The team principal and the CEO of Hyundai Motorsport, Cyril Abiteboul, says that the team is examining its option for the third car ahead of the new season while he reveals that they are still in talks with Dani Sordo, Andreas Mikkelsen and Esapekka Lappi.
The Alzenau-based team has increased further its championship lead over the second Toyota to 35 points with three rounds remaining until the season finale in Japan. So far, only Thierry Neuville was confirmed by Hyundai as both parties have extender their deal for one more season while it is expected that Ott Tanak will continue driving the i20N in 2025. However, it is uncertain who will get behind the wheel of the third i20N, but Adrien Fourmaux, Martins Sesks and Emil Lindhom are among the candidates for this seat. Hyundai had stated that they are thinking of changing the current third-car policy, but Abiteboul does not rule out the possibility of retaining Sordo, Mikkelsen and Lappi at the squad in 2025. Last but not least, Hyundai has yet to announce its future plans if they continue running in World Rally Championship from 2026, but the most dominant scenario is that a private team will take over Hyundai's factory team and will run i20N Rally1 cars in 2026.
"We are going to take a bit of time for the third car", Abiteboul said.
"I think, like we did last year, Ott was signed actually fairly early, so that we had a bit of time for the third car.
"So I’ll do a bit of the same, you know, seeing also what’s going on on Toyota’s side.
"I think you would be silly not to analyze your competition when you have to make such a decision.
"So that’s something that I want to see.
"What’s the option?
"What’s available?
"I don’t want to exclude any option at this point in time.
"I would not be professional if I were.
"So frankly, let’s look at every option and we’ll make the decision in the right time.
"And we’re also having discussions with EP and Andreas and Dani, who are also all doing, to a different level, an excellent job with us this year.
"So they should also be given the opportunity to have discussions and that’s what we are doing".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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