The Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT announced this morning that Adrien Fourmaux will join the team for the 2025 WRC season.
A Good 2024 Season
Adrien Fourmaux was one of the biggest talking points all season long. As the Frenchman finished on the podium five times this past season, which was largely unexpected. 2024 was Fourmaux’s first year back in a Rally1 car after spending the 2023 season in WRC2 after a poor performance in 2022. Fourmaux showed a lot of maturity throughout the season as well. At one point the 29-year-old was third in the championship standings.
Moving To Hyundai
Over the past couple of months, it was largely rumoured that the Frenchman would join Hyundai for the 2025 season. This didn’t come as much of a surprise considering the aforementioned year Fourmaux had. Fourmaux himself had even confirmed he had gotten an offer from Toyota, however, that was only for a part-time drive. Moving to Hyundai is kinda a no-brainer for Fourmaux. As now he will be joining a team with the likes of Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville who could help mentor the young star. He will also have a faster and arguably better car for the upcoming season.
What To Expect From Fourmaux In 2025
As previously mentioned Fourmaux will have an arguably better car this upcoming season. Which should help him score more podiums and maybe even his first event win. Obviously, it will likely take him an event or two to get used to the i20. As far as the championship goes, he will have to fend off Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and a returning Kalle Rovanperä. It’s not an easy ask, and I don’t expect him to do it. Personally, I see him finishing about fourth in the championship. However, as I’ve said many times in the past, anything can happen and rallying isn’t super predictable for the most part.
The fourth and final day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Nikolay Gryazin held on to take the event win.
SS17
Nikolay Gryazin kicked off the final day of Forum8 Rally Japan with a stage win. As the Citroen driver set a time 0.7 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. Jan Solans rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 3.1 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS18
Nikolay Gryazin also took the stage win on SS18. With a time 1.4 seconds faster than Jan Solans. Sami Pajari finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Solans.
SS19
Jan Solans took his first stage win of the weekend on the nineteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 2.3 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetnowicz rounded out the top three times on the stage, finishing 2.5 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS20
Nikolay Gryazin took his third stage win of the day on SS20. With a time 0.5 seconds faster than Kajetan Kajetanowicz. Gus Greensmith finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Kajetanwoicz.
SS21
Nikolay Gryazin capped off the weekend with yet another stage win. As the Citroen driver set a time 0.3 seconds faster than Jan Solans. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 6.4 seconds slower than Solans.
The fourth and final day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Elfyn Evans took the lead to take the event win.
SS17
Andreas Mikkelsen kicked off the final day with a stage win. As the Norwegian set a time 4.4 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Evans. Sebastien Ogier was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Neuville. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.1 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS18
Thierry Neuville took the stage win on the eighteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. With a time 3.4 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen. Adrien Fourmaux had the third fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Elfyn Evans finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Evans.
SS19
Thierry Neuville and Sebastien Ogier tied for the stage win on SS19. As both drivers finished with a time 2.8 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen. Elfyn Evans was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.1 seconds slower than Evans.
SS20
Takamoto Katsuta took home the stage win on the twentieth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. As the Japanese driver set a time 0.3 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmaux. Andreas Mikkelsen finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans tied for the fourth fastest time on the stage, with both drivers finishing 1.3 seconds slower than Mikkelsen.
SS21
Sebastien Ogier capped off the weekend with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 1.9 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, two seconds slower than Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta had the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Evans. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.8 seconds slower than Katsuta.
The third day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Nikolay Gryazin retained the WRC2 class lead after the third day.
SS10
The third day kicked off with somebody other than Nikolay Gryazin taking a stage win. As Hiroki Arai set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Gryazin to top the stage. Gus Greensmith finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 4.7 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS11
Nikolay Gryazin took his first stage win of the day on the eleventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. As the Citroen driver set a time 1.8 seconds faster than Hiroki Arai. Sami Pajari rounded out the top three times on the stage, finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Arai.
SS12
Srage cancelled.
SS13
Hiroki Arai took his second stage win of Forum8 Rally Japan on SS13. With a time 3.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Sami Pajari finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.6 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS14
Sami Pajari joined in on the stage winning action on SS14. As the Finnish driver finished with a time 0.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Gus Greenmsith rounded out the top three times on the stage, finishing 2.9 seconds slower than Grayzin.
