Abiteboul soon in WRC at Hyundai?

Cyril Abiteboul va-t-il effectuer son grand retour en sport automobile ? La rumeur d’une arrivée chez Hyundai comme team principal de son écurie WRC swells more and more.

It must be said that the Korean giant has suffered from chronic instability in this position since the departure of Andrea Adamo just a year ago.

This season, Julien Moncet held a (too?) long interim while continuing to serve as engineer responsible for the engine department. A shaky situation and a lack of clear leadership which did not fail to annoy Ott Tänak. The Estonian has also decided not to complete his contract with Hyundai and has just found refuge at M-Sport.

After a very complicated start to the season for the i20 N Rally1s, the Korean brand subsequently recovered, winning five rallies (three for Tänak, two for Thierry Neuville). La dynamique était même du côté de Hyundai sur la fin de saison face à Toyota. De quoi atténuer les rumeurs d’un départ prochain du WRC de la marque de Séoul (Corée du Sud) ?

In any case, Hyundai cannot afford to return to battle without a declared boss. While the Éric Boullier rumor evaporated as quickly as it appeared last summer, the trail leading to Cyril Abiteboul seems much more serious.

CARhebdo has had confirmation that the former team principal Renault F1 (2016-2020) is in discussions with the Korean manufacturer. Having converted to sailing, his other passion, the French engineer has been serving as general manager of CDK Technologies since April 1, 2022.

Will Abiteboul be tempted by an adventure in the WRC, a universe that he would completely discover? Unless it supports Hyundai's transition to other disciplines more in line with the Korean manufacturer's objectives?

With the start of the 2023 World Rally Championship scheduled for Monte-Carlo from January 19 to 22, we should quickly be sure of the outcome of the discussions between Hyundai and Abiteboul.

READ ALSO >> Ott Tänak ambitious for 2023: “We can fight for the championship”