Hyundai broadcasts WRC workforce reshuffle as programme supervisor departs

Hyundai Motorsport’s World Rally Championship programme supervisor Christian Loriaux has left the workforce forward of the 2025 season.

Loriaux has performed a essential function inside the Korean marque since first becoming a member of the operation in 2021 as a technical guide, earlier than graduating to the function of WRC programme supervisor.

Shock information of Loriaux’s departure arrives after a 2024 season the place Hyundai claimed its first WRC drivers’ title by means of Thierry Neuville and narrowly missed out on a 3rd producers’ title by three factors to Toyota.

An announcement from the workforce claims that Loriaux will “embark on a brand new enterprise” along with his function “set to be fulfilled by the technical division led by Francois-Xavier Demaison.

With Loriaux leaving the operation, Hyundai has reshuffled its workforce construction with Pablo Marcos rejoining the marque as workforce supervisor after a season at M-Sport Ford. Former workforce supervisor Tolga Ozakinci will now take up a newly-created function of Head of Race Operations.

“Everybody at Hyundai Motorsport is having fun with a well-deserved break from competitors, nevertheless – as is usually the case right now of year- we’re making some key modifications inside the firm to assist our 2025 push and adapt to the environment,” mentioned Hyundai workforce principal Cyril Abiotbeoul.

“We had a really sturdy 2024 season however didn’t obtain every thing we got down to do, so waiting for a transformative yr for our motorsport operations we now have frolicked contemplating how we will streamline our organisation.

“We’re due to this fact delighted to welcome again Pablo Marcos again to Hyundai as workforce supervisor. His remit may be very completely different to his earlier time in the true from 2021-2023, with Pablo solely focussed on realising our sporting and efficiency targets inside WRC. Tolga Ozakinci will now oversee the infrastructure throughout our rallying and racing occasions in addition to working with our related suppliers and companions, a few of them being shared throughout our applications.

“Lastly, we want to thank Christian Loriaux for his contribution to our mission over the previous three years. He has been an ideal assist personally after I joined the world of rally and we want him all one of the best along with his endeavours. We sit up for seeing you all in 2025.”