Fourmaux already feels “comfortable” behind the wheel of the Hyundai WRC

Recruited by Hyundai at the end of 2024, Adrien Fourmaux believes he is already “rather comfortable” within the Korean team and behind the wheel of his car a few days before the start of the 2025 WRC season at the Monte-Carlo Rally.

The Frenchman had an interesting comeback campaign in the WRC, scoring his first podiums in the discipline, which opened the doors for him to join Hyundai which was looking to strengthen its full-time crew line-up, alongside those led by reigning champion Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak.

Fourmaux's off-season was diligent in quickly acclimatizing to his new environment, including a visit to the manufacturer's testing facilities in Finland but also a victorious participation in the Rallye Hivernal du Dévoluy in December. At the beginning of January, he also took part in a preparatory test at Monte-Carlo in France.

Even if he knows that it is complicated to be 100% ready for the challenges that the opening event of the 2025 season will hold, Fourmaux believes in any case that he has adapted well to the i20 N. “The testing was very positive, but the main test for us was the Rallye du Dévoluy and I think it was a very valuable experience with the [nouveaux pneus Hankook] and the cardeclared Fourmaux to Motorsport.com.

“Last Friday [le 10 janvier]we were lucky to have a bit of frost in the morning and some moisture before the big rain in the afternoon, we had mixed conditions and a bit of snow, so I feel well prepared. But for Monte-Carlo, you never feel [totalement] ready. We would always like to try more settings because there are so many different conditions.”

“I really appreciate that the team put me in a good situation to gain confidence in the car before Christmas, and we also did two days of testing in Finland with the new car on snow, so I rode it a lot in December.”

“I think you always need a rally to feel comfortable. I remember last year, even though I knew the Puma, there were always changes and we were fumbling a bit. But After testing and the Rallye du Dévoluy I feel pretty comfortable, so I just hope we can have a good rally.”

The removal of the hybrid system will be, in addition to the new tires, one of the major technical innovations of the 2025 season. For Fourmaux, this new situation makes the i20 N easier to drive. “The car has lost a lot of weight, which makes it more manageable and nicer to drive, but we obviously lost some power, and drivers always want more power.”

“However, weight is an important factor, especially on dirt, it will be interesting. I like the new regulations, but for me, politically it would have been nice to keep the hybrid, but that's what the FIA and the promoter have decided.”

With Tom Howard