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. 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 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 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. 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.
The third day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Sebastien Ogier reclaimed the event lead heading into the final day.
SS9, Granit und Wald 1
Ott Tänak kicked off the penultimate day with a stage win. 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, 0.7 seconds slower than Ogier and 4.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta had the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.4 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS10, Beyond Borders 1
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on the tenth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 1.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Ogier and 2.3 seconds slower than Evans. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.6 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS11, Schärdinger Innviertel 1
Sebastien Ogier capped off the morning loop with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 0.1 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Ott Tänak had the third fastest time on the stage, one second slower than Evans and 1.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Sami Pajari finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.5 seconds slower than Tänak. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.6 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS12, Granit und Wald 2
Ott Tänak took home the stage win on the twelfth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 3.4 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. Thierry Neuville had the fourth fastest time on the stage, three seconds slower than Ogier and Evans. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS13, Beyond Borders 2
Sebastien Ogier claimed the stage win on the third day’s penultimate stage. With a time 0.9 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Neuville and three seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Evans.
SS14, Schärdinger Innviertel 2
Sebastien Ogier capped off the third day of the Central European Rally 2024 with a stage win. As Ogier set a time 1.1 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Tänak and two seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville had the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.1 seconds slower than Neuville.
The second day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Thierry Neuville took the event lead on the day.
SS3, Klatovy 2
Sebastien Ogier kicked off the second day with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 1.5 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Katsuta and 2.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS4, Strašin 1
Elfyn Evans topped the fourth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 1.6 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Neuville and four seconds slower than Evans. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS5, Šumavské Hoštice 1
Ott Tänak capped off the morning loop with his first stage win of the weekend. As the Estonian set a time 0.3 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Sebastien Ogier had the third fastest time on the stage, three seconds slower than Neuville and 3.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Elfyn Evans finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 9.3 seconds slower than Evans.
SS6, Klatovy 3
Takamoto Katsuta took home his first stage win of the Central European Rally 2024 on SS6. With a time 0.4 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Sebastien Ogier finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Neuville and one second slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 1.7 seconds slower than Evans.
SS7, Strašin 2
Thierry Neuville topped the seventh stage of the weekend. As the Belgian set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Evans and 1.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Sebastien Ogier was fourth fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 1.2 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS8, Šumavské Hoštice 2
Sebastien Ogier capped off the second day of the Central European Rally 2024 in the same fashion he started it in. As the eight-time World Champion set a time 0.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Ott Tänak had the third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 7.1 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 7.7 seconds slower than Evans.
Mikkelsen Crashes Out
Andreas Mikkelsen would crash out of the event on SS5. Mikkelsen would slide off the road into a fence which destroyed his i20 rally1. His car would block the road leading to SS5 getting red-flagged and ultimately cancelled.
The first day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Sebastien Ogier leads after the day’s two stages.
SS1, SSS Velká Chuchle
Sebastien Ogier kicked off the weekend with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta to take the stage win. Andreas Mikkelsen finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Katsuta and 1.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans and Adrien Fourmaux tied for the fourth fastest time on the stage. With both drivers finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Mikkelsen.
SS2, Klatovy 1
Thierry Neuville took home the stage win of the second stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time one second faster than championship rival and Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Tänak and 1.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Andreas Mikkelsen set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Ogier. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Mikkelsen.
What To Expect From Day Two Of The Central European Rally 2024
The first full day of the event will see drivers contest 110.64 km across 6 stages. With the longest being the 26.69 km Strašin stage which serves as stages 4 and 7. The shortest stage is the 11.78 Klatovy stage which serves as stages 3 and 6. The day features a 30-minute midday remote service zone. Thierry Neuville is first on the road followed by Ott Tänak and event leader Sebastien Ogier. Ogier takes a 0.9-second lead over Thierry Neuville into the day. Andreas Mikkelsen is third, 0.8 seconds behind Neuville and 1.7 seconds behind Ogier. The rally1 driver in last (not named Jourdan Serderidis) is Grégoire Munster who is 9.5 seconds off the lead.
The Central European Rally 2024 shakedown stage has come to an end. Ott Tänak and Miko Marczyk topped the stage in their respective classes.
Rally1
Ott Tänak topped the Central European Rally 2024 shakedown stage with a time 0.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier and 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time, 0.4 seconds slower than Katsuta. Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the shakedown stage, with a time 0.1 seconds slower than the reigning event winner Thierry Neuville.
WRC2
Miko Marczyk took home the fastest time in the WRC2 class. With a time 0.2 seconds faster than Yohan Rossel. Nikolay Gryazin finished third fastest on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Rossel and 0.9 seconds slower than Marczyk. William Creighton set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Gryazin. Maxime Potty rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.9 seconds slower than Creighton.
What To Expect From Central European Rally Day One
The first day of the Central European Rally 2024 kicks off with two stages totalling to 14.33 km. Thierry Neuville will be first on the road for the Rally1 drivers, followed by Ott Tänak and Sebastien Ogier. For the first time since Croatia being first on the road is an advantage for Neuville. As he will get the cleanest road and not have any debris on the road for the first pass of each stage. This is great for the Belgian as he can take home the championship this weekend. However, that inquires fending off Ott Tänak who will also get a decently clean road. As far as WRC2 goes, Filip Mares will be first on the road due to him being a local driver. Mares will start before all the Rally1 cars and be followed by Marijan Griebel.