The 2025 World Rally Championship season kicks off in just over a week. Meaning it’s a good time to preview some things about the upcoming season. This article will preview the Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT.
Thierry Neuville – Full-Time
The reigning world champion will once again drive for Hyundai this upcoming season. Neuville had a strong 2024 season. As the Belgian only retired from one event last season. Neuville will likely be the number-one driver for Hyundai again this season. However, Cyril Abiteaboul doesn’t seem to be a fan of team orders, nor choosing favourites. This means Neuville will have to continue with the good results to keep this role.
Ott Tänak – Full-Time
Ott Tänak finished third in the championship last season after retiring in Japan. However, Tänak led Rally Japan until he retired from the event after crashing out. Tänak will battle Neuville for the “number one” driver role on the team. As the Estonian is once again a championship favourite.
Adrien Fourmaux – Full-Time
Adrien Fourmaux is the only non-world champion who is confirmed to drive for the South Korean manufacturer this season. Fourmaux had a handful of podiums last season with M-Sport. This caught the attention of both Hyundai and Toyota. The Frenchman ultimately chose the full-time drive Hyundai.
The 2025 World Rally Championship season kicks off in just over a week. Meaning it’s a good time to predict some things about the upcoming season. Kicking off with some predictions for the M-Sport Ford WRT.
Grégoire Munster
As mentioned in the preview article for M-Sport, I don’t think Munster will have a much better season this year than he did last season. However, I could see him take home at least two more top-five finishes and a couple of stage wins. Munster can’t fall back on being new to the events anymore. Sure the car has changed due to the loss of the hybrid units. However, that shouldn’t make a whole lot of difference once he gets used to the car.
Josh McErlean
Again not a whole lot of expectations here. I do see McErlean having a better season than Munster. However, that isn’t a hugely high bar. I could see McErlean having at least 6 top-five finishes along with a handful of stage wins. However, anything is possible, the field is stacked with many talented drivers. It’ll be an uphill battle for McErlean all year long.
Martins Sesks
Sesks is truly the only driver at M-Sport who I could see actually winning an event. The Latvian was keeping up decently well with Kalle Rovanperä in Latvia. Plus he has the most experience out of anybody in the car without a hybrid unit. Earlier this week Sesks confirmed he would drive a six-event season. Beginning in Sweden and ending in Finland. Sesks will also speak to M-Sport about doing the Saudi Arabian Rally at the end of the year.
Jourdan Serderidis
To be honest I don’t got much here. Therefore I’m not even going to give a prediction as well there isn’t much to predict. He’s not going to get a podium, nor win a stage, nor finish even in the top 10 overall.
As A Team
M-Sport will most likely be last in the manufacturer’s championship once again. I say most likely solely because Toyota is running a second team with just Sami Pajari in it. This means there is a way for M-Sport to outscore at least one team, but it’s still unlikely given the team’s driver lineup.
The 2025 World Rally Championship season kicks off in just over a week. Meaning it’s a good time to preview some things about the upcoming season. Kicking off with a preview of the M-Sport Ford WRT.
Driver Lineup
Grégoire Munster – Full-Time
Gregoire Munster will once again pilot a top-level car for M-Sport this season. Munster had a lacklustre 2024 season. As the 26th-year-old finished eighth in the driver’s championship and had no podiums. This wasn’t much of a surprise as I don’t think anybody realistically expected Munster to do much. He did have three top-five finishes, including two to end the season. As far as 2025 goes Munster likely won’t do much more than he did last season.
Josh McErlean – Full-Time
With Adrien Fourmaux gone M-Sport had to replace him with somebody if they wanted to be a manufacturer in the WRC still. Motorsport Ireland came up with the money to fund a full-time drive for Josh McErlean. McErlean, much like Munster didn’t have incredible WRC2 results. As the Irishman has only two top-five WRC2 finishes throughout the three years he drove the championship. This includes one near-event win last season in Portugal. McErlean will likely do about the same as Munster did last season.
Martins Sesks – Part-Time
Sesks made waves last year when he debuted at Rally Poland. As the Latvian driver finished fifth at the event while driving a car without a hybrid unit. At his home event, he was on track to finish second which was before a final-stage incident which dropped him to seventh. He made his final appearance at Rally Chile Bio Bio where he finished 24th after having some difficulties. Sesks confirmed he would drive a six-event season. Beginning in Sweden and ending in Finland. Sesks will also speak to M-Sport about doing the Saudi Arabian Rally at the end of the year.
Jourdan Serderidis – Part-Time
Retirement is nice this time of year or something like that. Serderidis said he would retire from driving a top-level car at the end of the 2023 season. However, that retirement was short-lived. As the Greek driver was back in a Puma for the Safari Rally in Kenya. Serderidis isn’t driving the car for podiums, or to even finish top 10 overall really. He just drives the car to enjoy it, so don’t expect any spectacular finishes out of him this season.
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.