P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Suninen apologises to Hyundai for costly WRC Rally Chile mistake
Teemu Suninen, driving a Rally1 hybrid for only the third time, was poised to finish on the podium after an impressive performance on Friday and Saturday in the final gravel round of the season. He briefly led the rally after winning stage four before settling into second place. However, an error on the penultimate stage caused terminal damage to his suspension when he clipped a tree stump. Suninen’s retirement allowed his teammate Thierry Neuville to move up to second, followed by the Toyota trio of Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanpera, and Takamoto Katsuta. Toyota’s strong performance effectively ended Hyundai’s chances of winning the manufacturers’ title. Suninen expressed his disappointment and apologized to the team, hoping to make amends in the upcoming Central European Rally. Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged the disappointment but also expressed hope that Suninen can learn from the mistake and grow as a driver. Suninen is set to drive Hyundai’s third i20N at the Central European Rally, but his future beyond that is still uncertain.
Source: motorsport
