Andrew Wheatley on Hyundai's troubled start to 2026

Hyundai is the rally team/constructor being discussed, and the hosts are evaluating how the team is performing in the championship. In rally terms, the constructor’s results depend on the car, drivers, and the engineering/strategy effort behind the scenes.

Safari refers to another rally event on the calendar, discussed as a place where Hyundai could have improved their results. In rally talk, events like this are often compared because terrain and conditions affect car setup and driver performance.

“Sliding wide” describes a loss of grip where the car over-rotates or under-rotates through a corner and ends up going wider than intended. In rally, it often points to tires, surface, braking/turn-in timing, or car balance issues at that moment.

A “right-hander” is a corner that turns to the right. Rally drivers and engineers talk about corner types like this because they influence braking points, steering angle, and how the car’s balance (front vs rear grip) behaves.

The command centre is the team’s off-track operations hub where engineers and technicians monitor data, coordinate strategy, and support the drivers. In rally, it’s where real-time decisions about setup changes, pace notes, and tactics are discussed.

“A minute in hand” means the team had built up a time buffer—about one minute—relative to their target or rivals at that point in the rally. In rally, that kind of buffer can help manage risk, but it doesn’t guarantee a good outcome if pace or reliability issues appear later.

In rallying, a dedicated testing team runs development work between events. They use track time, data collection, and controlled changes to improve how the car behaves and to reduce issues before the next rally.

“Reliability” in motorsport means the car finishes the rally without mechanical failure. A car can be reliable yet still underperform if its pace, setup, or tire performance isn’t competitive.

“Car performance” refers to how quickly and consistently the car can complete stages, not just whether it survives. In rally, it’s influenced by setup (suspension/tires), power delivery, and how well the car matches the road conditions.

In motorsport, reliability means the car can complete stages and races without mechanical failures. Teams work on both parts durability and procedures so the car survives the event and stays consistent lap after lap.

Road conditions in rallying refer to how the surface and grip change during the event—things like dust, mud, ice, or loose gravel. These conditions affect tire choice, braking distances, and how aggressively the driver can attack corners.

Recce (short for reconnaissance) is when the rally team drives the course beforehand to create pace notes. Those notes help the driver know what to expect—turns, braking points, and hazards—so they can go fast safely during the rally.

In rallying, “converting hard work into results” means turning preparation—car setup, reliability work, and recce—into actual stage performance and championship points. Even with strong preparation, outcomes can still hinge on variables like weather and luck.

Sweden refers to Rally Sweden, a rally event where cold temperatures and snow/ice often dominate. The speaker uses it as a benchmark for how the team performed on stages compared with expectations from the previous year.

Devalloy rally appears to be a rally event used as a reference point for how close the competition was earlier in the season. The speaker contrasts that “nose to nose” stage battle with a later performance gap at Monte Carlo.

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a classic American personal-luxury coupe that became well known for its sporty styling and V8-powered performance. In a rally or motorsport discussion, it may come up as a period-correct, characterful car that represents how these cars were driven and tuned for spirited events. The mention of Monte Carlo in the podcast likely ties the name to the car’s identity and era.

Slush is a mix of snow and water that creates unpredictable tire grip and can overwhelm a car’s traction control and braking stability. Rally teams often adjust tires and suspension/drive setup to deal with slushy, low-friction surfaces.

A complete suspension rework means the team changed the car’s setup and hardware to improve how it grips and responds over different surfaces. In rallying, suspension tuning strongly affects traction, stability, and how quickly the car can change direction.

Homologation is the official approval process that locks in a rally car’s allowed specifications for competition. Once the homologation window closes, teams can’t freely change major components (like suspension geometry) without risking rule compliance.

This refers to the rally event in the Canary Islands that kicked off the season. The hosts are using it as an example of results that didn’t match expectations.

The “window of operation” is the range of conditions where a rally car can perform effectively—things like grip, traction, and how the car’s setup behaves. If that window is narrow, small changes in weather or track surface can make the car harder to drive fast.

