Hyundai introduces aerodynamic modifications in pre-Catalunya’17 tests

Hyundai Motorsport has officially started this week (first week of September) the tests for the preparation of Rally Catalunya, with the introduction of some modifications designed for improving car performance in the three last rallies of the year, where Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles will be decided. The modifications evaluated will be introduced by means of a joker, as up to three are allowed this year for each team, according to the 2017 FIA Regulations. The tests have been carried out on the roads of Tarragona, Spain. The Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Thierry Neuville has been driving included some changes in the aerodynamic configuration that are worth reviewing. The first day (September 5th) has been devoted to asphalt tests (see Jaume Soler’s full video here).

T.Neuville/N.Gilsoul, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Test in Tarragona, September 5th, 2017 – picture extracted from Jaume Soler video

The first main change is the removal of one of the front dive planes, while the one remaining is now open at the end. Also, the side lips of the plane have been removed.

T.Neuville/N.Gilsoul, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Test in Tarragona, September 5th, 2017 – picture extracted from Jaume Soler video

D.Sordo/M.Martí, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Rally of Sweden 2017,  4th

The new configuration is very similar to that used in 2017 by Citroen, although with only one dive plane.

K.Meeke/P.Nagle, Citroën C3 WRC, Rally of Montecarlo 2017, ret. – picture by Martin Husár – ewrc-resu.ts.com

The second significant change is the modification of the rear wing. Swan neck supports have been enlarged, and now they have been extended right until the rear end of the wing.

Also, the endplates have been widened on the base.

Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 2017, picture by Mcklein

The angle of attack of the lower plate has been increased, as shown in the picture below, with the new wing (Mikkelsen in Rally Catalunya) compared to the old wing (Sordo in Sweden).

Finally, a Gurney flap has also been added to the lower plate.

D.Sordo/M.Martí, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Test in Tarragona, September 20th, 2017

A Gurney flap is a very narrow trailing edge flap mounted at a 90 degrees angle at the end of wing plates which contributes to generating downforce, but also drag. Hyundai already installed a Gurney flap on the top plate in its original design, but now has introduced it also into the lower plate.

D.Sordo/M.Martí, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Test in Tarragona, September 20th, 2017

No major changes have been detected in the rear of the car, apart from the wing, when compared to the car used in the present season.

T.Neuville/N.Gilsoul, Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, Rallye Monte Carlo 2017, ret. – picture by Denis Baudron

The same unit has been used in tests on gravel, carried out by Thierry Neuville (September 6th) and Dani Sordo (September 7th) in the Tarragona area (see Jaume Soler video here), as well as by Andreas Mikkelsen in the tests developed in Northern Catalunya (September 18th), as can be seen in this video posted by Sudrally, or Dani Sordo in Tarragona area on September 20th.

Update from Rally Catalunya

Finally, both modifications have been introduced in all three cars present in 2017 Rally Catalunya, as shown in pictures below.

A.Mikkelsen/A.Jaeger, Hyundai i20 Coupé, Rally Catalunya 2017, 18th

D.Sordo/M.Martí, Hyundai i20 Coupé, Rally Catalunya 2017, 15th

Additional modifications to the i20 Coupé WRC have been considered for Wales Rally GB 2017, as shown here.

Citroën is the other team who has declared to be working on the 2018 car, but until now only pictures from the test by Sebastian Loeb (in France) and Andreas Mikkelsen (in Germany) have been released, and no major changes have been introduced.