Hyundai's 2017 WRC Challenger Takes Downforce To The Extreme

The Paris Auto Show was chosen by Hyundai for the debut of a prototype of its i20 WRC 2017 World Rally Championship contender.

As we already knew, Hyundai's new WRC entrant will be based around the three-door i20 and, compared to the current car, promises to be much faster thanks to the adoption of new technical regulations for the impending season by the FIA.

Most significantly, next year's championship will see manufacturers adopt 36 mm restrictor plates on the turbochargers, rather than the 33 mm ones currently used. This simple modification will see power from the 1.6-liter engines rise from the current 300-315 hp mark up to 380 hp. 

Also for next year, teams have more freedom in the aero parts design, in an effort to increase downforce. Hyundai has done so by outfitting its 2017 challenger with brand new bodywork that includes a different front end, new side skirts, flared front and rear wheel arches, a much larger rear wing and a new diffuser. 

While the vehicle revealed at Paris is only an “interim version”, it does provide a solid preview of what the finished car will look like at its December unveiling. According to Hyundai Motorsport team principal Michel Nandan, "The 2017 car started testing in April with initial work centred on engine and powertrain testing. More recently, we have looked at suspension, differential and aero. There will be some small evolutions on both chassis and engine later this year. We look forward to revealing the final version of our 2017 car later this year.”