Hyundai has confirmed that Cyril Abiteboul has joined its outfit as team principal ahead of the 2023 World Rally Championship season.
DirtFish previously revealed that Hyundai had appointed the former Renault F1 team principal to head up its motorsport operation, replacing Julien Moncet who had been temporarily filling the role in 2022, but the team has now officially announced the move.
Speaking about the announcement, Hyundai Motorsport President Sean Kim said: “I am pleased to welcome Cyril Abiteboul into the Hyundai family.
“Cyril’s experience in Formula 1 will help us to explore new opportunities for growth and improvements as we look to mount a more intensive fight for titles in WRC and to support our customer racing teams.
“We will deliberately give him time to settle in, discover the environment and, in time, to make the team principal role his own.
“I would like to extend my thanks to Julien Moncet, who took on the deputy role last season with determination. Under his guidance, we secured five victories and built strong momentum in the second part of the year.
“I have no doubt that Hyundai Motorsport’s technical personnel, along with Cyril, will demonstrate stronger and clearer leadership in the future by co-operating closely with the Global R&D of Hyundai Motor Company.”
It will be Abiteboul’s first foray into the world of rallying and he has added that it’s an area of the industry he is looking forward to exploring as the season develops.
“I am relishing the opportunity to join Hyundai Motorsport as Team Principal from 2023. In motorsport, like in the rest of their activities, the Hyundai brand is cautiously building its leadership,” he said.
“I am excited at the prospect of being part of it, managing the WRC and customer racing programs, where the team has already proven to be strong competitors.
“I am looking forward to immersing myself into the rallying community and discovering more about this spectacular sport. Hyundai has given me its full support to make the transition into this role a smooth one. I can’t wait to get started.”
Although Moncet will no longer be leading Hyundai’s Motorsport division, he hasn’t left the company. Instead he has taken up a role related to Hyundai Motorsport’s future technology.
