Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
The Korean brand Hyundai announced on Thursday the arrival of the head of its rally team of Frenchman Cyril Abiteboul, former director of Renault in Formula 1.
Hyundai finally has its new team manager. A position that had been vacant for several weeks when the interim of Frenchman Julien Moncet expired. The latter had temporarily assumed this role following the departure of Andrea Adamo in December 2021. To lead its assault on the World Rally Championship (WRC) with training around Thierry Neuville following the departure of Ott Tänak, the Korean manufacturer has decided to confide in someone with some motorsport experience. Former director of the Caterham and Renault teams in Formula 1, a discipline he left in January 2021, Cyril Abiteboul has agreed to take charge of Hyundai’s activities in the WRC, as well as customer competition programs of the brand. A return to business that follows a sabbatical aimed at “taking a little distance from the car and motorsport”, taking over the general management of a company specializing in composite parts for boats.
Abiteboul: “A natural desire to move on”
In an interview with the official WRC website, Cyril Abiteboul made no secret of saying that he “still had the thrill of motorsport in his skin” before accepting the offer from the Korean brand. “We had a common acquaintance with Hyundai and I knew they were looking for a team principal,” added the French leader. I wasn’t particularly active, but I made contact and there was a good match between what Hyundai was looking for and what I was looking for. There was a natural desire to move on, and it was only a few weeks ago that we decided this was going to happen. Before entering the world of rallying, Cyril Abiteboul assures us that he will take on this challenge “with great humility”. “But I am also extremely excited and passionate about what can be done and what needs to be done,” he added, ensuring he wanted to build on what is already there to get results.
