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«Still a few unknowns» for Conway on post-injury Toyota WEC return in Brazil

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Toyota driver Mike Conway has conceded that there are “still a few unknowns” ahead of his return to the cockpit at this weekend’s Interlagos World Endurance Championship round.

The Briton stressed that only after his first laps in opening free practice on Friday morning ahead of the Sao Paolo 6 Hours will he have the final validation of his fitness as he recovers from the injuries that ruled him out of last month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

“I’ve ticked a lot of the boxes and the next one is sitting in the car — obviously it is still an unknown,” he said.

“It feels alright doing the driver changes, even when they drop the car. I feel good and I’m hopeful.”

Conway broke his right collarbone, which required surgery, and fractured two ribs in a cycling accident three days ahead of the Le Mans Test Day in June.

His recovery schedule precluded him getting some laps in a racing car ahead of his return to the line-up of the #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar alongside Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries.

“I didn’t really want to: with the scheduled we had — and it was a tight schedule to get back in — I didn’t want to set myself back by getting in something too early,” he explained.

Conway has been in the Toyota simulator before and after the confirmation that he would be in the car for Interlagos last Friday.

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Mike Conway

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 — Hybrid: Mike Conway

Photo by: Toyota

He revealed that he still felt pain “here and there” and is still “a bit still a bit stiff in the mornings”.

He also explained that the anticlockwise Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace will put more stress on his injured shoulder than a conventional clockwise circuit.

“The right arm has got more work to do around here,” he explained.

“There are a lot of left-hand corners; it would have been nice to go to a track with more right-handers.”

Should Conway encounter problems that prevent him from racing this weekend, the #7 Toyota would go into Sunday’s six-hour event with a two-driver crew.

Ritomo Miyata, Toyota’s official reserve driver, is not present in Brazil.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe technical director David Floury explained that it was never the plan to bring Miyata into the line-up at one of the six-hour races in the event of the withdrawal of one of its regular crew.

Miyata was overlooked for the Le Mans double-points WEC round after Conway’s accident.

Toyota instead recalled Jose Maria Lopez, who has been replaced in the Japanese manufacturer’s Hypercar class squad by de Vries for this season.

The Argentinian driver moved over from Toyota sister marque Lexus’s WEC LMGT3 class representative, Auto Sport Promotion, with which he is contesting the full series in one of its pair of RC F GT3s.

Free practice for Sunday’s Sao Paolo 6 Hours, round five of the 2024 WEC, begins at 10:45 local time on Friday.



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Newey’s F1-inspired Red Bull RB17 hypercar revealed at Goodwood

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO



Adrian Newey and Red Bull have unveiled the RB17 hypercar that the famed Formula 1 designer has been producing with the team’s Advanced Technologies division.

Revealed in a display at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the RB17 has changed significantly since the project was first announced publicly in June 2022.

The main change concerns the engine, which is now a 4.5-litre V10 instead of an F1-inspired V8 turbo power unit, while an early interpretation with 4WD was abandoned.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com ahead of the car’s public unveiling, Newey said he feels the result of such a project “should be works of art that you’re happy to display as such in your house or your garage”.

“Derive enjoyment simply from the art aspect. And it must sound good,” he added.

“That last challenge was a fundamental change from my initial design because I wanted a power unit that was capable of developing 1000hp, but with a maximum weight of 150kg on the combustion side.

“A turbo V8 would have certainly given that. Bu obviously, it doesn’t sound as good as a naturally aspirated.

“I think for me, [and] a lot of people would agree, the height of the sort of audio soundtrack for Formula 1 was the high revving V10s until the end of 2005.”

The RB17 has only recently entered its production phase, with its suspension elements currently being made before chassis, gearbox and engine building follows.

The finished car will then be track tested and is set to be smaller and stylistically altered compared to the model revealed at Goodwood.

“It’s a point in time,” Newey said of the Goodwood car. “Since then, so it’s nearly a year old, we’ve kept developing.

“Not only from a styling point of view, other things we’ve [changed]. The car is a little bit smaller than the blue car in length and width. I think the styling is further improved.

“Then we had other things that we needed to incorporate because we were anxious that it should comply with all the LMH [category from the World Endurance Championship] safety regulations.”

Newey said “it is possible” that the RB17 could one day race in the WEC and at Le Mans, but would require “quite a big redesign of, particularly, the aerodynamics” plus a different engine.

