Hyundai has not yet made a final decision on its WRC plans for next year. The only near-certainty is that there will be no new WRC car. The Korean manufacturer is weighing its options for 2027, with a keen eye on the new engine regulations coming in 2029.
Team principal Cyril Abiteboul has previously stated that all options remain open. However, team manager Paul Wheatley emphasised that they need to understand how the situation evolves before choosing a direction. "We need to understand how the situation evolves. If you’re fighting for the WRC2 drivers’ championship, that’s one option. If there is a teams’ championship, that’s a different option," he said.
Speculation suggests Hyundai could withdraw as a factory team after this season and return in 2029 when new, more open engine regulations come into force. But Wheatley stressed that to remain competitive, Hyundai would need to retain some level of involvement in the WRC before 2029.
"The reality is that there is a lot of experience in this team, and that experience doesn’t disappear overnight. But if you want to keep the most competitive package you can, you need to be competing regularly," he explained. He also highlighted the potential changes for 2029 as interesting for every manufacturer, especially looking at what has happened in cross-country rallying with different engines. "The competition is very close. So I think there is an interesting possibility there."
Wheatley emphasised that Hyundai’s focus over the next couple of years will undoubtedly be its customer racing programme. "The customer racing programme is based around a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine. That’s clear because it offers the most efficient, cost-effective and reliable performance. But for Hyundai as a manufacturer, there are plenty of interesting things to discuss. We’re working very closely with the FIA and the promoter to understand what 2029 looks like, because it’s coming quite fast. So we need to have a clear understanding of it."
Although the question of the powertrain remains open, Wheatley said development work on the rest of the car is already under way. "The chassis will be consistent across all the powertrains. Its development is already under way. I think that very quickly, from the start of 2027, it will become much easier to understand which direction we’re heading in."
With this uncertainty, Hyundai seems set to continue monitoring regulatory developments and engaging with stakeholders. A final decision is expected once all details are clear, including championship format and technical regulations. One thing is for sure: Hyundai wants to ensure that every step taken supports their ambition to compete at the pinnacle of world rallying.
Baca Juga
Josh McErlean siap membuktikan kecepatan di Reli Italia Sardinia setelah cuaca basah gagal di Chile. Ini kesempatan terakhirnya untuk unjuk gigi di musim 2026.
Sami Pajari tetap tenang hadapi Rally Sardinia penentu gelar WRC. Tertinggal 17 poin dari Elfyn Evans, ia siap tampil maksimal di medan berbatu.
Rally1 dipastikan tetap menjadi nama kelas utama WRC 2027 setelah usulan dalam Komisi WRC. Simak alasan dan dampaknya bagi persaingan.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!