Hyundai's WRC Future Hangs in Balance as Neuville Eyes Reduced Role

Thierry Neuville, the 2024 World Rally Champion, has signaled his desire to step back from a full-time WRC campaign in 2027, even as Hyundai's commitment to the championship remains clouded in uncertainty. The Belgian driver, who has been a fixture in the series for 15 seasons, indicated that a reduced schedule with the Korean manufacturer is his preferred path forward.

Neuville's comments came after a difficult 2026 campaign concluded with a Power Stage victory at the Sardinia season finale. The result offered a rare bright spot in what he described as a challenging two-year stretch, and it set the stage for frank reflections on his future.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Neuville said:

It [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. I just wanted to smash it in the last stage.

Why is Neuville considering a reduced WRC schedule?

The timing is no coincidence. The WRC is preparing for a major technical overhaul, with new regulations set to reshape the top category from 2027. Neuville sees this transition as a natural inflection point to recalibrate his involvement.

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,

he said.

Neuville joined Hyundai when the marque returned to the WRC in 2014, and he has been its anchor driver ever since. Thirteen of his 15 WRC seasons have been spent with the factory squad.

What are Hyundai's options for 2027?

Hyundai has already ruled out building an all-new car to the 2027 regulations. Instead, the brand has invested in developing a revised version of its Rally2 car that could be adapted to compete in the top category. The final decision hinges on the FIA's sporting regulations, which are due to be ratified at the World Motor Sport Council on October 15.

Cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai's motorsport president, outlined three possible paths for the brand: a full pivot to customer racing with the Rally2 platform, a continued presence as a public manufacturer team, or an intermediate model with a customer team supported by the factory.

Part of the job that we've done is to invest and work heavily on the Rally2 cars, because for us we see the Rally2 as a crossroad with many different opportunities,

Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

He added:

We knew it would take time for the new promoter and the FIA to determine the rules for next year. And I hope that you see that the fact that we invest into that rally car shows that we care for the future.

Is Hyundai done with the Rally1 era?

Abiteboul was candid about the strategic shift.

Are we done with the Rally1 journey? We are. Is the world changing? The world is changing. How do we need to adjust our operation? What is the final decision that we need to make in relation to the kit, which is an opportunity to support the Rally2 car? Let's see.

He confirmed that a resolution is expected within weeks and that Neuville remains part of the conversation.

Among all the opportunities that I've mapped out, some of them will, for sure, create options for Thierry to be part of it. But once again, let's first decide what we want for the brand, and then we see how Thierry can fit into that.

What does this mean for the WRC's competitive landscape?

Hyundai's decision will have ripple effects across the championship. The WRC is already navigating a delicate transition period, and the departure of a major manufacturer from the top category, or a shift to a customer-focused model, would reshape the competitive order. For Neuville, a reduced role would mark the end of an era as a full-time title contender, though he remains open to a long-term relationship with the brand beyond driving.

For now, the ball is in the FIA's court. The October 15 ratification of the sporting regulations will provide the clarity Hyundai needs to make its call. Until then, Neuville waits, hopeful but pragmatic about what comes next.