Only 50 RB17s will be built, with Newey committed to finishing the project before he leaves Red Bull in March 2025.

He has been attending select F1 races since his Red Bull exit was announced as part of the RB17 sales plan, with his son Harrison – 2015 BRDC Formula 4 runner-up and 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series champion – working as customer manager for the car.

Red Bull is offering its RB17 customers a track programme at various unspecified circuits, as well as a warranty of two years or 2,485 miles, whichever is reached earlier.



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Ferrari reveals first-ever updates to Le Mans-winning Hypercar

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ferrari has revealed its first performance updates for its 499P Le Mans Hypercar ahead of this weekend’s Interlagos round of the World Endurance Championship.

The Scuderia has embarked on a redesign of the brake cooling ducts, aimed at improving cooling efficiency, and made some minor aerodynamic modifications as part of the first package of upgrades since the car made its debut last season.

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars, explains that Ferrari does not anticipate it will result in improved lap times for the 499P that won the Le Mans 24 Hours last month, but will allow for «greater versatility and easier adaptation of the car on circuits where braking performance is more demanding and decisive».

«Despite the car’s excellent performance in the 2023 season, we experienced limitations with brake cooling,» he said.

«Therefore, we defined and developed a new cooling duct design in the wind tunnel and on the track to change the flow distribution and deliver greater efficiency.

«The modification impacted the balance of the 499P, which we restored to the desired value by adjusting other areas of the car.

«Specifically, we modified the underbody, adjusted the heights of some ‘gurney flaps’, and introduced a ‘flick’ under the front headlights.

«The upgrade has allowed us to maintain the 499P’s position within the ‘performance window’ specified by the technical regulations.»

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo

Manufacturers are permitted to use five evo jokers over the lifespan of a LMH or LMDh prototype, and Cannizzo had remarked at Le Mans prior to the marque’s second win at the WEC blue riband with the 449P that it had planned to introduce its first «this year or next year».

Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina’s victory at Le Mans has lifted them to second in the Hypercar standings, nine points behind Penske Porsche Motorsport drivers Andre Lotterer, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor in the 963 LMDh, while Ferrari is the same margin behind Porsche in the Hypercar manufacturers’ classification.

James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi are 51 points back from the PPM crew in sixth.

Ferrari has not tested at Interlagos prior to the track’s first outing as part of the WEC calendar since 2014, but has regained the engine power it lost ahead of Le Mans with a 1.7% reduction in maximum power above 250km/h (155mph) in the Balance of Performance.

The 6 Hours of Sao Paulo meeting will begin with first practice at 10.45am local time on Friday.



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WRC confident it can keep manufacturers amid Hyundai future rumours

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The World Rally Championship is doing “everything” to keep its current manufacturers and create a series that can attract at least one new marque in 2027, according to the championship’s promoter.

Rallying’s top flight has long been striving to broaden its manufacturer base, having operated with three brands – namely Toyota, Hyundai and Ford via M-Sport – represented in the top class since Citroen’s exit at the end of 2019.

However, in Poland earlier this month reports circulated that Hyundai is gearing up to launch a Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship, casting doubt over the Korean carmaker’s long-term future in the WRC.

Hyundai Motorsport’s president and team principal Cyril Abiteboul has said that an announcement about its motorsport plans, including WRC, will come in due course – which could arrive in September. 

The news comes just a month after the FIA made a U-turn on its plans to change the technical regulations for next year, after coming under pressure from WRC manufacturers, and instead opted for stability for the next two years, ahead of all-new regulations for 2027.

Asked about the speculation surrounding Hyundai, the WRC Promoter believes the championship can maintain its current manufacturers and add one more in 2027.

“I cannot say I have no doubt [all of our current brands will stay] because it’s not our decision, but I’m confident that we will create such a good championship that it’s worth to be there,” Peter Thul, WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport, told Motorsport.com.

“And on top of that, I also hope if we have good [2027] regulations done by the end of the year to get at least one more manufacturer going into 2027. This is our target.

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

“This is our wish, because we have to move the championship forward. And again, I cannot comment on internal thoughts of manufacturers. But as I said, it has to be so attractive that they want to stay in. This is what we can do, and we have to do.

“We will do everything to keep these three on board and we have had good discussions with them. We are open to any suggestions. I think we have never had so much good discussions, whether it’s regulations or sporting regulations.”

