Hyundai has not dominated out the opportunity of working a fourth automotive within the subsequent 12 months’s World Rally Championship, with a call prone to come at Rally Japan.
Hyundai’s high administration shall be heading to this weekend’s WRC season finale the place it’s understood discussions concerning its plans for subsequent 12 months shall be held.
The group is predicted to discipline three considerably up to date i20 N Rally1 machines subsequent 12 months with Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak already confirmed to pilot two entries.
The driving force line-up for its third automotive is but to be confirmed, though M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has been closely linked to the seat that has this 12 months been shared by Dani Sordo, Andreas Mikkelsen and Esapekka Lappi.
Nevertheless, a fourth i20 N may be on the playing cards for Hyundai subsequent 12 months in keeping with group principal Cyril Abiteboul, who beforehand outlined needs so as to add one other automotive to the group’s Rally1 fleet final 12 months.
This selection for a possible fourth automotive is among the many discussions to be held this weekend and whether it is given the inexperienced mild, it might add an additional curveball concerning Hyundai’s driver line-up.
“We’re shut [with our 2025 plans] however after Japan that [announcement] shall be coming. We now have mentioned to all crews that we wish to draw a line after this season, which has been a great season, and have a look at subsequent 12 months and the ambition of that and focus on that,” Abiteboul instructed Motorsport.com.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Group Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“We now have some individuals coming from Hyundai’s headquarters this weekend at Rally Japan in order that may also be a possibility for them to be a part of the dialogue and are available to sure conclusions for subsequent 12 months concerning the set-up, drivers and vehicles.
“I nonetheless have the ambition that we might have a fourth automotive in our line-up and that is likely one of the discussions we can have over the course of this weekend and that would have an effect on our driver selections.”
When pressed additional on the subject of getting into 4 Rally1 vehicles subsequent 12 months, Abiteboul steered that the additional automotive would most definitely be entered in chosen occasions.
“The plan is just not made however we’re pondering possibly sure occasions, chosen occasions,” he added. “It’s one thing I want to attempt to do for various causes, not least as a result of I feel Toyota will line up numerous vehicles for subsequent 12 months.”
