The team principal and the CEO of Hyundai Motorsport, Cyril Abiteboul, reveals that the Korean car brand will remain in World Rally Championship until the end of 2026, but their stay depends on if a new manufacturer will join WRC from 2027 onwards while the i20N may be replaced by another car.
A shocking news arrived earlier this month when Motorsport.com reported that Hyundai is thinking of joining World Endurance Championship and of racing at LeMans 24h within three years as they have already developed a prototype LMDh car in Germany. In addition to that, the Alzenau-based team was not willing to build a new car if the regulations would have changed for 2025 and was committed to bring further upgrades to the current i20N for the rest of this season. However, M-Sport Ford and Toyota gave the green light to Hyundai to use additional jokers on the i20N in order to develop further the i20N as the first two teams feared that Hyundai might exit WRC at the end of 2024. FIA decided eventually to continue with the current Rally1 regulations until the end of 2026 while the next regulations will be confirmed within a year as the Federation wants to give to the WRC teams or to another car brand time to study the new regulations which will be applied from 2027 onwards. Last but not least, it must be mentioned that the production of the i20N passenger car will end next February which means that the WRC team of Hyundai may replace their current machinery with the Ioniq 5 N.
"There is no shift in our focus away from rallying", Abiteboul said.
"Our focus is to win this championship this year.
"Our focus is also to have a good winter preparation for next year and the following year.
"This is where we belong.
"Having said that, we are a large group.
"We have got lots of brands, so we are open to what’s going on.
"And if we have one thing to announce, the right people will announce it.
"I can’t confirm anything else other than we are focused on rally for now.
"Endurance has achieved something that I think we dream to achieve also in WRC, which is to attract more manufacturers.
"A few years ago, there were what, two, three manufacturers competing in the top class in LMP1?
"And after a good set of regulations, and probably also after some new, fresh ideas from the promoters, they have nine or 10 car makers there.
"And I think understanding the recipe for success is important.
"No disrespect to Ford, M-Sport and Toyota – who share the competitive landscape of WRC with us – but it’s clear that we need more brands, we need more cars, we need more drivers, we need more show.
"We need also to make sure that there is a sustainable alignment between WRC and our product lineup, which is not entirely in the hands of the sport,” Abitebould added.
"And it’s fair to say the car that we use, the i20 N, will be discontinued next year.
"So clearly, if we’re investing what we are currently investing in WRC, we need a car that will be able to compete with the i20 N; that is the purpose and justification of being in WRC in the first instance.
"So we need to get all of that sorted".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
Post a Comment