Munster eyes full WRC2 campaign

Munster, 23, stepped up to the top of the WRC2 podium for the first time at FORUM8 Rally Japan earlier this month – the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver’s first category success since his WRC debut in 2019. 

That victory was very much earned with a clever tyre choice for the penultimate speed test where, in torrential rain, the Luxembourger climbed from third to first - overturning a 56.3sec deficit after outpacing rivals Emil Lindholm and Sami Pajari by over a minute apiece. 

Despite Japan only being his 13th start in the championship, Grégoire - the son of Belgian rally star Bernard Munster - has impressed with his speed and commitment. Both of those attributes were obvious to see with his tenacious Japanese win, a rally where he scored top-10 times overall on half of the 18 stages completed. 

“Japan was incredible,” said Munster. “I think we showed good pace all of the weekend, but it was a big, big effort from the team and my whole family. 

“The [weather] conditions made it difficult, but we were able to push hard when we needed to and we made the right decision for the tyres.

“This was a good way to end the year. We did some good rallies this season and next year I would really like to continue to make some more kilometres in the WRC – it would be a dream to do a full [WRC2] season. 

“I know we need to take some more experience at this level, but Japan was really more equal for everybody with the roads and the stages being new for us all and the gap was straight away closer.”