Another interesting point in Hyundai’s announcement is that Solberg will do only recce and PR activities in Japan (whereas he was supposed to do the rallye normally).
They could put Sordo to maximize the result but, if the new driver is not a current manufacturer driver, it could be even more worthy to make him drive in Japan to get some habits.
As the publication of the entry list is very soon, it may explain why the announcement of splitting with Solberg has been done now and we may have the name of his replacement very soon.
When do they publish the entry list? is it 3 weeks prior? 4?
I can imagine the test debriefing meetings. Nothing much said & a lot of "Gallic shrugs" - and they wonder why they aren't getting anywhere!
I think they need a good test & development driver...
I've noticed multiple times now, the forum is very sluggish in the evening. Then after 23:00 UTC (00:00 CET), like clockwork, it becomes instantly loading and instantly usable again. I don't know...
And at the end of the 2025 season he said that all of his vacations are planned on the rally weekends so he wouldn't have time to watch or participate :D
After Monte they said, dont worry Sweden will be better.
They'd moved their test base to Finland 3 years ago to sort the car on fast gravel (and snow).
And in Sweden... they were worse.
...
I can imagine the test debriefing meetings. Nothing much said & a lot of "Gallic shrugs" - and they wonder why they aren't getting anywhere! I think they need a good test & development driver...
Hyundai WRT