Electric Cars

Unlocking Tomorrow's Speed: Neuville's Vision for Hyundai's WRC Future

Neuville's Enduring Faith in the 2025 Hyundai WRC Machine

Thierry Neuville, the reigning World Rally Champion, maintains a firm conviction that Hyundai's updated 2025 World Rally Championship contender possesses greater inherent capabilities than its predecessor, despite facing difficulties in maximizing its speed during the current season.

Analyzing Performance Gaps Post-Rally Chile

The champion driver acknowledged his concerns regarding the performance disparity between Hyundai and Toyota following Rally Chile. Neuville disclosed that the team experimented with numerous configurations but ultimately failed to achieve optimal pace from the 2025-specification i20 N. This was not the first instance of Hyundai struggling with their significantly enhanced vehicle. In April, the team found themselves unable to contend with Toyota on asphalt in the Canary Islands, as the 2024-spec car had been utilized for the initial asphalt event in Monte Carlo.

Team Strategies for Enhanced Car Performance

Following the event in Chile, Hyundai has diligently focused on gaining a deeper understanding of its 2025 vehicle and preparing for the upcoming Central European Rally. Neuville actively participated in the East Belgian Rally, coupled with a pre-event testing day, while his teammate Adrien Fourmaux competed in the recent European Rally Championship round in Croatia and is scheduled for the Herbst Rallye in Austria. Additionally, Ott Tanak has engaged in further testing sessions.

Optimistic Outlook on Future Results and Set-Up Adjustments

Neuville stated that his participation in Belgium yielded valuable insights and interesting conclusions from the additional mileage covered. He expressed confidence that the 2025 car will ultimately deliver strong results. He emphasized, \"For me, the 2025 car has much more potential than the 2024 car, and I believe we simply haven't extracted the best performance from it yet.\"

Navigating the Competitive Landscape for Upcoming Rallies

He further elaborated, \"We recognize there's room for improvement, and we've pinpointed specific areas for enhancement, which we hope to resolve swiftly. Achieving the ideal operating window is somewhat different compared to the 2024 car, and perhaps we haven't yet discovered that perfect window, especially for the previous asphalt event.\" Neuville expressed optimism for the future, adding, \"Hopefully, our current efforts are more effective. There's scope for refining the set-ups and expanding the car's operational window. We still require more driving experience, but I believe we've made progress and understand where further advancements can be made.\"

Anticipating the Central European Rally Challenge

Looking ahead to the forthcoming Central European Rally, an event Neuville triumphed in during 2023, the accomplished WRC driver admitted that predicting the team's performance against Toyota remains challenging. He concluded, \"I anticipate that we will only grasp our comparative standing after a few stages. The outcome of the event will likely be influenced by weather conditions, and regrettably, our road position is not advantageous, offering little assistance if rain occurs.\"

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the current President of the FIA, appears set to win his bid for re-election in December without opposition. This situation arises as other prospective candidates are reportedly facing challenges in forming complete electoral teams, a critical requirement for eligibility.

Ben Sulayem is seeking a second four-year term during the FIA's General Assemblies scheduled for December 12th in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While several individuals, including former F1 steward Tim Mayer, Swiss racer Laura Villars, and Belgian TV presenter Virginie Philippot, had expressed interest in contesting the presidency, their campaigns are encountering significant hurdles. A key requirement for any presidential candidate is to present a full list of nominees for various leadership roles, including the president of the senate, deputy presidents for automobile mobility and tourism, and sport, along with seven regional vice presidents for sport. Crucially, individuals can only be nominated on one presidential list and must be eligible for the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

The recently publicized list of eligible WMSC candidates reveals only one representative from South America: Fabiana Ecclestone. As the current VP for the region and a member of Ben Sulayem's re-election team, her presence on his slate prevents any other candidate from fulfilling the mandated South American representation requirement. This factor, combined with strong existing support for Ben Sulayem in Asia and Africa, makes it exceptionally difficult for challengers to gather the necessary backing from member clubs, each of which holds an equal vote in the election process.

Ben Sulayem's tenure has been marked by both praise and criticism. Supporters commend his leadership and efforts to improve the FIA's financial stability post-COVID-19. However, his governance style has also drawn scrutiny, notably from Motorsport UK chief Dave Richards, who criticized a perceived consolidation of power. This critique followed a series of high-profile departures from the FIA, including that of Ben Sulayem's former running mate, Robert Reid, who cited concerns over governance standards. Despite these challenges, changes initiated by Ben Sulayem to the FIA's statutes and ethics code, aimed at strengthening governance and electoral processes, were approved by a supermajority, further solidifying his position.

The impending re-election of Mohammed Ben Sulayem signals a period of continued leadership and stability within the FIA. While the path to his re-election has highlighted discussions around governance and internal structures, the outcome underscores the importance of a unified vision and effective stakeholder engagement in maintaining leadership in global motorsport. This outcome reflects not only a strategic mastery of electoral processes but also a testament to the power of broad-based support and alignment among diverse regional bodies within complex international organizations.