Hyundai has officially unveiled the i20 N Rally1 race car that will compete in the 2022 season of WRC against the likes of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 and the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1. As the new regulations stipulate, all contestants will be using a hybrid setup. While its rivals have already teased their new hybrid racers, Hyundai is the first one to fully unveil it. Both Toyota and M-Sport Ford are expected to launch their vehicles on January 15 at the season-opening ceremony.
Unlike its predecessor which was based on
the previous-generation i20 Coupe, the new race car is adopting the lines of
the new-generation i20 N. However, Hyundai has added an extreme aero bodykit
including wide front and rear fenders, redesigned bumpers, a central exhaust,
and a massive rear wing with extensions. The racecar look is enhanced by a new
teal, blue, and orange livery plus the tarmac-specification multi-spoke wheels shod
Pirelli P-Zero tires.
All vehicles in the Rally1 category will
be based on a new steel spaceframe chassis fitted with a hybrid powertrain. The
latter will consist of a direct-injection turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder
engine working together with an electric motor that produces an additional 134
hp and 180 Nm of torque. Power will be
transmitted to all four wheels through a sequential gearbox while a 3.9 kWh
battery pack with carbon fiber housing will be the energy source for the
e-motor. The battery will be charged from regenerative braking but also from an
external power source in-between stages.
As reported by Motorsport, Hyundai
Motorsport GmbH president Scott Noh is confident they have what is needed to
fight for their third manufacturers’ title repeating the 2019 and 2020 triumph,
and also to support the hunt for a drivers’ title. Speaking of which, the
drivers’ lineup for 2022 will include five-time runner up Thierry Neuville, and
2019 Champion Ott Tanak who will compete in all 13 races of the season, while
newcomer Oliver Solberg will be sharing the driver’s seat on Hyundai’s third
entry with WRC veteran Dani Sordo.
Like its rivals, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1
will make its racing debut in the Monte Carlo Rally on January 20.
