Hyundai confirmed on Wednesday that Norwegian driver Andreas Mikkelsen and Spanish veteran Dani Sordo will share responsibilities with Esapekka Lappi in the team’s third Rally1 car for the upcoming season.
In practice, this meant that Suninen will not have the opportunity to compete in Hyundai’s Rally1 car in 2024. This year, Suninen had the opportunity to showcase his skills in Hyundai’s hybrid car in four rounds, achieving a best finish of fourth in Rally Finland.
Suninen’s manager, Timo Jouhki, was outraged by Hyundai’s decision to hire experienced drivers, or “old men,” as Jouhki put it in an interview with MTV Sports.
“A hell of a disappointment when looking at these performances and the contract situation. I really don’t understand. It seems they don’t really know what they’re doing,” Jouhki criticized to MTV Sports.
Hyundai’s team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, who has been in the role for almost a year, dreamed of having four Rally1 cars next year, but that wish is not coming to fruition. Abiteboul had envisioned younger talents for the fourth car, but now the South Korean manufacturer opted for a three-car strategy and an experienced lineup.
According to Jouhki, Hyundai believed that Suninen and Lappi have similar driver profiles. Therefore, the team decided to hire other drivers.
“They think both are drivers for fast rallies, which is a wrong conclusion. Teemu’s best results have been from Portugal, Sardinia, Chile, and Mexico, which are not the fastest rallies,” Jouhki listed.
In its announcement, Hyundai stated that Lappi’s program would include fast rallies on gravel and snow. Sordo, on the other hand, will take responsibility for slower gravel rallies – exactly the type of rallies Jouhki mentioned. Mikkelsen’s program, meanwhile, will focus on asphalt rallies.
Suninen had a contract with Hyundai for next year, but it did not specify which rounds he would drive. According to Jouhki, the rallies were supposed to be agreed upon before December 15. Now that no races have been marked in the contract, it can be considered void, according to Jouhki.
It’s possible that Suninen’s career will continue in Hyundai’s Rally2 car in the WRC2 class. Jouhki mentioned that they are seeking a driving spot for Suninen elsewhere as well.
M-Sport Ford has not yet officially chosen its drivers for next year. According to Jouhki, he has been in contact with the team’s boss Malcolm Wilson, but Suninen’s return to the British team does not seem very likely.
Source: MTV Urheilu
