Hyundai WRT

[doubled1978]

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

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

Bit of a free hit I suppose. It’s the last year of Rally1 so it’s not like they would prepare a young guy for the future, but they may want to take a flyer on someone like Gryazin who could be quick or they could go with the tried and tested options who have some experience of the car like Sordo/Mikkelsen.
I’m sure without Tanak, their championship expectations have been somewhat revised.

[deephouse]

So the pool look like this.
Youth & experience (Rally1+WRC):
-Mikkelsen
-Lappi
-Suninen
-Loubet
-Munster
-Sesks
-Greensmith
-McErlean
-Huttunen

Experience (Rally1+WRC):
-Sordo

Experience (only WRC):
-Meeke
-Paddon

Youth:
-Rossel
-Gryazin
-and all others

[macebig]

They will probably just take Mikkelsen back.

[TypeR]

Why would they bring back some old guys, who haven't driven quite a long time and know they can't set top times with hyundai..

Out of that list maybe Rossel and bulgarian guy Gryazin would bring some new air to the team and show decent results as they are top5 wrc2 drivers at the moment..

[macebig]

Why would they? It's pretty clear 2026 is gonna be their final season. No incentive to build someone up. Maybe if some sponsorship is involved,they may be happy to offset some costs.

[meh]

For young divers, there can be quite a dilemma - why should they join a retiring team for a year and lower their chances to be part of WRC2027 car developments and be part of a team that plans to be part of the championship 2027 onwards? At the same time, if you say "no" to this opportunity, there is no guarantee that you will get a new one.

So I would say it is not that attractive for youngsters (compared to Toyota), but it can be okeish solution for already retired guys "to do one last mission".

[Fiesta]

They will probably just take Mikkelsen back.

Possible because of Neuville. But the fact is, Mikkelsen didn't really bring anything to table in 2024. Lappi at least got good setups for Neuville for high-speed gravel rallies to help him win the championship. But Lappi is now (at least in Finland) Skoda's new face for the public, so I do not think that Lappi will go even part time for Hyundai. Mikkelsen did two (!!) rallies this year. Don't think Hyundai wants him either, should have done more this year.

My guess is something fresh, like Cachón or Armstrong (with the help of their respective Auto federations).

[wyler]

i'd go for sesk (gravel + rally2 tarmac) + sordo

full sesk would also do, keeping it steady on tarmac as the other two are good enough on tarmac.

full paddon as a steady second option. the point is how much you trust in the reliability of fourmeaux. if he can manage less crashes you can go with sesk speed, if u need more consistency you go for a steady paddon.

[Morte66]

i'd go for sesk (gravel + rally2 tarmac) + sordo

full sesk would also do, keeping it steady on tarmac as the other two are good enough on tarmac.

full paddon as a steady second option. the point is how much you trust in the reliability of fourmeaux. if he can manage less crashes you can go with sesk speed, if u need more consistency you go for a steady paddon.

That is what I am thinking too.

[saco0o]

what about brandon semenuk? we dont pay much attention in the american series but this fella looks to be a good one