The WRC Promoter has declared the FIA’s push towards stability until the end of 2026 as the “right decision”, but Thul has reiterated a need for the 2027 regulations to be issued this year to help manufacturers understand the championship’s future direction.  

“I’m quite positive, I think [the FIA’s call for stability in technical regulations] is the right decision,” Thul added.

“It was good to discuss about all the kind of things, and what we now have is stability. But for us, even more important is that the regulations for 2027 are now done in a very fast way. That means we need it this year because we have to think about the future – I think that everybody knows that there is a need and there is a lot of work already ongoing.

“Let’s say we are not doing the rules, but we know what’s going on and I’m very confident. It’s getting in the right direction. I think everybody has a common sense how it should look like. The only thing is how much flexibility has to be in for the different kinds of drivetrains, this I don’t know.”

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WRC confident it can keep manufacturers amid Hyundai future rumours

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The World Rally Championship is doing “everything” to keep its current manufacturers and create a series that can attract at least one new marque in 2027, according to the championship’s promoter.

Rallying’s top flight has long been striving to broaden its manufacturer base, having operated with three brands – namely Toyota, Hyundai and Ford via M-Sport – represented in the top class since Citroen’s exit at the end of 2019.

However, in Poland earlier this month reports circulated that Hyundai is gearing up to launch a Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship, casting doubt over the Korean carmaker’s long-term future in the WRC.

Hyundai Motorsport’s president and team principal Cyril Abiteboul has said that an announcement about its motorsport plans, including WRC, will come in due course – which could arrive in September. 

The news comes just a month after the FIA made a U-turn on its plans to change the technical regulations for next year, after coming under pressure from WRC manufacturers, and instead opted for stability for the next two years, ahead of all-new regulations for 2027.

Asked about the speculation surrounding Hyundai, the WRC Promoter believes the championship can maintain its current manufacturers and add one more in 2027.

“I cannot say I have no doubt [all of our current brands will stay] because it’s not our decision, but I’m confident that we will create such a good championship that it’s worth to be there,” Peter Thul, WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport, told Motorsport.com.

“And on top of that, I also hope if we have good [2027] regulations done by the end of the year to get at least one more manufacturer going into 2027. This is our target.

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

“This is our wish, because we have to move the championship forward. And again, I cannot comment on internal thoughts of manufacturers. But as I said, it has to be so attractive that they want to stay in. This is what we can do, and we have to do.

“We will do everything to keep these three on board and we have had good discussions with them. We are open to any suggestions. I think we have never had so much good discussions, whether it’s regulations or sporting regulations.”

The WRC Promoter has declared the FIA’s push towards stability until the end of 2026 as the “right decision”, but Thul has reiterated a need for the 2027 regulations to be issued this year to help manufacturers understand the championship’s future direction.  

“I’m quite positive, I think [the FIA’s call for stability in technical regulations] is the right decision,” Thul added.

“It was good to discuss about all the kind of things, and what we now have is stability. But for us, even more important is that the regulations for 2027 are now done in a very fast way. That means we need it this year because we have to think about the future – I think that everybody knows that there is a need and there is a lot of work already ongoing.

“Let’s say we are not doing the rules, but we know what’s going on and I’m very confident. It’s getting in the right direction. I think everybody has a common sense how it should look like. The only thing is how much flexibility has to be in for the different kinds of drivetrains, this I don’t know.”

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Ferrari receives WEC engine power gain ahead of Interlagos

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ferrari has been given back the engine power it lost ahead of its Le Mans 24 Hours victory for the Interlagos World Endurance Championship round this weekend.

The Italian manufacturer’s 499P was hit with a 1.7% reduction in maximum power above 250km/h (155mph) under the new power gain element of the Hypercar class Balance of Performance introduced for last month’s Le Mans WEC round.

In the BoP published for the Sao Paolo 6 Hours, the Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar has a positive figure of 1.8%.

Ferrari refrained from criticising the reduction it received under power gain at Le Mans, but technical director Ferdinando Cannizzo asked the media to “draw its own conclusions” on its effect after the first track action on the pre-event Test Day.

He pointed out that “on a track like Le Mans, we are above 250km/h [155mph] for 45% of the time” and that the power loss would affect the cars raceability.

The Ferrari picked up straight-line speed through race week, but the decision to trim out the 499P resulted in the Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMH being the faster car in wet and damp conditions.

