The team principal of Hyundai Motorsport, Cyril Abiteboul, reveals that his team may bring four cars in selected number of events next year and the announcement will come after the end of Rally Japan.
Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak have extended their deal with Hyundai Motorsport and will continue driving the i20N Rally1 while it is expected that Adrien Fourmaux will join them as a full-time driver. On the other hand, Toyota has confirmed Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, Kalle Rovanpera and Takamoto Katsuta with a full programme whereas Sebastien Ogier has agreed a part-season campaign. This means that Toyota will bring four cars in all WRC rounds, but in case of Ogier's participation the Japanese team will field five Yarises in selected number of rallies. Moreover, M-Sport Ford may extend Gregoire Munster's contract for one more season while Hyundai still considers Andreas Mikkelsen and Esapekka Lappi to share the fourth i20N. In addition to that, Martins Sesks has been also linked to Hyundai as the team wants to invest in young talents. Rallye Monte Carlo of 2025 is about to start in two months from now, thus Hyundai has the time to think its option for the new season.
"We are close with our 2025 plans but after Japan that announcement will be coming", Abiteboul said.
"We have said to all crews that we want to draw a line after this season, which has been a good season, and look at next year and the ambition of that and discuss that.
"We have some people coming from Hyundai’s headquarters this weekend at Rally Japan so that will also be an opportunity for them to be part of the discussion and come to certain conclusions for next year about the set-up, drivers and cars.
"I still have the ambition that we could have a fourth car in our line-up and that is one of the discussions we will have over the course of this weekend and that could have an impact on our driver choices.
"The plan is not made but we are thinking maybe certain events, selected events.
"It is something I would like to try and do for a number of reasons, not least because I think Toyota will line up a large number of cars for next year".
Source: Motorsport.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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