Former McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has emerged as the frontrunner to take over as Hyundai Motorsport team principal.
DirtFish sources have indicated that Boullier could be named as Andrea Adamo’s replacement in the role as early as this week.
Adamo departed the Alzenau-based team at the end of last season, with Julien Moncet fulfilling the role – albeit as a deputy – since January.
Sean Kim replaced Scott Noh as Hyundai Motorsport president in April and an announcement regarding the team principal position has been expected since then.
One source said: “The first course was to try to find an [Andrea] Adamo replacement from within the team, but there was no common agreement on who that could be. [Eric] Boullier seems to be the name that’s coming stronger and stronger now. In Belgium there was a lot of talk about this guy.”
Boullier is currently working as managing director of the French Grand Prix. The Paul Ricard event’s future in Formula 1 is uncertain, with an existing five-year agreement coming to an end following last month’s race.
The need for change at the top of the team was returned to the spotlight when Ott Tänak told DirtFish Moncet is not the man for the job.
Talking after scoring his second win in as many WRC rounds, Tänak said: “No, that man is not Julien Moncet. I mean he’s a great guy doing the engine, he’s been always an engine guy and obviously Hyundai has a great engine so that’s what he should be doing in my opinion.
“The rest? It’s up to the management to work out how we could continue. But, like you can see, the potential in the car is huge and they’ve done a great job, first designing it, but now to put it together it needs another good effort.
“It needs a team effort altogether and that’s what we are working for.”
Moncet agreed that the time had come for a decision to be made.
“Definitely,” he said, “I think the team needs some stability, regardless if it’s me or someone else.
“We need to decide it. It has been a long time since Monte Carlo now and we never know who will be in charge at the next rally, so we need some stability.”
When contacted by DirtFish, a Hyundai Motorsport spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
DirtFish has contacted Boullier for comment.