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Maximum power allowed from the 499P’s hybrid powertrain below the 250km/h threshold has been reduced for the Brazil WEC race, round five of the championship, from 508kW at Le Mans to 503kW (678 to 674bhp).

The minimum weight of the car has also been increased from the French enduro from 1043 to 1060kg.

But both the engine power and the weight of Ferrari are largely in line with the figures from the Spa round of the WEC in May like much of the Hypercar field.

This is because Le Mans is considered to have a separate BoP by the WEC rule makers, the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, because of the unique characteristics of the 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.

Power is down from 506kW at Spa and weight up from 1053kg for the Ferrari in comparison to the Belgian race, which the marque looked on course to win before the race was controversially restarted after the scheduled finish time of the race following a red flag.

Only the Porsche 963, the Peugeot 9X8 2024 and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 Competitizone LMH have had weight changes into double figures from Spa.

The Porsche LMDh is up 14kg and the Peugeot LMH is minus 14kg, while the Isotta has been given a 30kg weight break.

The Peugeot’s power is up 2kW from Spa and the Porsche’s by 5kW to 512kW, with no plus or minus power gain for either car.

Toyota’s GR010 will run 4kg lighter than at Spa, while power is down 9kW.

But the car has been given a plus 2.8% adjustment under power gain.

The Alpine A424 LMDh, one of the fastest cars in the straight-line at Le Mans, had been given a minus 1.3% correction above 250km/h.

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Conway returns to Toyota’s WEC roster for Brazil round after injury

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Toyota driver Mike Conway will return to the cockpit at the Interlagos World Endurance Championship round after recovering from injuries that ruled him out of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Briton will retake his place in the #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar alongside Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries for the Sao Paolo 6 Hours in Brazil, round five of the 2024 WEC, on 14 July after missing Le Mans last month.

Conway was forced to sit out the blue riband round of the WEC after sustaining a broken collarbone and two broken ribs in a cycling accident.

The incident happened just three days before the cars were due on track at Le Mans in the pre-event Test Day on the Sunday ahead of race week.

Toyota chose to recall Jose Maria Lopez to its Hypercar class line-up rather than bringing official test and reserve driver Ritomo Miyata into the race line-up.

Lopez, Kobayashi and de Vries went on to finish second in the race, finishing 14s behind the winning #50 Ferrari 499P LMH.

Conway said: “It’s great to be back and I can’t wait to be behind the wheel again.

“Watching Le Mans from a distance was tough for me: I went through all the ups and downs with Kamui, Nyck and Jose but it was incredibly frustrating that I could not be part of it.

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Jose Maria Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck De Vries

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 — Hybrid: Jose Maria Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck De Vries

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

“I always knew we were in safe hands with Jose, and he did a great job.

“Now I am just looking forward to competing again, fighting at the front and hopefully helping Kamui, Nyck and the team win the world championship.”

Kobayashi and de Vries sit third in the drivers’ points behind Porsche drivers Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Andre Lotterer and the Le Mans-winning Ferrari crew of Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina.

Lopez will return to the wheel of the LMGT3 class Lexus RC F GT3 run by the Auto Sport Promotion team, alongside Esteban Masson and Takashi Kimura, at Interlagos after Jack Hawksworth stepped in for Le Mans.

The Argentinian driver switched over to Toyota’s sister brand Lexus when he was replaced by de Vries in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Hypercar roster.

Track action begins on the 2.68-mile Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on Friday 12 July with two 90-minute free practice sessions.



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Hyundai gearing up for WEC hypercar programme, WRC long-term future unclear

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Hyundai looks set to join the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class and race at the Le Mans 24 Hours within the next three years. 

The South Korean manufacturer, Motorsport.com has learned, is gearing up to develop an LMDh hybrid prototype for a programme that is likely to encompass the GTP category in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. 

What is not clear is the timing of a move that has been facilitated by the two-year extension of the LMDh and Le Mans Hypercar rulesets in both the WEC and IMSA until the end of 2029.

Sources suggest that an LMDh developed at Hyundai Motorsport in Germany could begin racing as early as 2026, the final year of the current set of technical regulations in the World Rally Championship in which it has fielded a factory programme since 2014.

Hyundai Motorsport president and team principal Cyril Abiteboul would not confirm that a prototype programme is under evaluation, only that the marque is “exploring different categories” and has a desire “to make it clear our ambition in this sport”, when asked about speculation linking Hyundai to the WEC.

