Among the WRC teams, Toyota has already finalised its line-up for the upcoming season. Toyota will field an impressive four full-season drivers: Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sami Pajari. Additionally, Sebastien Ogier will participate in selected WRC events driving Toyota’s Rally1 car.
Hyundai has confirmed three drivers for next year. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak will be joined by Adrien Fourmaux, who, like the team’s lead drivers, will contest all events in the upcoming season.
Hyundai has not ruled out running a fourth car next year. At the moment, it seems likely that Hyundai will field four Rally1 cars in selected events.
The candidates for Hyundai’s fourth car are the same drivers who shared responsibility in the team’s third car this year: Esapekka Lappi, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Dani Sordo.
Veteran Spanish driver Sordo has stated that he would like to compete once more in Rally de Portugal, which he considers something of a home event. Additionally, Sordo’s schedule would likely include the WRC’s newest addition, Rally Islas Canarias, taking place at the end of April on Gran Canaria’s asphalt roads.
Lappi demonstrated his speed in a Hyundai this past season by winning Rally Sweden, but his year also included mistakes. Lappi has not officially announced his retirement, making it highly likely that he has held discussions with Hyundai.
Mikkelsen’s season with Hyundai was challenging. The Norwegian driver found good pace only in Rally Poland’s gravel stages, while his performances in four asphalt rallies were underwhelming. After the season finale, Mikkelsen admitted that he has no clarity about his future.
Of the WRC teams, M-Sport Ford has yet to confirm any drivers for its line-up. At this stage, it seems most likely that Gregoire Munster will continue as a full-season driver in the Ford Puma Rally1 car.
Latvian driver Martins Sesks, who competed in three WRC events in the top category last season, has also been linked to M-Sport. Reports suggest that Sesks has discussed the possibility of a full-season programme, but he is likely to have at least a part-time campaign in the Puma.
Other drivers rumoured to be connected to M-Sport include Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin, and Josh McErlean, among others. Rossel has openly stated that his goal is to drive a Rally1 car, but recent reports indicate that the Frenchman is likely to continue his partnership with PH Sport and Citroën in WRC2.
Gryazin’s step up to the top category also seems unlikely. Recent speculation has linked him to Toksport’s Škoda, the car he last drove during the 2023 season.
M-Sport Ford could potentially field up to three cars in certain WRC events next season. The reality is that M-Sport has Rally1 cars available if a driver can bring sufficient funding. For example, Turkish driver Ali Türkkan is planning to enter two WRC events next year with a Ford Puma Rally1 car.
Additionally, the WRC promoter has promised to continue supporting young talents in the coming season. This could create new opportunities for M-Sport – as well as Hyundai and Toyota. This year, Sesks and Pajari received backing from the WRC Promoter for their Rally1 debuts.
M-Sport’s line-up may not be revealed until early next year. The entry forms for the season-opening Rally Monte-Carlo must be submitted by 20 December, but the entry list will not be revealed until 3 January.
The fate of Hyundai’s fourth car may be revealed even later, as the team is unlikely to field an additional car in Monte Carlo. Toyota, on the other hand, will arrive at the season opener with no fewer than five cars, as the event is part of Ogier’s programme.
