Hyundai announce new principal

Hyundai Motorsport has announced the appointment of Cyril Abiteboul as its new team principal. The 45-year-old is set to make his first appearance with the team at next week's Rallye Monte-Carlo set for 19 - 22 January.

Abiteboul takes over the reins from Julien Moncet, who has been serving in an interim capacity and will now take on a new role related to Hyundai Motorsport’s future technology. He will also assume responsibility for the company’s Customer Racing programs.

The Frenchman brings a wealth of experience to the position having already spent 15 years working in motorsport prior to this appointment. He has held a variety of positions within the industry, including stints as deputy managing director at Renault Sport F1 and team principal of the Caterham F1 team.

Abiteboul says he took a brief sabbatical from the industry to "take a bit of distance from automotive and motorsport." However, a desire to return led him to opening talks with Hyundai.

“Actually, it was still very strong in my blood, the appetite for the thrill of motorsport. We had a mutual connection with Hyundai, and I knew that they were looking for a team principal,” Abiteboul told WRC.com.

“I was not particularly active, but I made contact and it was a good fit between what Hyundai was looking for and what I was also looking for. There was a natural willingness to go further, and it's only a few weeks ago that we decided that this would happen.”

While he is excited about the new opportunity, Abiteboul is also approaching the role - his first in a rally team - with humility. “I am taking this challenge like all the challenges I have been through in my life: with lots of humility," he explained. "But I am also extremely excited and passionate about what can be done and what needs to be done.”

He also faces high expectations - with big shoes to fill after Moncet led the squad to victories on four of the final six rounds last year.

Abiteboul is confident in the abilities of his Alzenau-based colleagues, though, adding: “This team does not need to be built, it already exists and functions and it's capable of delivering extremely good results.”