Andrea Adamo will step down as the team principal of Hyundai Motorsport with immediate effect, relinquishing his position for “personal reasons”.
Adamo has worked for Hyundai since December 2015 to head up the company’s Customer Racing department, and assumed the role of World Rally Championship team principal in 2019 when Michel Nandan was replaced.
In that time Hyundai won back-to-back manufacturers’ titles in 2019 and ’20, and Adamo has become famous for his charismatic and forthright personality.
The team principal role will be filled in the meantime by Hyundai president Scott Noh. Noh finds himself with a difficult task as Hyundai is understood to be behind on testing its brand-new car for 2022; a situation that has been further complicated by a terrifying crash for Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe when testing in France last week.
Adamo confirmed his decision to leave Hyundai was “mutually agreed” after six years with the team.
“It is time for me to reflect on a relentless and successful period in my career, one full of high points, happy memories, and titles,” he said.
“I am proud of what we have achieved from building an enviable Customer Racing department to our consecutive titles in World Touring Car Cup and WRC. I wish the organization well for its future.”
Noh added: “I would like to thank Andrea for his significant contribution over six years which has seen us secure important titles in WRC and WTCR. We can reflect on some very positive moments together and I sincerely wish him all the best for the future.
“Our operations will continue to run as scheduled ahead of the 2022 season, which starts with Rallye Monte-Carlo next month.”
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