

2024.07.22 Hyundai Motorsport Team
As the 2024 WRC season reaches its halfway point, drivers who conquered the rough terrains of Portugal and Italy now face the high-speed gravel stages of Poland, Latvia, and Finland. Rally Poland, making its return to the WRC after 2017, presents a relatively unknown challenge for many participants.
Unlike Latvia and Finland, the terrain of Rally Poland is softer. While it lacks large rocks and blinding dust, the soft surface quickly forms ruts under the rally cars' wheels. With fewer corners and jumps, the high-speed nature of this rally makes it a thrilling event, though the spectators, who often disregard safety measures, pose significant risks.
The Poland Rally, which began in 1921, celebrates its 80th edition this year. It is a historic event with a long tradition, second only to Monte Carlo in the World Rally Championship (WRC) history. When the WRC started in 1973, the seventh round was held in Poland. Surprisingly, this was the only time it was held during the Cold War era, given that Poland was a socialist country and hosting a large Western motorsport event was unexpected. However, the rally continued as a national event, maintaining its legacy. Poland shed its Iron Curtain with the winds of democratization in the 1980s and became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004.
After preparing consistently for a return to the WRC, the Poland Rally moved to Mikołajki near the Masurian Lakes in 2005. It finally achieved its dream of rejoining the WRC in 2009. Although it ceded its spot to the Bulgaria Rally after just one year, it returned to the calendar in 2014. Sébastien Ogier, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Thierry Neuville all claimed victories. However, the rally’s return to the WRC was not without issues. Problems with crowd control and safety concerns led to its removal from the calendar after Neuville's win in 2017.
This year, nine Rally1 class cars, three from each team, participated. From Hyundai Motorsport (hereafter referred to as Hyundai), Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, and Andreas Mikkelsen entered the competition. Traditionally, Hyundai had not performed well in high-speed gravel rallies, but this time, they were determined to overcome their shortcomings.
Hyundai WRC Program Manager Loriaux said, “Last year in Finland, Thierry (Neuville) was second in the event, and don’t forget, Ott (Tänak)won Finland in 2022 – that was the first year for these hybrid cars. I think the car has always been up there; it was the same in Sweden (in 2022)when Ott was very strong on a fast, loose-surface event. We’ve developed the car some more over the winter ahead of this season, and I think we can see there’s more pace already. The car’s always been up there, but this year we are stronger than we have been before.”
Driver championship points leader Neuville had recently retired from the Italy Rally but maintained his lead by scoring heavily on Super Sunday, thanks to the new points system. Although Neuville had previously shown some weaknesses on high-speed gravel, he has recently demonstrated improved skills. To secure the championship title, he must perform well in the upcoming high-speed gravel trio.
Tänak claimed victory in Italy, shaking off the pressure from a slow start to the season and overtaking Toyota’s Elfyn Evans to climb to second place in the championship standings. The Estonian is familiar with high-speed gravel but has had mixed results in Poland. He has finished second twice but suffered a setback in 2016 due to a tire puncture while leading on Sunday.
The third car for Hyundai was driven by Mikkelsen, who had primarily participated in tarmac rallies like Monte Carlo and Croatia earlier this year. Although this was his first gravel rally since rejoining Hyundai, Mikkelsen had won the Poland Rally in 2016, making him a strong contender for a good result.
Toyota entered Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sébastien Ogier. Notably, Ogier had won the Poland Rally consecutively in 2014 and 2015. However, during the reconnaissance drive (recce) before the event, a problem occurred. While driving the SS10 Goldap stage, Ogier collided with an oncoming car. Although he wasn't seriously injured, it was determined that he couldn't compete in the rally. Consequently, Toyota urgently called in Kalle Rovanperä, who was resting at home. Poland remains a relatively unknown event for Rovanperä, who debuted in WRC late in the 2017 season.
The M-Sport Ford team prepared three cars for the rally. Besides the duo of Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster, Latvian driver Mārtiņš Sesks entered as a private entrant. Sesks' car had its hybrid unit removed and was fitted with ballast of the same weight, meaning he couldn't use the 135-horsepower motor boost. Sesks is expected to get acclimated in Poland and then drive a fully equipped Rally1 hybrid version in his home event in Latvia.
In the WRC2 class, several key drivers were notably absent. Points leader Yohan Rossel, second-place Jan Solans, Pepe López, and Nicolas Ciamin did not participate. In their place, Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari, Nikolay Gryazin, and Hyundai's Teemu Suninen were entered. Additionally, local favorites Kajetan Kajetanowicz and former Polish champion Mikołaj Marczyk joined the competition, receiving enthusiastic support from the crowd.
