{"id":109991,"date":"2025-09-01T03:27:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T03:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/109991\/"},"modified":"2025-09-01T03:27:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T03:27:08","slug":"wrc-rally-paraguay-points-twist-as-hyundai-retires-fourmaux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/109991\/","title":{"rendered":"WRC Rally Paraguay points twist as Hyundai retires Fourmaux"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a strange turn of events, Elfyn Evans<\/a>\u2019 World Rally Championship lead has been further reduced as a consequence following Hyundai\u2019s decision to retire Adrien Fourmaux<\/a> from Rally Paraguay after the finish of the rally.<\/p>\n

Fourmaux was on course to claim a podium, having held second heading into the final Power Stage before heavy rain affected the later runners, with Fourmaux and eventual rally winner S\u00e9bastien Ogier<\/a> suffering the worst of the conditions.<\/p>\n

\"Adrien <\/p>\n

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1<\/p>\n

Photo by: McKlein Photography \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fourmaux slipped from second to fourth as a result, missing out on a podium by 1.3s. However, before the final time control, Hyundai opted to retire the car. This is understood to have been taken to allow the team more set up freedoms for Rally Chile in two weeks\u2019 time.<\/p>\n

Paraguay and Chile are classified as linked events, meaning transmission components such as the gearbox and differentials must remain sealed across both rallies. Teams can only replace these components if the car retires from the first rally of the link or receives written approval from the FIA Technical Delegate. Breaking the seals without approval would trigger a five-minute penalty at the following rally.<\/p>\n

WRC championship implications
\n \"Kalle <\/p>\n

Kalle Rovanper\u00e4, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1<\/p>\n

Photo by: Toyota Racing<\/p>\n

Fourmaux\u2019s retirement affects the WRC title race, with title contender and team-mate Ott Tanak promoted to fourth and title rival Toyota\u2019s Kalle Rovanpera rising to fifth. The pair both picked up two extra championship points.<\/p>\n

It means Rovanpera is now just seven points behind championship leader Evans, instead of nine. Ogier has now slipped to third in the championship but remains nine points adrift, while Tanak is now only 18 points shy of Evans.<\/p>\n

Speaking before the retirement announcement, Fourmaux said: “I\u2019m just really disappointed with the result in the end. We were in second position for nearly all the rally and were leading the rally on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a puncture and we managed it, and we kept the second position, and then we lost it and got it back again and today we lost a lot of time twice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe car did not start due to a stall and then the next stage the car drunk some water on the water splash and we lost quite a lot of time, and then we lost the second position after heavy rain in the Power Stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us it was massive rain and even worse for Seb, I tried and really pushed hard in the Power Stage to not be losing too much. I missed the podium by 1.3s and 2.3s for the second position.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m happy with the performance, it was really positive to be\u00a0always fighting at the top. Like in Finland we had the pace but we just didn\u2019t get the result we deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

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