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Hyundai ‘good way’ towards Neuville deal

Hyundai team principal Michel Nandan says his squad is close to agreeing a new contract with drivers' championship leader Thierry Neuville for 2019.

Speaking before the start of this weekend's ADAC Rallye Deutschland (16-19 August), Nandan told wrc.com he was confident the Belgian would remain at Hyundai after his current contract expires at the end of the season.

Reflecting on the progress of a new deal, he said: "I think even if it is not 100 per cent done, it is a good way done."

Neuville joined Hyundai in 2014 and is one of four top-line drivers currently contracted to the Korean manufacturer. So far only Andreas Mikkelsen, who joined the team 12 months ago, is guaranteed a full-season campaign next year.

Nandan revealed that Dani Sordo and Hayden Paddon, who are sharing a third i20 this season, might feature again in a four driver line-up next year.

"The option with four drivers was not bad this year," he explained. "Of course, drivers should agree to that and be committed to that, but I think it is an option. It is working well so it could be one of the options or maybe - we'll see - to go back to three drivers."

But with five rounds still to go in this year's WRC, Nandan said future driver line-ups were of secondary importance to the fight for Hyundai's maiden WRC title.

He told wrc.com: "We are really more focused on the championship this year because we want to get it. So, I think we wait a bit to talk about 2019, probably September. It is not priority number one now."

Zdroj: wrc.com