Rally driver Thierry Neuville extends contract with Hyundai despite 'nightmare 2025'
Rally driver Thierry Neuville will compete in the full 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) season with Hyundai, he confirmed to Belga on Thursday. It will be his 13th consecutive season with the South Korean manufacturer.
Neuville first signed with Hyundai in 2014 and has stayed with the company ever since. “The option was there, and now that Hyundai has confirmed that they will also be competing in the World Championship next year, I will remain loyal and drive a full season for them,” Neuville said.
The Belgian's long-term plans are not clear yet. “I don’t want to look beyond next year. 2027 is still a long way off, and at the same time it isn’t," he said. "It doesn’t just depend on Hyundai, but also on the promoter, the FIA, and whether other manufacturers join. I’m not thinking about that yet.”
A nightmarish year
Neuville made history last year by becoming the first Belgian rally driver to win the WRC. However, the current season has been challenging. After nine races, he sits fifth in the standings, trailing leader Elfyn Evans by 51 points. His last victory came in September 2024.
“2025 has been a nightmare so far,” Neuville said, citing an unusually high number of punctures during the season. “I have no explanation for it. Everyone is experiencing more punctures compared to last year. In my case, it’s twice as many. In 2024, I was the driver with the fewest punctures. Now it’s the opposite.”
Despite the difficulties, Neuville remains optimistic about his chances of winning this year’s WRC. “I don’t want to give up. There are still five rallies left, with 35 points up for grabs in each one," he told Belga. "We’re going to aim as high as possible and give it our all,” he said.
© PHOTO LUIS TATO / AFP
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