2024 marked a year of bittersweet milestones for Hyundai in the World Rally Championship (WRC). On one hand, Thierry Neuville claimed his first-ever drivers’ championship, becoming the first Hyundai driver to achieve the feat. On the other, the manufacturers’ title slipped away dramatically in a nail-biting showdown in Rally Japan, leaving Neuville and Hyundai with a sense of unfinished business.
Now, as the 2025 season looms, Neuville has a clear message for his team: lessons must be learned, and mistakes like those in Japan cannot happen again.
Hyundai’s Heartbreak in Rally Japan
The final event of the 2024 season, Rally Japan, was set to be a crowning moment for Hyundai. The team entered the event leading the manufacturers’ standings, but disaster struck on the final day when Ott Tänak crashed from the lead during the powerstage. The incident handed Toyota an opening, and in a thrilling finish, the Japanese team clinched the manufacturers’ championship by a mere three points.
Neuville, already crowned world champion due to Tänak’s crash, reflected on the moment with mixed emotions.
“We had all the cards in hand to do well in Japan,” Neuville said. “The chairman was there, the big chairman was there. And we messed it up.”
Neuville pointed to the team’s failure to prioritize the manufacturers’ title over individual ambitions as the key issue.
“If we don’t learn from what happened in Japan, it’s a mistake. We have to play the game – it’s important.”
Tänak’s Crash: A Costly Turning Point
Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul described Tänak’s pace during the final stage as “too fast,” given Hyundai’s strategic goal of securing the manufacturers’ title. However, Abiteboul shared responsibility for the crash, refusing to lay all the blame on Tänak.
Neuville echoed a similar sentiment, describing the crash as “a big surprise” and acknowledging that such mistakes are part of the sport.
“Everything went on one single corner. It happened to me before – we’ve all made mistakes. I won’t blame anybody, but in terms of strategy, we could have been clearer.”
A Stronger Hyundai in 2025?
In response to the heartbreak of 2024, Hyundai has made significant changes to its strategy and leadership heading into 2025:
- Pablo Marcos returns as team manager, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership.
- The third car strategy shifts to a more consistent approach, with Adrien Fourmaux taking a full-time seat. This replaces the shared arrangement between Esapekka Lappi, Dani Sordo, and Andreas Mikkelsen.
- Christian Loriaux departs as WRC program manager, signaling a broader shake-up.
Neuville welcomed the changes and expressed optimism about the team’s driver lineup.
“It’s a strong lineup for sure. But I also believe having a fourth guy could be very helpful, especially with Toyota fielding five drivers in some events.”
The Road Ahead
For Neuville and Hyundai, the mission in 2025 is clear: reclaim the manufacturers’ title while defending the drivers’ championship. Neuville’s newfound status as a world champion places him firmly as the team’s leader, and his calls for clearer strategy and stronger teamwork highlight his determination to ensure that Japan’s heartbreak is not repeated.
With Toyota continuing to field a formidable lineup and the 2025 calendar promising new challenges, Hyundai’s ability to execute as a unified team will be critical.
Will Hyundai rise to the occasion, or will Toyota’s dominance continue? One thing is certain: the stakes for 2025 have never been higher.
