Hyundai Motorsport president Cyril Abiteboul says the team building a bespoke car for 2027 is out of the question
Photography by Hyundai
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
Hyundai Motorsport president Cyril Abiteboul has admitted the Korean firm is considering running an i20 N Rally2 as its factory car for the 2027 World Rally Championship.
The 2027 season marks the beginning of a new technical regulation set, with rules based on rallying’s current second tier. While Toyota is working on an all-new ‘WRC27’ car, Abiteboul told DirtFish there would be no such car from his team.
“Unfortunately, 2027 is a train that has left the station already,” said Abiteboul. “Coming in 2027 with a new car, according to the new regulation, no, that’s not going to happen. What can still happen is that we, like many other manufacturers, will have a Rally2 car.”
Asked if this meant the i20 N Rally2 was being considered as the base for the team’s world championship challenge in 2027, Abiteboul said: “For instance, yes, it’s a possibility.
“What I don’t personally understand is exactly what’s going to happen between, what I believe is a unique new rally car (WRC27) and all the other cars. So does WRC become a one-make race [with only Toyota potentially producing a WRC27-spec car] or is there some form of equivalency formula?
“If so, what is it? And if there is such a formula, how do we work on making the most of that formula with our current Rally2 car?”
Hyundai's i20 N Rally2 is currently out of production, but still actively competing in national series
Abiteboul was quick to point out that running the Rally2 car would be a stepping stone to a potentially longer-term solution to remain in the WRC.
“It’s clear there is something missing in those [2027] regulations,” the Frenchman added. “What we need as a group, we need to find ways to build bridges, to build a bridge between where Hyundai stands as a brand, as a car company with products, and where the sport is going. And that bridge can be built from both sides.
“We probably need the sport to do some steps to clarify the role and value that is expected for the carmaker. And there is also some steps to be done on our side to go towards the sport. What I mean by that and I’m going to be super-pragmatic… Once again, I have to recognize that for us, the benchmark is absolutely Toyota with the Yaris, which is a great car in Rally1, which is a big challenger for us on rally after rally.
“It’s also a fantastic platform from a business perspective with perfect alignment, perfect continuity: you’ve got the Rally1, you’ve got the Rally2, both, frankly, excellent in their class. And then you’ve got the Yaris four-wheel drive [in] mass production, you’ve got the special edition and you’ve even got the recce car, which are a fantastic business, a fantastic platform.
“It’s no secret, our recce car is, unfortunately, a German car. I’m not going to do any advertising for the brand more than I’ve just done. That’s a good example of the fact that, unfortunately, right now, the bridge doesn’t exist. We’ve got bits and bobs of the bridge, but we need to put all of that together and we need to do it working with the FIA. I still believe we need to make a bit more space for the carmaker and, at all levels, with our own product plan and seeing how we can enhance our product plan and stretch it until [it gets to] the rally car.”
If the FIA can find the right balance of performance between the ‘WRC27’ car and Rally2, Hyundai could remain in the WRC for a 14th successive season.
“If,” said Abiteboul, “there is such a formula, how do we work on making the most of it with our current Rally2 car so we can still be part of the sport until such time that the bridge I’m talking about falls into place?”
If Hyundai does push the button on its alternative 2027 plan, it will need to re-start production and development of its i20 N Rally2, which ended at the end of last season.
Words:David Evans
Tags: Cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai, Rally2, WRC, WRC 2027
Publish Date October 16, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/10/LrBfSbAe-2025ESTONIA_VT_189-780x520.jpg October 16, 2025
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