Despite Hyundai taking two stages wins this morning, Sebastien Ogier’s consistent performance over the first three tests saw him reach the event’s first midday service as overall leader. However, a less than ideal tyre choice cost him time – and the lead – this afternoon, as Mikko Hirvonen and Ott Tanak, both driving Fords, overhauled the Frenchman.
Ogier was fastest over the first of the three stages, which was much warmer and drier the second time round after lunch. Ogier had taken hard tyres and felt that they worked better on the first stage and would for the rest of the loop.
However, the second stage was still damp and very slippery in places and while Ogier was only fifth fastest, he maintained the overall lead, just ahead of Hirvonen.
But it was on the last of the afternoon’s three stages that saw the turnaround. Many drivers felt harder tyres would work better but the opposite transpired to be the case; Hirvonen won the stage convincingly, taking nine seconds, and the lead, from Ogier.
Tanak was second fastest on the last stage to also leapfrog the Frenchman, ending the day in second place behind Hirvonen.
There was more to celebrate for Hyundai, with Thierry Neuville claiming another stage win on the second stage of the afternoon, the team’s third of the day, also running on soft tyres and despite complaining that he didn't have the right set-up on the car.
Dani Sordo lost his fourth place to Mads Ostberg, having to pick his way through the last stage after losing the sumpguard on his Hyundai i20.
There were more dramas in the afternoon though, with Jari-Matti Latvala rolling and retiring from the event, with the team planning to investigate to decide if the car is capable of returning on the third day. Citroen’s Kris Meeke, competing in Portugal fro the first time, also went off, very close to where Elfyn Evans did the same on the first loop.
In WRC2, Nasser Al-Attiyah took the win on the first two stages of the final loop but lost time on the last. Jari Ketomaa claimed the win and with it, took over the category lead, ending the day 4.7 seconds ahead of Al-Attiyah, with Pontus Tidemand in third, almost 1m30s further back.
In the Junior WRC category, Alastair Fisher maintained his winning run, taking two more stage wins to end the day leading the category overall. However, it was Martin Koci who took the final stage of the day to leapfrog Simone Campedelli and take second.
Hyundai Motorsport has today announced Finnish driver Juho Hänninen as one of the team’s test drivers for 2013, ending weeks of speculation over the mystery man behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 WRC in May.
Hyundai Motorsport has been building up its new operation from scratch since the start of the year, establishing the team at a dedicated facility in Alzenau, Germany and recruiting specialists at every level of its organisation.
Test drivers are an integral part of the team’s development programme, requiring the necessary skills and experience to develop a competitive and reliable rally car in a short space of time.
Six months ahead of the debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo in January 2014, Hyundai Motorsport is in the process of carrying out an intensive test programme to evaluate and develop the i20 WRC on all terrains and conditions.
Hänninen won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2010 followed by the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship and the FIA European Rally Championship titles in 2011 and 2012 respectively. He will be a valuable asset for the team to prepare the assault to the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.
Hyundai Motorsport will soon be in a position to announce a second test driver for the remainder of the 2013 test phase. 2014 drivers will be announced at the end of the year.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “We’re very pleased to welcome Juho on board for our 2013 test programme. I’m sure his experience and background will contribute to the project and I’m happy with the job he’s done so far.
We have decided to work with different drivers with unique skills and capabilities this year, which will provide us with valuable feedback for 2014.
Hänninen said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Hyundai Motorsport testing programme for this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work closely to a manufacturer and to give my contribution to this great challenge.
The first run with the i20 WRC was quite positive for me; I’m very impressed with the work the team has done so far in such an incredibly short space of time. I feel comfortable with everyone in the team and I look forward to carry on working with them in the next six months.”