After a few days’ rest, the WRC teams got back to work to prepare for the upcoming WRC clashes. M-Sport, Michelin and Hyundai Motorsport notably ran important development tests.
After its dramatic adventures in Mexico, M-Sport was in Wales last week to test the new evolutions it plans to introduce in Portugal (engine, transmission, hydraulics). Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans took turns in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC to sign off the solutions proposed by the team’s engineers.
Meanwhile, the Fiesta RS WRC which sank in Mexico has been entirely stripped at M-Sport’s workshops to be rebuilt for Argentina. Tanak was classified in Leon, so the team will have to keep the same engine and mechanical assemblies (transmission, sub frames, etc.) for the South American event. Other parts off the N°6 Fiesta were auctioned…
Hyundai Motorsport has also been busy working on the new i20 WRC which is expected to make its debut this summer. Kevin Abbring put it through its pace on (snowy) asphalt roads near Almeria, Spain.
Michelin did some development testing last week, too, in association with recent retiree Mikko Hirvonen who tried the new asphalt tyres the French firm plans to introduce later this season.
