Safari Rally – Cyril Abiteboul: “We cannot afford to stay in a sport where we would be stooges”

Hyundai did not communicate much after the announcements of the last FIA World Council. What is your position ?

We are indeed on subjects on which speech must be very measured, because what has been announced is vast and complex. Words must be chosen carefully. You have to read it several times to fully understand what it's about, even when you're in it and I'm not the only one (smile)! What has been revealed has serious consequences. This has serious implications, starting with our projects. Hyundai management hired me last year to implement a team transformation plan, with hires, a strengthening of the line-up and, of course, a technical strategy for the car. This is necessarily based on a set of regulations. When the cards are completely reshuffled when you are two-thirds of the way through the project, this has an impact on it. For the moment, I am not focusing on the sporting aspect. I'm already focusing on ourselves and what that means from a competitiveness perspective. I have always said that Hyundai is very committed to rally, and have been for 11 years, but we are here to be able to win. If we are present to serve as a foil to others because we are not able to catch up within the regulatory framework which was also confirmed to us by the FIA ​​a few months ago, it is a subject. Of course, after the two events we won, people could tell us that we don't need it, but there were circumstances. They were special innings. Let's look at less specific moves. We know that we continue to carry around a handicap and what we are telling ourselves is that with the regulations we will have to keep it for another 2 years. This is a subject, because it is a category which is very expensive and which is not going to become less expensive with the measures announced. Clearly not. What we analyze, however, is that our ability to be competitive is largely damaged.

What does this mean for your new car project in 2025 and 2026? Is it still worth it? (He cuts)

…It’s not even whether it’s worth it or not. If we could have done it, we would have done it. Given the decisions of the FIA, we will not be able to even though we are very advanced on this car which was authorized by the FIA ​​a few months ago, which was obviously financed by Hyundai, which was designed with sweat. from the front of the design office and which begins to exist physically.

Is it being questioned?

It is not questioned, it is “trashed”. There are certainly sporting questions, but at some point you also have to think about yourself and the competition. We cannot afford to stay in a sport where we are stooges.

Could this lead to the departure of Hyundai?

For the moment, there is still the will to fight. These are guidelines that have been announced for further decisions by the World Council. We continue to make our arguments. We are continuing to analyze recourses and alternative development paths for the car while remaining on something very technical. I don't want to make any threats, that's not what this is about. Through my experience, I have seen that you don't get much through threats. For me, it is ultimately a first act of weakening. Our departure would only have a negative value whereas I find that we should rather think together about creating complementary value.

What do you mean ?

I would prefer to discuss – and have suggested – whether we should field a fourth car. We want more? If the three manufacturers each introduce four, that would already make twelve. We want more young people? Let's make them compulsory with a steering wheel dedicated to them as is done in other categories. Endurance has a classification of drivers, the F1 has the obligation to have young people racing in FP1, there is the F1 Academy. We see sports that are more in the attack, in the creation of values ​​through obligations that we proposed and that we were ready to take. We find ourselves in something very withdrawn into ourselves. In WRC, we are leveling down, with the idea that the Rally2 and the Rally1 will be closer. I understand the medium-term philosophy, for 2027, but I don't think it is without pitfalls. What are the real impacts? For 2025-2026, we need to fully analyze the implications. We have almost weekly meetings with the FIA. We can develop our thoughts and sometimes our objections, even if ultimately the governing body remains the FIA.

In your opinion, are these proposals likely to attract new players?

I cannot speak for others. We say we want the arrival of manufacturers, tuning companies, manufacturers who have nothing to do with this, we want to have combustion engines, all electric... At one point, I raised my hand and I I asked, “Could we do hybrid?” » We were given a fairly firm negative response, without knowing why. I'm not talking about what we have now, but something that could have been much more relevant. We see that the automobile market has been disrupted in recent months and has massively shifted towards this technology. I find it quite amusing that we are constantly at odds. I can't do better than say it and write it down. At some point, there have to be people who perhaps want to listen to us. Or not.

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