Hyundai Achieves Double Victory at WRC Portugal Rally and TCR World Tour Round 1

Hyundai World Rally Team Secures First Victory of the Season

Hyundai Motor Company has simultaneously achieved its first victory of the 'World Rally Championship (WRC) 2026' season and a win at the opening round of the premier touring car event, the '2026 TCR World Tour'.

Hyundai World Rally Team's 'i20 N Rally1' race car speeding in the '2026 WRC' Portugal Rally. Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Motor Company announced on the 11th that Thierry Neuville of the Hyundai World Rally Team took first place in the sixth round of the '2026 WRC' season, held in Portugal from the 7th to the 10th (local time). The Hyundai World Rally Team fielded three drivers in this race—Thierry Neuville, Adrien Fourmaux, and Dani Sordo—each driving the 'i20 N Rally1' race car.

The Portugal Rally is an unpaved rally that not only features rough road surfaces but also demands both the durability of the race car and the skill of the driver due to the hot weather. The event is known as one of the toughest rallies to finish, as the long course combines high jump sections and rough roads filled with obstacles.

Drawing on extensive driving experience, Thierry Neuville dramatically reclaimed first place at the end of the race. This marked Neuville's first win of the season and his 23rd career WRC victory. Adrien Fourmaux and Dani Sordo also contributed to the team's results, securing fourth and eighth place respectively through stable performances.

On the 7th (local time) through the 10th, Thierry Neuville (right) and co-driver Martin Wydeger, who won the 2026 WRC Portugal Rally, are cheering atop their race car. Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Motor Company also lifted the trophy at the Italian round, the opening event of the '2026 TCR World Tour'. In the first round of the '2026 TCR World Tour', held from the 8th to the 10th at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy, Hyundai Motor Company's 'The New Elantra N TCR' (domestic name: The New Avante N TCR) claimed victory.

Norbert Michelisz of the 'BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse' team, driving The New Elantra N TCR race car, secured first place in the opening final race, delivering the team's opening round victory. His teammate, Mikel Azcona, finished second in the first final race behind Norbert Michelisz, and also took second place in the second final race held on the 10th, resulting in three podium finishes for the team in just the opening round.

Norbert Michelisz (left) and Mikel Azcona are celebrating winning first and second place at the opening round of the 2026 TCR World Tour held in Italy from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th (local time). Hyundai Motor Company

Thanks to the balanced performances of its drivers, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse finished with a total of 111 points to start the season at the top of the team standings. Hyundai plans to accelerate its pursuit of the overall championship this season by building on its strong showing from the very first round of the TCR World Tour.

A Hyundai Motor Company official stated, "We are pleased that our efforts to improve the race cars based on experience and data have resulted in these joint victories," adding, "We will strive to deliver strong performances at both competitions through outstanding teamwork."

The Hyundai Motor Company's "The New Elantra N TCR (domestic name: The New Avante N TCR)" driving at the opening round of the 2026 TCR World Tour in Italy. Hyundai Motor Company

Meanwhile, the seventh round of the 2026 WRC will be held in Japan from the 28th to the 31st. The second round of the TCR World Tour will take place from June 12 to 14 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.