Ott Tanak says that he needs to understand more the full potential of his new car to push to the limit, but he is being pleased with the performance and the behavior of the i20N.
The Estonian driver returned back to Hyundai Motorsport for 2024 and tested for the first time the 2023-spec i20N in Alps two months ago. Despite the fact, that he drove the i20N Rally1 in 2022 when he had a full-season programme with the Korean team, he ascertained some similarities and differences between the car he drove two years ago and nowadays. Tanak finished in fourth place overall in Monte Carlo and suffered from engine mapping issues during that weekend while Cyril Abiteboul revealed that these problems were caused by his driving style and affirmed that the mechanics will provide to him a more tailored car for Rally Sweden. After the end of the season opener, Tanak is fourth on the drivers' championship, 15 and six points behind Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans respectively who are his main title contenders.
"I would say the car is definitely not bad", Tanak said.
"Obviously it’s very competitive and it has some very strong points.
"Some things, let’s say, I didn’t know before coming to Monte-Carlo, and obviously there was a lot more Tarmac here than we had in the test beforehand.
"Without the experience, it’s very difficult to make the right calls, but I would say in the end we were not too wrong as well.
"The car is behaving well, actually.
"It’s much more in the window of performance.
"I just need to understand it, how and what it likes".
Source: wrc.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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