Christian Loriaux is leaving Hyundai just weeks after making history by helping deliver the Korean manufacturer its maiden Drivers’ World Rally Championship title.
Loriaux has been with the Frankfurt-based team since the middle of 2021, when he was employed by then team principal Andrea Adamo.
As Hyundai’s WRC program manager, Loriaux’s role has been across the bigger picture in recent years. Working alongside fellow high-level engineer Francois-Xavier Demaison, the pair combined well in the last two years to turn the i20 N Rally1 Hybrid into a title winner through this season. Thierry Neuville bossed the drivers’ race from the start and Hyundai itself only missed out on a third makes’ crown in six years by three points.
Hyundai announced a 2026 World Endurance Championship hypercar campaign in September, with the Oreca-built chassis GMR-001 unveiled earlier this month.
Sources had indicated Loriaux would be continuing with Hyundai into next season, heading up the WRC assault while team principal Cyril Abiteboul and Demaison pivoted towards the Le Mans effort.
DirtFish has sought comment from Loriaux, but in a statement supplied by Hyundai, Abiteboul thanked Loriaux for “his contribution to our mission for the past three years”.
Abiteboul added: “He has been a great support personally when I joined the world of rally and we wish him all the best with his future endeavours.”
Hyundai also confirmed that Pablo Marcos will return as team manager after a spell with M-Sport, with current incumbent Tolga Ozakinci taking on a new ‘head of race operations’ role.
“We had a very strong 2024 season but didn’t achieve everything we set out to, so looking ahead to a transformative year for our motorsport operations we have spent time considering how we can streamline our organization,” Abiteboul said.
