Julien Moncet says that Hyundai will confirm its drivers for 2023 after the end of Rally Japan as the team want to focus on the final round of this year's championship and admits that it will be difficult to find someone who will replace Ott Tanak.
Ott Tanak announced immediately after the end of Rally Spain that he will not continue with Hyundai Motorsport next season despite the fact that his contract was to expire at the end of 2023. In addition to that, the Korean team announced earlier this month that they will not renew Oliver Solberg's contract for next year which means that there are two available seats.
Dani Sordo has not decided yet if he will continue competing in World Rally Championship in 2023 whereas Esapekka Lappi, Kris Meeke and Andreas Mikkelsen are among the candidates who may join Hyundai Motorsport next year.
"Well for sure Ott leaving is definitely a loss, he’s a strong character but he’s a very talented driver – one of the best ones now – so to replace him will be very difficult", Moncet said.
"I don’t want to say impossible because nobody can’t be replaced but, let’s be honest, it will be very difficult.
"Whoever will take over his position next year will have a hard challenge.
"Regarding your questions about Lappi and all the other names you could mention, you will have to wait a little bit.
"Right now we are focusing on Japan and hopefully in the week after Japan we will be in a position to announce something".
“I knew before Spain", Moncet said when asked if Tänak’s exit was a surprise.
"Of course there was a lot of rumors and so on, but you always hope.
"We really wanted to continue with him so it’s a bit of a bad surprise, but we knew before Spain yeah, even if I did not tell you!".
On the other hand, Thierry Neuville said when he was asked to express his thoughts about who will partner him next year: "I have no thoughts.
"Obviously the departure of Ott has been confirmed.
"We knew that the risk was high that he was going to leave the team, which obviously I think for all of us is disappointing news but I can understand him as well, so that’s what makes it a bit more complicated for us now, but the team is working on it.
"I don’t know the secrets and I don’t know my team-mates next year except Dani".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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