Hyundai Motorsport president Cyril Abiteboul has told DirtFish the Korean manufacturer could run its World Rally Championship program through a private team in 2026.
Despite leading both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships, Hyundai’s future in the series remains under close scrutiny in Greece this week, with some sources suggesting the marque could walk away from the WRC completely at the end of next season.
Hyundai is expected to confirm a World Endurance Championship effort in the coming weeks and, while Abiteboul has already indicated a two-pronged approach to WRC and WEC would be possible in 2025, the prospect of privately-run i20 N Rally1s in 2026 is new.
Asked directly if such a move was on the horizon, the Frenchman said: “If it fits our strategy. The first thing we need to do is to define our strategy. If it fits our strategy, then [for] the execution, the operating model, we will be open-minded.”
Some of the summer’s more interesting speculation has linked championship leader Thierry Neuville to a more structured management role in 2026, with one rumor focusing on the potential for cars being run by a team owned by the Belgian.
Hyundai does, of course, already run its own customer program out of its Alzenau factory, but insiders have indicated doors could be closed on that side of the operation as well. Hyundai’s lease on its premises in the Frankfurt suburbs is understood to expire at the end of next year.
DirtFish understands Christian Loriaux will remain in charge of the firm’s WRC effort through 2025, with technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison working on the development of WEC race cars – which could fall under the high-performance arm N or Genesis, Hyundai Motor Corporation’s premium brand. Demaison is, of course, no stranger to racing, having spent two seasons in the same role at Williams Racing Formula 1 team.