The former Caterham and Renault Formula 1 team boss suggested that an announcement by the Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s third largest car maker by sales, in which it will lay out its plans for the WRC and the longer-term future will come in due course. Motorsport.com understands this could be as soon as September. 

“There will be announcement in due course by the relevant person,” he told Motorsport.com when asked about Hyundai’s future motorsport plans at last weekend’s Rally Poland.

“I haven’t said that specifically we have some things to announce. The first thing that we will announce, but we want to do it in the proper way is our plan in WRC.”

He added that it is also “planning to clarify” its future ambitions.

Hyundai Vision GT

Hyundai Vision GT

Photo by: Gran Turismo

A 2026 entry in either the WEC or IMSA or both would suppose that development of a Hyundai prototype and the internal combustion component of its hybrid powertrain is already up and running. 

It is understood that Hyundai has identified French constructor ORECA as its chassis development partner: an LMDh must be based the spine of one of the still-born next-generation LMP2 prototypes that were originally due to arrive in 2023 when the licences for ORECA, Dallara, Multimatic and Ligier to produce P2 machinery were extended in early 2020.

ORECA already has experience in LMDh: it has provided the core of the Acura ARX-06 and Alpine A424 that respectively race in IMSA and the WEC. Hyundai would most likely produce the LMDh engine in-house like its WRC powerplants.

Motorsport.com has also learned that Hyundai is in contact with Chip Ganassi Racing, which will part company with Cadillac at the end of the 2024 campaign. 

Ganassi has a base in Germany from which it runs the WEC programme and a deal with the US racing giant would allow Hyundai to compete in two series with the same team.  

Hyundai has long had an interest in entering the sportscar arena, possibly under the banner of its Genesis luxury brand. 

It is known to have taken a place on some of the relevant FIA technical working groups, including the one exploring the introduction of hydrogen in the WEC, currently scheduled for 2028.

Hyundai is understood to have real interest in racing in the WEC and at Le Mans using hydrogen and has had fuel-cell car, the Nexo SUV, in production since 2018. 

It appears that a conventionally-fuelled LMDh could be precursor to a switch to hydrogen when the next WEC/IMSA rules cycle begins in 2030.

What does this mean for Hyundai’s WRC programme?

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

It is unclear if a move into sportscar racing will affect Hyundai’s involvement in the WRC. Although, talk of a WEC programme sparked rumours in the Rally Poland service park that Hyundai could leave the WRC.

However, given its capacity in the automotive sphere the brand could conceivably run programmes in WEC and WRC.

Should Hyundai opt to leave the WRC, an exit before 2026 – the final year of the current regulations — would seem a strange call for several reasons. It’s commitment to the WRC was further outlined earlier this year through a project to effectively homologate a new i20 N Rally1 car to be introduced next year.

This plan was scrapped amid uncertainty of the WRC technical rules after the FIA proposed changes for next year, which resulted in a U-turn after manufacturers strongly opposed the move. Now regulations are staying in place until the end of 2026, a fraction of the 2025 car project has been salvaged and is expected to be implemented next year, through the use of homologation jokers.

Since joining Hyundai, Abiteboul has been a key player in instigating change in the WRC to improve its appeal and return on investment for manufacturers. This year the FIA and the WRC Promoter have revealed visions for the future that includes several initiatives to improve the championship’s promotion and footing.   

When asked about Hyundai’s future following the FIA’s U-turn, Abiteboul said: “We will keep on implementing our plan for this year and next year and focus on work for the longer term which is 2027. We are really keen on understanding the direction of the sport from a business and a technology perspective so we can see what it looks like for us.

“Obviously, I would not deny that having pushed the sport in this direction it would look strange that we don’t maintain our commitment in the sport.”

The FIA plans to reveal new technical regulations for 2027 and beyond in December which the world motorsport governing body hopes will provide stability and relevance to not only keep the current marques, but attract new manufacturers.

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Hyundai gearing up for WEC hypercar programme, WRC long-term future unclear

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Hyundai looks set to join the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class and race at the Le Mans 24 Hours within the next three years. 

The South Korean manufacturer, Motorsport.com has learned, is gearing up to develop an LMDh hybrid prototype for a programme that is likely to encompass the GTP category in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. 

What is not clear is the timing of a move that has been facilitated by the two-year extension of the LMDh and Le Mans Hypercar rulesets in both the WEC and IMSA until the end of 2029.

