The end of the 2026 World Rally Championship season has left Thierry Neuville facing a future unlike anything he has experienced during his remarkable WRC career.
After 15 consecutive seasons at the highest level of rallying, including 13 years with Hyundai, the 2024 World Champion is ready to consider a different approach for 2027. Rather than committing himself to another full-time campaign, Neuville has made it clear that he would prefer to take a step back and reduce his commitments.
Yet there is one thing he appears certain about: his priority is to remain with Hyundai.
Neuville’s future is closely linked to the manufacturer’s own plans. Hyundai has not yet confirmed whether it will continue in the WRC under the new 2027 regulations, having already ruled out developing an all-new WRC27 car. Its alternative would be to adapt its Rally2 machinery to compete in the top category, but a final decision has still to be made.
That uncertainty has created an intriguing situation. Neuville wants to continue his relationship with Hyundai, albeit potentially in a reduced role, while Hyundai itself is still determining what its future in the championship will look like.
After ending the 2026 season with a Power Stage victory in Sardinia, Neuville described the past two years as particularly demanding and admitted that the time may have come for a change. His message, however, was not one of retirement. Instead, it was about finding a new way to remain involved in rallying while opening the door to other opportunities within the Hyundai group.
"Winning the Power Stage was the last thing I could do for the team and for myself as well, given what is a very uncertain future", Neuville said.
"I just wanted to smash it in the last stage.
"I'm relieved that it's the end of what has been a tough two years.
"But now, I want not to look forward too much.
"First, I want to enjoy some time with the people on the team and share the moments of what has been 13 years at Hyundai and for me 15 incredible years in WRC.
"And then we're going to see what the future brings.
"I'm pretty sure that for next year doing a step back is what I want.
"And I think at the moment Hyundai is probably the team who could offer me those opportunities.
"The priority for me is to stay with Hyundai because for the future, I think it's the brand, it's the group who can offer me the most opportunities for my future in the long term as well".
Source: Motorsport.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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