Hyundai's new R5 misses shakedown after delay

The Dutchman and his British co-driver Sebastian Marshall were forced to sit out final preparations for France's World Rally Championship event, while the FIA finalised its checks on Hyundai's all-new car for the WRC2 feeder class and other series.

The car has now passed scrutineering and will make the start of the first stage on Friday morning.

A Hyundai spokesperson told Autosport: "The FIA had some more requests for the homologation, they wanted us to be more specific on some of the documents.

"We finally got clearance this morning.

"Obviously the car could not start shakedown without scrutineering and it couldn't be scrutineered until it had been homologated.

"The issue had been the level of detail needed in the homologation [papers] is higher for the R5 car, because the cars are being handed to privateers to run.

"We needed to give more detail. We are now through with this process.

"The only consequence of this is that Kevin didn't run at shakedown, but, to be honest, we have done a lot of kilometres with this car in testing."

Abbring added: "These things can happen, but for me I am really proud and happy for this moment.

"This car has been my job for a long time and I'm really pleased to be here and competing."

Abbring will leave the ceremonial start in Ajaccio at 2024 on Thursday evening.

Of the crews who did make shakedown, Sebastien Ogier was fastest, eight tenths up on his Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

Kris Meeke was third quickest in his Citroen DS 3 WRC.

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville was fourth while his team-mate Dani Sordo and Meeke's team-mate Craig Breen were tied in fifth.