On January 28, 2024, in the first round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship, drivers Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe showed their extraordinary strength by winning the championship with the excellent performance and consistent performance of the i20 N Rally 1 hybrid car. After 17 tough stages, the drivers of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team put on a strong show to win the championship and get the 2024 season off to a great start for the N-Brand WRC.
Hyundai Motor's N brand won the first round of the 2024 WRC.
Over the course of four days, the drivers delivered countless moments, with drivers Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe showing their excellent form and driving skills on the winding mountain roads. The most memorable was Sunday's schedule, where the riders had to challenge the La Bréole Selonnet stage (SS15, 18.).31km), digne-les-bains Chaudon-Norante stage (SS16, 1901km) and La Bollène-Vésube Col de Turini (SS17, 14.)80km), Belgian driver Thierry Neuville took all stages on the final day in an I20 N Rally1 hybrid, his second victory in Monte Carlo and his 20th since joining the Hyundai team.
Rider Thierry Neuville
Celebrate winning the first race of the 2024 WRC season.
Not only that, but the Belgian won nine stages in Monte Carlo, giving the team 30 points. Speaking after the race, Thierry Neuville was excited: "It was a fantastic weekend, I was completely immersed in the fun of racing and I was very excited. The team did a fantastic job, the N brand's i20 N Rally1 hybrid was really great and I felt it was running pretty smoothly overall, it was the first time we had teamed up in this way and I believe it bodes well for the future. ”
Rider Thierry Neuville
Get behind the wheel of the N brand i20 N Rally1 hybrid car.
Successfully won the Monte Carlo race.
In addition, the rest of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team also had a great result in Monte Carlo. OTT T NAK and Martin J Rveoja not only won the stage on Saturday, but also finished fourth again in Super Sunday and scored points in the power stage to earn an extra four points and finish Monte Carlo in fourth overall.
"We still have a lot to learn and explore about the N-branded i20 N Rally1 hybrid, and although we didn't perform at our best, we made it through the weekend and we will continue to learn and grow in Sweden and beyond," said OTT T Nak after the race. ”
Meanwhile, Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen made his debut this weekend in the N-brand's i20 N Rally1 hybrid, and his time gradually improved, finishing sixth with Torstein Eriksen in the final three stages. Now their focus is on continuing to learn in order to achieve better results in the next race.
Norwegian driver Andreas Mikkelsen said after driving the N's i20 N Rally1 hybrid for the first time: "We had a great weekend and yesterday we had a significant increase in speed. In the power stage, we try to go full throttle, and in order to get the most out of the i20 N Rally1 hybrids, you really need to get used to the way they drive. I'm still figuring out how much speed I can achieve, and while I still have some shortcomings at this stage, with more time, I'm sure we'll be able to get behind the wheel of the i20 N Rally1 hybrid and get it to the fullest. ”
Hyundai N brand i20 N Rally1 hybrid racing car.
Excellence in the WRC.
After a fierce battle in Monte Carlo, Thierry Neuville had six points to top the Drivers' Standings, with OTT T Nak fourth and Andreas Mikkelsen seventh. Thanks to the drivers' performances, the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is second in the Constructors' Championship, just one point away from first place.
Cyril Abiteboul, Head of Hyundai Motorsport and Team, said: "This is not only an iconic race for us, but also a testament to the performance of the N brand's i20 N Rally1 hybrid rally car. Since last year, motorsport has undergone a huge transformation, and in the process we have learned how to tune up the car and how to get the most out of it throughout the event. The win was well deserved, and every win from the N brand felt fantastic. ”
The strong and stable performance is due to the excellent technology and mature quality of the Hyundai N brand, and since the previous year, the WRC racing has entered the hybrid era, and the i20 N Rally1 hybrid race car came into being. It is equipped with Hyundai Motor's direct-injection turbocharged engine, with a hybrid of 380hp (horsepower) + 134hp (horsepower), and is equipped with a 12,000rpm electric generator set (MGU) + inverter control unit +3A hybrid unit with a 9kWh battery for powerful performance. The i20 N Rally1 Hybrid will continue to compete in the 2024 WRC from Sunday, February 15 to 18 local time, giving us another glimpse of Hyundai Motor's i20 N Rally1 Hybrid in Sweden and looking forward to another great result from the N brand.
Hyundai N brand i20 N Rally1 hybrid racing car.
Race the 2024 WRC Monte Carlo track.
The WRC (World Rally Championship) kicked off the 2024 motorsport season for the Hyundai N brand.