Thu 05 Sep 2024

Neuville signs extended WRC deal with Hyundai

FIA World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville has signed a contract extension with Hyundai Motorsport, securing his position with the team through 2025.

The Belgian, who currently leads the drivers’ championship by 27 points ahead of this week’s EKO Acropolis Rally Greece (5 – 8 September), has been instrumental in shaping Hyundai Motorsport’s WRC programme over the last twelve years.

Neuville claimed his first WRC win with Hyundai at Rallye Deutschland in 2014 and has since accumulated 20 victories, 59 podiums, and 371 stage wins while driving Hyundai’s WRC machinery.

Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe will continue to compete alongside Estonia’s Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja in 2025, with Hyundai is expected to reveal plans for its third i20 N Rally1 Hybrid car line-up in the near future.

“I am very happy to extend my contract with Hyundai Motorsport for the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season,” said Neuville. “There are not many partnerships in motorsport that have spanned as long as ours, but since 2014 we have achieved great success together. I’ve said before that this team has become a second family to me, and our ambition and motivation has only grown year after year. It would be a great honour to win our first drivers’ title with them at the end of this season, and to carry that forward into a 12th year together. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

Cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal added: “We are pleased to confirm Thierry Neuville alongside Ott Tänak for our 2025 FIA World Rally Championship campaign.

“The decision to maintain this competitive pairing at Hyundai Motorsport underscores our commitment to the series in 2025, where we will once again be targeting all three championship titles. Thierry has been with Hyundai Motorsport since the very start, proving invaluable to the team both on the stages and in the factory over the past 11 years. With him and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe now locked in for next season, we have all of the ingredients needed to continue fighting at the very pinnacle of our sport.”

Europe
Starts: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 7:00:00 AM
Poland
Starts: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:30:00 AM
China
Starts: Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 3:00:00 AM