“Cape 2024” is referenced as a specific rally event used to illustrate Toyota’s competitive strength and the championship’s evolution. It’s a named race context rather than a technical term.

In rallying, the “first stage” is the opening timed section, and it can heavily influence overall results. Losing over two minutes on the first stage puts a team under immediate pressure for the rest of the event.

The “second stage” is the next timed section after the opening one, and it’s where teams try to recover time and regain pace. The speaker quantifies their gap to the leaders as they enter that stage.

“Think on your feet” describes making fast decisions during the event as conditions change—adjusting driving approach, pace notes, or strategy on the fly. In rallying, this can be the difference between losing more time and stabilizing the result.

“Rougher, hotter rallies” refers to events with more severe road surfaces and higher ambient temperatures. Those factors affect tire behavior, cooling, and suspension tuning, so teams often adjust setups to maintain grip and control.

In rallying, “running order” is the sequence in which cars start each stage. It matters because road conditions can change as more cars pass, affecting grip and how fast you can safely go.

In rallying, “on the road” refers to the order cars start and run through the stages, which affects track conditions. Earlier cars can clear debris and change grip levels, so starting position can strongly influence pace and strategy.

Starting position in rallying matters because it determines the “on the road” order and therefore the condition of the stages when you run. A car starting later may face less debris or different grip, while an earlier car can benefit from a cleaner line.

“Raw pace” is the underlying speed a car and crew can produce on the stages, before accounting for strategy, traffic, or other situational factors. Teams often learn raw pace only after seeing how the car performs under rally conditions.

A “permanent test road” is a dedicated stretch used for repeated vehicle development runs. It’s valuable because teams can control variables and gather consistent data, unlike public roads.

“Tarmac” is paved asphalt, and rally teams treat it as a distinct surface from gravel or snow. Surface type affects grip, tire choice, and how the car’s setup is tuned.

In rally development, “setup” refers to how the car is configured—typically suspension, tires, and differential/brake settings—to suit a surface and conditions. The speaker notes the tarmac section isn’t ideal for setup work because grip levels and road quality aren’t representative.

In motorsport, “homologated” means the parts have been officially approved under the rules for competition. Teams can only use homologated components, so testing focuses on which approved parts work best together.

In this context, “mileage” means the total distance the team drives during testing. More mileage helps teams validate durability and gather enough data to compare different parts and setups.

The “21 days test regulation” is a rule limiting how many days a team can test before an event. It forces teams to plan carefully and make the most of limited time at the right venues and conditions.

Portugal here refers to the rally event location, where stage characteristics can strongly influence who performs best. Teams often tailor setup and strategy to the country’s typical surface, grip levels, and stage layout.

In rallying, a shakedown is a short practice session held right before the main stages. Teams use it to test car setup, check reliability, and refine notes so the drivers are ready for the competitive runs.

Rally stages are the timed sections of the event, run on closed roads. The overall rally result is determined by adding up stage times across multiple days.

This is about setting a specific performance target for each rally based on prior results and expected conditions. It helps teams avoid overreaching and manage risk across the event.

In rallying, the “podium” refers to finishing in the top three positions overall. When the hosts say “podium is very possible,” they mean the team could realistically place first, second, or third in the event standings.

“Pace falling off” means a driver’s speed and/or stage times slow down as the rally progresses. In rally terms, it can happen for many reasons—tire wear, changing grip, setup compromises, or simply the driver not being as effective in the second half.

“In-car” footage or data refers to what the driver sees and does inside the cockpit, often including steering, throttle, and braking inputs. The hosts say they watched every kilometer “in car,” implying they monitored how smoothly the driver was driving throughout the early stages.

In rally driving, “risk level” is how aggressively the team decides to push—balancing potential gains in speed against the chance of mistakes, damage, or losing time. Higher risk often means driving closer to the car’s limits, especially when conditions are uncertain.

A “puncture” is when a tire gets damaged and loses pressure, usually from debris or contact with something on the road. In rallying, it typically forces a stop to change the tire, costing significant time and momentum.

