Hidden in the foothills of the French Alps, on the winding roads around Gap, Hyundai Motorsport has been quietly building momentum. These narrow, technical mountain roads – reminiscent of the Monte Carlo Rally – once again formed the backdrop for an intense day of development work.

After already running last week with Adrien Fourmaux during the Rallye Hivernal du Dévoluy, and completing an extra pre-event test day, the Korean manufacturer stayed behind in France.

This Tuesday, Thierry Neuville was back behind the wheel, with Hyundai returning to the same test base used the previous week with the Rally2 car. The morning began in cold, tricky conditions, with damp patches and occasional ice lingering in shaded areas. As the day progressed, these difficult early conditions gradually gave way to a much more forgiving surface.

By the afternoon, temperatures had risen sharply, creating almost spring-like weather. The test route became completely dry, allowing long, uninterrupted runs and significant mileage.

After this test day in France, Hyundai also plans further running at its private facility in Finland as part of preparations for Rally Sweden – though this remains dependent on suitable snow and ice.

Photos by Erwan Séité.