Strong rumours surrounding the future of Hyundai’s WRC team

Rumours have been swirling around Hyundai's WRC team since last season.
Thierry Neuville
Thierry Neuville. Photo: Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

When the Korean manufacturer announced its investment in the WEC endurance racing series, many felt that Hyundai’s rally team was nearing its end. However, Hyundai’s WRC team will still compete in the World Rally Championship this year, but the situation could be different next season.

Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul stated after Rally Monte-Carlo that Hyundai has until the beginning of summer to decide what it will do. According to experts, the most likely scenario is that Hyundai will continue in the WRC from next year as a private team. The manufacturer’s WRC2 project has already been outsourced to private teams.

But who would run Hyundai’s private team? There were already talks last season about Hyundai icon Thierry Neuville’s interest in managing his own team, even though he dismissed the rumours during Rally Greece in September. However, Neuville could still compete as a Rally1 driver next season, even if his team handles the operations.

Neuville already has the Life Live team, which is now bringing Frenchman Stephane Lefebvre into the European Rally Championship.

“Nothing is set in stone yet, but we believe in this project,” Lefebvre commented, according to Belgian site AutoTrends.

Lefebvre competed last weekend in the Legend Boucles a Bastogne rally behind the wheel of a Ford Escort. Originally, the car was supposed to be driven by world champion Neuville, but Hyundai did not grant permission. As a result, Neuville brought out his own team’s BMW M3 from the garage and recommended Lefebvre to take the wheel of the Escort.

Why did Neuville recommend the French driver? According to respected AutoTrends journalist Oliver de Wilde, Neuville and Lefebvre are finalising a deal to compete in the ERC with a Hyundai Rally2 car, based at Neuville’s Life Live team headquarters in Saint-Vith, Belgium.

The Belgian site reports that the agreement looks very promising. It also states that negotiations have begun regarding next season’s Hyundai Rally1 cars between Neuville, his management team, and Hyundai Motorsport. According to the site’s information, Hyundai is not expected to make any further investments in its rally project after March.

The next round of the World Rally Championship will be held in Sweden around Umeå from 13–16 February.

Also check out