Rally News

Why I chose Hyundai over M-Sport for WRC 2024 comeback

Andreas Mikkelsen, Torstein Eriksen, Toksport WRT 3 Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2

The newly-crowned two-time WRC2 champion is set to make his first top-level WRC start since 2019, after electing to rejoin Hyundai โ€“ the team he competed for from 2017-2019.

Mikkelsen is one of three drivers to share Hyundaiโ€™s third i20 entry this year, alongside Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo, while Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak will pilot the teamโ€™s other two entries.

However, this wasnโ€™t the Norwegianโ€™s only offer for 2024. Mikkelsen revealed to Motorsport.com that he had an opportunity to join M-Sport on a full-time basis for this season.

M-Sport has since announced that it will field entries for Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster this year.

Explaining the decision, Mikkelsen said that Hyundaiโ€™s long-term vision and its recent management restructure under new boss Cyril Abiteboul played a significant role in him opting to re-join Hyundai.

Hyundaiโ€™s recent recruitment drive last year included the signing of former Williams Formula 1 and Volkswagen WRC technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison – whom Mikkelsen previously worked alongside at Volkswagen, where he scored his three WRC wins.

โ€œI see more future here [at Hyundai]. I think Hyundai is really properly in the WRC,โ€ Mikkelsen told Motorsport.com.ย 

โ€œFord is half in I would say, and we all know this that it is Malcolm [Wilson] and his team and he gets some budget with Ford, and it is hard to say what the future is there.

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Andreas Mikkelsen, Torstein Eriksen, Toksport WRT 3 Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2

โ€œWe could have had a full programme at M-Sport. You have to think about your options and also long-term and when you see the people now at Hyundai with Cyril and FX, whom I know very well at Volkswagen, these are people that I trust. So not only looking at this year I think it is a better choice for me at Hyundai.

โ€œFor me, it is a one-year contract, but I hope if I deliver well there could be more. I think that would be natural.โ€

Mikkelsen is expected to make his WRC Rally1 hybrid competitive debut at the 2024 Monte Carlo season opener from 25-28 January.

โ€œThe thing that is good about starting with Monte is you donโ€™t need to be 100% with the car there to deliver a good result because there are so many other factors,โ€ he added. โ€œIโ€™m happy Iโ€™m starting at Monte even though it is very difficult.โ€

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