Hyundai believes Sordo testing crash issue is fixed on its i20 WRC

Hyundai is confident it has fixed the failure which caused Dani Sordo’s pre-rally Finland test crash, ruling him out of the Jyvaskyla event later this month.

The Spaniard suffered a fractured vertebra when his i20 WRC hit a rock after a suspension arm broke following a landing from a jump. He and co-driver Marc Marti were hospitalised after the crash with Sordo kept in overnight. Marti was uninjured.

Team principal Michel Nandan said: “Dani is recovering well and making good progress. After a detailed analysis, we have identified the technical problem that led to Dani’s crash. The specific parts are under investigation and we have already taken steps to ensure there will be no repeat of the issue.”

Kevin Abbring and Briton Seb Marshall will take over the #20 entry, their first outing in the 2016spec i20. They were called up as cover for Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in Sweden last year when the New Zealanders replaced Sordo and Marti after Sordo broke two ribs falling from his mountain bike while training.

Nandan added that the priority for Sordo is Germany – the only WRC event he has won.

“It is important that he recovers fully so we have made the mutual decision for him to miss Rally Finland. This will allow him to be at his best for Deutschland.”

Abbring, Paddon and Thierry Neuville will take part in Hyundai’s rescheduled Finland test next week.

That’s the aim but it depends on sponsorship, I can’t fund it on my own.”

Team boss Simon Mauger added: “We’re just waiting for insurance and budgets and stuff like that but obviously I’ve know Chris and his dad for a long time and he keeps pestering me to let him out in the car!”