New Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul says the World Rally Championship team does not need to be rebuilt upon his arrival, and instead the biggest challenge he will face this year will be personal.
DirtFish first reported that Abiteboul would take charge at Hyundai this season last month, but he wasn’t announced as the new team principal until Thursday.
Abiteboul, who comes with bags of Formula 1 experience having headed up both the Caterham and particularly Renault operations, takes over from Julien Moncet who held the title of deputy team director in 2022.
Last season was a turbulent one for the entire Hyundai team as late sign off from Hyundai in South Korea meant it was already behind its Rally1 rivals through testing, and then a crash for Thierry Neuville in December compounded matters even further.
By its own admission Hyundai was fortunate to have three i20 N Rally1s for the season opening Monte Carlo Rally, where it ultimately proved to be unreliable and off the pace.
But results soon picked up and last season ended up being Hyundai’s best ever in terms of rallies won as it took five wins from the 13 rounds.
However things were unstable inside the team as lead drivers Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak clashed on both Ypres Rally Belgium and Acropolis Rally Greece, and Moncet was labeled “not the right man” to lead the team by Tänak.
Tänak has since left to lead M-Sport Ford’s attack on this year’s WRC, leaving Neuville as the clear number one where he’ll be joined by Esapekka Lappi on a full-time season while Dani Sordo and Craig Breen share a third car.
Hyundai could therefore be viewed as a challenging environment for Abiteboul who has never worked in rallying before, but he says the team is in good health.
“I’m approaching this like all the others I’ve been through in my life; with lots of humility, but I am excited and patient about what can and needs to be done,” Abiteboul said in a Q&A issued by Hyundai.
“In contrast to where I have been previously, where I had to build up a team, this one does not need to be built. It is established, it functions, and it is capable of delivering extremely good results.
“The challenge will be more within myself with the learning I need to go through, and quickly. There is not only an expectation but also an obligation to deliver. That is what lies ahead but I am up for it.
“To a certain degree, I can see the targets, processes and attention to detail are very similar; the relentless dedication to work and to consider the short, medium and long term at the same time.
“On the other hand, I can also see that this is totally different to what I have experienced before.”
Asked if he could define what a successful 2023 would mean, Abiteboul said that the team is of course targeting both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles but added that he also wants to use this season to boost the togetherness of the entire team and build plans for the future.
He said: “The only way to measure success in motorsport is through wins, both rally wins and championship titles. I would love to experience that.
“Frankly speaking, my contribution this year will be only marginal, let’s state that in advance. The team is established, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid is already designed and built, so I can’t claim any contribution to what this car can do, but I would still like to be able to live through those positive moments with the team.
“This way we can also build as a group for the other challenges that will come in the years ahead. It is history in the making for Hyundai in motorsport; they are already a well-established player, but one that needs to look forward, to show that there are long-term plans.
“I would like to be able to look back on this year and say we’ve got a plan for the future; for the future generation of drivers, engineers, mechanics and other talents that we need to constantly attract, develop and retain.
“Motorsport is a place where talent makes a difference, and I would like to explore how I can build upon that here at Hyundai Motorsport.”
