Neuville & Tänak extend Hyundai contracts
Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak have put pen to paper to sign extended multi-year contracts with current team Hyundai Motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship.
The deal, announced this morning (06 May), means both drivers will remain with the Alzenau-based team for the WRC’s new hybrid era in 2022 and beyond.
It will also give Neuville and Tänak the chance to help develop Hyundai's brand-new 2022 hybrid car, which is set to begin its testing phase in the near future.
Belgian star Neuville has played a significant part in helping Hyundai win two Manufacturers’ world titles after joining the squad back in 2014. He currently holds second in the 2021 drivers' championship standings behind Sébastien Ogier.
"I’m happy to sign a multi-year contract with the team which became my second family," enthused Neuville. "Besides the fact that I feel really well with them, their determination and target for victory convinced me to pursue the fantastic journey we started together more than seven years ago.
"Their approach and ambitions on the new challenges coming next year, with the new WRC hybrid regulations, is also very promising," he added.
Tänak made his Hyundai debut in 2020 after clinching his maiden drivers’ world title the year before with Toyota Gazoo Racing. He has claimed two victories with his i20 machine so far and hopes to add to his success.
"I am looking forward to the new era of the WRC, but we still have a job to do this year - making sure we send off the current generation of WRC cars in the best possible way,” said the Estonian.
Andrea Adamo, Team Principal of Hyundai Motorsport, was also delighted with the news, adding: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Thierry and Ott beyond 2021 with multi-year deals.
“Working with these two talented drivers in the future demonstrates once again our continuous 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 in 2022.”
It is not yet known who will drive Hyundai’s third car beyond 2021. Craig Breen and Dani Sordo will alternate drives in a shared i20 for the remainder of the current season, with Sordo set to take the wheel at Vodafone Rally de Portugal later this month (20 - 23 May).