WRC stands for World Rally Championship, the top-level global rally series. It features multiple events (rounds) where teams and drivers accumulate points toward the overall championship.

In rallying, the manufacturer’s championship is a points race where car makers accumulate points based on how their cars finish in events. It’s separate from the drivers’ championship and rewards consistent team performance across the season.

Rally championships award points for finishing positions at each event, so every weekend can materially change the standings. This is why being in a good rhythm and avoiding mistakes early can create a points advantage.

The “Rally 2 car” refers to a second-tier rally race car category used for development and competition. In this segment, Hyundai uses it as a test platform to dial in setup details like tire behavior and chassis development before applying what they learn to their customer racing efforts.

The chassis is the car’s structural foundation, including the frame and mounting points that determine how forces travel through the vehicle. Here, Hyundai says every test kilometre is being used for chassis development, meaning they’re refining the car’s structure and setup to improve handling and performance.

Tire pressures are a key tuning parameter in rallying because they affect contact patch shape, grip, and how the tire responds to bumps and cornering loads. The segment indicates Hyundai is validating the correct pressures as part of its tire development work.

In rally tire testing, “crossovers” typically refers to the tire compounds or tread options used across different stages/conditions, and how the car’s setup transitions between them. The speaker is saying they’re checking that the chosen crossover options match what the car needs for performance.

A customer racing programme is a manufacturer-backed effort where private teams buy cars and support to compete, while the factory uses that involvement to develop and validate technology. The speaker says Rally 2 testing experience feeds directly into this programme.

Sporting regulations are the rulebook for how a racing series is run—covering eligibility, car specifications, and how competition is structured. The speaker notes it’s still hard to predict how the sporting regulations will play out next year, which affects planning decisions.

ARA is referenced as the rally series Lea Block is competing in, with the speaker tracking her results early in the season. The acronym is used as a shorthand for the championship context.

“Stage by stage” refers to rally timing and performance measured on each individual stage rather than just overall speed. Drivers can improve or lose time as conditions and tactics change from one stage to the next.

“Single seaters” means open-wheel, single-driver race cars (like formula-style cars). The speaker is noting Lea Block transitioned from that type of racing into rally driving, which can require different skills and car feedback.

In rallying, a “two-car” is a specific car position/entry used for timing and competition structure—often meaning the driver is competing in a class/entry that’s paired with another car rather than running fully solo. It’s not a car model; it describes how the event’s cars are organized and how the driver is placed for that stage of competition.

“Olympus” here refers to a specific rally event. The hosts describe it as long and difficult, with stages that include very high-speed sections—useful context for why preparation and experience matter.

“At pace” means the driver is matching the speed and rhythm of the front-running cars—driving quickly and confidently rather than just finishing. In rally terms, it usually implies good stage times and control at speed.

In motorsport, “momentum” refers to building confidence and performance over successive stages/events—often translating into better consistency, fewer mistakes, and stronger results. The hosts are using it as a performance narrative: start strong, then keep improving.

“Hammer down” is rally/track slang for pressing hard on the throttle to drive aggressively and maximize speed. It implies the driver is confident enough to push rather than manage risk.

Subaru is referenced in the context of Derek Dawn stepping over from Subaru into Ford. That kind of move highlights how rally team personnel and experience transfer between manufacturer programs.

Ford is mentioned as the manufacturer Derek Dawn moved to after Subaru, during a period when he was highly involved with Ken Block’s program. Manufacturer-backed rally programs can differ in engineering approach and support structure.

The hosts discuss following rally action live over long hours, which changes how fans and teams consume updates. Night coverage can also make timing and communication (like stage-end updates) more important.

Mitsubishi is the rally brand Andrew says Derek is associated with in the context of the podcast. In rallying, teams and manufacturers often run specific cars and drivers under their banner.

Toyota is mentioned as the incorrect rally team affiliation the host initially attributed to Derek. The correction matters because rally teams/manufacturers are tied to specific cars and support structures.