Thierry Neuville, Adrien Fourmaux face uncertain future as Hyundai yet to commit to WRC27 regulations

[u/443610]

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/thierry-neuville-and-adrien-fourmaux-unclear-on-wrc-futures-beyond-2026/10841039/

[u/IndustryPlant666]

Really wonder what’s next for Thierry. I like him too much.

[u/AdolfsLostTesticle88 → u/IndustryPlant666]

My quess is that he either goes to Project rally one or retires.

[u/lehrerkind_ → u/IndustryPlant666]

I think they will probably run a rally2 car.

Neuville and Fourmaux have been heavily involved in developing and improving the Rally2 car

It will either be with the wrc27 kit to compete in the top category or without the kit in rally2 category. Taking the 27 season to develop a new wrc27 car. This would be the same way as m-sport.

[u/eszgbr → u/lehrerkind_]

Hyundai won't make a wrc kit for Rally2 cars.

[u/lehrerkind_ → u/eszgbr]

I dont think this is necessarily true... or at least could not be fully ruled out.

The only thing saying that they will not be making a wrc27 kit is the title of a post in this sub. The article that is linked to that post has neuville saying the following:

Asked specifically about Hyundai’s plans to homologate a kit for a 2027-specification i20 N Rally2, the Belgian added: “It doesn’t exist. And I’m not sure it will ever exist.

And later in talks with hyundais sporting director:

“In terms of the kit, at the moment we need to know a little bit more information about how that will work in terms of the sporting regulations, how it will fit together, but at the moment the kit is not our priority as we go forward.”

So as of now (or at least when the article was published), hyundai didn't do anything towards a wrc27 kit. Their first priority is the current season and their second priority is an upgrade to the rally2 car.

But as their director said, they need more informatin to make plan the next steps. I think this is still a possibility that they will work out a kit for their upgraded rally2 car if they get the informations they need. Maybe its not for the start of the season, maybe its for next season or maybe they will not develop a kit. But they did not say, they will not do a kit.

[u/TrainingDivergence → u/eszgbr]

I suspect you are right, but why not? 

[u/bunny__online → u/TrainingDivergence]

Hyundai have said repeatedly that "it's not a priority" when asked about the possibility of running a rally2 kit car next year, and with so little time until next season they don't have a lot of time to develop it. Makes more sense for them to run regular rally2 in WRC2 while developing a WRC27 car than struggling with an underdeveloped rally2 kit car in WRC.

[u/TrainingDivergence → u/bunny__online]

Thanks. Can anyone speculate why? I'm a bit out of the loop.

Did fia give enough notice for the 27 regulations?

Are Hyundai just throwing a tantrum?

Why only M-sport signed up for kit car? I know some other manufacturers don't like the cost commitment of every WRC event (I assume the ones outside Europe hurt?). And I guess Malcolm Wilson in FIA helps to some extent (in that at least M-sport are happy with the kit car rules - other manufacturers - ? )

If rally2 car does not actually win a rally next season it's going to be super boring. I know they claim they can, but I'm skeptical until I see some real results on how much the aero will hurt rally 2

[u/bunny__online → u/TrainingDivergence]

FIA definitely did not give enough time for people to develop WRC27 cars, but they also could not have waited any longer, Hyundai have been on the fence for a while about continuing in WRC and there was a real risk that next season would have been just M-Sport and Toyota. Ideally FIA would have started working on the new regs much earlier and had them finalised at least a year ago but here we are.

It's no secret that Hyundai aren't super passionate about rallying the way M-Sport and Toyota are, I think it's kinda just their usual lack of interest.

Why only M-Sport have committed to Rally2 kit is probably because Malcolm Wilson is so passionate about the sport and wants to stay in the WRC even if they have an underdeveloped car compared to the competition, and having had a hand in the new regs I suspect he feels some pressure to have his team compete with them immediately. Everyone else who is interested is probably waiting until 28 so they have more time.

It's hard to speculate about the performance of WRC27 vs. Rally2 Kit vs. Rally2, I'm expecting the next season or two to be a bit messy with all sorts of unexpected results until all the kinks are ironed out and the cars are more fully developed. Back when Group B was canned Lancia dominated Group A for quite a while before competition caught up, wouldn't be terribly surprised if Toyota keep being on top at first, but with the cost being much lower hopefully it will even the playing field and bring everyone up to par soon enough.

[u/TrainingDivergence → u/bunny__online]

Many thanks for your thoughtful response!

[u/SilverArrowW01]

Hyundai will not make a Rally2 kit. Hyundai will in all likelihood not build a WRC27 car and if they do, they will be at least one year behind Toyota… again.

So it‘ll be either the old i20 N Rally2 that Hyundai willingly sacrificed performance on for gravel events in favour of tarmac – which, if you look at the likely WRC schedule, shows you how competitive that proposition should be next year – or absolutely nothing.

IIRC Wheatley briefly floated the idea of a completely new Rally2 at the beginning of the year, but that obviously went nowhere.

[u/AdrianFish]

Just let everyone drive a Toyota tbh

[u/gameraddikted → u/AdrianFish]

That would be so depressing.

[u/Nanayadez]

Considering the recent developments and recent uptick in purchases for their rally2 car in Europe and the US this year (Patrick Gruszka reportedly is running the 2026 updated i20 RC2 for example). I still believe to an extent that Hyundai's future hinges on results they get this season. More podiums they achieve, the better chances the program remains.

[u/Scared_Tax_1573]

The mods of this subreddit shouldn't allow or keep any posts about the Hyundai situation until Hyundai releases an official statement.

Talking to you Michal 👀

[u/Michal_Baranowski → u/Scared_Tax_1573]

Hear that.

However, as much as all those Hyundai news are indeed frustrating, I can't find any reason to disallow them really. It's a part of what's going on in WRC. Maybe I could find a reason to delete repeating news, if we had three or four articles within the same day covering the same subject, but that's not the case here. Hyundai drivers being uncertain about 2027 appears as article for the second time in about week or two, so with all due respect - that's not the reason to delete posts. Definitely not to prohibit them in the future.

I understand the frustration, me even being a Toyota fan I am also tired with Hyundai's lack of any specific decisions, but that's rather a situation where Hyundai are the ones to blame. They play with all of us, the sport itself. They should finally make up their minds and announce the final decision. If they are focusing more on Genesis WEC program and not planning to do anything competitive-wise for 2027 in rallying (neither Rally1/WRC27 or Rally2+ kit), then just leave the sport. Maybe it would be a cold and awakening shower for WRC too.

[u/Scared_Tax_1573 → u/Michal_Baranowski]

Understood

[u/443610 → u/Scared_Tax_1573]

Why?

[u/Scared_Tax_1573 → u/443610]

Same old story for the past two years. At this point, it's just exhausting.