Sources suggest that an LMDh developed at Hyundai Motorsport in Germany could begin racing as early as 2026, the final year of the current set of technical regulations in the World Rally Championship in which it has fielded a factory programme since 2014.

Hyundai Motorsport president and team principal Cyril Abiteboul would not confirm that a prototype programme is under evaluation, only that the marque is “exploring different categories” and has a desire “to make it clear our ambition in this sport”, when asked about speculation linking Hyundai to the WEC.

The former Caterham and Renault Formula 1 team boss suggested that an announcement by the Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s third largest car maker by sales, in which it will lay out its plans for the WRC and the longer-term future will come in due course. Motorsport.com understands this could be as soon as September. 

“There will be announcement in due course by the relevant person,” he told Motorsport.com when asked about Hyundai’s future motorsport plans at last weekend’s Rally Poland.

“I haven’t said that specifically we have some things to announce. The first thing that we will announce, but we want to do it in the proper way is our plan in WRC.”

He added that it is also “planning to clarify” its future ambitions.

Hyundai Vision GT

Hyundai Vision GT

Photo by: Gran Turismo

A 2026 entry in either the WEC or IMSA or both would suppose that development of a Hyundai prototype and the internal combustion component of its hybrid powertrain is already up and running. 

It is understood that Hyundai has identified French constructor ORECA as its chassis development partner: an LMDh must be based the spine of one of the still-born next-generation LMP2 prototypes that were originally due to arrive in 2023 when the licences for ORECA, Dallara, Multimatic and Ligier to produce P2 machinery were extended in early 2020.

ORECA already has experience in LMDh: it has provided the core of the Acura ARX-06 and Alpine A424 that respectively race in IMSA and the WEC. Hyundai would most likely produce the LMDh engine in-house like its WRC powerplants.

Motorsport.com has also learned that Hyundai is in contact with Chip Ganassi Racing, which will part company with Cadillac at the end of the 2024 campaign. 

Ganassi has a base in Germany from which it runs the WEC programme and a deal with the US racing giant would allow Hyundai to compete in two series with the same team.  

Hyundai has long had an interest in entering the sportscar arena, possibly under the banner of its Genesis luxury brand. 

It is known to have taken a place on some of the relevant FIA technical working groups, including the one exploring the introduction of hydrogen in the WEC, currently scheduled for 2028.

Hyundai is understood to have real interest in racing in the WEC and at Le Mans using hydrogen and has had fuel-cell car, the Nexo SUV, in production since 2018. 

It appears that a conventionally-fuelled LMDh could be precursor to a switch to hydrogen when the next WEC/IMSA rules cycle begins in 2030.

What does this mean for Hyundai’s WRC programme?

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

It is unclear if a move into sportscar racing will affect Hyundai’s involvement in the WRC. Although, talk of a WEC programme sparked rumours in the Rally Poland service park that Hyundai could leave the WRC.

However, given its capacity in the automotive sphere the brand could conceivably run programmes in WEC and WRC.

Should Hyundai opt to leave the WRC, an exit before 2026 – the final year of the current regulations — would seem a strange call for several reasons. It’s commitment to the WRC was further outlined earlier this year through a project to effectively homologate a new i20 N Rally1 car to be introduced next year.

This plan was scrapped amid uncertainty of the WRC technical rules after the FIA proposed changes for next year, which resulted in a U-turn after manufacturers strongly opposed the move. Now regulations are staying in place until the end of 2026, a fraction of the 2025 car project has been salvaged and is expected to be implemented next year, through the use of homologation jokers.

Since joining Hyundai, Abiteboul has been a key player in instigating change in the WRC to improve its appeal and return on investment for manufacturers. This year the FIA and the WRC Promoter have revealed visions for the future that includes several initiatives to improve the championship’s promotion and footing.   

When asked about Hyundai’s future following the FIA’s U-turn, Abiteboul said: “We will keep on implementing our plan for this year and next year and focus on work for the longer term which is 2027. We are really keen on understanding the direction of the sport from a business and a technology perspective so we can see what it looks like for us.

“Obviously, I would not deny that having pushed the sport in this direction it would look strange that we don’t maintain our commitment in the sport.”

The FIA plans to reveal new technical regulations for 2027 and beyond in December which the world motorsport governing body hopes will provide stability and relevance to not only keep the current marques, but attract new manufacturers.

Read Also:



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