Hyundai’s future in the World Rally Championship could be decided as early as this week, with team principal and president Cyril Abiteboul currently in Seoul discussing the manufacturer’s options with senior members of Hyundai Motor Company.
The Korean manufacturer’s participation in the WRC has been surrounded by uncertainty throughout the 2026 season, particularly with no plans currently in place to develop a new WRC27-specification Rally1 car.
According to DirtFish, Hyundai is now considering three possible paths for the future.
The first option would see Hyundai remain involved in the championship as a constructor from 2027, focusing on its factory i20 N Rally2 programme. A second possibility would be to retain a private team to operate the cars on Hyundai’s behalf, while the third and most drastic option would be a complete withdrawal from the WRC.
While there is currently no immediate plan to build a new Rally1 car for the 2027 regulations, Hyundai has continued to invest in its Rally2 programme. Sporting director Andrew Wheatley confirmed that another evolution of the i20 N Rally2 is already being prepared and will be homologated on December 31, 2026.
Testing for the updated car is also scheduled to begin soon, with Hyundai aiming to make the i20 N Rally2 as competitive as possible. Importantly, Wheatley indicated that the Rally2 project could give Hyundai flexibility depending on the outcome of the discussions taking place this week. The manufacturer therefore appears determined to have a strong Rally2 package ready, regardless of which direction it ultimately chooses for its WRC future.
A continued factory presence through Rally2 would allow Hyundai to remain involved in international rallying while avoiding the considerable cost and resources required to develop a new Rally1 car under the WRC27 regulations. However, a complete withdrawal would mark the end of Hyundai’s factory involvement in the WRC after more than a decade at the highest level.
The decision is therefore expected to have major consequences not only for Hyundai itself, but also for its current drivers, employees and the wider championship.
With Toyota currently committed to the new WRC27 era and new independent projects also emerging, Hyundai’s decision could significantly reshape the competitive landscape from 2027 onwards.
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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