Hyundai announces its driver lineups for 2026, Adrien Fourmaux confirmed

Having scored a brace in Saudi Arabia, Thierry Neuville et Adrien fourmaux have wrapped up a difficult season in fine style for Hyundaiwho only managed two victories in 2025. The two men will team up again in 2026 to contest the entire season, attempting to end the hegemony of Toyota.

"The team has become a true family for me over the past twelve seasons," assures Thierry Neuville. I have progressed as a driver thanks to numerous successes, but also to the challenges shared with Hyundai. Despite an incredibly difficult 2025, we have built a very strong team and I am ready to fight for it in 2026 to reclaim our place on the stages. I hope we can capitalize on our momentum from the Rally from Saudi Arabia and achieve good results throughout the season.”

“We have had a promising first year together, full of lessons learned and progress,” analyzes Adrien Fourmaux, who is still chasing his first victory in WRC. Our goal now is to build on these achievements in 2026 and fight for the title. It will be a very competitive season, and the whole team and I are extremely motivated. We are convinced that we can take a step forward in 2026, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Hyundai has made the decision to replace the newly retired employee. Ott Tänak Not by one, but by three drivers! Dani Sordo, Esapekka Lappi, and Hayden Paddon are returning to the Korean manufacturer and will share driving duties in the third i20 during the season. Dani Sordo was particularly successful in 2025, winning the Portuguese Rally Championship with his co-driver Cándido Carrera, who assisted Nasser Al-Attiyah at Ferrari. M-Sport during the last Saudi Arabia Rally. “Cándido and I had an excellent season in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, culminating in the Portuguese championship title, a fantastic performance, rent Dani Sordo. We are eager to continue this momentum next year and I am confident we will be competitive. I look forward to working with the team again and supporting Thierry and Adrien in the fight for the title.

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Lappi, Sordo and Paddon return

Esapekka Lappi, for his part, will attempt to add a third victory to his WRC tally, starting with the Rally Sweden, the scene of his second win in 2024 when he was already a stand-in for Hyundai, sharing the third i20 with Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo. He will be navigated by Enni Mälkönen, the 2024 WRC2 champion alongside Sami Pajari.“I thought I was done with the WRC, but after many discussions with different people, I knew it was a great idea to come back,” assures Esapekka Lappi. I continued competing in the Finnish Championship, which was great fun, but Cyril's call surprised me and convinced me to come back. I'm as excited as a kid to get back behind the wheel of the Rally1, this time with Enni – a fantastic opportunity for her. My victory at Rally Sweden in 2024 is a huge motivation for our 2026 goals, and I can't wait to get started!

Finally, Hayden Paddon is also making a stunning comeback after last competing in the WRC in 2018. Since then, he has continued to represent the Hyundai brand on the special stages, winning several New Zealand Rally Championships, two consecutive European Rally Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Australian Rally Championship title this year.

With his co-driver John Kennard, he secured victory at the Rally Argentina in 2016, as well as three other podium finishes in Poland (2016), Sweden (2016), and Sardinia (2015). Paddon and Kennard's first event will be the Monte Carlo Rally in January.