STAR SIGNINGS BOLSTER HYUNDAI’S ATTACK ON WRC SUMMIT
Hyundai has tripled its efforts to dominate the World Rally Championship’s new-for-2022 hybrid era with a week of boxoffice signings.
It has tied down existing lead duo Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak’s to multi-year deals and also recruited technical mastermind Christian Loriaux from M-Sport. Neuville and Tanak will carry out the bulk of the testing of the Rally1-spec Hyundai i20 N as part of the new arrangement, while Loriaux – who has penned big winners for Ford and Subaru in the past – joins in an advisory role with the new car his main focus, although he will continue to work for M-Sport on its Bentley GT project, according to reports.
“Working with these two talented drivers in the future demonstrates our determination and ambition to succeed in the World Rally Championship and reaffirms Hyundai’s strong commitment to the series as it enters its new hybrid era,” said team chief Andrea
Adamo. “I thank Thierry for his loyalty to Hyundai Motorsport since 2014 and
Ott for trusting us and our work.
“We are beginning the crucial phase of testing of our Rally1 challenger in the near future so together with Thierry and Ott, we can execute a smooth testing plan. We can’t also forget that we still have a job to do together this year as well as thinking ahead to 2022 and beyond.”
Belgian Neuville said he was “happy to sign a multi-year contract”, adding: “[Hyundai’s] approach and ambitions on the new WRC hybrid regulation, is also very promising. I love rallying and
I’m not ready to stop.”
Estonian Tanak, who joined Hyundai from Toyota as the 2019 champion, added: “The hybrid regulations means everyone will start from a blank page. Hyundai Motorsport has a huge knowledge of hybrid and electric technologies which will play a big role when we start developing the new Rally1 car. We have still a job to do this year – making sure we send off the current WRC cars in the best way.”