It is certain that Thierry Neuville will continue as a Hyundai driver next year. It also appears highly likely that Adrien Fourmaux will stay with the team, although the Frenchman’s contract extension has not been officially confirmed.
Estonian star Ott Tänak bid farewell to the team after last weekend’s Rally Saudi Arabia. In recent weeks Hyundai has been evaluating different options to replace the Estonian.
Hyundai has confirmed it will run three cars next season. In the third car, however, the team has the option to rotate two drivers. Until now, the most likely scenario has been that Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo will share Hyundai’s third car next year.
Hyundai’s sporting director Andrew Wheatley hinted after Rally Saudi Arabia that driver news is coming soon.
“We have deadlines looming. I promise you there is nothing signed at the moment – we’re not holding anything back just to let Toyota finish their season,” Wheatley told the official World Rally Championship website
“We are working every day to understand what the options are, and as soon as that’s available we’ll share it.”
The Finnish driver Lappi revealed a couple of weeks ago to RallyJournal.com that Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul had called him to ask about his interest in returning to the team. At that stage Lappi did not reject the idea, and since then he has continued to suggest that a comeback to a Rally1 car could be possible on a part-time basis.
Read more: Esapekka Lappi in shock Hyundai link as Ott Tänak’s replacement – “There was a phone call”
Lappi and Sordo would bring Hyundai the experience the team needs for next season.
“We only have one target next year. We’re absolutely crystal clear: our target is to win the World Championship. All we’re interested in is anybody who can help us get one step closer to that. We just want to get every car as far up the podium as we possibly can,” Wheatley underlined.
Lappi drove for Hyundai in 2023–24. Last year his programme included five WRC events, and he claimed the second victory of his career in Sweden.
Sordo, meanwhile, contested three WRC rallies for Hyundai last year and secured two podiums. This year he won the Portuguese Rally Championship, while Lappi celebrated the Finnish title.
Driver news from Hyundai is expected within the coming days.
