Hyundai Dominates Rally Sardinia as Rivals Face Crushing Triple Retirement

Hyundai grabbed the advantage on the opening day at Rally Sardinia, aiming to snap Toyota’s string of victories in the 2025 World Rally Championship. The first set of gravel stages saw the Hyundai squad take control with Adrien Fourmaux at the top, edging out his teammate and current world champion Thierry Neuville by just 2.9 seconds.

Sebastien Ogier from Toyota finished the morning third, trailing Fourmaux by 8.1 seconds. Ott Tanak kept Hyundai in the mix, securing fourth place and staying within a second of Ogier.

Fourmaux started seventh on the road, which offered him a cleaner path and a prime chance to push hard. He won the third stage, named Sa Conchedda 1, and used that momentum to seize the rally lead.

Neuville had briefly led after the second stage and remained close behind. Ogier, starting third for Toyota, posted a rapid time on the opening Arzachena 1 stage and expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying the car felt better than it had in Portugal where he claimed victory last round.

Ott Tanak made a strong move in the second stage, slicing the gap at the front, though he admitted struggling with the handling of his i20 N, especially when turning through technical sections. Sami Pajari from Toyota took advantage of his road position, climbing as high as third before a right-front puncture in stage three pushed him down to fifth.

Takamoto Katsuta, Kalle Rovanpera, and Elfyn Evans, all racing for Toyota, also dealt with difficult road conditions. Rovanpera described feeling a lack of confidence in his GR Yaris, and Evans faced slow times as the first car on the road.

The M-Sport Ford team suffered a huge setback on the second stage of the day, with three cars dropping out. Gregoire Munster and Joshua McErlean both hit rocks, which broke their rear suspension and forced them to retire.

Martins Sesks and his co-driver Renars Francis were unhurt after a high-speed roll, but their car suffered heavy damage. M-Sport’s team principal Rich Millener said that although the events were disappointing, they were part of the learning process in the sport.

He believed two of the three cars might return the next day, but had doubts over the third due to extensive damage. As Friday concluded, Hyundai held a slim advantage, but the time gaps remained tight among the frontrunners.

Ogier commended Toyota’s efforts in making setup changes after testing, hoping for more gains as the event continues. The ongoing battle among Hyundai, Toyota, and the recovering M-Sport team sets up an intriguing contest heading into the next stages.

Elsewhere in the teams, discussions continue about Hyundai’s long-term future in the WRC. While hopes for the 2026 season remain high, there are questions about their participation in 2027.

Sardinia’s challenging roads have already delivered drama for the teams, and the schedule will not get any easier with back-to-back rounds scheduled throughout the year. As Rally Sardinia unfolds, fans can expect more action and tight contests among top drivers.

The results from this rally may shape the rest of the 2025 World Rally Championship season and test the endurance of both crews and cars when the pressure is at its highest.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.