Thierry Neuville has suggested that a customer team running Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1 cars in 2026 would be considered a best-case scenario, while simultaneously shutting down rumors that he would do so with his own team.
Signs continue to point to Hyundai’s involvement as a factory team in the World Rally Championship coming to an end as soon as the end of next year, with Neuville penning only a one-year contract extension this week and Ott Tänak’s deal also up at the end of 2025.
Cyril Abiteboul, who is both team principal and president for Hyundai Motorsport, admitted to DirtFish that its WRC presence being run by a third party was an option on the table for 2026. Now Neuville has suggested this is the best solution to retain a Hyundai presence in the championship beyond next year.
“I mean, if he said that, obviously, it might be an option for the future,” Neuville told DirtFish. “It could be a way of keeping the team, Hyundai the brand, within the championship. So in that case, it would be probably the best solution. Whatever it will be, we’re going to find out probably next year.”
Neuville hasn't discussed running his own team, but thinks a private outfit running i20s could make sense
There had been some murmurings in the service park that Neuville may take on running a Hyundai Rally1 team himself. But the five-time WRC vice-champion quickly shut down any suggestions he would take on management of a hypothetical Hyundai customer team.
“No,” replied Neuville when asked if he’d discussed running a customer team in 2026 with his current employers.
“At the moment, I’m not involved in any discussions or whatever. My goal is still being a driver for at least one more year, maybe a few more years if there are great opportunities.”
Neuville admitted he’d been concerned about whether Hyundai would even commit to the 2025 season – and that his one-year extension was a result of that clarity being delivered.
“For sure we have been all concerned over the past months about the future of the team,” said Neuville.
“But this morning the news showed that Hyundai is committed to the championship for 2025, which is a great news obviously for all of us and for the championship – mainly because what would it be without Hyundai and no new manufacturers?”
