Hyundai prepares upgraded i20 N Rally1 for Safari Rally Kenya debut

Hyundai Motorsport is set to debut its heavily upgraded i20 N Rally1, known as the 'Evo' car, at the upcoming Safari Rally Kenya. While the team utilized its previous car iteration for last year’s event, the squad is confident the current model is ready for the extreme mechanical demands of the African round after extensive testing across various surfaces.

Following a challenging start to the 2026 season, the team has focused on increasing reliability and closing the performance gap to its rivals. Sporting director Andrew Wheatley highlighted that the car has already demonstrated its durability on rough gravel during recent testing, as well as in past victories at Acropolis Rally Greece and Rally Saudi Arabia.

Reliability remains the core focus for the team as they prepare for the unique survival-focused nature of the Kenyan stages. With positive feedback from recent test sessions, Hyundai aims to ensure their package is both efficient and robust enough to handle the punishing terrain starting next Thursday.