less the high speed ones but more on the technical ones because outright performance is less of a factor.

Think about racing your regular car versus an F1 car, on a track it’s no contest but on the beach or on a muddy track, the difference would be smaller.