Hyundai signs Fourmax for third WRC 2025 entry

adrien fourmaux Will joins Hyundai next year to drive his third entry in the World Rally Championship on a full-time basis.

The future of the five-time WRC podium finisher has been the subject of speculation for several months linked to a move from M-Sport-Ford to the Korean marque.

Fourmaux and co-driver Alex Correia will form part of an experienced driver line-up that includes the newly-crowned world champion Thierry Neuville and 2019 world champion oat tanak,

It marks a change in strategy for Hyundai’s third car after narrowly losing the manufacturer’s title to Toyota this year. Traditionally the seat has been shared between several employees Asapekka Lappi, Dani Sordo And Andreas Mikkelsen All competitive part-time programs this year. The future of the trio has not yet been confirmed, but Hyundai has ruled out expanding the line-up to four cars during next season.

Fourmaux has attracted a lot of attention after leading the Ford team in 2024, which he has been a part of since 2020. This season he has scored 45 more points than the total accumulated by Hyundai’s third-place car drivers.

M-Sport promoted the 29-year-old back to its Rally1 team in 2022 after spending 2023 competing in Rally2 machinery following an eventful first season behind the wheel of a Rally1 Ford Puma.

Fourmaux claimed a first WRC podium finish in Sweden, following which he took third in Kenya, Poland, Finland and Japan to finish fifth in the championship.

However, the Frenchman’s move from M-Sport to Hyundai comes with uncertainty over the Korean marque’s future in the WRC after 2025, following an announcement that it would Step into the World Endurance Championship under your Genesis brand In 2026.

“I’m really excited to join Hyundai Motorsport For the 2025 season. This is a big opportunity for me and Alex, and we are looking forward to getting started with the team,” said Fourmaux, who is expected to test the i20 N Rally1 car for the first time next week.

“As a driver, you’re always looking to move forward and push yourself, and this feels like the right step at the right time. Hyundai has had a strong presence in the WRC for years and I am proud to be a part of it in the future. I am ready to give my best and see where this journey takes us.”

Hyundai Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “Our shared third car vision in 2024 allowed us to deliver one of the team’s strongest years in the WRC and I sincerely thank Esapekka, Dani and Andreas for their massive contributions to this. Want to thank you.

“For next year’s new challenges, stability and consistency will be key in all three cars. “We are therefore delighted to confirm Adrian and Alexandre as part of our team following their incredible 2024 season.”

“Adrian has impressed not only with the results he has achieved this season, but also with his new mentality and attitude in his return to Rally1. We believe our line-up of Thierry, Ott and Adrien will be a formidable force on the world stage in 2025.”

What Formox’s exit means for M-Sport

Fourmaux’s departure from M-Sport will force the Ford team to make changes to its line-up for 2025.

The British operation has yet to announce its plans for what is expected to be a two-car line-up for next year.

It’s understood gregoire munster It is one of the team’s options to continue fielding one of the Ford Puma Rally1 entries. Martins Cesák, who impressed for the team in three wildcard outings this year, is on the team’s shortlist, while the WRC2 driver oliver solberg And Nikolay Gryazin has been added to the team.

“Things will become clear in the next week or two,” said Ricard Milner, M-Sport team principal at Rally Japan.

WRC 2025 driver line-up

toyota
Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Haltunen
elfyn evans,Scott Martin
Takamoto Katsuta,aaron johnson
Sami Pazari/Marco Salminen
Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (part time)

Hyundai
Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydeghe
oat tanak/Martin Jarvoja
Adrian Fourmaux/Alex Correa

m-sport-ford
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