Martijn Wydaeghe
Belgium
·
WRC
Key Facts
Nationality
BEL
Date of birth
01.09.1992
Birthplace
Belgium
Driver
First WRC rally
2013, Rallye de France
First WRC stage win
2021, Rallye Monte-Carlo SS10
WRC stage wins
175
First WRC podium
2021, Rallye Monte-Carlo
WRC podiums
28
First WRC win
2021, Ypres Rally Belgium
WRC wins
8
First WRC Wolf Power Stage win
2021, Rally Italia Sardegna
WRC titles
1 (2024)
Webpage
www.martijnwydaeghe.com/
About Martijn Wydaeghe
An emerging co-driver, Martijn Wydaeghe began his rallying career as a teenager in 2012, competing in Belgian events alongside various drivers, including his brother Jeroen. His rapid rise saw him make his FIA World Rally Championship debut just a year later at Rally de France Alsace, guiding Philip Cracco to 22nd in a Ford Fiesta R5.
Further experience came in 2014 when he co-drove for Belgian rally star Freddy Loix during tests, which helped him secure a Junior WRC seat alongside Mats van den Brand in 2015. Their best result was third at Rallye Deutschland.
Wydaeghe’s performances caught the eye of Hyundai Motorsport, and in 2016 he joined their ranks to co-drive for Korean development driver Chewon Lim at various international events. He continued to build experience with Guillaume de Mévius in 2018 as part of the RACB National Team, before partnering Craig Breen at the Monza Rally Show in 2019.
His big break came just days before the start of the 2021 season, when he was called up to co-drive for Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20 World Rally Car at Rallye Monte-Carlo. The partnership clicked instantly, with a podium finish in their first event together. They went on to secure two victories that season, including an emotional home win in Belgium.
Two more victories followed in 2022 as they finished third in the championship, a result they repeated in 2023 with another two wins.
The breakthrough finally came in 2024. Wydaeghe and Neuville dominated from the opening round, delivering a season of consistency and speed to secure their first WRC title together. In doing so, Wydaeghe became Belgium’s first co-driving world champion and played a key role in Hyundai’s first-ever drivers’ crown.
Martijn Wydaeghe
© WRC