Hi, friends!
Hyundai works team sent two of their drivers to Italy to contest first round of their national championship called Rally Il Ciocco.
Quality of their championship is really on a high level and anyone who thought that Neuville and Breen will wipe up the floor with Italians were out of their mind.
Thierry Neuville battled against Stefano Albertini (Škoda) until the end and they were inside of 10s all the time and then Neuville made another 6s gap in front of Albertini and that was it.
Craig Breen did what he does when he is behind, he overdrive and that way he rolled the car into the forest and that was game over for him.
This rally was a prepare rally for Hyundai ahead of WRC Rally Croatia and it can be everything on slippy Croatian tarmac, especially in Zagorje area. I know that because first rally of the last season we drove there.
Power Stage of Rally Croatia is called Zagorska Sela and it is really a great special stage.
I guess that is the reason why Hyundai works team decided to go in Italy just to try the same kind of terrain as they wil find in Croatia.
I must also admit that guys from Italian championship are just on some other level then nationals from other European championships. True fighters with lots of invested in rallying.
It is shame that their 2020 champion Adrea Crugnola finished only 10th overall but it seems that he had some problem with the car on one special stage where he lost a lot of time.
It seems also that Crugnola didn't find Hyundai as easy to drive as Citroen from the last season.
Credit for photos and videos to CIR and Youtube
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