Hyundai Motorsport’s two WRC 2 crews both retired from Rally Estonia 18.07.2021: ... round 7 of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), during Friday morning’s loop • Oliver Solberg and Aaron Johnston endured a hard landing following an SS3 jump that resulted in terminal engine damage on their Hyundai i20 R5 • Jari Huttunen

... round 7 of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), during Friday morning’s loop


•    Oliver Solberg and Aaron Johnston endured a hard landing following an SS3 jump that resulted in terminal engine damage on their Hyundai i20 R5


•    Jari Huttunen and Mikko Lukka claimed two stage wins (SS1 and SS3) but crashed out in SS4 while pushing to reclaim the rally lead.




 Hyundai Motorsport’s two competing crews in the WRC 2 category of Rally Estonia were both forced to retire on the opening day of the event, despite showing early promise in the Hyundai i20 R5.
 


Oliver Solberg and co-driver Aaron Johnston hit trouble in Friday’s second stage, Otepäa (SS3), as they landed heavily during one of Rally Estonia’s well-known jumps. The impact resulted in damage to their radiator, which in turn caused their engine to overheat. The crew was sadly unable to continue and had to accept an early finish on Friday evening.
 


Jari Huttunen and Mikko Lukka, meanwhile, crashed out in SS4 (Kanepi) after misjudging a pace note. The resultant damage to their car was too significant for the Finns to re-join on Saturday morning. It was a bitter blow for the crew, having taken two stage wins out of the opening three. They set the pace on Thursday evening’s Tartu-based Super Special to lead the rally, before adding to that in Otepäa, moving into equal second in the competitive WRC 2 category.
 


Both crews had been hoping to deliver much more for Hyundai Motorsport N in Estonia, having previously scored strong results on the gravel rally in WRC 3. Unfortunately, neither was able to demonstrate their full potential, and depart empty-handed from a rally that had promised much more.
 



Crew Notes: Oliver Solberg / Aaron Johnston (#27 Hyundai i20 R5)


•    Crew had taken victory in Estonia (WRC 3) in 2020

•    No opportunity for a repeat result in WRC 2 after a heavy landing caused terminal engine issue
 


Solberg said: “It’s a shame to have to retire from Rally Estonia, an event I really enjoy. It would have been nice to show the speed that we have with the Hyundai i20 R5 this weekend. The team has been working really hard with a lot of development to get the car up to pace.


Sadly, we landed after one jump – maybe a bit harder than we expected - and the radiator picked up a water leak. I got the high water temperature warning and stopped the car as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the engine took some damage, and we weren’t able to carry on. That’s rallying; it’s tough at the moment but we will come back stronger.”
 




Crew Notes: Jari Huttunen / Mikko Lukka (#24 Hyundai i20 R5)


•    Finnish crew scored two stage wins – in SS1 and SS3

•    Retired in SS4 after sustaining irreparable damage following a crash
 



Huttunen said: “We were targeting so much more this weekend; we certainly didn’t expect to retire – and not during the first proper loop of the rally. It is very annoying to be forced out of the rally, and especially due to your own mistake, but this can happen when pushing for victory in such an intense championship like WRC 2. We came to a right-turn bend, but the line went a little wide, and we crashed.



 We were perhaps a bit too optimistic on the pace notes. The car was unfortunately too badly damaged for us to continue. I am disappointed for myself and for the team, but our ambition is clear, and our speed was shown with the two stage wins. We will now look ahead to our next event, Ypres Rally Belgium, in mid-August, where we will look to bounce back.”  
 


Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Andrea Adamo said: “There is really not much to say about our WRC 2 crews this weekend; it was a short rally with few positives. We know the speed and potential these youngsters have.


Jari showed his speed with two stage wins and we are fully aware of Oliver’s pace, but to have a double retirement with terminal car damage is not why we come rallying. These are important lessons to learn.”



- Thomas Villette  photos Hyundai