Hyundai already has two significant driver contracts for next year. Ott Tänak will continue as a team driver, and the team recently announced a one-year extension for their other star driver, Thierry Neuville.
However, there are still questions surrounding Hyundai’s third car. In recent years, Hyundai has rotated several drivers in its third car – for example, this year Esapekka Lappi, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Dani Sordo have all taken turns behind the wheel.
It is possible that Hyundai may move to a lineup of three full-time drivers next year. Speculation suggests that Adrien Fourmaux, who is having an excellent season with M-Sport Ford, could join Tänak and Neuville. However, the team has yet to finalise its plans.
Hyundai’s Estonian star, Ott Tänak, shared his views on the matter in an interview with his partner VivatBet.
“The current system can be a bit tricky for drivers because, with so many of them, the breaks between drives can be quite long. With the current test schedule, drivers get very little seat time and sometimes don’t get any practice before a race.”
“Coming into a race without enough preparation makes things much more difficult for them. I feel like we can organise this better as a team next year,” Tänak says straightforwardly.
In Tänak’s opinion, there are two options: either have a full-time driver or two alternating drivers for the third car. This would help the third driver, or drivers, maintain a better driving routine.
This year, Toyota has also rotated two drivers in its third car, with multiple champions Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä competing in selected rallies. Ogier and Rovanperä have each secured three wins this year.
“I think what Toyota has been doing isn’t entirely the wrong way to go about it. The sport is heading in a direction where even part-time drivers are able to win rallies. The advantage they gain is significant,” Tänak refers to the fact that drivers who participate in only some rallies often get a favourable starting position in gravel rallies.
“It has definitely changed the system a bit. Maybe it’s not ideal for the sport, but as long as the rules stay the way they are, we have to adapt and make the most of the system.”
Toyota has taken more victories than Hyundai this season (6-4), yet Hyundai leads the manufacturers’ championship by 35 points with three rounds remaining. The next WRC event will take place next week in Chile.
