Enhanced Hyundai i20 R5 for ERC action

Work by engineers from the team’s Customer Racing department in Germany has resulted in an uprated powerplant, variable valve timing and new engine map, which Hyundai Motorsport reports will “gather more power from the 1.6-litre engine, as well as greater throttle response due to a reworked ALS strategy”.

The changes have been made possible by Hyundai Motorsport using its final ‘joker’, which permits certain changes to be made outside of the original homologation.

And the changes don’t end there. As well as upping the power, ongoing testing and engineering feedback has led to handling tweaks being implemented. There are also new specifications of dampers for both Tarmac and gravel settings, as well as a wider range of differential ramps, which Hyundai Motorsport hopes will allow its customers to “harness greater performance from the i20 R5 as they seek to be competitive in their respective championships”.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Department Manager Andrea Adamo said: “In our efforts with the i20 R5 and our customers we are always aiming to make sure they can compete at the very front of whatever championship they choose. The rapid pace of development within the R5 category means that we constantly have to be working in order to guarantee this. These latest improvement are the most important we have made since the car’s debut, and will allow our customers to again challenge for rally wins and championship titles around the world. This season our customers are competing in a wider range of championships, so we have to make sure we continue our work in order for them to be on the pace in all conditions.”

At least two Hyundai i20 R5s will be in action when the 2018 ERC season gets underway on the Azores Airlines Rallye from 22-24 March.