This year’s Poland Rally spanned 19 special stages (SS) over 303.1km. Compared to 2017, several stages had changed, and the overall distance was slightly reduced. The event commenced on Thursday, June 27, with a shakedown test on a 5.1km course located not far from the rally headquarters. Drivers, starting with Tänak, followed by Neuville, Fourmaux, Mikkelsen, and Sesks, took to the course. Although the main competition had yet to begin, the notorious Polish spectators made their presence felt, causing a temporary halt to the test session due to overcrowding.
On the same evening, at 7 PM, the Super Special Stage 1 (SSS1) kicked off at the 2.5km Mikołajki Arena. The format of two cars racing side by side on this short, thrilling stage was perfect for generating an electric atmosphere among the enthusiastic fans. The WRC2 class took to the track first, followed by the Rally1 cars. As in the shakedown, Tänak set the fastest time, followed closely by Neuville. Evans, Katsuta, Mikkelsen, Fourmaux, Rovanperä, Munster, and Sesks completed the order for the day. After the stage, 2016 winner Mikkelsen shared his thoughts: "It's a special place for us. I don't have many WRC wins, but it's one of the three. We already have a good result here, so I'm really excited for the week ahead."
June 28th, Friday. The day started with SS2 and spanned over seven stages covering a total distance of 113.5km, ending back at Mikołajki Arena for SSS8. Stańczyki, used for SS2 and SS5, is not only the longest stage of the rally at 29.4km but also one of the most iconic. The stage begins at an old railway bridge completed in 1918, which is the third oldest railway bridge in Poland. The route has seen some changes since it was last used in 2014-2015.
Next up was Wieliczki, a relatively new stage introduced in 2021. The route has been altered significantly, shortening it to 12.9km. The Olecko stage, used for SS4 and SS7, features the event's most notable jump, the Rossochacki Jump. This stage combines narrow, winding sections with wider, faster sections, and includes many newly paved areas.
At SS2 Stańczyki, Andreas Mikkelsen set the fastest time, moving into the overall lead. Notably, Martins Sesks, driving without hybrid assist, surged to second place, earning widespread applause. In contrast, Tänak, while racing at 190 km/h, collided with a deer that had darted onto the course, causing significant damage to the front of his rally car. Despite his dramatic victory in Italy, Tänak found himself the most unlucky driver this time. His immediate concern was whether the engine could be salvaged, as only two engines per car are permitted for the entire season. Failure to save the engine would result in unnecessary penalties.
Mikkelsen had a clear advantage over Neuville, who couldn’t increase his speed due to having to clean the road. The following stages saw Mikkelsen, Neuville, Rovanperä, and Fourmaux taking turns posting the top times. Mikkelsen and Rovanperä swapped the lead back and forth with a margin of just over two seconds. However, SS3 Wieliczki was canceled after three cars had run due to spectator control issues. Neuville complained about handbrake issues in SS4: "I have a problem with the handbrake, every time I pull the handbrake I lock up the four wheels. And then the cleaning obviously. We knew it was the worst stage of the loop from the recce, but we didn't know how much we would struggle.”
Mikkelsen led the overall standings in the morning, but by the end of SS5, he was overtaken by Rovanperä by a margin of just 0.2 seconds. Rookie Sesks held third place overall. After SS6, Evans moved up to second overall, joining the fight for the lead. However, SS7 was once again halted. Some spectators, hiding in the woods and emerging only when the race began, caused the disruption. While such scenes were common in rally videos from the 80s, modern safety priorities have led to much stronger measures being enforced—resulting in stage cancellations.
At the end of SS8 at Mikołajki Arena on Friday evening, Mikkelsen was still in the overall lead. Rovanperä was just 1.8 seconds behind in second place, with Evans only 0.2 seconds behind in third. Formaux overtook Sesks by 0.2 seconds to claim fourth place, followed by Munster in sixth, Neuville in seventh, and Katsuta behind him. Mikkelsen commented on the canceled stages: "It's been a good day, sad we didn't get to try so many stages. I hope the fans take care tomorrow, everyone wants to drive. I was too careful after regroup."
On Saturday, June 29, the drivers competed over seven stages covering 124.1 km, from SS9 to SS15. The schedule included three stages in the morning, repeated in the afternoon, with the Super Special Stage (SSS12) at Mikołajki Arena in between. The 18.5 km opening stage, SS9, had the same layout as last year, featuring a mix of narrow technical sections and wide high-speed segments.
SS11/SS15, named Czarne, was formerly known as Bobki and featured a variety of small jumps and corners, making it an exciting stage to watch. With his car repaired, Tänak was the first to hit the course, followed by Katsuta, Neuville, and Munster. Despite overnight rain, reports indicated that the road conditions remained firm and good, making tire choice critical.
