After a return to the top three in Greece, Adrien Fourmaux's confidence is back on the up
Photography by Hyundai & M-Sport
Words by Luke Barry
In a World Rally Championship career that’s now netted seven podiums, it’s the variation that stands out.
Snow, Tarmac, gravel – fast or slow – Adrien Fourmaux has podiumed on them all.
Which is why the Hyundai-driving Frenchman has every confidence he can snare another top-three result on the upcoming fast gravel events.
Fourmaux has only done next week’s Rally Estonia once before in a Rally1 car (finishing seventh in 2022) but he was an eye-catching second in WRC2 at Rally Finland a year later, and got an overall podium for M-Sport in 2024.
Fourmaux was on for fifth in Finland last year before penultimate stage chaos earned him third
Coupled to Hyundai’s upgraded i20 N Rally1 – which has been designed with softer-surface rallies like Estonia and Finland in mind – and his mental reset culminating in a podium return in Greece, Fourmaux’s got little doubt of what he’s ultimately capable of.
“Actually, yes, I think we can get a podium on the fast rallies,” he told DirtFish.
“We got it last year in Finland, in Poland also, and in Sweden. So I think it was more on the fast rallies than on the slow rallies. So actually, yes, I think we have the performance and the speed.
“I’m quite confident, but it’s good also to have a podium before these fast rallies because confidence, safe confidence, for the fast rallies is really important.”
Fourmaux’s latest podium, his second of the season, was hugely important given the run of tricky events that had preceded it.
Fourmaux showed improved composure last time out in Greece
The 30-year-old had shown a lack of composure when his rallies had unraveled, but crucially kept his head after suspension damage at the Acropolis – therefore proving a point to himself, his bosses and the wider world.
“Actually I did like the challenge, but it’s easier to say that at the end,” Fourmaux smiled.
“I’m really pleased that it stopped a bit the super-rally cycle we had a bit with Portugal and Sardinia. So actually it’s good to get a good result. We had some pressure from the team to deliver, which we did. It was positive.
“We managed the issue we had [on Saturday] and some others we had also. But actually I’m pleased we managed the podium, it was important for us, for the team. And I’m happy also for Ott to get the victory, it’s big also for the team.
“And then we get also some confidence before Estonia and Finland, so it’s important.”
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Adrien Fourmaux, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date July 9, 2025 DirtFish
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