Cyril Abiteboul announced as Hyundai team principal

Hyundai Motorsport have announced Cyril Abiteboul as their new Team Principal. Abiteboul, the former Formula One team boss of Renault, will be heading Hyundai’s FIA World Rally Championship and Customer Racing projects. 

The 45-year-old Frenchman has plenty of experience in motorsport management roles, having served as a Team Principal of Caterham from 2012 to 2014 and then with Renault between 2014 and 2021. 

Sean Kim, President, Hyundai Motorsport, commented:

“I am pleased to welcome Cyril into the Hyundai family. His experience in Formula One will help us to explore new opportunities for growth and improvements as we look to mount a more intensive fight for titles in WRC and to support our Customer Racing teams. We will deliberately give him time to settle in, discover the environment and, in time, to make the Team Principal role his own. I have no doubt that Hyundai Motorsport’s technical personnel, along with Cyril, will demonstrate stronger and clearer leadership in the future by cooperating closely with the Global R&D of Hyundai Motor Company.

“I would like to extend my thanks to Julien Moncet, who took on the deputy role last season with determination. Under his guidance, we secured five victories and built strong momentum in the second part of the year.“

Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand Management & Motorsport Sub-Division at Hyundai Motor Company, said:

“Our ambition has always been for motorsport to act as a halo for the entire Hyundai brand. To deliver against our winning objectives, we need to be constantly on top of our game, bringing together the right blend of people and experience. We are delighted to have someone of Cyril’s calibre joining Hyundai Motorsport.“

Cyril Abiteboul commented:

“I am relishing the opportunity to join Hyundai Motorsport as Team Principal. In motorsport, like in the rest of their activities, the Hyundai brand is cautiously building its leadership. I am excited at the prospect of being part of it, managing the WRC and Customer Racing programs, where the team has already proven to be strong competitors. I am looking forward to immersing myself into the rallying community and discovering more about this spectacular sport. Hyundai has given me its full support to make the transition into this role a smooth one. I can’t wait to get started.“

Hyundai most recently have been linked with Formula One and Le Mans Hypercar projects, and with Abiteboul’s background, it will be interesting to see if the South Korean team venture into motorsport’s elite category.