Hyundai Shell Mobis clawed through a brutal Rallye Monte Carlo, navigating ice, slush, and high-stakes drama to secure fourth and fifth. Adrien Fourmaux led the charge, overcoming an electrical glitch and a Thursday off-road excursion to bag two stage wins and 17 points. His fourth-place finish proves he has the pace, even if he is kicking himself over losing less than a second to Ogier. The Frenchman was satisfied with the momentum, noting that the team made strides in Japan last year and is carrying that grit into the new season.
Thierry Neuville had a rougher ride, describing the weekend as his most difficult Monte yet. Between sliding into a ditch on Friday and battling tyre damage on Sunday, he lacked the car feel needed to push, eventually settling for fifth. The Belgian star was vocal about the lack of confidence in the car under such extreme conditions, losing control multiple times throughout the four-day ordeal. Despite the frustration, he managed to scrape ten points for the championship hunt.
Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –2026 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV Ultimate -Why ASX is dead PART 2
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ABOVE: Hyundai Survives Chaos at Rallye Monte Carlo
Further back, Hayden Paddon made his top-flight return, showing flashes of speed before a snow-bank detour on Saturday relegated him to 11th. The Kiwi veteran and co-driver John Kennard were matching their teammates’ split times before the spin, proving they still belong in the Rally1 category. Paddon admitted the conditions were twice as tough as he anticipated, making his first outing since 2018 a true trial by fire.
The team heads to Sweden with plenty of homework and 35 manufacturer points. Sporting Director Andrew Wheatley remains optimistic, highlighting Fourmaux’s Sunday pace as a sign of things to come. With the mixed conditions of Monte Carlo in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts to pure winter performance where the i20 N Rally1 will be put to the ultimate test on high-speed snow passes.
The WRC returns in three weeks for the high-speed drifts of Rally Sweden, based in Umeå. The action kicks off Thursday, 12 February, with the shakedown and the opening spectator stage. Friday features 100 kilometres of competitive action, including the 27km Bygdsiljum test, before the Saturday marathon and the final Power Stage on Sunday.
Rally Sweden 2026 Schedule Highlights Thursday 12 Feb, Shakedown 10,01, SS1 Umeå 19,05 Friday 13 Feb, SS2 to SS8, Starts 10,07 Saturday 14 Feb, SS9 to SS15, Starts 10,01 Sunday 15 Feb, SS16 to SS18, Power Stage 12,15
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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