Hyundai in motorsport
With Rally Finland now over and four rounds still to go before the 2024 season concludes, the Hyundai prepares for the final stint of the WRC in a favourable situation both in the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings, where it leads in front of Toyota and Ford and with Thierry Neuville at the top of the standings. For the Korean manufacturer, therefore, the last step is missing before being able to realise the dream of winning the first Drivers’ title in its history with the Belgian at the wheel, while its activity in Motorsport continues mainly in TCR Worldwhere it also maintains its leadership in the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships.
The future in other competitions
While waiting to see what the developments will be in both championships, Hyundai is meanwhile studying the project of expand its presence in the world of competitions. The confirmation came directly from Cyril AbiteboulPresident of Hyundai Motorsport: “We are evaluating – the French manager explained to the media after the Finnish Rally – we are a global brand, the third largest car manufacturer if you add the volumes of Kia and Genesis, with over seven million cars sold. So we have the depth and scale in terms of market share, in terms of financial capacity, to do more. The key for us is how to improve our product and how to improve and learn the technology through motorsport, so anything that can help us in that area will be taken into consideration. No decision has been made yetthe only decision and the only goal is to be here in the WRC and win here, we will be here next year too, for the rest I am ongoing discussions“.
Not in F1, at least in the short term
It is not known what paths Hyundai will take, but Abiteboul wanted to be clear about one: not the Formula 1 oneThe Frenchman, who also had some experience in the Circus as Team Principal of Caterham and Renault, before the latter was renamed Alpine, denied Hyundai’s interest in F1: “I think that we are not ready – he confirmed – I think Formula 1 is a world in itself, that to consider Formula 1 beyond just being a sponsor – because we are very authentic in what we do, so we have no interest in paying someone else’s bills, that’s not our style, we don’t want to be a sponsor – if we don’t want to be a sponsor then we have to have control of the technology. So it’s clearly something we’re not ready for; it’s not something that interests us, maybe in the long term futurebut it’s something we’re absolutely not ready for in the short term. The only possible entry would be 2031, but I’m not saying we’ve decided on that year.. It’s simply a five-year process. You can take the example of Audi, which for 2026 has decided to enter in 2021″.
Renault in F1
Abiteboul who, finally, briefly commented on the moment his former colleagues of the Renaultwhich could eliminate the project of supplying their own engines to F1 for 2026 with the possible switch of Alpine to Mercedes power units in 2026: “I feel sorry for this group of people that I know very well – he concluded – I have been in this place for 15 years, it has been a long time and many things have changed. I would like to believe that the story is not over for the people who have dedicated their lives to Formula 1, but obviously I am no longer in charge, so it is difficult to comment”.
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