Hyundai is contemplating the possibility of hiring a permanent driver for its third car in the upcoming World Rally Championship season. Instead of relying on a rotating cast of drivers, the team is considering having a consistent driver throughout the season. Currently, Esapekka Lappi, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Dani Sordo have been sharing the third i20 N Rally1 alongside full-time teammates Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. Sordo has primarily competed in rough European gravel events, while Mikkelsen has focused on asphalt-based rallies and Rally Poland. Lappi, on the other hand, has participated in a variety of loose-surface events.
During the recent rally in Latvia, Lappi faced difficulties and spent most of the rally in last place among the Hyundai drivers, despite having the best starting position. Although Lappi had previously achieved victory in Sweden due to his advantageous starting position, he was unable to replicate that success in Latvia. Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged that Lappi’s lackluster performance could be attributed to setup issues and a lack of seat time. Lappi had not competed in an event since the Safari Rally in March, which may have affected his performance.
Abiteboul expressed his concern about bringing Lappi into the competitive landscape of the WRC with the Rally1 car after such a long break. He took responsibility for the decision and admitted that it was not ideal. Abiteboul also mentioned that the team might reconsider its approach for the next season, acknowledging that improvements need to be made. The possibility of hiring a third full-time driver in 2025 is being considered, and there are several candidates within Hyundai’s current roster, as well as younger drivers like Oliver Solberg and Mārtiņš Sesks. The decision may also be influenced by potential changes to sporting regulations.
Abiteboul emphasized the need to be open-minded and make the right decision for next year. He mentioned the importance of securing car one and car two quickly and then taking the time to reflect and assess the situation. Abiteboul also highlighted the potential impact of changes to regulations and the points scoring system on the team’s decision-making process.
Hyundai’s third-car policy has faced criticism in the past, as drivers like Sordo, Craig Breen, and Sébastien Loeb rotated in the seat and gained advantages in terms of road order. However, the impact of this policy has diminished recently, as Toyota has also reduced its number of full-time drivers. This shift was not entirely by choice, as reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä decided to go part-time in 2024. Toyota has entered both Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier for Rally Latvia and Rally Finland, which has frustrated Hyundai’s Neuville. As the current world championship leader, Neuville has been opening the road in every rally since his victory in Monte Carlo. However, his concerns have not been met with sympathy from the Toyota team, given Hyundai’s own history of part-time drivers.
