In Karlstad, Sweden, the Rally Sweden champion faced a setback as his i20 N came to a sudden stop in stage five due to a transmission issue. The driver, expressing frustration, mentioned that there were no prior warnings of the problem. This incident occurred after the team had encountered multiple propshaft failures during the previous year’s competition in Kenya, prompting them to install a reinforced version of the component for this year’s event.
“The gearbox exploded,” Lappi explained. “Initially, it began to shift to front-wheel drive, and then there was a significant noise without any effect. Shortly after, the car lost all power, regardless of the gear I was in.”
Hyundai’s technical director acknowledged the gearbox’s vulnerability as a known weakness of the i20 N, admitting the challenge of finding a sustainable solution. Despite efforts to address the issue, Demaison noted the complexity of implementing a lasting fix due to current regulations.
Following his teammate’s exit, Ott Tanak briefly held second place before crashing out on stage six after hitting a hidden rock, resulting in severe damage to the steering. Tanak attributed the incident to the narrow road and obscured obstacles, leading to his untimely departure from the rally.
With Tanak out of the race, Thierry Neuville became the last remaining Hyundai driver, managing to navigate through a puncture to finish the day in fourth place, trailing rally leader Kalle Rovanpera. Expressing concern over his teammates’ misfortunes, Neuville emphasized the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and the need for cautious driving to avoid technical issues like Lappi’s transmission failure.
As Hyundai faces setbacks in the Rally Sweden event, drivers continue to adapt to the demanding conditions, striving to maintain competitiveness while navigating the unpredictable challenges of the competition. The intricacies of rally racing require a balance of speed and caution to endure the rigors of the sport and secure a strong finish in the face of unforeseen obstacles.