P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Gearbox explosion caused Lappi’s Safari Rally exit
The Rally Sweden winner had to give up second place after his i20 N abruptly stopped in stage five due to a transmission problem, leaving him frustrated as there was no prior indication of the issue. This incident occurred following four propshaft failures during last year’s Kenya rally, prompting the team to install a stronger component for the 2024 event. The gearbox malfunction caused the car to shift to front-wheel drive suddenly without warning, forcing the driver, Lappi, to retire from the race due to the loss of power. Even though efforts were made to address the gearbox weaknesses in the past, it remains a challenge to find a lasting solution, according to Hyundai’s technical director Demaison. The retirement of Lappi and subsequent crash of Tanak elevated Neuville to the leading Hyundai position, but witnessing his teammates’ setbacks left him cautious about pushing to the limit in rough conditions.
