Hyundai WRT

[Morte66]

I wonder whether Hyundai might consider going back to a rotation system for third driver. There isn't a stand out candidate like Fourmaux for them this year, since Solberg looks very Toyota. They could find out for real whether (say) Gryazin and Sesks get along with their car.

[deephouse]

We all totally forgot about Suninen. He is still young and have Rally1 experience (and previous WRC generations aswell), 3 podiums clocked on his belt and he didn't do that bad in i20 Rally1 car.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

We all totally forgot about Suninen. He is still young and have Rally1 experience (and previous WRC generations aswell), 3 podiums clocked on his belt and he didn't do that bad in i20 Rally1 car.

I was gonna mention him but wasnt sure what he's doing now. Everything you said was in my mind.

[becher]

We all totally forgot about Suninen. He is still young and have Rally1 experience (and previous WRC generations aswell), 3 podiums clocked on his belt and he didn't do that bad in i20 Rally1 car.

I would have agreed but I feel that ship has sailed now.

[deephouse]

So they have this candidates that comply to youth and experience (if we consider Rally1 cars and previous WRC ones):
-Andreas Mikkelsen - 36 years old -> 3 rally wins, 25 podiums, 117 stage wins, drive or 3 top tier teams
-Esapekka Lappi - 34 years old -> 2 rally wins, 15 podiums, 77 stage wins, drive for 4 top tier teams
-Oliver Solberg - 24 years old -> 1 rally win, 1 podium, 9 stage wins, drive for 2 top tier teams
-Takamoto Katsuta - 32 years old -> 7 podiums, 54 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Teemu Suninen - 31 years old -> 3 podiums, 15 stage wins, drive for 2 top tier teams
-Sami Pajari - 23 years old -> 1 podium, 5 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Pierre-Louis Loubet - 28 years old -> 4 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Gregoire Munster - 26 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Martins Sesks - 26 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Gus Greensmith - 28 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Josh McErlean - 26 years old -> 1 stage win, drive for 1 top tier team
-Jari Huttunen - 31 years old -> 1 stage win, drive for 1 top tier team

And 3 extra ones, but only Sordo have Rally1 experience.

-Dani Sordo - 42 years old -> 3 rally wins, 58 podiums, 229 stage wins, drive for 4 top tier teams
-Kris Meeke - 46 years old -> 5 rally wins, 13 podiums, 94 stage wins, drive for 3 top tier teams
-Hayden Paddon - 38 years old -> 1 rally win, 8 podiums, 38 stage wins, drive for 2 top tier teams

[becher]

Katsutas and Lappis stage wins make for an unexpected comparison

[focus206]

So they have this candidates that comply to youth and experience (if we consider Rally1 cars and previous WRC ones):
-Andreas Mikkelsen - 36 years old -> 3 rally wins, 25 podiums, 117 stage wins, drive or 3 top tier teams
-Esapekka Lappi - 34 years old -> 2 rally wins, 15 podiums, 77 stage wins, drive for 4 top tier teams
-Oliver Solberg - 24 years old -> 1 rally win, 1 podium, 9 stage wins, drive for 2 top tier teams
-Takamoto Katsuta - 32 years old -> 7 podiums, 54 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Teemu Suninen - 31 years old -> 3 podiums, 15 stage wins, drive for 2 top tier teams
-Sami Pajari - 23 years old -> 1 podium, 5 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Pierre-Louis Loubet - 28 years old -> 4 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Gregoire Munster - 26 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Martins Sesks - 26 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Gus Greensmith - 28 years old -> 2 stage wins, drive for 1 top tier team
-Josh McErlean - 26 years old -> 1 stage win, drive for 1 top tier team
-Jari Huttunen - 31 years old -> 1 stage win, drive for 1 top tier team

Solberg (Toyota), Katsuta (Toyota or nothing), Pajari (Toyota), Loubet (already drove Hyundai, too slow), Munster (too slow), Greensmith (too slow), McErlean (too slow) and Huttunen (inactive since 2023) have 0% chance or reason to be at Hyundai.
I think Hyundai will go for youth driver + experience driver alternating... they could also not bother with a 3rd car, but I imagine they will, at least part season.

[deephouse]

Solberg (Toyota), Katsuta (Toyota or nothing), Pajari (Toyota), Loubet (already drove Hyundai, too slow), Munster (too slow), Greensmith (too slow), McErlean (too slow) and Huttunen (inactive since 2023) have 0% chance or reason to be at Hyundai.
I think Hyundai will go for youth driver + experience driver alternating... they could also not bother with a 3rd car, but I imagine they will, at least part season.

I will edit it tomorrow when the official Toyota driver line up will come out. Also I made it from "best to worst". And add those 3 extra, who are connected to Hyundai. My personal favorite is Paddon, but I think he will not be even considered, because it's Hyundai we are talking about.

[saco0o]

paddon. 100%.

[BobJones]

At least now there's clarity and Hyundai is aiming for a third driver still, phew.

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...-up-/10775315/