Fourmaux: Time is right for Hyundai WRC move after emotional M-Sport farewell

Adrien Fourmaux says his sights are set on scoring a maiden World Rally Championship victory next year with Hyundai after completing an emotional M-Sport farewell.

Fourmaux’s anticipated move to pilot Hyundai’s third i20 N rally entry was announced last week, just days ahead of his final outing with M-Sport at the Monza Rally Show last weekend, that celebrated Pirelli’s four-year stint as WRC’s tyre supplier.

Before heading to Monza, Fourmaux made a final trip to M-Sport’s Dovenby Hall headquarters in the UK to say goodbye to the team.

In his final outing in the Ford Puma, after a breakthrough WRC season in which he delivered five podium finishes, Fourmaux and co-driver Alex Coria defeated their new Hyundai team-mate and newly-crowned world champion Thierry Neuville by 1.96s to win the Masters Show. Neuville was driving a non-hybrid version of the i20 N ahead of change of regulations for 2025.

“It has been a really good fun on may last stage with the Puma. It is nice win to mark the end of the hybrid cars, it was a really great event,” Fourmaux told Motorsport.com.

“This week was the goodbye [to M-Sport]. There was a lot of emotion and a lot of feelings with [team boss] Malcolm [Wilson] and all of the team. All the team were there to say goodbye, that was really nice and there is a lot of memories at this team for me as I have spent five years with the team, so it was quite emotional.”

Fourmaux joined up with Hyundai on Monday at the team’s Alzenau base in Germany to begin preparations for next season, which will include driving an i20 N Rally at Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy in France.

The event will see the Frenchman come up against two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera, who will be readying himself for his full-time return with Toyota next year.

Reflecting on his decision to join Hyundai, Fourmaux believes that the timing is right for him as he looks to achieve his next target – a first WRC win.

“It is new chapter to go with Hyundai for 2025. I think it is the right time and we have shown this year some really positive things, so I think it is the time to go to another level and Malcolm is okay with that, and we had a nice discussion about it together,” he added.

“I’m really pleased to join a world champion team with Thierry this year so we know the team is really capable. It is great challenge for me and I’m really looking forward.

“The main goal for next year is to try to get my first victory. We were close this year.

“I think it can come but I will not force it. I will take my time and if it comes then it comes, maybe it will come at somewhere where we don’t expect like our first podium in Sweden. I will do my job and then we will see.”

The 2025 WRC season begins next month with the annual Monte Carlo Rally curtain raiser from 23-26 January.