Thierry Neuvillethe current leader of the WRC is in the last year of his contract with the Korean brand, whose colors he has defended since 2014.
Neuville has previously expressed his desire to continue racing in the premier WRC category, but the Belgian driver admitted earlier this year that his future in the category was threatened by uncertainty over the WRC’s technical regulations for next year, which raised doubts about Hyundai’s participation in the championship.
Since those comments, the FIA has reversed course on technical reforms earlier this month, at the request of manufacturers for stability in the regulations. Neuville says his future is not assured, however, as the five-time world runner-up now awaits final confirmation of Hyundai’s use of development jokers.
The team hopes to use two seasons’ worth of wildcards to improve its i20 N after being forced to cancel development of a new car due to uncertainty over technical regulations caused by the reforms. announced by the FIA last February.
“I don’t have any confirmation yet, but I knew that the decision of the World Motor Sport Council and the application of the current and future jokers was very important, and I know that everything went well,” Neuville said to Motorsport.com when asked about his future at Hyundai.
“I think everything is going well, but I don’t have confirmation, so we’ll see. If I get confirmation, negotiations will start very soon.”
Neuville is, however, relieved that the World Motor Sport Council has decided to respect the manufacturers’ request to retain the current technical regulations for Rally1 and Rally2 until the end of 2026.
Thierry Neuville needs elements to discuss his WRC future with Hyundai
Photo de: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
The move, coupled with the WRC promoter’s roadmap to improve the championship’s promotion, has given Neuville reason to believe the championship can grow in popularity.
“For me it’s a big relief. I think the four manufacturers involved are also relieved because they all asked for the rules not to change,” he added. “I think it’s important. It was more necessary to secure the presence of the current manufacturers for the next two seasons than to change the rules without confirmation of the arrival of a new manufacturer.”
“I think the FIA understood that it was important to secure the presence of the current manufacturers and not just look at the regulations, but to present a roadmap for the promotion and the evolution of the promotion of the championship .”
“I am happy and there are still things to work on, that’s for sure. But with Julien Ingrassia [ancien copilote de Sébastien Ogier] involved in the promotion [du championnat] to liaise between the drivers and the promoter, and to get his point of view on things, and Scott Martin [le copilote d’Elfyn Evans] representing the drivers in the WRC Commission, I believe that together we will be able to bring it about [le WRC] to another level.”
