Adrien Fourmaux, driver of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, has expressed his confidence in remaining competitive in the World Rally Championship (WRC) next season, despite the uncertainties surrounding his plans for 2027.
In the last two seasons, Fourmaux has competed with the Hyundai factory team, although the Korean brand has yet to define its strategy for next year. Hyundai has ruled out building a new vehicle according to the technical regulations of WRC27, but has invested in developing a revised Rally2 that could be equipped with a kit from the FIA to compete in the upper category.
The president of Hyundai Motorsport, Cyril Abiteboul, has revealed that the team has three options for its Rally2 program: to opt for a customer competition program, to remain as a manufacturer team, or to partner with a customer team with brand support. Fourmaux has shone this year, finishing fifth in the championship with four podiums, achieving his best points total so far.
In his statement after the championship final in Sardinia, Fourmaux could not provide clarity on his future. ‘You will see me, but in what car or team, or in what championship, I do not know. However, I will continue to compete,’ the driver commented.
Fourmaux is satisfied with the progress made on the vehicle during the season, highlighting his ability to compete in all gravel tests and other surfaces. However, he admitted that he has lacked performance on asphalt, an aspect that has hindered his overall classification. ‘Even though I haven’t won, I am proud of my results and the victory will come. Now I have to focus on my future to become world champion,’ he added.
Furthermore, Fourmaux has been linked with a possible return to M-Sport Ford, the team he raced for from 2020 until the end of 2023. M-Sport has announced a new factory partnership with Ford, which will officially begin in 2028, with brand support increasing from next year. The team principal, Rich Millener, has indicated that Fourmaux is one of the drivers they are considering for the future, although there have been no formal discussions so far.
The pilot market situation in the WRC is slowly being defined, with Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport-Ford still to confirm their line-ups. Time will tell if Fourmaux will continue with Hyundai or face a new challenge with M-Sport Ford for the 2027 season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
