Hyundai Confidently Targets Podium At Rally Del Paraguay
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After showing blistering early pace in Finland before the weekend went a bit pear-shaped, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is pointing the i20 N Rally1 towards South America. The WRC makes its first stop in Paraguay from August 28 to 31, and the team wants to turn recent frustration into focused aggression on unfamiliar ground.
A Fresh Challenge In Paraguay
This is a brand-new WRC outing for the stages in the Itapúa region, which sit close to the Argentine border. Expect soft, fast red gravel that looks inviting until it does not. Grip can vanish and then reappear with a sudden cloudburst, while heavy dust will make visibility a lottery. In short, it is the perfect recipe for a rally that rewards precision, quick learning and the sort of gutsy driving that keeps engineers awake at night.
Gravel, Dust And A History Of Success
Hyundai is no stranger to doing well in South America. The team has stood on podiums in Chile in recent years and enjoyed real success in Argentina between 2016 and 2019. The i20 N Rally1 has shown it can be very quick on gravel this season, and that raw pace, when married to adaptable crews, should be a strong asset on Paraguay’s unpredictable roads. Friday road positions look favourable for extracting the car’s potential if everything clicks.
Crew Preparations And Mindset
One of the crews arrives in Paraguay sitting fourth in the championship and carrying the confidence of podiums in Portugal, Sardinia and Greece. They see the new event as an open page, where the recce will be crucial to understand lines, notes and setup.
Another pairing brings solid South American experience and has been busy studying footage and speaking to locals to glean any advantage before the recce. Without prior testing, they will refine the setup as soon as the pacenotes arrive and will hunt for every point the weekend offers.
The third crew, who have limited South American miles, are optimistic and pragmatic. They have been carving up video of the stages, planning to perfect notes once the itinerary is under their belts. New rallies suit them. They believe a podium is on the table if they can turn preparation into pace.
Team Focus And Strategy
The team principal made clear that after a difficult Finland the mood is not to sulk but to get pragmatic. This is a pivotal moment in the season with only a handful of rounds left, so the aim is to convert disappointment into determination. With the event new to everyone in the service park, rapid learning will be rewarded. The task is simple in description and fiendish in practice: adapt quickly, choose the right setups, take opportunities on the road and score as many championship points as possible.
Itinerary And Key Stages
The inaugural itinerary runs over four days, featuring 19 stages and 333.18 kilometres of competitive distance. Friday opens with two loops of Cambyretá (18.70km), Nueva Alborada (19.25km), the marathon Yerbateras (30.00km) and a short Autódromo test (2.50km). Saturday serves up seven stages including Carmen del Paraná (18.67km), Artigas (22.73km) and Cantera (13.74km), with another Autódromo blast. Sunday finishes with two runs each of the scenic but testing Bella Vista (21.25km) and Misión Jesuitica Trinidad (18.50km). Those long stages will separate the bold from the cautious.
Hyundai arrives in Paraguay with momentum to reclaim strong results and a car that has already proved quick on gravel this season. The rest will come down to how fast the notes settle, how well the setup suits the red clay and which crew can adapt quickest to a whole lot of unknowns.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
