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Hyundai WRT

HYUNDAI SET FOR WRC BREAK.

Hyundai is reportedly preparing to step away from the WRC as a factory top-level team after 2026, with a return targeted for 2029.

The Korean manufacturer is expected to keep its rally programme active through an upgraded Hyundai i20 N Rally2, with a third evolution of the car due to be homologated later this year.

Hyundai has already confirmed it will not develop a new WRC27 car for next season, making Rally2 its most likely route to remaining involved in the World Championship.

Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux could contest selected WRC rounds in Rally2 machinery during 2027, although neither driver’s programme has been confirmed. Fourmaux has previously said he would accept a season in Rally2 if it provided a route back to the top category.

A full Hyundai factory comeback is being linked to 2029, potentially alongside the arrival of a new-generation i20 and greater freedom within the WRC’s future powertrain regulations.

Hyundai has not officially confirmed a withdrawal at this stage

Source - RallyFish
 
wyler said:
do we know their budget?
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Up until 2015, when I was involved as journo in WRC, they were rumoured to have a budget of around 70M euros, 10 less than Toyota (the biggest investors before the Dieselgate was VW, which rounded at around 100M).

I don't have news about today's figure, but I don't think they went much lower than those numbers.
 
Can't see either of Neuville and Fourmaux waiting for 2 years. Neuville will be 41 by 2029 and it's doubtful there will be any motivation at this point in time. Fourmaux can walk back into M-Sport tomorrow morning and try to contest for a Toyota 28 seat at worst (or stick around and lead a possible renewed Ford effort).
 
And then somewhere in the middle of 2028 DirtFish will ask Hyundai if they will come back, they will have an excuse that they don't have any first class drivers to choose from.

All I can say is, not a surprise and also maybe a good thing as this toxic behavior maybe don't belong here anymore.

If this will be true, thanks for all battles with VW, Citroen, M-Sport and especially Toyota. Thanks for bring some action and be here. Thanks for making some drivers becoming very good. And thanks for great show and staying such a long time in WRC. If you will come back, make it some time, as we all need a break, WRC, Hyundai and fans.
 
typhoon said:
Up until 2015, when I was involved as journo in WRC, they were rumoured to have a budget of around 70M euros, 10 less than Toyota (the biggest investors before the Dieselgate was VW, which rounded at around 100M).

I don't have news about today's figure, but I don't think they went much lower than those numbers.
Click to expand...
yes, that was something more or less known. for the last 2 season, an "educated guess" is that 30-40% of that budget went to the restyling of the team towards wec
 
project rally 1 and that other team may offer these guys a seat, no?
and tbf it would be cool if hyundai were to return '29 with an actual hybrid car, not like that spec useless thing they had to learn how to use
 
saco0o said:
project rally 1 and that other team may offer these guys a seat, no?
and tbf it would be cool if hyundai were to return '29 with an actual hybrid car, not like that spec useless thing they had to learn how to use
Click to expand...
project rallyone already spoke with neuville manager, but "not his priority" at that moment.
 
I hope Thierry doesn't lower himself to drive i20 Rally2 car, if it's going to be a car of a lower category, for the sake of remaining with Hyundai. It's probably a sign that it's time to do something else.
Fourmaux doesn't deserve to be demoted either, but he has a career to continue. Maybe one of them could end up with M-Sport?
 
Im more than sure that Neuville is eyeing to buy an next years Toyota machine for next year
 
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As I said, Neuville won't do everything from start, especially when there is no guarantee if the team will even race on regular basis. He is quite old now to do that, and he deserve to be in the machine which will do whole season and could fight for titles, those guys who want do half season should seat there or those who want to showcase themselves (younger, those who are not in championship anymore but want to get it in again, payable or those who can develop great car). I think that at some point PR1 will stop racing and will be here just to homologate the car and then dissapear, there isn't simply anbody else than M-Sport which would be so dedicated to this sport to do anything just to stay and race full time.

I mean they should persue Ogier, Lappi, Sordo, Rovanpera maybe. All of those doesn't want to drive whole seasons anymore. I know, crazy idea. Haha
 
But will they announced their decision yet or they will wait till the season is over.

As usually those things are made public until the last second, as drivers, engineers, mechanics and other staff may immediately resign and nobody would be able to be hired as no one would want to work on sinking ship, no matter what if they have vaild contracts until the last event.

(We assuming they will leave)
 
"There is another evolution of the car coming for next year, which will be homologated on December 31 this year.

“The testing program for that starts soon. It’s an evolution of the car. It’s not a new model, it’s an i20 N. But there’s certainly a significant amount of effort being put in internally to make sure that that’s the most competitive Rally2 car that we can possibly build. And that’s something that puts us in a position to be able to do something should the opportunity arise."

So theres still further work they're going to do the Rally2 car. How can they decide whether to continue if they dont know how good it's going to be when its finished ?

My guess is they'll be out as a constructor and the updated Rally2 will be offered to a private team to run.
 
They work with 2C Competition and RedGrey. But this time if Neuville will accept, it may be his own team. Or even further Paddon's. Then there is Hyundai Portugal...

What if behind all this is thinking that they may be doing it like Ogier to get best possible start position on gravel rallies (this was actually mentioned in that article), to increase their chances, again, because they know that their car will not be a match. Would this became a normal to everyone doing just 10 rounds out of 14-15? Lancia, Skoda also.
 
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