Thu 05 Dec 2024

Hyundai signs Adrien Fourmaux for 2025 WRC

Adrien Fourmaux will step into a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 for the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship following a pivotal career move for the French star.

The announcement, made today (Thursday, 5 December), sees Fourmaux and co-driver Alexandre Coria switch from M-Sport Ford to take up Hyundai’s third car for all 14 rounds of next year’s series.

The 29-year-old’s signing signals a bold shift in Hyundai’s strategy as the team aims to reclaim the manufacturers’ crown after narrowly missing out by just three points this year. For 2025, Hyundai is committing to a consistent three-car line-up, with Fourmaux joining reigning drivers’ champion Thierry Neuville and 2019 title winner Ott Tänak.

Fourmaux’s ascent in the rallying world has been meteoric. A relative latecomer to the sport, he began competing in 2017 and quickly caught the eye of M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson. By 2021, he had stepped up to the top tier in a Ford Fiesta World Rally Car.

A challenging 2022 season saw him relegated to M-Sport’s WRC2 team, but the Frenchman roared back this year with five podium finishes in a Puma Rally1 HYBRID.

Hyundai has rotated its third car between Dani Sordo, Esapekka Lappi and Andreas Mikkelsen throughout 2024. However, team principal Cyril Abiteboul believes Fourmaux’s full-time presence will be the missing piece in their championship puzzle.

“For the renewed challenges of next year, consistency and stability across all three cars will be crucial,” he said. “We’re therefore delighted to confirm Adrien and Alexandre as part of our team after their incredible 2024 season.

“Adrien has impressed not only with the results he has achieved this season, but with his renewed mindset and attitude he has brought to his return to Rally1. We believe our line-up of Thierry, Ott and Adrien will be a formidable force on the world’s stages in 2025.”

Fourmaux, brimming with enthusiasm for his new chapter, said: “I’m really excited to join Hyundai Motorsport for the 2025 season. It’s a big opportunity for me and Alex, and we are looking forward to getting started with the team.

“As a driver, you’re always looking to grow and push yourself, and this feels like the right step at the right time. Hyundai has had a strong presence in WRC for years, and I’m proud to be a part of that for the future. I’m ready to give my best and see where this journey takes us.”

Hyundai has also left the door open for a fourth car in 2025, confirming that discussions with Sordo, Mikkelsen and Lappi are ongoing.

Sweden
Starts: Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 8:00:00 AM
Spain
Starts: Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7:00:00 AM
Turkey
Starts: Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 8:30:00 AM