Hyundai WRT

[Danny0405]

I'm thinking exactly the same. What if Solberg was dropped because Tänak just decided to leave Hyundai? They know what Neuville delivers but Solberg still needs developing time. So to have any chance in manufactures, they need more experienced drivers.

Personnally, I would think exactly the opposite (but just my opinion)
If Tanak is leaving, we know what happened to Mikkelsen last time he was full-time and he has spent 3 years out of RC1 and don’t know Rally1 cars: I don’t see how Mikkelsen could do better than a 2-3 podium season if full-time considering the competition and he would clearly not be enough against Toyota line-up (and if Breen instead of Mikkelsen, well, just see his current season) all the more than it would imply a 4th driver being a big question mark such as Suninen or Paddon. So for me, if Tanak is leaving, Hyundai has no chance to win the manufacturer title and they should play all on Neuville for WDC and try a bet with a young driver with the hope he can skyrocket (like Solberg, and here they clearly said they want an experienced guy).

Whereas, as a part-time driver with road position advantage, yeah, Mikkelsen or Breen could do a Sordo-like season perhaps so it makes sense to try this.

So IMO, Solberg being dropped should be more a sign of Tanak is staying.
The only other realistic possibility is maybe Hyundai going back to a 2019 strategy with only one full-time driver and 3 or 4 part-time drivers (from 6 to 10 rounds). For example, something with Mikkelsen, Sordo, Suninen and Breen at the same time in the team or why not Loeb who could maybe be a bit fed up with M-Sport reliability (but Hyundai would be more complicated in terms of calendar). But if then, I don’t see the point of «*excluding*» Solberg that early in the process.
So I would still go by Tanak is staying (with Mikkelsen/Sordo in 3rd car and Paddon replacing Suninen as Rally2 lead driver).