It is expected that the Korean brand will leave the WRC scene after next year, although current information suggests the automaker will remain in the championship with a private team. What is certain is that Hyundai will still participate as a full-fledged factory team next season.
It is also confirmed that Hyundai’s star drivers, Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville, will continue with the Korean brand next year. However, Hyundai is currently considering whether to continue rotating drivers in the third Rally1 car or to bring in a third full-season driver.
“It’s still to be decided. It’s still very much an option. We felt that it was the right thing to do this year in response to the particular situation of of Toyota,” Team principal Cyril Abiteboul said during the Acropolis Rally in Greece.
Abiteboul is referring to Toyota’s strategy of running Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä on a part-time basis this season. Hyundai has dominated Toyota this year and is likely to win the manufacturers’ championship. The drivers’ title also seems to be heading Hyundai’s way, as Thierry Neuville holds a substantial lead in the standings.
“We have discussions with with with Esapekka (Lappi), Andreas (Mikkelsen) and Dani (Sordo) who are also doing all to certain degree, I mean to a different level, an excellent job with us this year. So they should also be given the opportunity to have discussion and that’s what we are doing.”
Cyril Abiteboul, who leads not only the rally team but the entire Hyundai Motorsport division, is in no rush, as the Korean brand wants to wait and see what decisions Toyota makes regarding next year.
“We are going to take a bit of time for for the third car like we did last year, how it was signed actually fairly early, so that we have a bit of time for the third car. I’ll do a bit of the same, you know, see also what’s going on on the other side. I think it’s, it would be silly not to analyse your competition when you have to make such a decision,” Abiteboul told.
“What’s the options, what’s available? I don’t want to exclude any option, at least at this point. I would not be professional if I were so, frankly. Let’s look at every option and we’ll make the decision.”
Paddock rumours suggest that Adrien Fourmaux, who has had an impressive season with M-Sport Ford, has been in talks with Hyundai. Meanwhile, Lappi has repeatedly emphasized that a full-season program no longer interests him. The same likely applies to Sordo, whereas Mikkelsen might be considered too risky a choice to compete in all of the season’s WRC rallies.