SS15
Sami Pajari also took the stage win on the fifteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 2.2 seconds faster than Hiroki Arai. Yuki Yamamoto finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Arai.
SS16
Kajetan Kajetanwoicz capped off the penultimate day with his first stage win. As the Polish driver set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Gus Greenmsith rounded out the top three on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Gryazin.
The third day of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024 has come to an end. Ott Tänak retained the event lead after the day.
SS10
Elfyn Evans kicked off the day with a stage win. As the Welshman set a time three seconds faster than Ott Tänak and Grégoire Munster who tied for second. Sebastien Ogier finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Tänak and Munster. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS11
Thierry Neuville took his first stage win of the day on the eleventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 1.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans was fourth fastest on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Evans.
SS12
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on SS12. With a time one second faster than Sebastien Ogier and Ott Tänak who tied for second. Thierry Neuville finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than Ogier and Tänak. Grégoire Munster rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1:6 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS13
Forum8 Rally Japan 2024 leader Ott Tänak took his first stage win of the day on SS13. With a time 0.8 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.3 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS14
Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville tied for the stage win on the fourteenth stage of the weekend. As both drivers set a time 2.4 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta. Ott Tänak finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.4 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS15
Sebastien Ogier took home his second consecutive stage win on the fifteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 0.1 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, two seconds slower than Fourmaux. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.2 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS16
Ott Tänak capped off the second day with a stage win. As the Estonian set a time 1.1 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmaux. Grégoire Munster finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Takamoto Katsuta was fourth fastest on the stage, with a time 0.1 seconds slower than Munster. Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage. With both finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Katsuta.
The first and second day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Nikolay Gryazin leads the WRC2 class after the two days.
SS1
Nikolay Gryazin took home the first stage win of the weekend. With a time two seconds faster than Sami Pajari and Gus Greensmith.
SS2
Nikolay Gryazin kicked off the second day of Forum8 Rally Japan with another stage win. As the Citroen driver set a time 0.8 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top the stage. Gus Greensmith finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 21.5 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS3
Nikolay Gryazin also took the stage win on SS3. With a time 14 seconds faster than Heikki Kovalainen. Hiroki Arai had the third fastest time on the stage. As the Japanese driver finished 7.5 seconds slower than Kovalainen.
SS4
Nikolay Gryazin continued his dominance on the fourth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. As the Citroen driver set a time 1.9 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top his fourth consecutive stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 7.9 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS5
Stage cancelled, everyone was given a nautical time 11.5 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS6
Nikolay Gryazin also took the stage win on the sixth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. With a time 8.8 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. Jan Solans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.7 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS7
If you guessed Nikolay Gryazin won SS7, you’d be right. As Gryazin set a time 2.1 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to take the stage win. Kajetan Kajetanwoicz rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 5.9 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS8
Nikolay Gryazin once again took the stage win on the eighth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. This time, however, he finished with a time 0.4 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith. Kajetan Kajetanwoicz once again rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Greensmith this time around.
SS9
Nikolay Gryazin completed a sweep of the first two days’ stages with yet another stage win on SS9. Gryazin capped off the second day by setting a time 0.3 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Greensmith.
The second day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Ott Tänak took the event lead on the day’s eight stages.
SS2, Isegami’s Tunnel 1
Thierry Neuville kicked off the day with a stage win. As the championship hopeful set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to take the stage win. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 5 seconds slower than Neuville and 3.8 seconds slower than Tänak. WRC2 driver Nikolay Gryazin was fourth fastest on the stage, 39.6 seconds slower than Evans. WRC2 driver Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS3, Inabu/Shitara 1
Sebastien Ogier became the third different stage winner of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024 on stage three. With a time 1.8 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Ogier and 1.7 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS4, Shinshrio 1
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on SS4. As the reigning event winner set a time three seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Evans and 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta was fourth fastest on the stage, 4.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing five seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS5, Isegami’s Tunnel 2
Ott Tänak set the fastest time on the fifth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 6.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 14.4 seconds slower than Tänak and 8.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, four seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.2 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS6, Inabu/Shitara 2
Ott Tänak became the first two-time stage winner of the weekend on SS6. As the Estonian set a time 3.9 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top the stage. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 6.7 seconds slower than Tänak and 2.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.7 seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.9 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS7, Shinshiro 2
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on the seventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. With a time 0.4 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier was third fastest on the stage, four seconds slower than Evans and 3.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Ogier. Grégoire Munster rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 10.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS8, Okazaki SSS 1
Takamoto Katsuta took his first stage win of the weekend on SS8. As the Japanese driver set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Ott Tänak and Sebastien Ogier who tied for second on the stage. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Tänak and Ogier. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS9, Okazaki SSS2
Adrien Fourmaux, Takamoto Katsuta and Elfyn Evans tied for the stage win on the final stage of the second day of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. As all drivers finished 0.1 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Tänak.
