Hyundai PET Rallye Monte Carlo

Hello rally fans :)!

As the start of 2025. rally season approaches, the content I share follows closely.

If you’ve been following preparations for Rallye Monte Carlo, you might have noticed an interesting change on Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1 car during today’s pre event testing (PET). Specifically, the rear brake air intake has been removed.

This modification appears to have been compensated for by an upper air intake located in the rear window area. The inclusion of this upper intake is especially interesting because it remains present even when the car is running in non hybrid mode.

(NOT 100%!!! There’s just speculations going around but I’d love to explore this possibility)

Why Remove the Rear Brake Air Intake?

Brake air intakes are crucial in rally cars, particularly in events with long, demanding stages like Monte Carlo. I’ll try to explain this simple, they help cool the braking system during intense use, ensuring consistent performance and to preventing overheating. However, Hyundai’s decision to remove the rear brake intake could be influenced by several factors:

Aerodynamic Efficiency: Removing the intake could reduce drag or turbulence around the rear section of the car, potentially improving overall aerodynamics.
Weight Redistribution: Redesigning cooling systems might allow engineers to adjust weight distribution for better handling of the car.
Adaptation for Monte Carlo Conditions: this rally is really specific with the conditions it’s driven in. Mix of snow, ice, and asphalt may not demand as much rear brake cooling compared to gravel or tarmac rallies.

The Role of the Upper Air Intake

The upper intake positioned in the rear window is likely serving a dual purpose in this car. Firstly, it can cool other components such as the electric motor or battery system when running in hybrid mode (no hybrid cars this season!!) . Secondly, the presence in non hybrid setups suggests it plays a broader role in managing airflow to other critical systems, potentially contributing to gearbox or differential cooling which is also very important.

What to Watch for

As the rally unfolds, it will be interesting to see how this change impacts performance, particularly in terms of braking efficiency and overall reliability. With Monte Carlo’s tricky conditions, any improvement in handling aerodynamics could make a significant difference in the long run for the team.

If you’d like to watch the video please see the link and enjoy!