2025 rally estonia 03
Hyundai Eyes Speed And Points At Rally Estonia Push
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team rolls into Rally Estonia with a swagger earned on gravel. A win in Portugal and a front-running showing at the Acropolis mean the i20 N Rally1s are back where they belong: hammering down fast roads and hoping the puncture gremlins stay at home.
Round nine of the WRC is a proper throttle-down, flat-out affair: 18 high-speed gravel stages covering more than 300 kilometres, based out of Tartu. Estonia is famous for flowing roads and savage jumps that punish the timid and reward the bold. Get it right and you fly; get it wrong and you kiss the scenery.
Fast Gravel, Fewer Mistakes
The team will run three factory i20 N Rally1s, with a returning Finn slotting into the third car. The 2026 itinerary is tighter than usual: a Friday shakedown and afternoon stages, a marathon Saturday and a two-stage Sunday sprint that demands precision and consistency as much as outright pace.
There have been some changes behind the scenes. Test duties moved from Finland to the south of France to broaden development, which means less unlimited practice on the high-speed jumps Estonia is famous for. That, plus a weather wildcard that could turn dry lines into greasy chaos, makes setup choices tricky — and gives whoever gets it right an edge.
Hyundai arrives with real momentum and a modest trophy cabinet in its favour here, having won Estonia when it debuted on the WRC calendar. The goal is simple: turn the recent pace into points and, if conditions allow, push for the top step. Expect a full-throttle weekend and a lot of airborne photography.
Behind the spectacle, Hyundai Motorsport continues to run a broad competition programme and has claimed manufacturers titles in 2019 and 2020 plus drivers and co-drivers honours more recently. The rally effort remains a high-stakes showcase for the i20 N Rally1 and the brand’s motorsport ambitions.
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.