Rovanperä claimed consecutive top times from the opening, moving into the lead. Evans moved up to second, pushing Mikkelsen to third. Mikkelsen responded by setting the top time in SS11, with just 2.2 seconds separating the top three. However, Rovanperä showed his strength by securing top times from SS12 to SS15, finishing Saturday in the overall lead with a 9.4-second gap over Mikkelsen. Evans was 6.7 seconds behind in third. Neuville, still stuck with road cleaning duties, also made a navigation error in SS11 and had to settle for sixth place.
On Sunday, June 30, the race consisted of repeating two stages near the rally headquarters. The stages included SS16 Gmina Mrągowo (20.8km) and an extended version of Mikołajki (10.73km). Gmina Mrągowo has been a popular stage since Poland Rally rejoined the WRC in 2014, attracting large crowds. Since 2023, it has been expanded to include winding roads around Lake Juksty. The final Power Stage at Mikołajki shared parts of the shakedown test course, starting on rural unpaved roads and transitioning to paved sections intermittently.
Tänak, needing to make the most of the day, pushed hard from the opening SS16, securing top times in both SS16 and SS17, climbing to the top of Super Sunday. However, another devastating blow hit Hyundai. Mikkelsen, who was competing for the win with Rovanperä, dropped to fourth place after his right rear tire punctured on the opening stage.
As Mikkelsen said, ”There are so many banks here, and we touched one that caught a tire off the rim. Just driving slowly. With the way it is, we have to take the car to the finish now. With what happened on the last stage, it's just the way it is. It is not perfect, but we are just cruising and making sure to get the car to the finish in one piece.” With the tire puncture causing significant damage around the rear fender, Mikkelsen couldn't pick up speed on the subsequent stages. As Rovanperä claimed SS18, the only remaining chance for additional points lay in the final Power Stage SS19.
With Mikkelsen out of contention, Hyundai's hopes for a podium finish faded. Neuville, in fourth place, was nearly 30 seconds behind Formaux in third. While this might have seemed hopeless in the past, the new points system offered a glimmer of hope. Tänak, having returned after retiring, aimed for Super Sunday and Power Stage points, while Mikkelsen and Neuville had provisional points based on their Saturday results. As Mikkelsen finished Saturday in second place, he stood to earn at least 15 points if he didn't retire.
Neuville and Tänak secured the top two spots in the Power Stage, while Rovanperä ultimately clinched the Poland Rally victory. Despite being a last-minute replacement for Ogier, Rovanperä demonstrated the defending champion's prowess. Evans took second place, and Formaux secured third. Neuville finished fourth overall. Rookie Sesks delivered an impressive fifth place in his debut, driving a downgraded non-hybrid rally car. Mikkelsen, who had been vying for the win, had to settle for a disappointing sixth place due to the late-stage tire blowout. Rounding out the points were Munster, Katsuta, Pajari, and Solberg.
Hyundai Motorsport experienced the disappointment of missing out on the podium for the first time this season. However, Neuville managed to secure a total of 14 points, including fourth place, Super Sunday points, and a top time in the Power Stage, maintaining his lead in the Drivers' Championship with a 15-point advantage over Evans. Mikkelsen gathered 15 points, avoiding a complete disaster, while Tänak slipped to third place in the standings, overtaken by Evans. Despite Toyota's significant points haul, Hyundai still holds the lead in the team standings, with 311 points to Toyota's 301, a 10-point difference. The next round, the eighth event, will take place in Latvia, a country bordering Russia, from July 18 to 21.
During the June meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), a significant decision was made regarding the Rally1 regulations. Over recent months, the FIA has engaged in extensive discussions about the sustainability of the WRC Rally1 regulations. Introduced in 2022 to replace the previous World Rally Car, Rally1 incorporated hybrid power packs and space frames while aiming to control cost increases through simplified aerodynamics. Despite the addition of hybrid systems, which integrated motors and batteries, the expected influx of new manufacturers did not materialize.
Consequently, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem formed a WRC Working Group at the end of last year to conduct a comprehensive review. Initially, it was announced that the hybrid system would be discontinued after this year, with an upgraded WRC2 set to replace Rally1. This unexpected decision created urgency for teams that were already developing new cars. Amidst heated debates, various possibilities were discussed, including hybrids, electric vehicles, a return to internal combustion engines, sustainable fuels, and hydrogen fuel. Ultimately, it was decided to maintain the current Rally1 regulations until the end of 2026. This decision provided a respite for Hyundai, which had to temporarily halt its new car development project, giving the automaker time to plan for the long term.
By Su-jin Lee
In 1991, Su-jin Lee’s passion for cars led him to enthusiastically write letters to the newly launched Korean car magazine Car Vision. This unexpected connection led him to start his career as an automotive journalist. He has served as editor and editorial board member for Car Visionand Automobile Life, and now works as an automotive critic. While eagerly covering the latest trends like electric vehicles, connected cars, and autonomous driving technology, he is also a car enthusiast who secretly hopes that the smell of gasoline engines will never disappear.
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