ALZENAU, Germany - Development of the Hyundai i20 World Rally Car continued during the second half of September 2013 as the Hyundai Motorsport team returned to the tarmac for an intensive three-day test session in France followed by a week on gravel at high-altitude in southern Spain.
Hyundai Motorsport team principal Michel Nandan, said: "For the last couple of months we’ve tested every two weeks in all kinds of conditions and on all surfaces to continue the collection of feedback and data. After the Finland test, it was very important for us to take a short break back at the factory to evaluate the work done so far as the schedule will be even busier from now on."
'NEW ELEMENTS'
The Hyundai Motorsport team travelled from Germany to France in mid-September 2013 and then on to Spain to test the car at altitude; both Bryan Bouffier and Juho Hanninen droving a new i20 WRC.
Nandan added: "The car is similar in specification to the one used in Finland in August 2013 but it does have a couple of new elements. High altitude is one of the challenges we’ll have to overcome next year in the World Rally championship, especially in Mexico where the stages go up to 2500m above sea level. The performance of the car can be affected under such conditions so the aim on this test was to study the engine behaviour and monitor the effect on engine power.
"We also took the opportunity to keep on working on gravel set-up solutions and complete some good mileage with the car."
Hyundai Motorsport’s test programme will continue until the end of 2013. The 2014 WRC season will start in just over 100 days.
Hyundai Motorsport team principal Michel Nandan, said: "For the last couple of months we’ve tested every two weeks in all kinds of conditions and on all surfaces to continue the collection of feedback and data. After the Finland test, it was very important for us to take a short break back at the factory to evaluate the work done so far as the schedule will be even busier from now on."
'NEW ELEMENTS'
The Hyundai Motorsport team travelled from Germany to France in mid-September 2013 and then on to Spain to test the car at altitude; both Bryan Bouffier and Juho Hanninen droving a new i20 WRC.
Nandan added: "The car is similar in specification to the one used in Finland in August 2013 but it does have a couple of new elements. High altitude is one of the challenges we’ll have to overcome next year in the World Rally championship, especially in Mexico where the stages go up to 2500m above sea level. The performance of the car can be affected under such conditions so the aim on this test was to study the engine behaviour and monitor the effect on engine power.
"We also took the opportunity to keep on working on gravel set-up solutions and complete some good mileage with the car."
Hyundai Motorsport’s test programme will continue until the end of 2013. The 2014 WRC season will start in just over 100 days.