Hyundai is expected to sign off on its 13-season stay in the World Rally Championship in the coming weeks, with team principal Cyril Abiteboul making it clear that future participation in the WRC depends on impending FIA and promoter decisions.
Sources in Europe and Seoul have confirmed news of the current factory WRC team will be communicated soon, following last weekend’s Rally Italy Sardinia season finale.
On an event where the Korean firm has enjoyed so much success, Adrien Fourmaux completed his two-year stint as a Hyundai driver with fourth place, while Thierry Neuville delivered a final powerstage win as part of his farewell to a team he’s been part of since the beginning.
Reflecting on his time with the Hyundai Motorsport team, Neuville told DirtFish: “There are only a handful of people left at the end who have done all those years. And yeah, we shared highs and lows, but at the end we will remember the great adventure it was. And yeah, let’s see what the future brings for them. They are all very motivated and capable people, so I’m sure the future is bright.”
Neuville’s response differed from Abiteboul, who continued to question the lack of regulatory clarity for next year.
“What is the WRC?” he offered in response to the question of whether Hyundai would be present next season. “This is the first question: what do you refer to? But I mean, question: will there be some Hyundai cars? More or less, yes, there will be Hyundai cars. I mean, under what form, under what shape, under what championship is very much what remains to be defined, decided [and is] very much based on the upcoming decision from the FIA.
“We are working with the FIA. We are working with the new promoter. We are exchanging ideas. We are challenging them about the situation of the sport. And if we challenge them, it’s precisely because we care. We care for the sport. We care for a sport in which we’ve invested heavily for 12 years. We’ve had ups and downs, including this year, but we believe in the texture and the value of the sport, like we’ve seen today. But once again, first, before defining our own plan, we need to have a clear understanding of what the sport will look like next year.”
Questioned specifically on Hyundai’s WRC plans beyond the end of this season, he responded: “Well, I mean, let’s give us a bit of time. First, we wanted to be very focused on this season. It’s been a tough season for us. We wanted to finish on the high. It’s not what we’ve done. [This event is] probably a good reflection of what’s been happening all season.
“Now that this is behind, we can continue to work on what’s happening here and on having [a] clear understanding of the opportunity for next year. You know there is lots of discussion going on with the FIA, with the new promoter about the different opportunities so let’s take the time to assess. You know that we have a very strong program going on with the Rally2 car and if you’ve got great cars that will always provide you with different and great opportunities.”
Having spent so long at the sport’s highest level, Neuville remained clear that Hyundai had to retain some allegiance with the WRC, despite its high-level World Endurance Championship involvement with Genesis Magma Racing.
“I mean they have spent close to a billion [Euros] over the past years in rallying, and I don’t think it’s the time to completely quit – especially with the changes which are coming with the new promoter,” Neuville said.
“Keeping a foot in rallying is beneficial for the brand, especially as rallying for Hyundai’s perspective [is] a very good championship. There’s nothing else after Formula 1 which can bring such emotions like we have seen over the past years. And with the evolution to come for rallying, I think that Hyundai needs to keep a foot in [WRC]. And yeah, maybe, kick off with something great again in the future.”
Asked about the future, the Belgian concluded: “At the moment, nothing is secure, but we’re trying to find a way to keep Hyundai also in the championship.”
One source within the team told DirtFish: “We just want to know what is happening. We hear so many stories, but I don’t think many normal [employees] really know. Everybody see the end is coming, this has been the feeling maybe for the whole season… It’s frustrating like hell – we know how good this team [is] and how good we can make a car. Look to the speed from Adrien and Thierry, it feels like a waste to not push with this potential.”
One departing team member added: “We won two world championships with the boss (former team principal Andrea Adamo) and with Thierry and Martijn. We can do this again if we get the chance.”