The first day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Adrien Fourmaux leads the event after the day’s line stage.
Shakedown
WRC2 driver Chris Ingram topped the shakedown stage. As Ingram set a time 0.5 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the third fastest time on the shakedown stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Sebastien Ogier was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on his home events shakedown stage, with a time 0.5 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS1, Toyota Stadium SSS1
Adrien Fourmaux took home the first stage win of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 0.5 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak and 0.8 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Last year’s winner Elfyn Evans was fourth fastest on the opening stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville tied for fifth fastest on the stage. As both drivers finished 1.3 seconds slower than Evans.
Bad Start For The Home Manufacturer
Forum8 Rally Japan 2024 is huge for Toyota. As not only is it the team’s home event, but it is also the round that will decide the manufacturer’s championship. Toyota sits 15 points behind Hyundai in the manufacturer’s championship standings heading into this weekend. Toyota has won the championship the last two seasons in a row. However, this season they have seemed to struggle without two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä scoring points. Sebastien Ogier has picked up some slack, but Elfyn Evans has had an extremely disappointing season thus far. Nevertheless, the team will need a good weekend from Evans, Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta if they want to win another manufacturer’s championship. Judging from the day one results there is some room to gain for the team, however, shakedown and a SuperSpecial aren’t really grounds to stand upon and worry.
The fourth and final day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Nikolay Gryazin held on to take the event win.
SS15, KNAUS TABBERT Am Hochwald 1
Nikolay Gryazin topped the first stage of the day. With a time 0.5 seconds faster than Yohan Rossel. Filip Mares was third fastest on the stage, 3.4 seconds slower than Gryazin and 2.9 seconds slower than Rossel. Josh McErlean finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.9 seconds slower than Katsuta. Marijan Griebel rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than McErlean.
SS16, Passauer Land 1
Nikolay Gryazin also took home the stage win on the sixteenth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. As Gryazin set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Josh McErlean to top the stage. Yohan Rossel finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.3 seconds slower than Gryazin and 2.1 seconds slower than McErlean. Kajetan Kajetanowicz had the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Rossel. Miko Marczyk rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.8 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
SS17, KNAUS TABBERT Am Hochwald 2
Yohan Rossel took home the stage win on SS17. With a time 3.4 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Josh McErlean finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 4.8 seconds slower than Rossel and 1.4 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.9 seconds slower than McErlean. Filip Mares rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
SS18, Passauer Land 2
Nikolay Gryazin topped the final stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 3.8 seconds faster than Yohan Rossel. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 5.10 seconds slower than Gryazin and 2.2 seconds slower than Rossel. Josh McErelan and Miko Marczyk tied for the fourth fastest time on the stage, with both drivers finishing 3.9 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
The fourth and final day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Ott Tänak held on to take the event win.
SS15, KNAUS TABBERT Am Hochwald 1
Adrien Fourmaux topped the first stage of the day. With a time 2.2 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans. Takamoto Katsuta was third fastest on the stage, 3.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux and 0.9 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Katsuta. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS16, Passauer Land 1
Takamoto Katsuta took home the stage win on the sixteenth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. As Katsuta set a time 1.5 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top the stage. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.9 seconds slower than Katsuta and 0.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Adrien Fourmaux had the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing two seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS17, KNAUS TABBERT Am Hochwald 2
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on SS17. With a time one second faster than Ott Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta finished with the third fastest time on the stage, three seconds slower than Evans and two seconds slower than Tänak. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS18, Passauer Land 2
Takamoto Katsuta topped the final stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 2.4 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.6 seconds slower than Katsuta and 0.2 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.3 seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Neuville.